Zionist Organization of America National President Morton Klein warned that Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to purchase advanced frontline F-35 jet fighters from the U.S.
Klein said Saudi Arabia has moved away from normalization with Israel and is now pursuing policies he described as hostile to U.S. and Israeli interests.
In a statement, Klein said hopes that Saudi Arabia would join the Abraham Accords have faded, arguing that Riyadh has instead "sharply moved in a dangerous, opposite direction."
Klein pointed to what he described as Saudi Arabia's expanded ties with "radical Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood regimes," including Turkey, Qatar, Iran, and Yemen's Al Islah, along with actions he said targeted Abraham Accords signatories such as the United Arab Emirates.
He cited a December 2025 incident in which Saudi Arabia allegedly attacked an Emirati weapons shipment in Yemen, saying it allowed "Muslim Brotherhood-allied Al Islah forces to expand," and accused Riyadh of increasing "antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-UAE propaganda."
As an example, Klein highlighted a January 22, 2026, article in the Saudi government-aligned newspaper Al-Jazirah that accused the UAE of being "a dagger in the back of the Arab nation" and labeled the country "the Israeli Trojan horse in the Arab world."
Klein said that rhetoric reflects a decisive shift, stating that Saudi Arabia "no longer pursues peace with Israel" and is "embracing the horrific tenets of the extremist antisemitic Muslim Brotherhood."
He also cited Saudi media commentary claiming that peace between Jews and Muslims is only possible if Jews convert to Islam, along with editorials accusing Israel of spreading "ruin and destruction" and condemning U.S. policy under President Donald Trump.
In light of those developments, Klein urged the United States to reconsider selling F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
He warned that Saudi Arabia's September 2025 mutual defense agreement with Pakistan could expose sensitive U.S. technology, and cited Riyadh's restored relations with Iran, participation in U.N. efforts pressuring Israel, and recent Chinese-Saudi military cooperation.
"These concerns have become even more pressing today," Klein said.
Analysis published Sunday by The National Interest aligns with Klein's assessment, concluding that Saudi Arabia has turned away from normalization with Israel and U.S. alignment in the Middle East.
The outlet reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has criticized Israel, built new regional partnerships, and reduced reliance on Israel as Iran's power has weakened.
The analysis also warned that U.S. approval of F-35 sales to Riyadh could threaten Israel's qualitative military edge, particularly as Saudi Arabia grows more hostile toward Israel and closer to countries such as Turkey and Pakistan.
The analysis concluded that Trump would be wise to reassess regional dynamics before moving forward with advanced arms transfers.
Jim Mishler ✉
Jim Mishler, a seasoned reporter, anchor and news director, has decades of experience covering crime, politics and environmental issues.
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