Loyalty to Israel: Who is panicked by the mere mention of F-35s?

U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion during a NATO summit visit that sanctions could be lifted and F-35 fighter jets provided to Türkiye has ignited a strong backlash from Israel, Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration, and their associated lobbying groups in the United States.

Israeli journalists and members of the U.S. Congress, described as "salaried employees" of lobbying groups, immediately took action. A group of House Democrats, led by Representative Dina Titus and funded by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), introduced legislation to block the sale of F-110 jet engines to Türkiye. They cited Türkiye's alleged aggressive posture towards Greece and Cyprus, its support for Azerbaijan, and its anti-Israel position as reasons for opposition.

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If Trump is truly set on selling advanced fighters to Islamists, Israel and its supporters are his greatest obstacle.

Numerous members of Congress from both parties, many known for receiving substantial funding from AIPAC and similar pro-Israel organizations, also voiced their opposition. These reactions primarily served Israel's interests, with subsequent concerns raised for Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration. Lobbyists have reportedly paid some members of Congress significantly.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly pleaded against the F-35 delivery, arguing it would disrupt the power balance in the Middle East and undermine Israel's air superiority. He also characterized Türkiye's actions in Cyprus and its stance on Jerusalem as threatening, stating that Israel and the U.S. share the same values, unlike Türkiye. A former Mossad official also identified Türkiye's growing military capabilities as a strategic threat to Israel.

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They are not like us. We, Israel and the U.S., share the same values.