In an interview on Fox News, the Israeli prime minister praised the alliance with the United States and argued that the Turkish government should not accept F-35 fighter jets.
Published July 6, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his relationship with US President Donald Trump is “okay”, denying reports of a rift between the two leaders over a ceasefire between Iran and Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the United States and President Trump.
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“America has been a tremendous force for good. Without America, there would be no democracy in the world, and there would be no freedom in the world,” he said.
The Israeli prime minister added that he and Trump agree on “almost everything.”
His comments came as some Israeli ministers criticized a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran calling for a regional ceasefire, including in Lebanon.
Israel has refused to withdraw from Lebanon, insisting it has the right to bomb the country at any time in response to “threats.” An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Monday killed four civilians, including a teacher.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said that while there may be differences of opinion between the United States and Israel, the two countries are “model allies.”
“We have a good relationship with the president and we have a way to resolve our differences as mutually respectful allies,” he said.
the prime minister approved He said he plans to visit the United States again soon, but the date has not been set. trip.
Asked about his agenda during the visit, Netanyahu took aim at Turkiye, saying he would lobby against the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey.
“I don’t think they should be given F-35s or fighter jet engines, because that would upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority, and I think also by the U.S. posture in the Middle East,” he said.
Mr. Turkiye, a NATO ally of the United States, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
President Trump is scheduled to visit Ankara later this week for a NATO summit.
Prime Minister Netanyahu sought to draw parallels between Israel and Turkiye.
“They didn’t lift a finger to help you in Iran. We did,” he told Fox News, a conservative U.S. media network watched primarily by President Trump’s voters. “We are exemplary allies who fought alongside your great soldiers.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for decades called on the United States to attack Iran, and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran broke out on February 28, but he has proven overwhelmingly unpopular with American voters.
Some Israeli commentators and politicians have escalated their rhetoric against Turkiye, suggesting the country is a regional rival and target second only to Iran.
Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned against Israeli efforts to undermine the US-Iran deal.
“We are closely monitoring the Israeli government’s attempts to dynamite the agreement,” he said. “We must not allow the current war-addicted Israeli government to once again submerge our geography with the smell of gunpowder and blood.”
