Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a formal appeal to President Trump on the eve of Trump's visit to Turkey, urging him not to complete the sale of F-35 fighter jets, warning the Turkish regime is 'contaminated by the Muslim Brotherhood' and 'calls in practice for the elimination of Israel,' according to Israeli media reports.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made a formal appeal to President Trump on Monday, ahead of Trump's state visit to Turkey, urging the American president not to proceed with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara. The statement, reported by N12 political correspondent Asaf Yekhazkeli, described a 'formal appeal' (קריאה רשמית) to the president — a public diplomatic statement rather than a direct phone call. Netanyahu warned that Turkey's regime is 'contaminated by the Muslim Brotherhood' and that its president openly calls for 'the elimination of Israel.' He argued that selling F-35s to Turkey would threaten the regional balance and Israeli security.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, Netanyahu has been publicly opposing the F-35 transfer, warning that Erdogan 'threatens Israel's existence' and that Turkey 'does not deserve F-35s.' The prime minister's latest statement comes amid reports that the Trump administration is considering readmitting Turkey to the F-35 program, from which it was removed after acquiring the Russian S-400 air defense system. The ongoing diplomatic push has drawn sharp responses from the Israeli security establishment and American commentators, including conservative journalist Mark Levin, who had previously urged Trump to halt the transfer.
The prime minister's appeal has not yet drawn a public response from the White House. The F-35 sale remains a point of strategic contention between Jerusalem and Washington, as Israeli officials warn that equipping Turkey with the stealth fighter would erode Israel's qualitative military edge in the eastern Mediterranean.
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