Israel has not officially responded to a defence agreement signed in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan on Friday. The Mecca Joint Defence Pact says an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all three.
The agreement brings together Türkiye, which Israeli politicians widely view as a threat, Pakistan, which does not recognise Israel, and Saudi Arabia, with which Israel has sought to normalise relations. Israeli politicians are expected to assess the pact’s implications as the country prepares for a general election in October.
What the Mecca pact says
The pact’s central commitment is collective defence: “any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all”. The agreement was signed in Mecca on Friday by the three countries.
Some analysts have interpreted the new military arrangement as a challenge to Israeli regional expansionism. Others cited by Al Jazeera said it reflects distrust in the United States and uncertainty about whether Washington can or will protect its Middle Eastern partners.
Related coverage: Houthi attacks deepen Yemen-Saudi Arabia tensions.
Why the agreement matters to Israel
Türkiye has strongly criticised Israel’s war on Gaza and has warned that Israeli actions in Syria and Lebanon threaten Ankara. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an “anti-Semitic dictator”, while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of “textbook incitement to genocide” after comments Fidan made last month.
Pakistan does not recognise Israel, and its defence minister previously described Israel’s assaults in Lebanon as “evil”. Saudi Arabia is viewed by Israel as a less immediate concern, but Riyadh has kept its distance from the normalisation process promoted by Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023.
The election factor
Netanyahu has made Türkiye a prominent security issue ahead of the October election, including through interviews, statements and efforts to block the sale of US F-35 jets to Ankara. Analysts at Haaretz have suggested that Türkiye may serve as a new strategic rival in Netanyahu’s campaign to strengthen his security credentials.
The pact could therefore become a campaign issue for both Netanyahu and his opponents. Critics may present Saudi Arabia’s participation as a diplomatic failure, while Netanyahu could emphasise Israel’s relationship with India, Pakistan’s rival, according to former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy. Analysts also cautioned that the agreement may be aimed more at confronting Iran than Israel, and questioned whether the three countries would provide military assistance in every possible attack scenario.
Questions readers ask
Has Israel officially responded to the pact?
No. The supplied report says Israel has yet to issue an official response.
Which countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Pact?
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the agreement in Mecca on Friday.
What is the pact’s main security provision?
It states that an armed attack against one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three.
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