Netanyahu Pushes Back on Possible U.S.-Turkey Arms Deal: "It Would Seriously Damage the Balance of Power in the Middle East"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a second interview to Fox News on Monday, his second in less than 24 hours, as part of an effort to strengthen Israel’s diplomatic messaging in the United States and prevent a possible U.S. deal to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

In the interview, Netanyahu took aim at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: “Turkey is a great country, but it is ruled by a man who openly calls for the destruction of Israel. Erdogan maintains the occupation of half of Cyprus and threatens Greece — both NATO member states — and also speaks openly about conquering Jerusalem.”

“His foreign minister said the Jewish state has no place in humanity and should be erased, and his interior minister said he hopes to one day be governor of Jerusalem. This is a regime infected with the extremist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, which hates America and also calls out, 'Death to America.'”

Turkthe emerging deal to sell fighter jets to Turkey, Netanyahu said: “I do not think they should be given F-35s, or even the engines for their fighter jets. Such a move would seriously damage the balance of power in the Middle East, which rests first and foremost on Israel’s air superiority and the American presence in the region.”

Netanyahu contrasted Turkey’s support for terror groups with the strong alliance between Israel and the United States. “They fund and host Hamas, roll out the red carpet for them, and support the wrong side. They did not lift a finger to help you against Iran — we did.”

In the interview, Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat and Tehran’s proxies. Speaking about Iran’s ayatollah regime, he said: “They have several hundred thousand thugs who murder in broad daylight, and at night they murder their own people. They have killed more than 40,000 of their own citizens, and that is why they are still in power.”

Netanyahu made a similar comparison regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. According to him, Hezbollah, which operates as an Iranian proxy, threatens Lebanon’s citizens and government at gunpoint, even as the government demands its removal.

Referring to Hamas in Gaza, Netanyahu argued that it is another Iranian proxy that murders people and shoots civilians in the back if they refuse to accept tyrannical rule.

Asked about a possible visit to the White House, Netanyahu replied that no date has yet been set and said he is interested in “progress in the peace process with Lebanon.” According to him, “The fact that we landed a heavy blow on the Iranian regime and significantly weakened it opens the way to additional peace agreements. That is what I would like to advance.”

The prime minister was again asked about tensions between Jerusalem and the White House and replied: “Israel and the United States see eye to eye on almost every issue. You can imagine that the president has his way of expressing himself, and I have mine, but we are the best of allies.”