Dr. Gallia Lindenstrauss, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, discussed how President Donald Trump's relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is somewhat easing tensions between Turkey and Israel. This comes in light of inflammatory comments made by Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci, who expressed ambitions to govern Jerusalem, invoking historical Ottoman claims. Erdogan's rhetoric has intensified since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, which have drawn Turkey back into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite these tensions, Lindenstrauss noted that Turkey's NATO membership and its relationship with the U.S. compel Ankara to balance its support for both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Additionally, Turkey is working to disarm Kurdish groups, which it perceives as a threat amid the regional conflicts. Overall, Turkey is focusing on diplomatic mediation rather than military involvement, seeking to influence the situation without direct confrontation.