Israeli Ambassador Opposes US Sale of F-35 Jets to Turkey, Stresses National Security Priorities

Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, expressed clear opposition to the potential US approval of selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington, Leiter stated that Israel does not believe Turkey should possess F-35 aircraft but emphasized that Israel will respect any decision Washington makes on the matter. He acknowledged that the US must consider a broader range of strategic interests beyond Israel's concerns.

Leiter’s remarks come amid renewed discussions in Washington about advancing the F-35 deal with Turkey, a topic that raises significant apprehension in Jerusalem due to ongoing tensions between the two countries and fears over maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. Concurrently, the Israeli Foreign Ministry sharply criticized Turkey on social media, condemning President Erdogan’s government for suppressing opposition leaders, silencing journalists, banning protests, and censoring independent media ahead of the NATO summit.

Addressing a previous statement by US Vice President J.D. Vance, who called the US Israel’s "only remaining ally," Leiter diplomatically disagreed, saying he would have phrased it differently and did not detect any hostility from Vance toward Israel or Prime Minister Netanyahu. On broader security issues, Leiter highlighted Israel’s focus on protecting its national security amid global challenges, asserting that Israel is not responsible for global economic slowdowns or issues like the Strait of Hormuz tensions.

Regarding northern border security, Leiter discussed the tripartite security arrangement between Israel, Lebanon, and the US, which supersedes earlier understandings. He clarified that Israel will only withdraw from the north once Hezbollah is disarmed, stating that Hezbollah’s disarmament is essential for Lebanon to achieve true independence and stability.