Israel approves purchase of US weapons worth £2 billion
Move comes after Joe Biden's administration told Netanyahu's it had two weeks to make a decision before the deal might be lost
Israel has approved the purchase of American weapons worth £2 billion after the US told Jerusalem that if a decision were not forthcoming in two weeks it would lose its place in the queue.
The security cabinet quickly rubber-stamped the deal on Sunday for combat aircraft, refuelling planes, helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, and bombs, after Washington’s take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum ended months of objections from Israel’s Treasury.
Further stalling would have put Israeli armed forces procurement two years behind, prompting panic from Israel’s military leaders, who are increasingly in favour of a defence pact with the US.
Israel will now get its arsenal, including Sikorsky CH-53K cargo helicopters, F-35s and F-16s, after agreeing to take out loans with American banks to pay for the weaponry, some of which has been jointly designed by Israeli firm Elbit.
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