Netanyahu on CNN hours after Trump hailed Erdogan: Turkey not a ‘friendly country’ to the US

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.

“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.”