A report by 'Yediot Aharonot' says Israel's Defense Ministry might ask Washington to move forward with the supply of advanced weapons systems.
By ANNA AHRONHEIMAn F-35 pilot prepares for take off from the Vermont Air National Guard Base with the flag of the United States, May 22, 2020(photo credit: US AIR NATIONAL GUARD/MISS JULIE M. SHEA/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
Despite public statements against the US selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, the Defense Ministry believes it is almost a done deal, Yediot Aharonot reported Sunday.Israel’s security establishment is contemplating what to demand from Washington in return, including moving up the supply of advanced weapons systems from the US by one year, according to the report.In addition to the F-35s and Reaper drones, the UAE would procure EA-18G Growler jets from the US, The New York Times reported Friday. The Growlers, advanced electronic-warfare planes, can jam enemy air defenses. They are flown only by the US and Australia.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of the arms deal in return for normalization of ties and “chose not to try to block the deal,” according to officials with knowledge about the matter, the Times reported.Netanyahu on Friday denied the report that Israel had changed its stance, even though he stopped complaining about the arms deal publicly after meeting in late August with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who “brought the Israeli prime minister back in line,” according to officials quoted by the Times.“At no point in talks with the United States leading to the historic breakthrough with the United Arab Emirates on August 13 did the prime minister give Israel’s consent to the sale of advanced weapons to the Emirates,” Netanyahu said in a statement.Israel will retain its qualitative military edge (QME) in the Middle East despite any possible deals, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told The Jerusalem Post last week.“QME is a critical aspect of Israel’s security,” he said, adding that Israel’s QME would not be at risk and that Jerusalem would be able to maintain its security interests.“We also make deals with the United States, and we can also get more platforms and systems. This is not a one-sided deal,” he said, hinting that Jerusalem would demand compensation for any arms deal signed between Washington and Abu Dhabi.Gantz spoke to US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper over the phone on Friday and discussed the UAE normalization deal.“Both leaders exchanged views on how recent developments will advance shared US-Israeli defense priorities, and committed to maintaining an open dialogue about potential avenues for cooperation,” the Department of Defense said in a statement.
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