The United States told Israel it was unlikely to deliver refueling tankers before 2024, amid tensions between the two nations over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program.
WASHINGTON — Israel asked the Biden administration last week to speed up the delivery of refueling tankers that could prove critical to striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, but it was told that the aircraft were back-ordered and it was unlikely that its first one would be ready until late 2024, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
The Israeli defense minister, Benny Gantz, made the request last week when he met with Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and other senior officials in Washington. Details were reported earlier by Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli newspaper.
While U.S. officials told Mr. Gantz that they would work to alleviate a production backlog, the timing of the delivery is a crucial issue: Biden administration officials are concerned that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett of Israel is trying to revive the threat of a military strike against Iran, after arguing that diplomacy has failed and that the country is closer than ever to a threshold capability of building a nuclear weapon.
The request came amid new tensions between Washington and Jerusalem over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program. Since mid-2018, when President Donald J. Trump pulled out of a deal aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear activities, Tehran has made significant gains in its nuclear fuel production, despite repeated operations by Israeli intelligence services to sabotage uranium-enrichment sites and a factory that produced nuclear centrifuges.
Mr. Bennett, Israeli officials say, created a substantial budget for exercises to rehearse an aerial attack and argued that any effort to restore the nuclear agreement would lead to a flawed deal that would allow Iran to speed ahead toward making a bomb.
In March, Israel ordered the new KC-46 tankers, which would be used to refuel its bombers in the air, allowing them to reach their targets in Iran and return. Boeing is expected to provide eight of the aircraft, for $2.4 billion, with the first delivery scheduled for late 2024. But the United States Air Force is also eager for the planes, which are critical to its effort to focus forces on the Indo-Pacific, and to create a larger military presence to counter China in the region.
Israel’s current fleet of tankers is more than 50 years old and based on the Boeing 707. While they still fly, the new fleet of KC-46 tankers would give Israel far more range and ability, because it can refuel fighter jets and bombers and also receive fuel itself while in flight.
The debate over what kind of capability to give to Israel — and how quickly — is an old one in Washington. In 2008, President George W. Bush deflected requests from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for specialized bunker-busting bombs and the B-2 bomber, and to rent about 10 flying tankers, which Mr. Olmert said would be needed in any Israeli attack on Iran’s main nuclear complex at Natanz. Part of the operation would have involved borrowing U.S. refueling capabilities.
Vice President Dick Cheney argued at the time that the United States should give Israel exactly what it sought, but he lost the argument, Bush administration officials later said. Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney allude to the episode in their memoirs, but they do not mention that they told the Israelis that they were authorizing covert action intended to sabotage Iran’s effort with a new generation of cyberweapons.
That program, code-named Olympic Games, ultimately became the joint Israeli-American effort that produced the Stuxnet worm and ultimately destroyed more than a thousand Iranian centrifuges.
Israel later developed other capabilities and trained for them. On several occasions during the Obama administration, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was on the brink of ordering a strike, according to Israeli officials and a Times interview with Mr. Netanyahu in 2019. But the prime minister backed off at the last minute, in large part because of fear of an irreparable breach with Washington.
But in 2017, when the Israeli air force determined that it needed to replacing its refueling planes, Mr. Netanyahu’s government did not immediately place an order. Iran’s nuclear program seemed under control — largely because it had shipped 97 percent of its nuclear fuel out of the country under the 2015 agreement that Mr. Netanyahu had vociferously opposed. Training for strikes against Iran slowed.
They have been revived. Israeli planners, according to several current and former officials, believe that if they do conduct an attack, it will take many repeated bombings of some of the facilities — especially Fordow, a fuel enrichment center buried deep in a mountain on an Iranian military base. But time will be short, they contend, and so they would have to refuel quickly.
U.S. officials say that they do not believe an attack is imminent and that they think Mr. Bennett, in so publicly preparing for military action, may be seeking far tougher terms in an ultimate deal between Iran and the West.
David E. Sanger and Helene Cooper reported from Washington, and Ronen Bergman from Tel Aviv. Eric Schmitt contributed reporting.
I concur with the following advice of Dr. Lerner. Destroy Hezbollah first and subsequently destroy Iranian nuclear facilities plus its missile structure.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/318672
@Reader
I am not sure of your inference of what I wrote as it relates to your 3 points or the map.
Incidentally, for what it’s worth, I agree with with your #2 and #3, but Israel certainly does have friends, very good friends. Its just that their voice has been severed with the removal of the process indicating their consent of their chosen govt, ie the stolen election.
Ted,
I expect a major “shooting” war before then — certainly in the ME, possibly worldwide. Could be Zech. 14.
@Edgar
That’s not what it says.
How about the PA declaring a state as per “the Trump Plan” (see my post) next year with most of the UN members voting in support of it and a short time after the declaration doing a repeat of 1948, and Israel will have to fight 2 million Arabs in Gaza, 2 million Arabs in the West Bank attacking the “settlers”, and the 2 million strong fifth column within the Green line plus any of their Arab friends who wish to join in the jihad?
@peloni
All those Abraham Accords “changing the ME” are signed on the condition that Israel does not declare sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.
The Arabs (appearing harmless now) will get enough weapons from the US and attack again.
@Ted Belman
Would you mind taking a look at my post and opening the link which does mention the Trump Plan based on the White House documents?
BTW, I agree with Laura 100%
Israel signed a document over 30 years ago where it agreed not to let any more Jews into Judea and Samaria (hence the building ONLY within the existing settlements).
Now, obviously, our “best friends” object even to the building WITHIN the existing settlements – the more we give in, the more they push.
Why do you think the Jewish settlements have no water or electricity?
Because they are viewed as TEMPORARY!
@ Bear.
The Biden administration is dedicated to undoing whatever Trump did. In no way does it support the Trump Plan. At no time this year, has anyone even mentioned the Trump Plan. It has been thrown in the trash bin of history.
Nevertheless it will be resurrected when the Republicans return to the oval Office in less that 3 years..
We haven’t heard the last of it.
@peloni
How many times do I have to post the Deal of the Century with the map of the Two-State Final Solution cutting Israel in half at the waist for anyone here to understand that:
1) Israel doesn’t have friends;
2) the American president is not an absolute monarch or a god and that the US acts exclusively out of its own interests regardless of which puppet happens to sit on the “throne” at the moment;
3) our worst enemy is ourselves (including the Government Of Israel).
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/revealed-trumps-deal-century-map-future-palestine-israel?fbclid=IwAR0FFI_hRI3w-5mtAYLoMhnYqobHJvyogxLIQskUch2LNGJqd1GWAg6y9D8
@Egar and @ Ted, do you believe that the Biden Administration cares about Trump’s plan. They object already to Israel building in Jewish Towns in Judea/Samaria and they would have a fit if Israel were going to rightfully apply sovereignty to parts of Judea/Samaria.
@Edgar. I am sure you are. Nothing gets by you.
@ TED-
I’m one of “the very few people”, and I’ve mentioned that same 4 year window several times, with no interest taken. You are right that everyone seemd to ignore it. It was obvious that Abbas, already a complete rejectionist would ignore the time limit, and do what he does best.
One thing I’m not sure of is that the deal is still on and in less than 3 years Israel legally can take over everywhere. That is, the Abraham Accords.
(I say legally, although Israel already has legal sovereignty from 1922).
@Peloni
My thoughts exactly. I would add that Trump was never going to support the ’67 lines plus swaps and Abbas was never going to accept less. Remember that the PA was also boycotting Trump because he had cut their finances and cut UNRWA. There was no way that Abbas was going to accept Israel sovereignty over the Jordan Valley. The Trump Plan actually gave Israel 30% of Area C right out of the gate.
Very view people remember that Trump required the PA to finalize a deal within 4 years including transforming themselves into something respectable or forego their “rights” but you do.
I am looking forward to someone, even Kushner writing a book on what transpired to result in a still birth of the Plan within days.
I think that the Abrahamic Accords required it and that became apparent as soon as it was announced.
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The fact that Trump would not support Israel’s moves to undermine his efforts towards ending this never ending cycle, actually ignores the reality that Trump was going to end the “Piece” plan altogether, as the Pals had no intention to agree to anything. Not today, yesterday, next month, next year or in the next millennium. Regardless if Abbas spoke those words or if Trump’s comments on Abbas are truthfully reported, anyone who believes that Abbas was actually going to accept a settlement must surely believe that badly photo-shopped ballots are routine and legitimate.
It has always been my view that the annexation of the Jewish lands, labeled as occupied by those who mean to steal them, should be a proper focus for the Jewish State. No one should be asked to grant the Jews permission to the rights of their own heritage. Yet, the moment in which the Jews gained even a divided resolve towards challenging the world to achieve this momentous goal was to be coincidentally disruptive of the actions of the man who was doing everything to make this very resolve a realized possibility. There were caveats amongst the gains of the Trump doctrine and Trump’s Israel policy which should have provided a wiser path than prematurely challenging the only man who stood to support an honest view of the world, a view that very much improved and supported Israel, a view which would have brought the annexation into a likely future. After all, should things have gone astray, it could always have been Israel, for a change, who spiked the deal. For all the strength and muster that was present for that brief moment in support of the annexation, where has it gone? Where is that zeal today, as Israel has an enriched Muslim Brotherhood enshrined in the halls of power over the Jewish State?
The claims that Kushner or others disrespected Israeli dignitaries is a small thing in the scheme of realities, and it is also not likely the first time such rich verbiage has been tossed between the American and Israeli dignitaries. To hold such statements as significantly important against a friend as great as Trump proved himself seems imbalanced, by itself. Again, his friendship for Israel was based upon his world view, not on charity and not on a temporary political gain, but upon an honest desire to end the state harbored violence that gained a foothold under his many predecessors. Trump meant to make his mark on the world by ending that cycle and that cycle included the blood soaked ruse draped as the path towards peace. His choice of a useful model was badly chosen in error, but it would have come to nothing if the Arabs were to be required to accept the Jews in any resolution.
You or others may find my words suggestive of a sycophantic obsession with the celebrity that Trump may have represented to others. In reality, I was greatly enamored with the changes he changed and the possibilities he made possible. None of us can be certain what might have been, or what might still come to be, but the past is fact and certain, and I feel comfortable in stating fairly that Trump was very much Israel’s friend, her greatest friend and perhaps her only true ally, and there was no illusion in this. At least that is how I see things.
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(1 of 2)
@Laura
Forgive my delayed response, but I was not sure I should respond, but I really feel obliged to counter your remarks, though I sympathize at some level with the frustration you share, but not towards Trump, not for what he has done.
Regardless if you believe the ranting of an anti-Trump evaluation of Trump’s inner believes on Israel (laughably unreliable sourcing), what Trump did for Israel would never have been allowed under any other president. The pressure to halt his actions on his Israel policy was enormous. He ignored it all.
Further than this, though, beyond the direct benefits which Israel gained during this time, Trump changed the atmosphere of hate and violence which existed before he entered office. Trump and the Trump doctrine changed the Middle East and by doing so he changed the world, and that was his purpose. The intent of the Trump doctrine was to return a balance in the world back towards an even standard on many fields of concern, particularly the Middle East. The imbalance which was present before his arrival actually spurned him to seek out the presidency and end the bipartisan support of villainy and terror that was accepted and supported by all the members of both parties prior to Trump’s arrival when he said “No more” to the status quo.
Trump’s move towards the presidency was due to his frustration at the dissimilar roles being played by the US and her partners throughout the world, where America was disadvantaged with a host of American leaders unconcerned with the immeasurable waste of the greatest assets of America – her blood, treasure, industry, ingenuity and world position. He saw the asymmetry inherent within the relationship between America and her European allies which were decidedly disadvantageous to the purpose of the alliance. Additionally, he saw the military adventurism as embroiling the US in a never ending series of wars and ensnarement which only benefited America’s enemies. Further than this, he saw the American elites empowering their international allies at the expense of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage. He changed all of this, and it began with his speech in Riyadh.
In fact, following the epic speech in Riyadh, many likely did not believe his goals to be reliably possible. I was in fact one of them. I was greatly enheartened by Trumps words, but I simply did not believe he would withstand the onslaught of political and financial interest in continuing the good old pastime of leveraging a never ending series of military conflicts to boost military sales and achieve political goals. He surprised me, profoundly, and more than once, by the level of dedication to restoring the world to a proper balance. The changes that he created on the ground in the Middle East exposed a real desire for peaceful cooperation between Israel and many of her neighbors. The fundamental shifts in the world following this and other aspects of Trump’s actions was enormously upsetting to the plans of the Globalists, the Chinese, the Iranians and others. It indirectly, and directly, benefited Israel due to the establishment of a fair game of play between all the players. It also, at least in some measure, drew together disparate parties to conceive an action to end his disruptive world view, a world view that very much included the Trump Peace Plan.
The Trump Peace Plan, which as I have stated more than once, was never a pleasure to behold for me. Yet, it also was intended to restore a balance to the world. He employed a reworking of the established “Piece for Peace” plans with the caveat that the Arabs had but 4 years to act or forever forget their ‘Piece”.
/1
Gantz knows what the Biden regime is up to.
He’s too much of a pussy to do anything about it.
Biden is a weak frail old man who is scared of confronting Iran beyond sanctions. He rather pretend he is doing something. Israel will get no help here it is pretty obvious.
Reports are that when high level Israelis (including Mossad head) went to Washington to try and get on the same page, they came up with hot stale air with some drool running down the side of Biden’s face.
I was right!
The screams “Restrain me, restrain me!” worked.
The US came to Israel’s help – now Israel has a great excuse NOT to strike Iran, i. e., Iran has nothing to fear from Israel.
I still don’t understand why Israel keeps using this trick but who am I to know?
This administration is virulently and openly anti-Israel. But is it any better having an administration which publicly presented the illusion of friendship with Israel while behind the scenes was verbally bullying and abusing Israel? You think Kushner or anyone else in the Trump or any administration would tell the Chinese or Russian ambassador to go fuck himself? I’m sick of Israel being the whipping boy. The democrats are an abomination. But I’m sick of GOP administrations publicly pretending to be pro-Israel while privately treating it with contempt. Israel must act in its own interests and not be used by any administration that wants to bolster its legacy of claiming to have achieved peace in the Middle East at Israel’s expense. Now, I got to really like Trump for what he achieved domestically and with regard to Israel, but I’m not a sycophant and will call him out when I think he’s wrong. But some of you sycophants need to open your eyes.