Netanyahu Pressures US: No F-35 Jets for Turkey

Ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's departure for the NATO summit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed the American administration to refrain from supplying advanced weaponry to Ankara. During an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu characterized Turkey as an "Islamist Brotherhood-influenced regime," firmly stating, "I don't think they should be supplied with F-35 jets or engines for their fighter jets." These remarks follow indications last month suggesting President Trump's potential approval to sell Turkey B-110 fighter jet engines and reinstate its participation in the F-35 program. Netanyahu argued that such a step would "disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East," a balance ultimately secured by Israeli aerial superiority and America's strategic presence in the region. While labeling Turkey a "great nation," Netanyahu voiced "regret" concerning President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership, noting that Erdogan "openly threatens Israel with destruction and occupies half of Cyprus." Separately, Netanyahu mentioned that no date had yet been scheduled for a potential visit to Washington D.C. to meet President Trump. He also reiterated his downplaying of recent tensions related to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, asserting, "We agree on almost everything." He further elaborated, "We have occasional disagreements, but we work through them because we are allies," explaining that these differences are discussed "in open dialogue." He added, "The President has his way of expressing things, and I have mine too... We are allies, and we set an example for alliances." He emphasized Israel's respect for the United States, stating there are "many ways to settle our differences as allies who respect each other." Netanyahu also claimed Israel "desires to see peace with Lebanon advance," asserting that "the significant blow we dealt to the Iranian regime, greatly weakening it, has paved the way for further peace agreements." Concerning Iran, Netanyahu declared that the Islamic Republic "is not America's friend, and we should not allow it to possess nuclear weapons or the means to deliver them," describing the situation as "a battle between freedom and fanaticism."