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Trump squeezed between Israel and Turkey as Netanyahu, Erdogan escalate feud
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Tensions between Israel and Turkey are escalating sharply, with a war of words between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaching new heights and placing President Donald Trump in an increasingly delicate position between the two sides as tension escalates.
The latest flare-up underscores a broader geopolitical clash about Iran, Gaza and regional influence, even as Washington attempts to maintain cooperation with both sides.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of deliberately seeking a new adversary following its confrontation with Iran, saying the Israeli government is attempting to portray Ankara as its next enemy.
«After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy,» Fidan said in a televised interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency. «We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition — though not all — are seeking to declare Turkey the new enemy,» he said.
TURKEY’S NATO ROLE UNDER SCRUTINY AMID NEW REPORT ON HAMAS, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD TIES
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a rally in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Istanbul, Turkey, October 28, 2023. (Dilara Senkaya/Reuters)
The rhetoric reflects a sharp deterioration in relations that have been strained since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the war in Gaza, but have now escalated into direct confrontation between the two leaders.
Netanyahu, in remarks posted on X Saturday, accused Erdogan of siding with Iran and its proxies, writing that Israel «will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime… unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens.»
Erdogan has intensified his criticism of Israel’s military campaign, accusing its leadership of war crimes and backing international legal action against Israeli officials.
In one of the most incendiary exchanges, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming, «Netanyahu, who has been described as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed, is a well-known figure with a clear track record. An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide.»
The escalation has not been limited to rhetoric. Erdogan previously has suggested Turkey could take more assertive military action in the region, referencing past interventions, remarks that have raised alarms in Israel.
Israeli officials have responded forcefully.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has dismissed Erdogan’s threats as bluster, while officials warn that Turkey’s regional posture, particularly its engagement in Syria, is being closely monitored.
For both leaders, analysts say, the escalation also serves domestic goals. For Trump, the situation presents a growing challenge.
The administration relies on Israel as a central partner in confronting Iran, while also depending on Turkey, a NATO ally, for regional diplomacy and mediation efforts tied to ceasefire negotiations and broader Middle East strategy.
That balancing act has become increasingly difficult as tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara intensify.
ISRAEL UNMASKS IRAN-DIRECTED HAMAS CASH NETWORK IN TURKEY AS ANKARA PUSHES FOR GAZA ROLE
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators take part in a protest against Israel, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, near the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, October 18, 2023. (Umit Bektas/Reuters)
Gönül Tol, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and author of «Erdogan’s War: A Strongman’s Struggle at Home and in Syria,» told Fox News Digital, «The Trump administration has played a role in making sure the two countries do not clash in Syria. How Turkey and Israel are managing their differences in Syria, where stakes are high for Erdogan, is telling. But this doesn’t mean the two will try to undermine each other’s interests from the eastern Mediterranean to Levant to Horn of Africa.»
«I think for both leaders, Netanyahu and Erdogan, escalating rhetoric serves a domestic purpose,» Gönül added, «Anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian sentiment in Turkey is very strong. At a time when Erdogan is struggling to resolve the country’s growing economic problems, responding to Netanyahu’s statements harshly scores points domestically and burnishes his strong leader image. But I do not think this rhetoric will turn into direct military clashes between the countries. Despite their military presence and clashing interests, Turkey and Israel have a quiet understanding where each accepts the other’s sphere of influence in the country and try to deconflict.»
In a policy webinar hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Turkish academic Hüseyin Bağcı argued that Turkey’s ties with Washington limit the likelihood of direct conflict.
«The Turkish state is not interested in fighting with Israel because the Turkish government has very good relations with the United States of America,» he said. «You cannot be good with America and then be in conflict with Israel.»
TRUMP FACES MIDDLE EAST TEST AS NETANYAHU BALKS AT ERDOGAN’S GAZA TROOP HOPES
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) delivers remarks during a meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office at the White House on Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
From the Israeli perspective, however, concerns center on actions rather than rhetoric.
Retired Israeli strategist Gabi Siboni said Turkey’s behavior in Syria is shaping threat perceptions.
«I don’t know what Erdogan thinks. I know what he does, and I see what we see in our area,» Siboni said in the webinar, adding, «There are true security concerns when we’re talking about what is happening in Syria. … Israel is not going to accept any type of military entrenchment of foreign actors.»
Bağcı maintained that the tensions are largely political.
«There is no structural conflict between Israel and Turkey,» he said. «The rhetoric is political … but the geography and the interests remain.»
The tensions are also being fueled by renewed friction over Gaza-bound aid flotillas, a long-standing flash point in Israel–Turkey relations.
A new Turkish-linked flotilla departed from Barcelona Monday, raising concerns in Israel about a repeat of past confrontations. The issue carries deep historical weight: in 2010, Israeli commandos boarded the Gaza flotilla raid, in which 10 were killed, triggering a years-long diplomatic rupture between the two countries.
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President Donald Trump hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 29, 2025, with talks addressing Iran’s renewed threats and potential progress on the next phase of the Gaza peace framework. (Israel Government Press Office)
Recent reports that Turkish prosecutors are seeking prison sentences for Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu, over flotilla-related incidents have further escalated tensions, reinforcing how unresolved grievances continue to inflame the current crisis.
While the confrontation remains largely rhetorical for now, the sharp escalation in language, and the competing interests driving it, highlight the fragility of the regional landscape and the limits of Washington’s ability to keep both sides aligned.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the White House but did not receive a response in time for publication.
benjamin netanyahu, turkey, iran, israel, hamas
INTERNACIONAL
Mundial de Fútbol 2026: 42 expertos en infectología advierten que la vacunación es la mejor defensa para los hinchas viajeros
El Mundial de Fútbol 2026 arranca el 11 de junio y, por primera vez en la historia, tres países organizan juntos el torneo: Canadá, Estados Unidos y México. Son 48 selecciones, 16 ciudades sede y millones de personas de todo el mundo que se van a mezclar en estadios, aeropuertos y zonas de fanáticos durante más de un mes.
Cuando tantas personas se juntan en un mismo lugar, los riesgos de transmisión de enfermedades infecciosas también suben.
En el último artículo editorial de la revista especializada Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 42 expertos en infectología y medicina del viajero de Perú, Colombia, Argentina, México y Brasil, entre otros países, advirtieron sobre los principales riesgos sanitarios del torneo y pusieron en el tope de la lista una enfermedad que muchos creían superada: el sarampión.
En diálogo con Infobae, el médico Alfonso Rodríguez-Morales, vicepresidente de la Alianza Latinoamericana de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (ALEIMC) y coautor del artículo, afirmó que “si bien los riesgos de transmisión de infecciones existen, queremos promover que las personas tomen medidas de prevención antes del viaje. También alentamos que se fortalezca la vigilancia activa entre las fronteras”.
El sarampión es una enfermedad viral que se transmite por el aire y provoca fiebre alta, sarpullido y, en casos graves, complicaciones neurológicas o pulmonares.
América la había eliminado, pero en noviembre de 2025 la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) confirmó que la región perdió ese logro: el virus volvió a circular de forma sostenida y sin interrupciones. El detonante no fue uno solo.
Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, millones de niños no accedieron a las vacunas por diferentes razones y nunca las recuperaron. A eso se sumó el crecimiento de la desconfianza hacia las vacunas en varios países, lo que dejó a poblaciones enteras en riesgo de exposición al virus.
El resultado es visible en los números: en 2026, los tres países sede del Mundial ya acumulan más de 20.000 casos de sarampión, y 15 de las 16 ciudades donde se juegan partidos tienen brotes activos.
No es casualidad que los expertos lo pongan en el tope de la lista de riesgos. “El sarampión tiene un índice de reproducción alto y por eso la inmunización de la población es clave. Esto significa que cada persona enferma puede contagiar a más de 3 personas si no hay inmunidad previa en la población”, explicó a Infobae el médico infectólogo Cristian Biscayart, coautor y miembro de la Sociedad Argentina de Infectología (SADI).
Por su parte, Carlos Espinal, investigador del Colegio Robert Stempel de Salud Pública y Trabajo Social de la Universidad Internacional de Florida, en Miami, Estados Unidos, señaló a Infobae: «Debemos preocuparnos por el sarampión debido a la epidemia y al número alto de casos en los tres países sedes del Mundial de Fútbol, además de los brotes en Europa y en el resto de países de América Latina».
“Adicionalmente, tenemos un resurgimiento de la tos ferina en el continente y debemos también tener estrategias para identificar rápidamente ante posibles casos de ébola provenientes de África. El 17 de mayo de 2026, la Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró a la epidemia de ébola una emergencia de salud pública de importancia internacional”, afirmó Espinal, quien también fue coautor.
El sarampión no es el único riesgo. Las infecciones respiratorias, como gripe y COVID-19, también se transmiten con facilidad en espacios cerrados y llenos de personas.
La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ya advirtió sobre una variante del virus de la gripe o influenza A H3N2 que tuvo transmisión sostenida en Norteamérica durante la temporada 2025-2026.
Otra amenaza frecuente y menos mencionada es la diarrea del viajero. Bacterias como la Salmonella o la Escherichia coli pueden ingresar al organismo por el consumo de agua o comida contaminada, y el riesgo sube cuando los servicios de alimentación atienden a miles de personas al mismo tiempo.
Lavarse las manos con frecuencia, tomar agua embotellada y evitar alimentos crudos o mal cocidos son las medidas más simples y más efectivas.
En México se agrega otro factor: la presencia de mosquitos, según los expertos. El dengue, el Zika y el chikungunya, que son enfermedades que provocan fiebre, dolores articulares intensos y, en algunos casos, complicaciones graves, siguen en expansión en América.
El repelente adecuado según la edad, la ropa que cubre el cuerpo y los alojamientos con mosquiteros o aire acondicionado son la mejor barrera, de acuerdo con los expertos.
Tras hacer un análisis de la situación de riesgos, los expertos afirmaron en el artículo editorial: “Fortalecer la cobertura de vacunación, mejorar la vigilancia, promover la educación preventiva y fomentar la colaboración internacional serán fundamentales para minimizar el riesgo de enfermedades infecciosas durante este evento deportivo sin precedentes”.
Se debería consultar al médico entre 4 y 8 semanas antes del viaje para revisar el esquema de vacunación, no el día antes de tomar el avión.
Las vacunas prioritarias son la triple viral (que da protección contra sarampión, paperas y rubéola), la de la gripe, la del COVID-19, y las de hepatitis A y B.
“Todos las personas que viajen deben constatar que tienen dos dosis de vacuna doble o triple viral”, enfatizó en diálogo con Infobae la médica Susana Lloveras, coautora y ex-presidente de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Medicina del Viajero (SLAMVI).
Varias de estas enfermedades tienen períodos de incubación (el tiempo que pasa entre el momento del contagio y la aparición de los síntomas) más largos que un vuelo de regreso a casa. Por eso, una persona podría contagiarse un patógeno en el estadio, cruzar la frontera sin ningún síntoma y enfermarse recién días después, ya en su país.
fútbol,Mundial,Copa Mundial,FIFA,trofeo,celebración,victoria,deporte,oro
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Dead voter allegation fuels concerns about voting safeguards as blue state official turns herself in
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Illinois GOP Chairman Bob Grogan is calling on a Democratic Waukegan city official to resign after prosecutors said she submitted her dead mother’s vote-by-mail ballot, a case conservatives say exposes broader concerns about mail-in voting and voter-roll safeguards even though the ballot was caught before it was counted.
A Waukegan, Illinois alderman, Sylvia Sims Bolton, turned herself on Wednesday after prosecutors said she submitted her dead mother’s vote-by-mail ballot during a March primary election, which has resulted in two charges, including one Class 4 Felony.
According to the Office of the State’s Attorney in Lake County, Illinois, a vote-by-mail ballot for Mary Sims, Bolton’s late-mother, was issued in the first tranche of ballots to go out from the Lake County Clerk’s Office in February. Just days later, however, the same office processed the cancellation of Mary Sim’s voter registration after receiving a notification of her passing from the Illinois Department of Public Health via the state’s Board of Elections voter registration system.
After the ballot was dropped by Bolton at an official ballot drop box, it went through the county’s established security and verification protocols, which flagged that the voter’s death record was processed prior to the ballot being submitted and ultimately spurred the sheriff’s office investigation leading to the charges against Bolton.
PA WOMAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO REGISTER DEAD PEOPLE, INCLUDING OWN FATHER, TO VOTE
A picture of the Illinois state flag is seen next to Illinois alderman, Sylvia Sims Bolton’s mugshot. (Getty Images/Lake County State’s Attorney Office)
«A dead person voting, that you’re actually aware that they’re dead, is the easiest voter fraud to find. It’s like somebody leaning over the cash register and grabbing the cash out of the till,» Grogan told Fox News Digital. «But the complicated stuff, the behind-the-scenes stuff, that’s something that is harder to find … This is a one-off incident and if fraudsters do it right, it could be many, many more votes like this.»
Election integrity advocate Jason Snead, who runs the Honest Elections Project, added that the Bolton case «plainly shows that voter fraud occurs.»
«Mail ballots are especially vulnerable, which is why they should be secured, should never be mailed without a specific request from the voter, and should always be verified before they are tabulated. This case also shows how essential it is to maintain clean voter rolls,» Snead said. «Had the list maintenance process been slower, it is possible this illegal vote would have been counted before the fraud was discovered. Unfortunately, too many states—particularly blue states—actively resist commonsense safeguards, which begs the question: how many other illegal votes have slipped through the system?»
A press release from the Lake County State’s Attorney Office indicated that «all ballot envelopes» get reviewed through automated systems designed to flag irregularities that may require additional review.
Readability issues due to barcode problems, ballots being submitted for the wrong election, ballots that were previously rejected, and ballots associated with a canceled voter registration record, are all examples of irregularities that might be flagged. Other, less obvious irregularities, include whether a ballot is overweight or underweight.
TRUMP CALLS FOR DOJ PROBE INTO MARYLAND MAIL-IN BALLOT ERROR, SUSPECTING ‘CORRUPT’ GOV WES MOORE TIES
Poll workers process ballots at an elections warehouse outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 8, 2022. (Ed JonesAFP via Getty Images))
The investigation into Bolton, who represents Waukegan’s Ward 1, began in March, and she turned herself in Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for Rinehart’s office. She has been charged with one count of Mutilation of Election Material, a Class 4 felony, for allegedly knowingly falsifying election material, and one count of Disregarding Election Code, a Class A misdemeanor.
If convicted on the felony count, Bolton could face one to three years in prison, though Illinois law also allows probation or conditional discharge for Class 4 felonies. The election-material charge also carries a five-year ban on public employment after completion of the sentence. A Class A misdemeanor conviction carries less than one year in jail and a possible fine.
According to the State’s Attorney’s office, the investigation by law enforcement officials «did not uncover any facts linking these allegations to her city duties,» adding that she «is not charged with official misconduct.»
A vote-by-mail ballot drop box is shown alongside Waukegan alderperson Sylvia Sims Bolton, who was charged after authorities alleged she submitted a ballot in her deceased mother’s name during Illinois’ 2026 primary election. (Getty Images and City of Waukegan)
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Officials in the State’s Attorney’s office also noted that they were not aware of any previous investigations related to individuals trying to use the vote-by-mail system to cast a ballot on behalf of deceased individuals.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bolton and her attorney but Fox News Digital did not receive a response in time for publication.
«This case shows the importance of having a well-funded, independent Clerk’s office that also has state-of-the-art technology,» State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said in a statement to Fox News Digital. «Clerk Vega and his team followed national best practices in order to detect and report this crime. We must say loudly to people that if you improperly vote for others, you will be caught, investigated, and prosecuted.»
illinois, investigations, voting, elections state and local, voter fraud concerns
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