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Israel downplays Biden administration’s suspension of US fighter jets sale to UAE

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), US President Donald Trump, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (R) participate in the signing of the Abraham Accord at the White House in Washington, on September 15, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Israel has played down a possible set-back for efforts to build up relations with the United Arab Emirates following a decision by US President Joe Biden’s administration to suspend the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the Persian Gulf country.

“I don’t think so. I think we have passed the point of no-return,” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, when asked by reporters whether the US move would affect the regime’s ties with the UAE and other Arab countries.

“Everyone understands that there are huge advantages here. It’s peace in exchange for peace ... I think it’ll move ahead,” Netanyahu said, according to Reuters.

Benny Gantz, Israeli minister of military affairs, also claimed the US move was “routine”.

The newly-inaugurated Biden administration on Wednesday put a hold on the sales of several major foreign arms initiated by former US President Donald Trump, including the sale of US F-35 jets to the UAE.

“The department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending US defense transfers and sales under Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review,” the State Department said in a statement.

The UAE was expected to receive 50 stealth F-35 jets and 18 advanced Reaper drones under a deal with the Trump administration, following a promise to Abu Dhabi to be given a chance to purchase them when it agreed to normalize relations with the Israeli regime last August.

The UAE-Israel agreement, which was brokered by the Trump administration, sparked protests and condemnations in the Muslim world, who described it as an act of treason and a stab in the back of Palestinians.  

“Everyone understood that this was a historic step and that there were enormous benefits here,” Netanyahu said of the deal. “It’s somewhere else already. I think it’s going to move forward.”

Israel apologizes to UAE over COVID-19 comments

Meanwhile, recent remarks by an Israeli health official, who blamed the UAE for a sharp rise in the coronavirus cases among Israelis returning from vacations in Dubai, prompted Emirati officials to contact Israeli premier’s office to express their frustration.

According to Thursday reports by the Israeli media, officials in the Israeli prime minister’s office apologized for the comments by Sharon Alroy-Preis after being contacted by Emirati officials.

Alroy-Preis, head of the Israeli Health Ministry’s public health department, had reportedly told hospital chiefs earlier this week that “in two weeks of peace [with the UAE] more people died than in 70 years of war.”

Tens of thousands of Israelis have traveled to the UAE since the much-criticized normalization deal went into force. According to Israel’s Channel 13, since the beginning of December, 906 Israelis who returned from the UAE tested positive for the coronavirus.

Last Sunday, Israel announced that it had opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi with the arrival of the regime’s envoy there. The UAE also approved a decision to establish its embassy in Tel Aviv.

Israel regards Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital, although most of the international community does not recognize the claim.

Back in December 2017, Trump recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital. In May 2018, the US officially announced the opening of its new embassy there.


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