Israelis expected to maintain its regional advantage with accesss to more advanced American-made weaponry despite President Donald Trump’s decision to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a government spokesperson said on Thursday when asked about Washington’s plan to sell F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia.
Israel is the only Middle East country operating the F-35, one of the most advanced warplanes ever built. U.S. law guarantees Israel a “qualitative military edge” in the region.
“The United States and Israel have a long-standing understanding, which is that Israel maintains the qualitative edge when it comes to its defense,” spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian told reporters. “That has been true yesterday, that has been true today, and the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] believes that will be true tomorrow and in the future.”
Related Articles
Haaretz Weekly‘Germany’s far right still hates Jews. They just hate Muslims more’
play
Haaretz Weekly
‘Germany’s far right still hates Jews. They just hate Muslims more’
Volume: 0.5
1X
total– : –time0:00
fast forward15
play
rewind15
These were the first official comments from the Israeli government on the U.S.-Saudi sale, announced on Monday by President Donald Trump.
Trump said that Israel was aware of the sale and that the deal with Saudi Arabia would be similar to the one between the U.S. and Israel. “Saudi Arabia is a good ally, and so is Israel,” the president added.
Saudi Arabia does not officially recognize the state of Israel. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said during a visit to Washington that the kingdom wanted official ties with Israel but also wanted to ensure a clear path for a two-state solution and Palestinian statehood.
A few hours after the meeting, the White House announced that an agreement had been reached for civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, as well as the purchase of about 300 American tanks. “Key achievements also include cooperation in the field of minerals and a memorandum of understanding on artificial intelligence,” the White House said in a statement.
Subsequently, Trump declared that he recognized Saudi Arabia as a “major non-NATO ally of the United States.” This status is reserved for America’s strategic partners, granting them military and economic benefits even without a mutual defense agreement.
Close
President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, Tuesday. Credit: Evan Vucci/AP
President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, Tuesday. Credit: Evan Vucci/AP
Senior Israeli defense officials told Haaretz that a deal for the aircraft could give regional armies insights into the unique capabilities developed by the Israel Defense Forces based on the planes. According to them, if the jets include systems found on Israeli aircraft, the Saudis could get access to additional capabilities, including software and systems that were integrated into IAF aircraft.
Sources said the sale was a “dangerous step” from Israel’s perspective that could lead to a change in the prevailing approach in the White House towards Israel’s “qualitative military advantage.”
Until now, Washington has adhered to a policy of maintaining Israeli superiority in every field, including the sharing of information that allows Middle Eastern militaries to be equipped with advanced weaponry – without compromising Israel’s advantage.