Israel Says No Objections to US Gulf Arms Deal

[babylonsister]

http://voanews.com/english/2007-07-29-voa14.cfm

Israel Says No Objections to US Gulf Arms Deal
By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
29 July 2007

Israel's Prime Minister on Sunday said he has no objections to a proposed massive U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem.

Israel has long expressed wariness over U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the proposal by the U.S. to sell $20 billion worth of advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states is understandable.

Mr. Olmert says his government understands the need to strengthen moderate Arab countries that face Iran and there is a need for a united front between the U.S. and Israel regarding Iran.

The proposed arms deal includes advanced satellite guided bombs and upgrades that will greatly enhance the long-range striking ability of Saudi fighter aircraft. It also includes a large number of naval vessels.

Under the proposed deal Israel will also benefit. The deal calls for Israel to receive a 25-percent increase in U.S. military assistance. Israel currently receives $2.4 billion a year in military aid. That will jump to $3 billion a year over ten years, for a total of $30 billion, ten billion dollars more than the proposed sale to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

The deal is expected to be formally announced by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who heads to the Middle East this week on a rare joint mission with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

[Selatius]

1. The Middle East will resemble Europe pre-World War One if this continues

One one side you have Saudi Arabia. On the other side you have Iran. Then there's Israel always present. The battle for power in the region will take place in Iraq, where the oil is and where the Sunnis and Shias live.

[VP505]

2. Sure Israel

has no objections, they get the really good stuff and and excuse to get more, because you know, they have to protect themselves.:sarcasm:

[Canuckistanian]

3. All right - what were they promised NOW?

ISRAEL has no problems with an arms deal for THE SAUDIS?

Boy, sounds like they're expecting an extra piece of candy from 'Daddy Bush'.