Israel’s Open Objection to an F-35 Sale
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, in an interview with the Greece-based newspaper Kathimerini, stated that Israel is still opposed to the possibility of Turkey purchasing F-35 fighter jets from the United States.
Haskel expressed his reservations regarding a potential sale with the following words:
“We have reservations regarding a possible sale. A large part of the technology inside the aircraft is technology produced by Israel. And quite frankly, we will not share that with them.”
Statement After the Trump–Netanyahu Meeting
Kathimerini spoke with Haskel one day after the talks between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which concluded last week at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Haskel said that Trump’s statements indicating that he was “very seriously considering” the sale of F-35s to Turkey had caused concern in Israel, adding: “Even if Turkey were to acquire these aircraft, Israeli technology will not be part of such an agreement.”
Turkey–Israel Relations at Their Lowest Point in History
The report emphasised that relations between Turkey and Israel are probably at their lowest point in history. It was noted that both countries view each other as major rivals in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, while Turkey’s support for Hamas was cited as one of the main factors increasing Israel’s security concerns.
Why Was Turkey Removed from the F-35 Programme?
Turkey, which had been planned to take part in the F-35 fighter jet programme as a joint producer at one stage, was removed from the programme due to its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system. During this process, Ankara was subjected to sanctions under the US Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Greece–Israel Relations Are Strengthening
Meanwhile, it was stated that relations between Greece and Israel are experiencing their strongest period in recent years. While there is close cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy and security, it was also recalled that Greece has purchased various weapons systems from Israel.
Haskel made the following assessment regarding this cooperation:
“I think that cooperation between Greece and Israel on defence mechanisms is extremely important and can make a major contribution to security and safety in the future.”
