Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives an interview to CNN on July 7, 2026. (Screenshot)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he spoke several times with Donald Trump ahead of the US president’s visit to Ankara about the need to keep Turkey out of the F-35 program.
“Everybody understands that notwithstanding the personal friendship that President Trump has with [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, it doesn’t make Turkey a friendly country to the United States,” Netanyahu says during an interview with CNN.
During his sit-down with Erdogan earlier today, Trump said he would lift sanctions on Turkey and consider resuming the sale of F-35 jets to Ankara, praised Erdogan as a friend, and said that “we have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal, than other countries.”
Netanyahu on CNN accuses Turkey of being “infected” with the Muslim Brotherhood, threatening EU states, occupying Cyprus, harboring Hamas, and throwing political opponents and journalists in jail.
President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrives for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Osmancan Gürdoğan, Pool Photo via AP)
“He’s not exactly a model ally of the United States,” says Netanyahu, adding that Erdogan threatens to destroy Israel.
Turkey has “aggressive aspirations,” he says.
“This is not a force for peace and stability,” Netanyahu continues, arguing that giving Turkey F-35s will bring “aggression in its wake.”
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
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