Intel: Netanyahu knew of US proposal to sell arms to UAE, says NYT

Al-Monitor Staff

Sep 4, 2020

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (3rdR) look at one of the first two F-35 stealth fighter jets purchased in the United States next to its pilot (2ndR), an Israeli officer, after he landed on December 12, 2016 at the Israeli Nevatim Air force base in the Negev desert, near the southern city of Beersheva.
The first two US F-35 stealth fighters bought by Israel landed at an air base in the Jewish state this evening, an AFP journalist at the site said. Their arrival, hailed as a gamechanger by Israeli — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (3rd R) look at one of the first two F-35 stealth fighter jets purchased in the United States next to its pilot (2nd R), an Israeli officer, after he landed on Dec. 12, 2016, at the Israeli Nevatim Air force base in the Negev desert, near the southern city of Beersheva. — JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of a Donald Trump administration proposal to sell the advanced F-35 fighter jet to the United Arab Emirates amid negotiations with the Gulf country over normalizing ties with Israel, the New York Times reported Thursday.

The news follows similar reports in the Israeli media and comes weeks after Israel’s Yedioth Ahronot newspaper reported that a secret clause in the agreement included the possibility of the UAE being allowed to purchase the F-35s.

Netanyahu’s office immediately denied the Yedioth Ahronot report, issuing a detailed rebuttal.

The New York Times on Thursday cited anonymous officials as saying Netanyahu’s public statements on the matter were false, and that the prime minister tacitly approved the proposal in hope of seeing the UAE recognize Israel. The paper did not identify the nationality of the officials.

Intel: Netanyahu knew of US proposal to sell arms to UAE, says NYT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of a US proposal to sell the advanced F-35 fighter jet to the United Arab Emirates amid negotiations with the Gulf country over normalizing ties with Israel, the New York Times reported Thursday.

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