Israel Cannot Keep Up With The Arms Race That is Now Gripping Much Of The Middle East

Israeli soldiers respond with laser-firing rifles to a simulated Palestinian attack playing out on an interactive screen, during an open-fire scenario training in Camp Tsur infantry training base in southern Israel, near Yeruham March 24, 2016. REUTERS/AMIR COHEN

Reuters: Israel says Mideast arms proliferation imperils its military edge

Israel’s neighbors are buying arms on a scale that threatens its regional military superiority, the deputy Israeli air force chief said on Sunday, in remarks that appeared aimed at helping secure more defense aid from a reluctant Washington.

U.S. military payouts to Israel, currently around $3 billion annually, expire in 2018, and Israeli officials have spoken of needing around $4.5 billion. U.S. officials have balked at such an increase.

At the heart of the dispute is how to perpetuate Israel’s qualitative military edge - a guarantee that it gets more advanced U.S. weapons than Arab states get. Israel says it needs to bulk up its armed forces, not just upgrade their technologies, to keep ahead of potential foes.

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WNU Editor: Israel cannot compete with its Arab neighbours who are now more than ever determined to arm-up in view of the many wars and conflicts that are now gripping the entire region .... hence the Israeli demand for more aid from the U.S..

Israel Defense Minister: Arab States Are Seeking Nuclear Weapons To Counter Iran

Defense Minister Ya'alon speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, February 14, 2016. Reuters

The Telegraph: Arab states are seeking nuclear weapons to counter Iran, Israel warns

Defence minister Moshe Ya'alon says his country is seeing signs of a much-feared nuclear arms race in the Middle East

Israel has picked up signs of the beginning of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East as Arab states seek nuclear weapons to counter Iran, the Israeli defence minister has warned.

Moshe Ya'alon said Sunni Arab nations were not reassured by last year's nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers and were making their own preparations for nuclear weapons.

"We see signs that countries in the Arab world are preparing to acquire nuclear weapons, that they are not willing to sit quietly with Iran on brink of a nuclear or atomic bomb," Mr Ya'alon said.

The defence minister gave no evidence to back up his claims but Israel closely monitors the military activities of its Arab neighbours.

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WNU Editor: The Saudi Intelligence Chief has a different point of view .... Ya'alon taken to task by Saudi prince at Munich Conference (Arutz Sheva). Israel's Prime inister has responded .... Time for Arab states to publicize their Israel ties, Netanyahu says (Times of Israel)

Israel Defense Minister's Moshe Ya'alon remarks That The Arab States Are Seeking Nuclear Weapons To Counter Iran

Nuclear arms race under way in Middle East, Israeli official warns -- FOX News
Ya’alon: Arab states are seeking out nukes in wake of Iran deal -- Jerusalem Post
'A nuclear arms race has begun in the Middle East': Arab states are desperate to obtain nukes to counter the 'threat' of Iran, Israel claims -- Daily Mail
Israeli defence minister warns of nuclear arms race in Middle East following Iran deal -- The Independent
Gulf states seek nukes against Iran, had secret contacts with Tel Aviv – Israeli defense chief -- RT
Ya'alon: Israelis Secretly Meeting With Officials From Gulf States -- Haaretz
Israel: Arab states are planning to get nuclear weapons -- Middle East Monitor

Arab Youths No Longer See Israel As The Biggest Problem In The Middle East

Palestinians clash with troops in the West Bank city of Hebron on Sunday following the death of an Israeli soldier. Photograph: Mussa Issa Qawasma/Reuters

Evelyn Gordon, Commentary: Young Arabs Agree: Israel Isn’t Arab World’s Major Problem

One of the most positive strategic developments for Israel of the past few years has been its marked improvement in relations with significant parts of the Arab world. Three years ago, for instance, the most cockeyed optimist wouldn’t have predicted a letter like Israel received this week from a senior official of the Free Syrian Army, who congratulated it on its 67th anniversary and voiced hope that next year, Israel’s Independence Day would be celebrated at an Israeli embassy in Damascus.

Yet many analysts have cautioned that even if Arab leaders were quietly cooperating with Israel for reasons of realpolitik, anti-Israel hostility in the “Arab street” hadn’t abated. So a new poll showing that this, too, is changing came as a lovely Independence Day gift.

WNU Editor: This is a major shift in Arab public opinion .... and this should not surprise anyone as conflict and unrest continues to spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Israel Facing A 'Different' Arab World

Israel Facing 'Diplomatic Tsunami' With Arab Neighbors -- McClatchy News

JERUSALEM — The attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo has brought into sharp relief Israel's increasing isolation in a still region grappling with the changes of the Arab Spring.

Israel was forced to evacuate its ambassador and most of its diplomatic staff from Cairo this weekend after hundreds of Egyptian protesters tore down a security wall protecting the Nile-side embassy, ransacked its files and burned an Israeli flag. It came less than a week after Turkey, Israel's other major ally in the Muslim world, announced it was expelling the Israeli ambassador and downgrading its relationship to the lowest possible level after a deadly skirmish involving a Turkish aid vessel that was attempting to deliver supplies in defiance of Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

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My Comment: Israel's strained ties with the Arab world will only get worse as more Islamic leaning governments emerge, and unlike their former sectarian governments, harbor no desire to accommodate and/or co-exist with Israel as their neighbor.

Israel Weighs Peace With All Muslims

From The Australian:

ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to explore the possibility of a comprehensive peace with the entire Muslim world, rather than just a narrow Israeli-Palestinian accord, when he has his first meeting with US President Barack Obama next week in Washington.

As reports surface this week that Arab leaders were looking to offer Israel a "57-state solution" involving peace with the entire Muslim world, Mr Netanyahu met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and said the Jewish people wanted "harmonious relations" with the Muslim world.

"Israel yearns to reach peace with its Palestinian neighbours and with all the Arab nations," hesaid.

"We all live in this region and we are all the sons of Abraham."

The much-anticipated meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Obama is expected to lay down the first clear marker on the direction of the Middle East peace process in the coming years.

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My Comment: Someone is dreaming.