Despite the significant increase in US military aid to Israel, defense officials warned Sunday that the sale of satellite-guided missiles to Saudi Arabia had the potential to constitute a strategic threat to the state of Israel.
According to the proposed arms deal, Saudi Arabia will receive thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) - a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided free-fall bombs into accurately guided "smart" weapons.
Last month, Defense Ministry Diplomatic-Military Bureau head Amos Gilad and Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan, head of the IDF Planning Directorate, met with senior Pentagon officials in Washington to discuss the proposed deal and to see if it could be changed in Israel's favor.
According to senior officials,
the Israeli delegation walked away from the talks disappointed and dissatisfied. An Israeli request to acquire the F-22 stealth bomber - a plane that can avoid radar detection - in order to retain its qualitative edge was also turned down, the officials said.
"We were told that the plane's sale was currently off the table," another official said. "It does not look like that will change under this administration."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened Sunday's cabinet meeting relating to the proposed massive US arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, and the concomitant increase in the military aid package to Israel.
"A detailed and explicit commitment was given to ensure our qualitative military edge over the Arab states," he said of the US aid package, which will amount to more than $30b. over the next decade. Olmert confirmed that it was agreed during his meeting with US President George W. Bush last month that Washington would substantially increase its military aid to Israel.