Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if the US gives Turkey F-35 fighter jets, it may upset the balance of power in the Middle East and threaten Israeli air superiority in the region during an interview with Fox and Friends on Monday.
“Turkey is a great country, but it's governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel,” Netanyahu said in reference to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “He occupies half of Cyprus, a NATO country. He's threatening Greece, another NATO country, and he talks openly about conquering Jerusalem.”
He drew attention to the presence and influence of the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group in Turkey, asserting that Ankara’s leadership is “a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood,” that “hates America and chants death to America.”
Netanyahu added that giving Ankara F-35s or fighter jet engines would “upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by, I think, by America's posture in the Middle East.”
Netanyahu also cited Turkish support for Hamas and lack of action against the Islamic regime in Iran as further reasons why US President Donald Trump should not help Ankara acquire F-35s.
Trump is set to meet with Erdogan this week during the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
Netanyahu denies claims of strained relationship with Trump
Netanyahu also denied experiencing any substantial strain in his relationship with Trump, telling Fox that they "see eye-to-eye on just about everything” and “are the best of allies."
When asked about Trump's comments indicating some tension between the two, Netanyahu dismissed them, saying, "The president has his way of expressing things and so do I."
Netanyahu also told Fox that he has not yet set a date for his upcoming meeting with Trump, which was announced on Friday.
He said he hopes to discuss the Israel-Lebanon peace deal during the meeting to advance the implementation of the US-facilitated agreement.