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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is navigating a delicate diplomatic challenge as the United States considers selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, with Israeli officials expressing concern that their leader's deference to President Donald Trump may prevent them from mounting the kind of opposition campaign they orchestrated during previous administrations.
Netanyahu met secretly with Lockheed Martin's chief operating officer Frank St. John on the evening of Dec. 1 in Jerusalem to discuss preserving Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East if regional rivals acquire the stealth aircraft. Sources familiar with the meeting described it as protracted and frustrating for the Israelis, according to Al-Monitor.
The Israeli premier is expected to raise the issue when he meets Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 29, but a veteran Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Netanyahu has made a strategic decision to avoid confrontation with the president. "I doubt Trump understands his hold on Netanyahu," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
While Saudi Arabia's potential acquisition of the F-35 has drawn attention following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House late last month, Israeli officials indicate that Türkiye represents their most pressing worry. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech in July 2024 suggesting military action against Israel, stating, "We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these ridiculous things to Palestine. Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them."
The United States removed Türkiye from the F-35 program during Trump's first term after Ankara purchased an air defense system from Russia and imposed sanctions prohibiting advanced hardware sales. However, US envoy to Türkiye Tom Barrack said this week that Washington and Ankara are working to advance the F-35 issue, though hurdles remain.
The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, represents one of the most sophisticated fighter aircraft in existence. Israel has operated the jets since 2017, using them to significant military advantage. The aircraft's stealth capabilities allow it to evade radar detection, while its advanced control systems enable operation independent of ground towers.
The Israeli approach stands in stark contrast to Netanyahu's aggressive lobbying efforts during Democratic administrations. A senior Israeli political source noted that the prime minister would have previously mobilized congressional support and deployed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobby to counter such arms sales, as he did when addressing Congress in 2015 to oppose President Barack Obama's planned nuclear deal with Iran.
"But none of these are an option when keeping Trump on our side is of paramount importance," the political source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
Netanyahu has reportedly been making overtures to Trump aides considered sympathetic to Israel, including the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and UN ambassador Mike Waltz, as well as wealthy Jewish Republican donors like Miriam Adelson. However, the diplomatic source added that Netanyahu ultimately will not say no to Trump, particularly not publicly, about anything.
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Israeli defense officials remain divided on the severity of the threat. Some are attempting to calm concerns by pointing to Israel's years of operational experience with the F-35 and the sophisticated modifications it has installed with US approval, which provide unique capabilities beyond the standard aircraft.
Other experts express deeper worries. A senior Israeli military source told Al-Monitor that the stealth capability and independent control systems would be transferred to Turkish and Saudi forces, potentially compromising Israel's defensive posture. "Our F-35s allowed us to surprise the Iranians and eliminate their air defenses in one fell swoop without being vulnerable," the source said. "This same capability could be turned against Israel, a small and narrow country that needs long advance warning of hostile elements trying to penetrate its airspace."
The source explained to Al-Monitor that Israel's strategic military and civilian targets are concentrated in relatively small, dense areas, making advance warning of airspace penetration essential for defense. The possibility of aircraft appearing in Israeli skies by surprise would significantly complicate defensive operations.
Mike Waltz visited Israel on Dec. 8 and received a briefing from Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder. The briefing reportedly addressed Iranian missile production and outlined the dangers of supplying F-35s to other regional states, as well as potential technology leaks to China.
Some officials in Jerusalem are hoping the deals will collapse on their own, similar to the F-35 sale Trump promised the United Arab Emirates as an incentive to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2020. "We hope it will somehow die, but we know that we can't depend on that," the senior military source said.
The upcoming Mar-a-Lago meeting will also cover Trump's push to implement the second phase of the Gaza peace plan despite Hamas' apparent refusal to disarm, efforts to establish an Israeli-Syrian de-escalation agreement, and the stalled US-backed effort to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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