By: Fern Sidman
In a significant enhancement to its aerial combat capabilities, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Thursday night received three additional F-35i “Adir” stealth fighter jets, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and reported by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States, touched down at Nevatim Air Force Base, located near Beersheva, where they will immediately be integrated into Israel’s frontline operations.
The arrival of these fifth-generation jets—renowned for their stealth technology, advanced avionics, and versatility in both air superiority and strike missions—brings the total number of F-35is in Israel’s arsenal to 45, marking another milestone in the country’s continued military modernization.
As reported by JNS on Friday, the newly arrived aircraft will join the IAF’s elite 140th “Golden Eagle” Squadron, which has played a central role in Israel’s ongoing “Swords of Iron” war, launched in response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist onslaught against Israeli civilians. In the IDF’s own words, the squadron has been operating “under unprecedented pressure,” conducting offensive and defensive missions across multiple operational theaters.
The IDF underscored the strategic impact of the new aircraft, stating: “The addition of the new aircraft strengthens operational continuity and expands the Air Force’s ability to handle a wide range of threats—with precision, speed and depth.”
These enhancements are especially critical given the evolving nature of the threats Israel faces from Iran-backed militias, long-range missile attacks, and the multi-front threat environment in the region, including in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond.
The F-35i “Adir”, a uniquely modified version of the F-35A tailored specifically for Israel, includes custom Israeli avionics, electronic warfare systems, and weaponry integration. According to previous JNS reporting, Israel is the only country authorized by the U.S. to independently modify its F-35 fleet, allowing the IAF to adapt the aircraft for mission-specific demands and integrate it seamlessly into Israel’s existing command-and-control architecture.
This level of customization gives the IAF a critical edge in intelligence gathering, cyber warfare, and real-time target acquisition, key elements in both preemptive strikes and defensive maneuvers.
Thursday’s delivery is part of Israel’s initial procurement deal of 50 F-35 aircraft, a purchase that began delivery in 2016. In a significant development reported by JNS, the Israeli government finalized an agreement in June 2024 to acquire an additional 25 F-35s, which will bring the future fleet to 75 aircraft.
According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, delivery of this second batch is expected to begin in 2028, at a pace of three to five aircraft per year. This gradual scaling of capability is in line with Israel’s broader defense planning and long-term strategy to maintain regional air dominance, especially in light of Iran’s military entrenchment in Syria and the increasingly sophisticated weaponry in the hands of Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies.
As the JNS report noted, the timing of these aircraft arrivals is particularly crucial. With the Swords of Iron war still ongoing, and Israel facing the constant threat of rocket fire and terrorist infiltration, the introduction of advanced aircraft serves as both a tactical reinforcement and a symbolic message to its adversaries.
The F-35i’s role in Israel’s integrated defense doctrine cannot be overstated. Capable of executing deep-strike operations, suppressing enemy air defenses, and operating in contested electronic environments, the Adir is a force multiplier that enhances the IAF’s ability to neutralize threats before they can reach Israeli population centers.
With 45 F-35i aircraft now in service and 30 more set to arrive over the coming years, Israel is poised to solidify its status as the most advanced air power in the Middle East. As the JNS report indicated, this expansion is not merely about acquiring state-of-the-art hardware—it is about adapting to a new era of asymmetric warfare, cyber threats, and hybrid battlefields where stealth, speed, and precision determine outcomes.
In a region increasingly dominated by uncertainty, Israel’s investment in the F-35 program—and the strengthening of its 140th Squadron—demonstrates its unwavering commitment to defending its citizens, deterring its enemies, and maintaining strategic superiority well into the future
Trump Touts Abraham Accords, Predicts More Normalization Deals With Israel: “Maybe” I Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize
Trump Touts Abraham Accords, Predicts More Normalization Deals With Israel: “Maybe” I Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize
By: Fern Sidman
During a high-profile Oval Office meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Thursday, President Donald Trump reignited the debate over his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, suggesting that his administration’s Abraham Accords might be deserving of the world’s most prestigious peace honor.
“Maybe for the Abraham Accords,” Trump said with a confident grin in response to a reporter’s question about whether he felt worthy of the prize, The Times of Israel reported on Thursday.
The meeting with the Norwegian leader, whose country administers the Nobel Prize, offered a symbolic backdrop for Trump to reflect on the foreign policy legacy of his first term and hint at what may come next.
While the Nobel Committee does not publicly comment on nominees, Trump was formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 and 2021 by several European lawmakers specifically for his role in the Abraham Accords, as was noted in The Times of Israel report.
Though he ultimately did not win, Trump and his supporters have long argued that his administration’s success in achieving Arab-Israeli normalization — without territorial concessions or war — constitutes a landmark achievement worthy of the prize.
Trump didn’t just rest on past achievements — he predicted a surge in countries seeking normalization with Israel, crediting continued U.S. diplomatic efforts under his renewed leadership.
“We are going to be filling it up very rapidly,” Trump said, referring to the Abraham Accords, according to The Times of Israel. “A lot of countries want to come into the Abraham Accords.”
The Abraham Accords, a series of U.S.-brokered agreements established in 2020 between Israel and several Arab states — including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan — marked one of the most significant geopolitical shifts in the Middle East in decades. The accords normalized diplomatic relations and opened avenues for trade, security cooperation, and cultural exchange.
The Times of Israel reported that while critics initially doubted the durability of the agreements, subsequent developments and enduring bilateral ties between Israel and these nations have cemented the Abraham Accords as a cornerstone of Trump’s foreign policy legacy, particularly among pro-Israel voters and international relations experts.
Trump also addressed the high-stakes nuclear negotiations with Iran, suggesting that a new deal may be within reach — while also hinting that military action remains on the table if diplomacy fails.
“There are only two options. One option is not a good option at all,” Trump said, referencing a potential military strike if Tehran pursues a nuclear weapon, as reported by The Times of Israel.
But Trump tempered his remarks with an unexpected note of optimism, stating: “We’re doing very well on an agreement with Iran… that one is well in its way. We could have a very, very good decision, and a lot of lives will be saved.”
His remarks indicate a dramatic potential shift from in his earlier “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which included the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), The Times of Israel report explained. Instead, Trump now appears open to striking a new deal, provided it curtails Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ensures regional stability.
As reported by The Times of Israel, Trump’s comments come at a pivotal time, both domestically and internationally. In recent months, Trump has intensified U.S. engagement with Gulf nations, bolstered military cooperation with Israel, and launched a comprehensive review of U.S. foreign aid tied to antisemitism and extremism abroad. His administration has also linked foreign student visas and federal grants to compliance with anti-terror standards, especially in institutions suspected of harboring anti-Israel sentiment.
In that context, Trump’s Oval Office meeting was as much about diplomatic optics as it was about policy. His references to the Abraham Accords were clearly designed to call attention to his legacy and project future ambitions, not just with Iran but across the wider Arab and Muslim world.
While Trump was characteristically nonchalant when asked if he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize — replying simply “maybe” — The Times of Israel report suggested that the underlying message was more profound: Trump believes the Abraham Accords are far from over.
If additional countries — such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, or Oman — were to join the agreements under Trump’s leadership, his claim to the Peace Prize would only grow stronger.
Whether or not the Nobel Committee agrees, Trump’s renewed push for Middle East normalization, combined with his potentially game-changing nuclear negotiations with Iran, ensures that foreign policy will remain a central pillar of his second-term agenda — and a defining element of his presidential legacy.