Benjamin Netanyahu called on the United States not to proceed with the sale of advanced weapons systems to Turkey, as U.S. President Donald Trump heads to Turkey for the NATO summit.

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu launched a fierce attack on Ankara, describing Turkey as “a regime tainted by the Muslim Brotherhood.”

“I don’t believe they should be given F-35s or engines for their fighter jets,” he said, following Trump’s remarks last month that he might agree to the sale of F110 engines for Turkish fighter jets and to Turkey’s return to the F-35 program.

“The balance of power will be disrupted”

Netanyahu argued that such a move could “upend the balance of power in the Middle East,” which, he said, is ensured by Israel’s air superiority as well as by the U.S. presence in the region.

The Israeli prime minister described Turkey as “a great country,” but strongly criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As he put it, Turkey is ruled by a leader who “openly threatens Israel with destruction” and “occupies half of Cyprus.”

“With Trump, we see almost everything the same way”

Netanyahu also noted that no date has yet been set for his visit to Washington and his meeting with Trump, while he sought to downplay recent disagreements over the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

“We see almost everything the same way,” he said of his relationship with the U.S. president. “We have disagreements from time to time, but we resolve them because we are allies,” he added, noting that the two sides openly discuss their differences.

“The president has his own way of expressing himself, and I have mine,” he said. “We are allies. We are your model ally,” he emphasized.

“A Battle for Freedom Against Fanaticism”

Referring to Iran, Netanyahu stressed that the Islamic Republic “is no friend of America” and that it must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons or the means to deliver them. “It is a battle of freedom against fanaticism,” he said.

When asked why the Iranian regime remains in power, he replied that it has “several hundred thousand thugs who kill and murder their own citizens day and night.”

Netanyahu also noted that Israel wishes to see progress in the peace process with Lebanon, arguing that the weakening of Iran “has paved the way for more peace agreements.”

In closing, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States, he described the U.S. as “a tremendous force for good,” saying that “without America, there would be no democracy or freedom in the world.” “God bless America,” he concluded.

Source: Protothema.gr