JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel would oppose any U.S. F-35 warplane sales to the United Arab Emirates despite forging relations with the Gulf power, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, citing a need to maintain Israeli military superiority in the region.

The statement followed a report in Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that the Trump administration planned a “giant” F-35 deal with the UAE as part of the Gulf country’s U.S.-brokered move last week to normalise ties with Israel.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and representatives of the UAE government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Under understandings dating back decades, Washington has refrained from Middle East arms sales that could blunt Israel’s “qualitative military edge” (QME). This has applied to the F-35, denied to Arab states, while Israel has bought and deployed it.

“In the talks (on the UAE normalisation deal), Israel did not change its consistent positions against the sale to any country in the Middle East of weapons and defence technologies that could tip the (military) balance,” Netanyahu’s office said.

This opposition includes any proposed F-35 sale, it added.

The Trump administration has signalled that the UAE could clinch unspecified new U.S. arms sales after last Thursday’s normalisation announcement.

Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, an observer in Netanyahu’s security cabinet, noted that past U.S. administrations had “against our wishes” sold the UAE more advanced F-16 warplanes than Israel possesses as well as F-15 warplanes to Saudi Arabia.

Even were Washington to sell F-35s to the UAE, Steinitz told public radio station Kan that they would be unlikely to pose a danger to Israel as the distance between the countries is more than twice the jet’s range without refuelling.

“I would like to offer us reassurance. Any F-35 that ends up, ultimately, in the United Arab Emirates - not that we would be happy with this, as we always want to be the only ones (with such arms) in the region - threatens Iran far more than it does us,” he said, citing a foe common to Israel and many Gulf Arabs.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-emirates-usa-arms/israel-opposes-any-f-35-sale-to-uae-despite-their-warming-ties-idUSKCN25E0OD

Righteousness89:
Wisdom is Profitable to Direct!

Lol. Which one is wisdom is profitable to direct?
Both countries are just deceiving each other

UAE normalised relations with Israel because it wants F-35 and Israel needs arab countries on its side against Palestine. This latest move by Israel shows her lack of trust towards any Arab country i was just laughing last week when i read that the two countries were normalising ties.

It's well,

Common Meeenh

No Treath

Righteousness89:
Wisdom is Profitable to Direct!

By Bible Prophecies of Ezekil 38, Isreal has to do so because of the Countries they are Signing the So called Peace deals with would Likely Join the Enemies to Fight the Ezekil 38 War..

Guy, rest nah

Hypocrisy of the highest order from Jesus killers. If they can betray Jesus son of Mary & keep Barnabas the criminal alive. Then UAE should expect nothing less from these Jews.

Lack of trust

Lol.. Israel and oversabi

Smart move.

If i was nigeria, i wont allow any high tech military equipment near any country near my border.

Weaken your neighbors while you grow stronger

Righteousness89:
Wisdom is Profitable to Direct!

By Bible Prophecies of Ezekil 38, Isreal has to do so because of the Countries they are Signing the So called Peace deals with would Likely Join the Enemies to Fight the Ezekil 38 War..

Continue deceiving urself

Life no balance

Wise decision

Lol. If USA didn't sell to them, they can as well buy Russian made Fighter jets.

These middle easterners with their terrorist tendencies.

Israel inclusive.

Oga righteousness89 have said it all

And Trump expects Saudi arabia to join the peace agreement?

the way i hate netanyahu..
he's own zombie is on another level...
buh am not surprised about this statement them and the US are the same

This is why I hate international politics, so because you dont want any competitor in terms of air superior, you're using your raggae to spoil another person's blues.

That's how they will be thwarting Nigeria's efforts to procure arms too.

DaBillionnaire:


Continue deceiving urself

The guy is right..forget the nonsense prophecy and read the meaning and apply it to defense.

Smart Isreal understands that Islam is thicker than friendship.
If everything red, UAE will align with his brother's course.
If you know, you know.

No Muslim country should be allowed to Fly the F-35 lightining let them go and build their own ..We all know the kind of devastation one F35 in the wrong hands can cause

Isreal's mistake is thinking America is their friend, America has no friends only interests as soon as they have no need for you they will throw you to the wayside.