Activists have launched a global campaign to undermine production of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, one of the crown jewels of the U.S. air force. Across the world, activists closely tied to the radical anti-Israel movement are pressuring airports, protesting companies, demanding arms embargoes, and even engaging in more militant direct actions.
In a recent letter to FBI director Kash Patel, Senator Tom Cotton highlighted just one instance of this movement: viral comments from Aisha Nizar, a steering committee member of the Palestinian Youth Movement’s “Mask Off Maersk” campaign, which targets the global shipping giant. Nizar called on activists to “intervene” in the F-35’s “supply chains.” Representative Paulina Luna, an Air Force veteran, has raised concerns as well.
Lawmakers, federal partners, and international allies need to understand the breadth of this effort. The F-35 has become a global rallying point for the far Left, sparking protests across Europe and even leading to militants’ destruction of a security firm’s office for its role in manufacturing components of the jet. Left unchecked, this movement could pose a serious threat to American military readiness.
Why target the F-35? The plane is a product of international collaboration. Many NATO countries contributed to its development. Outside the United States, 19 nations use F-35s. This global footprint is a strategic asset for joint operations, but it also makes the program a lightning rod for criticism. Israel’s deployment of the F-35 in its war with Hamas has drawn further scrutiny from far-left activists.
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