President Donald Trump has stated that Benjamin Netanyahu will have no say in whether the U.S. sells F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, Israel's regional rival. The remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office. Trump emphasized that Turkey, despite its strained relations with Israel, remains a key U.S. ally. Israel opposes the sale, arguing it would disrupt regional power dynamics. However, U.S. law currently bars the sale due to Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2019.
Trump also asserted that Israel's survival depends on U.S. support, citing his administration's decision to terminate the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama. He noted that relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated significantly in recent years, with Netanyahu criticizing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government as aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The upcoming Israeli election on October 27 is expected to be pivotal, with Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition potentially advancing policies that could further weaken judicial independence and deepen societal divisions. Meanwhile, U.S. bipartisan support for Israel is fraying, with Democrats increasingly concerned over Israel's democratic trajectory and the humanitarian impact of its actions in Gaza.