Israel's intelligence community is now treating Turkey's Libya corridor as a direct threat to the country's Mediterranea...

Israel's intelligence community is now treating Turkey's Libya corridor as a direct threat to the country's Mediterranean supply lines, according to a Jerusalem Post analysis drawing on Israeli defense officials. The concern centers on a 2019 maritime agreement between Turkey and Libya that carves out an artificial sea corridor from Turkey's coast straight to Libya's, bypassing the Greek island chain entirely, including Crete and Rhodes. Israeli defense officials say the arrangement effectively cuts the Mediterranean in two and gives Turkey justification to disrupt shipping and infrastructure in waters it has no internationally recognized claim to. The IDF Intelligence Directorate, Mossad, and the Israel Navy's intelligence branch are all actively monitoring the situation. With 98% of Israeli imports arriving by sea, senior officials see Turkey's moves as an attempt to constrain and isolate Israel, on top of what they describe as direct threats from President Erdogan. Beyond shipping, the corridor threatens the EastMed pipeline project, a proposed gas line that would run from Israel through Cyprus and Greece to Europe. Turkey has argued that any such route passes through waters it claims under the Libya deal and would require Ankara's approval, a position Israel, Greece, and Cyprus flatly reject. Turkey has already established a military presence in Libya, with advisers on the ground and frequent visits by senior commanders. In exchange for that military support, Erdogan secured port access, aerial rights, and energy exploration permits in Libyan territory. Israeli officials are also monitoring Hamas's efforts to build logistical infrastructure in the region, adding another layer of concern to an already tense maritime picture. The developments come as Israeli energy agreements with Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt give Tel Aviv stronger incentive to keep those sea lanes open. #Turkey #EastMed #EasternMediterranean