Netanyahu Opposes Trump on F-35s for Turkey: It Would Disrupt the Balance of Power in the Middle East

Benjamin Netanyahu has openly opposed the possibility of the United States selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a reaction that came just hours after Donald Trump announced that his administration is considering the option.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, the Israeli prime minister said such a move would have serious consequences for security in the region and would damage the military balance in the Middle East.

According to Netanyahu, “The sale of F-35 aircraft does not make Turkey a friendly state of the United States,” adding that Turkey is governed by “a regime infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the United States.”

Speaking about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said he is not “exactly a model ally of the United States” and accused him of posing a direct threat to Israel.

“He threatens to destroy my country, the only Jewish state,” the Israeli prime minister said.

Netanyahu also argued that Turkey is not “a force for peace and stability” and warned: “When you give them that power, you will see aggression behind it,” stressing that supplying Ankara with the most modern American aircraft would increase the risk in the region.

He said he had personally raised these concerns with 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 declared.

Meanwhile, Trump, who is in Turkey as part of the NATO summit, has signaled that he is ready to reconsider the ban imposed during his first term, when Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program. The US 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 relations between the two countries and security issues were the focus.

Despite the disagreement over Turkey, Netanyahu sought to downplay the idea of a rift with the American president, even after Trump’s remark 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.

His remarks come at a time when relations between Israel and Turkey have become significantly strained. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk that Israel has “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear,” a comment that was sharply condemned by the Israeli foreign minister, who called it “incitement to genocide.”

During the interview, Netanyahu also addressed the recent ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Although he had previously been a strong opponent of nuclear agreements with Tehran, this time he avoided direct criticism of the Trump administration.

The agreement ended the latest clash between the United States and Iran and includes 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, according to Netanyahu, the document does not address the core issues that concern Israel and the United States, including 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 took aim at several figures in the Democratic Party in the United States, among them New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, over his positions on Israel.

“It is laughable 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 criticized 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 declining support for Israel in American public opinion, he denied this, saying the rise in opposition to Israel has been driven by the influence of social media.

Netanyahu also spoke about the increase 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 acting, but added that the courts are “too lenient” with people convicted of acts of violence.

“Our citizens cannot use violence against anyone,” he declared.

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.