Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly urged U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent phone call to refrain from selling advanced military weapons and systems to Turkey. Netanyahu expressed his dissatisfaction with comments made by Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regarding Israel.
According to the Times of Israel, citing Israel’s Channel 12, Netanyahu raised concerns over enhancing Turkey's military capabilities. This comes as the U.S. and Turkey prepare to discuss Turkey's potential re-entry into the F-35 fighter jet program during the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
An American official has indicated that Trump is expected to request Erdogan to tone down his rhetoric against Israel amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv have deteriorated significantly since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza. Both sides have exchanged accusations, with Erdogan describing Israeli operations in the region as "genocide" and likening the Israeli Prime Minister to Adolf Hitler, thus escalating political and diplomatic tensions.