R
Raymond
Guest
Shalom aleichem.
Israel has hinted it could resort to preemptive strikes
Report: Israel could get US-made F-35 jets by 2012
The United States has brought forward a planned sale of advanced F-35
warplanes to Israel as part of efforts by the two allies to maintain a
military advantage over Iran, an Israeli newspaper reported on
Thursday.
Quoting unnamed defense officials, The Jerusalem Post said the
Pentagon had agreed to supply the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Israel
as early as 2012, when the US air force is scheduled to receive the
first of the supersonic, radar-evading jets.
Israel, which is not among eight countries partnered with
Washington in producing the F-35, had been expected to get the plane
in 2014 or 2015. Its buying rights were briefly suspended during
Pentagon protests over Israeli defense exports to China. Israel is
building up its arsenal for a possible showdown with arch-foe Iran,
which the United States accuses of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran
insists its atomic ambitions are peaceful.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak got US agreement to accelerate the F-35 sale during talks with
Pentagon chief Robert Gates in Washington last week.
"This plane can fly into downtown Tehran without anyone even
knowing about it since it can't be detected on radar," the
conservative daily quoted a defense official as saying.
Barak further overcame some US objections to Israel installing its
own technology on the F-35, a major point of contention in past talks,
the Jerusalem Post said. Israel's Defense Ministry and the US Embassy
in Tel Aviv had no immediate comment on the report.
Assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, Israel has
hinted it could resort to preemptive strikes to prevent Iran from
acquiring the bomb. Israel believes Iran could begin making nuclear
weapons by 2010. Western intelligence agencies say it would take
several years longer.
26.10.2007
Reuters Jerusalem
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL253958120071025
Israel has hinted it could resort to preemptive strikes
Report: Israel could get US-made F-35 jets by 2012
The United States has brought forward a planned sale of advanced F-35
warplanes to Israel as part of efforts by the two allies to maintain a
military advantage over Iran, an Israeli newspaper reported on
Thursday.
Quoting unnamed defense officials, The Jerusalem Post said the
Pentagon had agreed to supply the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Israel
as early as 2012, when the US air force is scheduled to receive the
first of the supersonic, radar-evading jets.
Israel, which is not among eight countries partnered with
Washington in producing the F-35, had been expected to get the plane
in 2014 or 2015. Its buying rights were briefly suspended during
Pentagon protests over Israeli defense exports to China. Israel is
building up its arsenal for a possible showdown with arch-foe Iran,
which the United States accuses of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran
insists its atomic ambitions are peaceful.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak got US agreement to accelerate the F-35 sale during talks with
Pentagon chief Robert Gates in Washington last week.
"This plane can fly into downtown Tehran without anyone even
knowing about it since it can't be detected on radar," the
conservative daily quoted a defense official as saying.
Barak further overcame some US objections to Israel installing its
own technology on the F-35, a major point of contention in past talks,
the Jerusalem Post said. Israel's Defense Ministry and the US Embassy
in Tel Aviv had no immediate comment on the report.
Assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, Israel has
hinted it could resort to preemptive strikes to prevent Iran from
acquiring the bomb. Israel believes Iran could begin making nuclear
weapons by 2010. Western intelligence agencies say it would take
several years longer.
26.10.2007
Reuters Jerusalem
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL253958120071025