Netanyahu Urges US to Block F-35 Sales to Turkey Citing Regional Power Imbalance

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly called on the United States to refrain from supplying Turkey with F-35 fighter jets or engines for its combat aircraft, warning that such a move could undermine Israel's air superiority and destabilize the balance of power in the Middle East. In an interview with Fox News ahead of US President Donald Trump's NATO summit visit to Turkey, Netanyahu described the Ankara government as "a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood" and criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting Erdogan's threats against Israel and Turkey's control over northern Cyprus.

Netanyahu emphasized that transferring advanced weaponry to Turkey would disrupt the regional power dynamics, which currently rely on Israel's air dominance and the US military presence. He acknowledged Turkey as a significant country but condemned its leadership's hostile rhetoric. Regarding his relationship with President Trump, Netanyahu stated that no date has been set for his next visit to Washington and downplayed recent disagreements between Jerusalem and the White House over the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, asserting that the two countries remain close allies who resolve differences through open dialogue.

On Lebanon, Netanyahu expressed Israel's desire for progress toward peace, noting that weakening the Iranian regime has paved the way for additional peace agreements. He reiterated warnings about Iran, labeling it "not a friend of America" and stressing the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons or delivery systems. Netanyahu described the conflict as a battle between freedom and fanaticism and attributed the Iranian regime's survival to its use of "hundreds of thousands of thugs" who kill their own people.

Concluding the interview, Netanyahu commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence, praising the US as a tremendous force for good and crediting it with fostering democracy and freedom worldwide. He ended with a blessing for America.