Israel has reiterated its opposition to Turkey acquiring advanced F-35 fighter jets from the United States, citing concerns over Israeli technology embedded in the aircraft, the country’s deputy foreign minister said.
“We have reservations… A lot of the technology inside the airplane is technology produced by Israel. And obviously this is not something that we will share with them,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told Kathimerini.
Haskel’s comments came a day after US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Trump has said he is “very seriously considering” an agreement to sell F-35s to Turkey, prompting Israeli concerns that sensitive technology could be exposed.
“Even if they do get those airplanes, Israeli technology will not be part of such an agreement,” Haskel added.
Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated, with both countries viewing each other as strategic rivals in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. Israel’s distrust has grown amid Turkey’s support for Hamas.
Turkey was initially involved in F-35 production but was later excluded following its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system and subsequent US sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
By contrast, Greece and Israel have strengthened defense and energy cooperation, with Greece procuring Israeli weapons systems. “The cooperation between Greece and Israel on defense mechanisms is extremely important and can contribute a lot to security and safety in the future,” Haskel said.