Israel expects to retain access to more modern American weapons, a government spokesman said on Thursday, when asked about Washington's plan to sell F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports.
Israel is the only Middle Eastern country to operate the F-35, one of the most advanced fighter jets ever created. US law guarantees Israel a "qualitative military advantage" in the region.
"The United States and Israel have a long-standing understanding, namely that Israel maintains a qualitative advantage when it comes to its defense," spokesman Shosh Bedrosian told reporters.
"That was true yesterday, that was true today, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that will be true tomorrow and in the future," she said.
The spokesperson's comments were the first official comment from the Israeli government on the sale to Saudi Arabia, announced earlier this week by President Donald Trump.
Saudi Arabia does not officially recognize the state of Israel. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, said during a visit to Washington this week that the kingdom wants formal ties with Israel but also wants to provide a clear path to a two-state solution and Palestinian independence.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is adamantly opposed to Palestinian statehood.
US officials have said the Saudi jets will not have the superior capabilities of Israel’s F-35 fighter jets, which include advanced weapons systems and electronic warfare equipment.