The United States is weighing reviving a controversial arms deal with Turkey, and Israeli officials are raising quiet but pointed objections to the possible sale of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to a government they now view with growing suspicion—and no small measure of alarm.

According to senior Israeli officials, Jerusalem has conveyed diplomatic messages to the Trump administration opposing any move to approve the sale, citing concerns over the erosion of Israel’s qualitative military edge in an increasingly volatile region. The messages, which have not been made public, reflect mounting unease within Israel’s security establishment as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey sharpens his rhetoric against the Jewish state.

In recent months, Erdogan has taken on an increasingly bellicose tone, referring to Israel as a “terror state” and declaring, “May Allah destroy Zionist Israel.” The remarks, while not unprecedented, come at a moment of strained regional diplomacy and have raised questions among Israeli officials about Ankara’s strategic intentions.

Yet, the Trump administration appears undeterred. During a recent White House press conference, President Trump struck an affectionate note toward Erdogan, calling him “a friend” and recounting a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I told the prime minister: Bibi, if you have a problem with Turkey, I’ll help you solve it,” Trump said, in what Israeli officials interpreted less as reassurance and more as indifference.

Despite these remarks, there is little indication that Washington has sought to temper Erdogan’s rhetoric or policy toward Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to speak regularly with Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and Trump himself maintains direct lines of communication with Erdogan.

In Jerusalem, the concern extends beyond language. According to officials briefed on recent intelligence, Turkish fighter jets operating over Syria have reportedly broadcast radio warnings to Israeli aircraft near Damascus—an unprecedented move that has raised questions about the nature and limits of Turkish military posture in the region.

Meanwhile, Israel and Turkey have engaged in two rounds of talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, aimed at deconfliction in Syria. The United States has not been invited to participate. The discussions have yielded little progress.

Speaking to members of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week, Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s opposition to the F-35 sale and described ongoing diplomatic efforts to halt it. Lawmakers present emerged with the impression that the sale may be moving forward regardless.

The concern is not without precedent. In 2019, the U.S. suspended Turkey from the F-35 program after it acquired the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, citing the risk that Russia could gain access to sensitive technology. That decision, made under the Trump administration, marked a significant rupture in U.S.-Turkish defense cooperation.

Now, Israeli officials fear that rupture may be quietly healing—and at their expense. “There is a strategic shift underway,” one Israeli official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “If Turkey acquires F-35s, it changes the regional balance. It puts our air superiority—and our deterrence—at risk.”

For now, the Trump administration has made no formal announcement, and officials in Washington have not commented publicly on the potential sale. But in Jerusalem, there is a growing sense that decisions are being made behind closed doors—and that Israel, once a privileged partner in such discussions, may be finding itself increasingly on the outside.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)