Prime Minister Netanyahu said Monday that Turkish President Erdogan, whom he described as controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, openly calls for the destruction of Israel, threatens to invade Jerusalem, and poses a threat to regional stability. Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, warning it would endanger Israeli security.
Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday sharpened his criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing him as a leader "controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood" and warning that Erdogan openly threatens to invade Jerusalem. The remarks were part of a broader public campaign against the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which Netanyahu has warned would endanger Israeli security.
The statements came in a coordinated push on Monday afternoon. As The Zioneer reported at 14:36 Jerusalem, Netanyahu issued a formal appeal to President Trump to block the F-35 sale, calling the Turkish regime "contaminated by the Muslim Brotherhood" and accusing it of calling for Israel's destruction. In a separate statement, he said he sees eye-to-eye with Trump on 99% of issues while urging against the deal. The new remarks add a specific reference to an invasion of Jerusalem, a threat Erdogan has made in the past.
The Zioneer has been tracking the F-35 issue for weeks. On June 25, Israeli analysts warned that the Trump administration's reported push to sell the stealth fighters to Ankara threatened Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean. Earlier this week, American commentator Mark Levin blasted Trump over the reported sale, and MK Amit Halevi called Erdogan's threats a strategic challenge. The prime minister's appeal comes ahead of Trump's planned state visit to Turkey.
It remains unclear whether the White House will proceed with the sale, which has drawn bipartisan criticism in the United States.
6 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: Turkey must not get F-35 engines, would upset Mideast power balance
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
- StrongNetanyahu warns Erdogan: 'We have proven what we can do'
- DevelopingMark Levin blasts Trump over reported F-35 sale to Turkey
Source and signal
- Internal intake