The Israeli opposition has slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the sale of U.S. F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia and gathered 40 signatures to call an urgent parliamentary session.
The Maariv newspaper reported on Thursday.
Israeli media see the deal, struck as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Washington this week, as a serious setback for the country’s defence.
To date, Israel has been the only country in the region to possess the stealth jets.
A law passed by the U.S. Congress in 2008 vowed to help the Israeli government to “preserve its qualitative military edge.”
Shortly before Mohammed arrived in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the sale of the advanced jets, during the visit the two countries signed a U.S. Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA).
Trump in addition designated Saudi Arabia a “major non-NATO ally.” According to the White House, Trump also secured agreement for Saudi Arabia to purchase nearly 300 U.S. tanks.
Efrat Rayten a member of the Israeli parliament for the Democrats accused Netanyahu of losing control over Israel’s security.
“Netanyahu has surrendered Israel’s military edge in the Middle East, an edge that the U.S. has carefully maintained over more than five decades,” she said, according to the Maariv report.
She added that no other prime minister had let Israel down in this way.
Israeli business daily Globes reported fears that the U.S.-Saudi arms deal could kick start a regional arms race.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s government had called for the F-35 sale to be linked to a Saudi-Israeli normalisation agreement.
Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia has made it clear that he is open to improved relations with Israel.
He has insisted on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before his country becomes part of the Abraham Accords signed by Muslim-majority states Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan.
Netanyahu’s government rejects the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
