Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly come out against the possibility of the United States selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was considering the option.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Netanyahu warned that such a decision would have serious consequences for regional security and would undermine the military balance in the Middle East.
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“Selling F-35 aircraft does not make Turkey a friendly state of the United States,” he said, adding that Turkey is led by “a regime infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the United States.”
Referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Netanyahu said he is not “exactly a model ally of the United States” and accused him of directly threatening Israel.
“He threatens to destroy my country, the only Jewish state,” the Israeli prime minister said.
His comments come at a time when relations between Israel and Turkey have sharply deteriorated. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk that Israel has “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear,” a statement that was strongly condemned by Israel’s foreign minister, who described it as “incitement to genocide.”
“This is not a force for peace and stability. When you give them that power, you will see aggression behind it,” Netanyahu said, arguing that equipping Turkey with the most modern American aircraft would increase the risk for the region.
The Israeli prime minister revealed that he had personally expressed his concern to President Trump and had asked him not to approve the sale of F-35s to Turkey.
“Such a move would destroy the balance of power in the Middle East,” he said.
However, Trump, who is in Turkey as part of the NATO summit, has suggested that he is willing to reconsider the ban imposed during his first term that excluded Turkey from the F-35 program. The U.S. president described Turkey as an “extraordinary” ally of the United States.
Trump and Erdogan also held a bilateral meeting at the Bestepe Presidential Complex in Ankara, where they discussed bilateral relations and security issues.
Despite differences over Turkey, Netanyahu downplayed any rift with the American president, even after Trump said over the weekend that the Israeli leader “knows who the boss is.”
“He is the President of the United States. He does what is best for the United States. I am the Prime Minister of Israel and I do what is best for Israel. Most of the time those interests are identical,” Netanyahu said.
During the interview, he also commented on the recent ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Although he had strongly opposed nuclear agreements with Tehran in the past, this time he avoided direct criticism of the Trump administration.
The agreement ended the latest conflict between the U.S. and Iran and provides for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the possibility of a gradual lifting of sanctions on Tehran if a final agreement is reached.
However, Netanyahu stressed that the agreement does not address the main issues that concern Israel and the U.S., such as Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, support for armed groups in the region, and stockpiles of enriched uranium.
“It is too early to say what will happen. The President believes he can stop Iran’s nuclear program through negotiations. I have my doubts, but I think he should be given the chance to try,” he said.
Netanyahu also criticized several figures in the Democratic Party in the U.S., mentioning New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani over his statements about Israel.
“It is ridiculous and absurd. Israel is an imperfect democracy, but it is a hundred times better than the dictatorships supported by Mamdani and his supporters,” he said.
He also attacked Democratic congresswoman Haley Stevens, who had said that the policies of the Israeli government have made American Jews less safe.
“She feels uncomfortable because she cannot defend the truth. Maybe she is trying to justify antisemitism,” Netanyahu said.
Asked whether he bears any responsibility for the decline in support for Israel in American public opinion, he dismissed the idea, arguing that the influence of social media has fueled growing opposition to Israel.
Netanyahu also commented on the rise in violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, describing the perpetrators as a group of around 150 “juvenile delinquents.”
He said the Israeli police and army are taking action, but added that the courts are “too lenient” toward people convicted of violent acts.
“Our citizens cannot use violence against anyone,” he said.
However, international organizations and Israeli human rights groups report that settler violence in the West Bank has increased significantly in recent months. According to the Israeli organization Yesh Din, 305 incidents were recorded in just a one-month period, including attacks on Palestinian civilians, property damage, and land seizures.
