Responding to speculation that emerging peace deal with the UAE could lead to sale of F-35 aircraft to Gulf state, Pompeo notes administration has “legal obligation” to maintain status quo.
By Ariel Kahana, ISRAEL HAYOM 08-24-2020 14:11
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday | Photo: Kobi Gideon / GPO
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the United States would continue to ensure that Israel enjoyed a military edge in the Middle East under any future US arms deals with the United Arab Emirates.
“The United States has a legal requirement with respect to qualitative military edge. We will continue to honor that,” Pompeo told reporters after a meeting in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A US-brokered deal on normalizing relations between Israel and the UAE was announced on Aug. 13. Recent reports suggest the deal was made possible after the US and Israel agreed to promote a deal to sell F-35 aircraft to the Gulf country. Speculation was reinforced after White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner said a peace deal could help bring such a sale closer to realization.
Pompeo was set to leave to Sudan later Monday to discuss the prospect of a thaw in relations between Khartoum and Jerusalem, days after Sudan issued, and then retracted, a statement favoring such a development.
Pompeo’s itinerary for this regional tour also includes Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
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