New F-35's for Israel; Less Toys for Christmas.
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell. Just a few hours from now, Israel begins taking delivery of the most advanced stealth fighter jets in the world. The F-35 lightning as what it's called, the U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter will be there for the ceremony. CNN's Ian Lee explains the American warplanes equip the capabilities of everything else in the Middle East.</s>IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Barrage jets screech across the summer sky, Israel surprise attack destroys hundreds of Egyptian planes in hours. Their air superiority shortens the 1967 war to just six days. The new sound of air domination in the 21st century says Israeli generals. The F-35 stealth fighter will be the most advanced plane in the region. Israel ordered 50. The initial fuel arriving Monday, making Israel the first country outside of the United States to receive Lockheed Martin's fighter, the price tag, more than $100 million. Lieutenant Colonel Yotham will lead the Squadron. His identity concealed for security, we're told.</s>LEE: As it looks around its neighborhood Israel perceives many threats. The Syrian conflict is on its doorstep. Hezbollah in Lebanon rearming since the last war with Israel in 2006. Russia's S-300 and more advanced as 400 surfaced-to-air missile systems. Introduced into Syria last year to support President Assad's military efforts. The advantage of the F-35 Israel hopes is that it can find virtually undetected.</s>LEE: But the plane has growing pains including problems with software, the engines and weapons. Retired Air Force Brigadier General Ephraim Segoli has seen this before.</s>EPHRAIM SEGOLI, MILITARY ANALYST: When you are developing new technology, you'll suffer from problems and you'll fix it.</s>LEE: But Segoli insist this plane is a game changer.</s>SEGOLI: The idea that you're the first state. The first stealth in the area that get it. It's a lot to your reputation.</s>LEE: A reputation that Israel hopes will make any rival think twice. Ian Lee, CNN, Jerusalem.</s>HOWELL: Ian, thank you. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he believes U.S.-Israeli relations will improve when Donald Trump takes office. Here is just a bit of what Mr. Netanyahu told CBS's 60 Minutes here in the United States.</s>BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I know Donald Trump and I know him very well. And I think his attitude his support for Israel is clear. He feels very warmly about the Jewish state, about the Jewish people and about Jewish people, there's no question about that.</s>LESLEY STAHL, CBS 60 MINUTES CORRESPONDENT: With Trump, do you think that Israel will not be as at odds with the United States as you have been under the Obama administration?</s>NETANYAHU: Yes, we had differences of opinions with -- I had differences of opinion with President Obama and most well-known of course, is Iran.</s>STAHL: Was it personal between the two of you?</s>NETANYAHU: No. No, I don't think so. I think that suppose we had the greatest of personal chemistry, OK. So, what, do you think I wouldn't stand up against the Iran deal if I thought as I did, that it endangers the existence of Israel, of course, I would.</s>HOWELL: The Israeli leader said that he plans to meet soon with Donald Trump to talk more about the Iran nuclear deal which, again, both men have criticized. Venezuela's government is replacing the country's highest denomination banknote. Venezuelans have 72 hours to trade in the 100-bolivar bill for coins. President Nicolas Maduro announced the switch in a televised statement Sunday. He said the purpose is to prevent mafias from smuggling the bills outside the country. Venezuela is an economic crisis with triple digit inflation. Another government move is angering some Venezuelan parents two weeks before Christmas. Nearly four million toys are off the shelves. CNN's Rafael Romo explains why.</s>RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Boxes upon boxes of toys stacked up to the ceiling in this spacious warehouse. It's not the North Pole. The warehouse belongs to Kreisel, Venezuela's largest distributor of toys. All of this merchandise was confiscated by Venezuelan government. Venezuela's chief of consumer protection said the government confiscated nearly four million toys. The government accuses Kreisel of hiding the toys to sell them at highly inflated prices during the Christmas season.</s>ROMO: Venezuelan tradition says baby Jesus and not Santa brings toys to children. According to authorities, the operation targeting the toy distributor began Thursday, but law enforcement officials were still at the warehouse over the weekend. The toys the government says, will now be made available at under market prices to families with children in impoverished neighborhoods. Some consumers are calling President Maduro, "the Grinch that stole Christmas." Now many stores won't have any toys for the Christmas season. Business leaders go further saying this is nothing less than theft.</s>ROMO: And while many children in poor neighborhoods will get some of the toys. For other families elsewhere in the country, their only hope now rests with baby Jesus. Rafael Romo,</s>CNN. HOWELL: Rafael, thank you. Still ahead, this story behind the viral video of one student, finding out he's going into the Ivy League. Stay with us.