News
Biden confirms jet delivery to Israel, reaffirms US support
United States Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday that the first F-35 fighter jets will be delivered to Israel next year, reiterating the special US-Israel bond.
Speaking at an Independence Day event hosted by Israel’s Embassy in Washington, Biden acknowledged the recent differences between the two country’s leaders over the nascent nuclear deal with Iran, saying that such issues are “only natural for two democracies like ours.” He nonetheless added, “But we love each other. And we protect each other.”
Biden went on to clarify that “Next year, we will deliver to Israel the F-35.” In February, Israel’s Defence Ministry announced that it would purchase 14 of the advanced planes. Haaretz says that Israel’s defence establishment eventually plans to form two squadrons of F-35 stealth fighters. Biden described the F-35 as “our finest, making Israel the only country in the Middle East to have this fifth-generation aircraft.” He said that it would help Israel maintain its “qualitative edge” in the region.
In another sign that the recent dispute over Iran’s nuclear development will not do lasting damage to US relations with Israel, the US Deputy National Security Adviser, Ben Rhodes told Israeli television yesterday that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to soon receive an invitation to the White House. Rhodes said, “We’d expect that once there’s an Israeli government formed, that there will certainly be occasion for the two of them [Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama] to meet in Washington going forward.”
Meanwhile, Russia indicated yesterday that despite recently announcing it had agreed to sell Iran the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, the weaponry itself is unlikely to be delivered anytime soon. The sale was heavily criticised by both American and Israeli leaders. Yesterday, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov told the TASS news agency, “I do not think that it is a matter of the near future. It is far more important that a political and legal decision has been taken to open up such an opportunity.”