Thanks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deeply disruptive policies, Israel’s foreign policy is faltering, bringing unprecedented embarrassment and reputational damage to a country once regarded as the closest regional ally of the United States and Europe. But the setback that it received on Monday from the United States was more than it could bear.

Netanyahu’s criticism of the arms deal between Türkiye and the U.S., mainly regarding the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara, fell flat when U.S. President Donald Trump categorically rejected the Israeli reaction.

“Nobody tells me what we should be selling,” Trump said while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One.

To the chagrin of Israel, Trump counted Türkiye as a “tremendous ally” and acknowledged its "very good job" in the region, particularly in Syria, and considered the bilateral partnership between the two countries strong.

Reacting to the deal on F-35 fighter jets, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Trump has taken a "positive approach."

The development has further isolated Israel, which cries wolf over Türkiye’s support for Hamas, its vocal opposition to Israel over military actions in Gaza and neighboring countries, and a broader rivalry for regional influence.