By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News

A prominent American pro-Israel organization has issued a strong warning to U.S. policymakers over proposed arms sales to Saudi Arabia, arguing that the transfer of advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets to Middle Eastern monarchies poses grave risks to both American and Israeli security interests.

In a detailed statement released on Sunday, Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) urged Congress to act immediately to prevent any future sale of U.S. F-35s or other advanced weapon systems to authoritarian regimes in the Gulf region. The group, which has long been a stalwart advocate for Israel’s security and a vigilant critic of American arms transfers to unstable governments, said the potential deal with Saudi Arabia could lead to unintended and catastrophic consequences.

“Putting F-35s in the hands of Arab dictators is extremely risky,” declared Moshe Phillips, Chairman of AFSI. “America’s most sophisticated fighter jets should not be sold to authoritarian rulers. Undemocratic regimes are inherently unstable, and that is especially true in the Middle East. What will happen if the dictators of nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Bahrain—countries that regularly seek American-made weapons—are replaced by forces hostile to America and Israel? Will the new rulers return those F-35s to the United States? Somehow, I doubt it.”

Phillips’ warning comes amid renewed discussions in Washington about defense cooperation with Riyadh, following reports of a possible multi-billion-dollar F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia as part of broader U.S.-brokered normalization efforts between Israel and the Kingdom. The proposed deal, still under negotiation, would mark one of the largest arms transactions in the Middle East in years.

In its statement, AFSI pointed to a recent Israeli Air Force operation as a sobering reminder of how American weapons can fall into adversarial hands. On June 16, an Israeli drone strike destroyed two U.S.-made F-14 fighter jets stationed at an Iranian airbase, mere minutes before they were scheduled to take off.

The aircraft, originally supplied to Iran decades ago by the United States during the reign of the Shah, had been intended to bolster a then-stable and pro-Western ally. However, those same jets eventually became part of the arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following the 1979 revolution that brought the country’s current theocratic regime to power.

According to AFSI, the lesson of Iran’s F-14 fleet should serve as a clear warning for policymakers in Washington. “It must be remembered that when America sold the jets to Iran it seemed like a risk-free decision,” Phillips said. “The U.S. did not sell these fighter jets to the current Islamic Republic of Iran, but to the Imperial State of Iran, which existed before the Islamic extremists took power in Tehran in the 1979 revolution. Now is the time for action on Capitol Hill against the sale of advanced U.S. weapon systems to dictator-led regimes in the Gulf.”

AFSI’s statement underscored what it described as a recurring pattern: well-intentioned arms sales to ostensibly friendly governments that later collapse, leaving cutting-edge American weaponry in the hands of hostile actors. The group warned that the volatile political landscape of the Middle East, where governments can shift dramatically within months, makes any such sale particularly perilous.

As one of America’s oldest and most outspoken pro-Israel advocacy groups, AFSI has consistently opposed policies that could erode Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME)—the strategic doctrine ensuring that Israel retains superior defense capabilities over potential adversaries in the region.

AFSI’s leadership expressed concern that providing Gulf monarchies with F-35 fighter jets—widely regarded as the most advanced aircraft in the world—would narrow that edge and potentially compromise Israel’s long-term security.

“Even if today’s Arab regimes are aligned with American interests,” the group cautioned, “there is no guarantee that tomorrow’s rulers will share those priorities.” Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain—despite their cooperation with Washington and Tel Aviv in recent years—remain authoritarian states where political dissent is suppressed and power is concentrated in ruling families.

AFSI’s analysis also emphasized the technological and strategic risks associated with transferring such advanced systems. The F-35’s stealth capabilities, combat sensors, and radar-evading technology are among the most closely guarded military secrets in the world. “Once these jets are delivered, there is no way to ensure that their software and systems will not be compromised, reverse-engineered, or shared with hostile powers,” Phillips added.

Some U.S. defense officials have privately voiced similar apprehensions, particularly given the growing defense and intelligence ties between Saudi Arabia and China. Beijing’s involvement in Gulf infrastructure and surveillance technology has raised alarms that any transfer of sensitive American defense systems could inadvertently expose U.S. and Israeli military innovations to Chinese intelligence.

AFSI’s call to action represents part of a broader push among pro-Israel and national security organizations to reassess U.S. arms export policy in the Middle East. Advocates are pressing for new legislative safeguards that would require enhanced congressional oversight before approving sales of cutting-edge weapons to non-democratic states.

“Congress must act to prevent future sales of advanced weapon systems to Middle Eastern authoritarian regimes,” the organization stated unequivocally. According to AFSI, such measures would not only protect American strategic interests but also uphold moral and democratic principles that underpin the nation’s foreign policy.

The group’s stance aligns with growing skepticism in Congress, where several lawmakers—both Republican and Democrat—have expressed concerns about deepening U.S. military entanglements in the Gulf. Recent bipartisan proposals have sought to impose stricter conditions on arms sales, including guarantees that recipient governments respect human rights, maintain transparency, and refrain from intelligence-sharing with U.S. adversaries.

Founded in 1970, Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI) is one of the oldest and most influential pro-Israel advocacy organizations in the United States. The group’s mission is to promote public awareness of Israel’s security needs and to serve as a counterbalance to anti-Israel propaganda and misinformation.

AFSI operates as an independent educational and advocacy entity, unaffiliated with any political party in either the United States or Israel. Through policy papers, community outreach, and legislative engagement, AFSI has consistently advanced a platform of uncompromising support for Israel’s sovereignty and security.

The organization’s campaigns have often focused on ensuring that U.S. foreign policy decisions align with the goal of preserving Israel’s safety, particularly in the face of threats from Iran, Hezbollah, and other hostile actors.

In concluding its latest statement, AFSI reaffirmed its commitment to vigilance in U.S.-Israel relations: “America must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Once these weapons leave American soil, they can never be fully controlled again. Congress must act now to ensure that America’s most advanced technologies do not end up in the hands of those who could one day use them against our allies—or against us.”

Further information about the organization’s activities and policy positions is available at www.afsi.org..