Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is urging the United States not to sell F-35 fighter jets or advanced jet engines to Turkey, warning that such a move would undermine Israel’s military edge and destabilize the Middle East.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News ahead of President Donald Trump’s trip to the NATO summit in Turkey, Netanyahu said Ankara’s current leadership is “infected with the Muslim Brotherhood” and should not receive advanced American military technology.

“I don’t think they should be given F-35s or engines for their fighter aircraft,” Netanyahu said. “It would undermine the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately ensured by Israel’s air superiority and America’s presence in the region.”

Netanyahu described Turkey as a major regional power but sharply criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, noting that the Turkish leader has openly threatened Israel’s destruction and pointing to Turkey’s continued control of northern Cyprus.

Addressing reports of tensions with President Trump over the recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, Netanyahu downplayed any rift between Jerusalem and Washington.

“We see eye to eye on almost everything,” Netanyahu said. “We have disagreements from time to time, but we resolve them because we are allies.”

“The president has his way of expressing himself, and I have mine,” he added, stressing that differences are handled through direct discussions. “We are allies. We are your model ally.”

Netanyahu also said Israel hopes recent developments in the region will pave the way for additional peace agreements, arguing that weakening the Iranian regime has created new diplomatic opportunities.

Warning once again about Iran, Netanyahu said the Islamic Republic “is not a friend of America” and must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons or the means to deliver them.

“This is a battle between freedom and fanaticism,” he said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)