Netanyahu urges Trump against Turkish F-35 sale while backing US efforts on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US President Donald Trump not to approve the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey, saying such a move would upset the regional military balance, while expressing cautious support for Washington's diplomatic efforts with Iran despite reservations over a recent agreement.

Speaking during a visit to Washington, Netanyahu said providing the advanced fighter aircraft to Turkey would "destroy the power balance in the Middle East."

He argued that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's government was "infected with the Muslim Brotherhood" and said Turkey was not a "friendly state" or a "model ally" of the United States, says CNN.

Despite the disagreement over Turkey, Netanyahu sought to play down broader differences with Trump, saying the two leaders see "eye-to-eye" on most major issues.

Netanyahu also took a measured approach to a new US-Iran ceasefire agreement, saying Trump should be "given the chance" to pursue diplomacy despite his own doubts about the negotiations.

The agreement ended a conflict that Netanyahu had wanted to continue, lifted oil sanctions on Iran and reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. However, it did not address Iran's nuclear programme, ballistic missile capabilities or support for regional proxy groups, issues that Israel has long identified as key security concerns.

Netanyahu, who strongly opposed the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement negotiated under former US President Barack Obama, stopped short of publicly criticising the latest US initiative, saying he remained sceptical but would allow Trump's approach to unfold.

The Israeli leader also criticised US Democratic politicians who have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of Israel.

He singled out New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani over comments about religious privilege and Representative Haley Stevens for suggesting Netanyahu's actions were making American Jews less safe.

Netanyahu rejected suggestions that his government's policies were driving declining public support for Israel in the United States, instead blaming social media for changing public opinion.

Addressing a rise in settler violence in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu described those responsible as a small group of "juvenile delinquents" and said lenient Israeli courts had failed to hold offenders accountable.

Human rights groups, however, have reported more than 300 incidents of settler violence in a single month and have documented cases in which Israeli soldiers were present during attacks. The reports come as Israel continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, which most countries consider illegal under international law, a view Israel disputes.