Israel will not oppose US sale of F-35 fighter jets to UAE: Netanyahu

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Israel said on Friday it will not oppose US sales of "specific weapons systems" to the UAE, in an apparent reference to the F-35 warplanes sought by Abu Dhabi.

Under a principle of preserving Israel's "qualitative military edge", the United States consults with it on proposed sales of advanced arms to other countries in the region.

Israel has reiterated a need to maintain its military superiority even since forging official ties with the UAE and its fellow Gulf Arab state Bahrain under deals brokered by US President Donald Trump last month. Washington agreed to consider allowing the UAE to buy F-35 stealth jets in a side deal to a normalisation agreement between Israel and the UAE.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz reached agreements in Washington this week with US Defence Secretary Mark Esper that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement, said would significantly upgrade Israel's military capabilities.