Zionist Organization of America slams Trump administration’s plan to sell F-35 to Saudi Arabia

ISTANBUL

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) on Monday criticized the Trump administration over its reported intention to authorize the sale of advanced US F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia ahead of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington.

The group argued that approving the sale would violate long-standing US commitments to preserve Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge and risk exposing sensitive American defense technologies.

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein called the proposed transfer “one of the most dangerous US military transfers in modern history.”

"Selling F-35s to Saudi Arabia would substantially impair Israel's qualitative military edge and would put extremely sensitive American technology within reach of regimes that are hostile to US interests," Klein said.

"An F-35 can reach Israel in minutes. Giving Saudi Arabia a fleet larger than Israel's is not only reckless, it violates US law and common sense," he added.

The group cited 22 US Code § 2776(h), which obligates Washington to maintain Israel’s ability to confront regional threats with minimal losses.

According to ZOA, approving Saudi Arabia’s request for 48 F-35s, reportedly exceeding Israel's current fleet, would directly contradict this requirement.

Successive US administrations have considered selling advanced weapons to Gulf states, but Washington has traditionally restricted such transfers to ensure Israel retains a decisive military advantage.