Full Breakdown
Netanyahu Urges U.S. to Halt Turkey F-35 Sale
7/6/2026, 10:57:01 PM
Core Event: Israeli Prime Minister Opposes U.S. F-35 Transfer
In a phone call with President Donald Trump and an interview on *Fox & Friends*, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United States not to sell F-35 fighter jets or engines to Turkey, warning the transfer would upset the regional power balance.
Background & Context
Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 after buying Russia’s S-400 missile-defence system in 2017. U.S. officials said the Russian system could expose F-35 technology to Moscow.
Key Figures & Groups
Key actors include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, and House members Mike Lawler and Brad Sherman.
Data & Financial Stakes
U.S. officials disclosed a step toward advancing the sale of F110 jet engines to Turkey, a transaction valued at over $700 million. Inclusion of complete F-35 aircraft would add cost, though exact numbers remain undisclosed.
Official Statements & Responses
Netanyahu said Israeli air superiority and U.S. military posture underpin Middle-East stability and that supplying advanced weapons to Turkey would undermine that framework. A senior U.S. official said Trump may ask Erdogan to moderate anti-Israel rhetoric. Vice President Vance confirmed a legal review before any sale. Congressional leaders from both parties have opposed the sale while Turkey retains the S-400 system.
Criticism & Opposition
House members Lawler and Sherman authored a bipartisan letter warning that Erdogan’s “constant and growing anti-Israel rhetoric” and ties to Iran make Turkish participation in the F-35 program unwise. Critics also note Turkey’s support for Hamas and Turkish officials’ calls for Israel’s elimination.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether Cyprus, cited by Netanyahu as “half occupied,” is a NATO member; NATO membership applies only to Greece. The number of aircraft or engines under discussion is unspecified, and source reliability varies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets, because that'll 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,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- “For a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extreme movement that hates America and chants 'Death to America,' from that side of the spectrum, I don't think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- “Turkey is a great country, but it's governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel,” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- “this is a battle of freedom versus fanaticism," he cautioned.” — Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
What’s Next: NATO Summit and Potential Sale
President Trump will meet President Erdogan at the NATO summit in Ankara later this week. The State Department’s recent notice to lawmakers indicates a decision on the F110 engine sale could be made before the summit, pending congressional review.
