Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that a new defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could develop into an alliance directed against Israel, with fears that Egypt could eventually join the emerging bloc, Ynet reports.

“This agreement troubles us. This is an alliance aimed against Israel,” a senior Israeli official said of the defense agreement signed over the weekend in Mecca. Reports following the signing have suggested Egypt could become the next country to join the bloc.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the agreement is effectively modeled on NATO’s Article 5, under which an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. Fidan said the alliance would also include a ministerial committee and a general secretariat headquartered in Saudi Arabia.

The senior Israeli official said the agreement reflects a broader regional shift following the weakening of the Shiite axis. “The Shiite axis has weakened, and for a long time we have seen the Sunni axis getting stronger,” the official said, pointing to Israel’s need to strengthen relationships with Greece and Cyprus, together with India and the United Arab Emirates. “Israel needs a massive force-building program,” the official added.

Turkey and Egypt were singled out as particular concerns. “The story of Turkey and Erdogan is dangerous,” the official said. “We would not be surprised if the Egyptians join the ‘Mecca Alliance.’ This alliance is aimed against Israel. Who do you think they are doing this against? Allow me to be skeptical when they say it is really aimed at Iran.”

The agreement was signed Friday during a meeting in Saudi Arabia between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Dubbed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, the pact follows nearly a year of negotiations among the three countries.

Following the agreement, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif directly invoked Israel, calling on the Muslim world to “unite to confront the common threat posed by Israel.”

“Israel poses a threat to all of us,” Asif said. “Islamic countries must adopt a coordinated approach to confront this threat.”

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