Netanyahu Vows to Brief Washington on Erdoğan's 'Daily' Calls for Israel's Destruction

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers at Sunday's cabinet meeting that Israel takes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's anti-Israel rhetoric 'very seriously' and will brief the Trump administration on the threats. 'Hardly a day goes by that Erdoğan doesn't call for the destruction of the State of Israel,' Netanyahu said, adding, 'If we have learned one thing in the history of our people, when someone says he intends to destroy you, take him seriously. We will also draw the attention of our American friends to these statements.' The remarks came as a bipartisan US congressional group sent letters to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth opposing the proposed F-35 transfer to Turkey, citing risks to Israel, Greece and Cyprus from Ankara's Russian-built S-400 systems. After the cabinet, MK Amit Halevi (Likud) called for shuttering the Turkish consulate in Jerusalem, alleging it facilitates Hamas activity.