Israel “very comfortable” with US F-35 deal to UAE, Israeli ambassador says

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – “Israel is very comfortable with Washington’s proposed $23 billion arms deal to the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States, said on Monday. 

Three members of the US Congress had submitted four separate legislations to reject the efforts of President Donald Trump’s administration to sell aircraft and other weapons, which worth more than $23 billion, to the UAE.

“We believe that the UAE is an ally in confronting Iran, and we do not believe that this arms package will violate the US commitment to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge,” Dermer said in an interview on MSNBC.   

While the Israeli government has officially stated, it does not object to the proposed sale, Dermer noted in the interview.

These statements came in the presence of the UAE ambassador to the U.S, Youssef al-Otaiba, where both of them stressed their countries’ opposition to the US plan to back to the nuclear agreement with Iran.   

On November 10, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, officially notified the US Congress of the planned arms deal to the UAE, and selling them the newer-generation weapons, including F-35 fighters.