Ambassador Yechiel Leiter said Israel has never hidden its opposition to the sale, but acknowledged that Washington has a broader range of strategic considerations and Israel will respect the final decision, according to Amichai Stein (i24NEWS).
Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, speaking on Monday, reiterated Israel's longstanding opposition to the potential U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighters to Turkey. According to a report by Amichai Stein (i24NEWS), Leiter said Israel "never hid" its stance, but that Washington has a broader set of strategic considerations and Israel will respect the final decision.
Leiter's remarks are the latest in a series of Israeli statements on the issue. Previous reports by The Zioneer have covered expressions of concern from Israeli defense and political figures, including a former senior Israeli Air Force officer who urged the government to block the sale, and political commentator Sraya Harush, who said the Israeli defense echelon fears the acquisition. The Zioneer also reported analysis warning that the sale could erode Israel's air superiority in the Mediterranean.
The ambassador's comments come amid signals from the Trump administration that it may approve the transfer to Ankara, which has sought to rejoin the F-35 program after being removed following its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
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- DevelopingIsraeli minister warns Israel will do all it can to block Turkey from getting F-35s
- DevelopingVance says US may sell F-35s to Turkey, needs legal review
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