In a new analysis, Israeli journalist Amit Segal argues that the Trump administration's push to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Turkey is unjustified, citing Ankara's continued possession of Russian S-400 systems, refusal to sanction Russia, hospitality to Hamas leadership, and threats against Israel. Segal notes that Netanyahu tried to derail the deal and that Congress may still block it, offering Israel a window to act.
The piece, published Tuesday afternoon, follows a series of developments in the F-35 saga. As The Zioneer reported, the New York Times revealed on Monday that President Trump is set to signal readiness to return Turkey to the F-35 program (relation: SAME-THREAD, published Tue 05:51 Jerusalem). Later that day, Erdogan confirmed that the U.S. had promised five F-35s and that Trump would move to lift CAATSA sanctions (relation: SAME-THREAD, published Tue 16:19 Jerusalem). Netanyahu's office has publicly warned that the sale would erode Israel's qualitative military edge, and security officials pressed him to urgently speak with Trump (relation: BACKGROUND, published Mon Jul 6, 22:28 Jerusalem). Segal's analysis echoes these concerns but zeroes in on the trust deficit: Turkey has not met the conditions set after its 2019 purchase of the S-400, and the administration's proposed workarounds—inactivating the S-400s or handing them to a third party—are legally dubious. He also notes that the sale would face a one-to-two year gauntlet in Congress and production queues, giving Israel time to lobby for compensatory measures or entry into the next-generation F-47 program.
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
- DevelopingFormer Israeli Air Force official urges government to block potential US F-35 sale to Turkey
- StrongIsrael's diplomatic campaign to block F-35 sale to Turkey intensifies
- StrongTrump says he will consider selling F-35s to Turkey
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