Netanyahu warns against F-35 sale to Turkey as he downplays rift with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed any US move to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, warning that such a transfer would undermine the regional balance of power, even as he sought to downplay suggestions of a rift with US President Donald Trump.

In an interview to CNN, Netanyahu expressed concern over reports that the Trump administration is considering lifting restrictions on the sale of America's most advanced fighter aircraft to Ankara.

The comments came just hours after Trump indicated during the Nato summit in Turkey that Washington was open to reviewing the issue.

Netanyahu argued that Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not be viewed as a dependable strategic partner for the USs and cautioned against strengthening Ankara's military capabilities.

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“He’s not exactly a model ally of the United States,” CNN quoted Netanyahu as saying.

“He threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state,” added Netanyahu.

The Israeli leader also accused Turkey's government of pursuing policies hostile to both Israel and the US.

“Doesn’t make Turkey a friendly state to the United States,” Netanyahu said of the proposed F-35 sale, describing Ankara as “a regime that’s infected with the Muslim Brotherhood, which hates the United States.”

His remarks reflect a deepening war of words between Israel and Turkey, whose relations have sharply deteriorated amid disagreements over the Gaza conflict and broader regional issues.

The latest exchange follows comments by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who told CNN Turk last week that Israel had “become a burden that humanity can no longer bear.”

Israel's Foreign Minister responded by condemning the statement as “textbook incitement to genocide.”

Warning against the transfer of advanced military technology to Ankara, Netanyahu said Turkey's growing military power could fuel instability across the region.

“This is not a force for peace and stability. When you give them that power, you’re going to see aggression in its wake,” he said.

Netanyahu revealed that he had personally urged Trump not to approve the sale, arguing that such a move would “destroy the power balance in the Middle East.”

Despite the disagreement, Netanyahu insisted there was no major divide between himself and Trump.

His comments came after the US president recently remarked that the Israeli leader “knows who the boss is,” fuelling speculation about tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv.

“He’s the President of the United States. He does what is good for the United States,” Netanyahu said.

“I’m the Prime Minister of Israel, I do what is what is important for Israel, and most of the time these things are identical.”

The interview also touched on the recent US-Iran ceasefire agreement that brought an end to months of conflict and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping. While Netanyahu had previously advocated a tougher stance against Tehran, he stopped short of criticising Trump's diplomatic approach.

“It’s too early to say what will happen,” he said.

“The president believes that he can stop Iran’s nuclear program, and he believes he can do it through negotiations. I have my doubts, but I think he should be given the chance, and he’s trying to achieve that.”

Netanyahu noted that the agreement had yet to address several issues that Israel considers central to its security concerns, including Iran's nuclear activities, ballistic missile programme, support for regional proxy groups and stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

On US domestic politics, Netanyahu criticised a number of Democratic politicians over what he described as declining support for Israel. He singled out New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for previous comments questioning the concept of a state that privileges one religion over another.

“It’s ridiculous, it’s absurd,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel, while an “imperfect democracy,” remained “100 times better than these dictatorships and these horrible, horrible tyrannies that Mamdani and his supporters support.”

He also took aim at Democratic Representative Haley Stevens, who has argued that his policies have made American Jews feel less secure.

“It’s made her uncomfortable because she can’t stand up for the truth,” Netanyahu said. “She’s trying to probably excuse antisemitism.”

Asked whether he bore any responsibility for waning support for Israel among segments of the American public, Netanyahu rejected the suggestion and instead blamed the influence of social media.

The Israeli prime minister also addressed growing concerns over settler violence in the occupied West Bank, describing those involved as around 150 “juvenile delinquents” and acknowledging that the problem had escalated significantly.

“Our citizens cannot practice violence against anyone,” he said, adding that Israeli security forces were taking action while courts had often been “very lenient” in dealing with offenders.

His remarks come amid continued scrutiny of violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and criticism from rights groups over the expansion of settlements and attacks on Palestinian communities in the territory.

With inputs from agencies