Gates Says Israel Gave In On Saudi Arms After F-35s Promised -- Stars and Stripes/Bloomberg
WASHINGTON — Israel didn't oppose a $60 billion U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia, in part because the Pentagon agreed to sell the Israelis at least 20 new Lockheed Martin F-35 jets, according to the new book by Robert Gates.
The 2010 sale of 154 new and modernized Boeing F-15 jets and attack helicopters, plus parts and munitions, "especially exercised" the Israeli leadership as "it came at a bad time in the relationship," the former defense secretary wrote.
The sale came after the Obama administration had "leaned heavily" on Israel to impose a 10-month freeze on building settlements in the West Bank, which Israel took from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War, according to Gates. Israel said in March 2010 that it would continue building settlements.
Read more ....
My Comment: I recall at the time that many in the U.S. were surprised that the Israeli criticism of the U.S. - Saudi arms deal was low key at best. Now we know why.
No comments:
Post a Comment