The Middle East is moving beyond the aftermath of the war in Gaza and the erosion of Iran’s regional weight into a new phase in which the balance of power is being shaped by an intensifying contest between two powers: Türkiye and Israel.

Until recently, their rivalry was limited to political and diplomatic disputes, but it has evolved into something more strategic, extending from Syria to the eastern Mediterranean, from the global defence industry to the White House.

Al Majalla devotes our cover story to this emerging rivalry between Ankara and Tel Aviv, which reaches far beyond the mutual accusations and their sharply divergent positions on Palestine. At its core lies two competing visions for the region’s future, a struggle for influence, alliances, defence markets, and energy routes. We consider its implications and explain how this rivalry could be a defining force shaping the new Middle East.