JERUSALEM, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel will not oppose the sale of "certain weapon systems" to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in light of a promise by U.S. to upgrade Israel's military edge in the Middle East, a joint statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz said on Friday evening.
The "certain weapon systems" is an apparent reference to the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, reported Israeli media.
The joint announcement was published upon Gantz's return from U.S. where he met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and signed a deal "to secure Israel's Qualitative Military Edge."
The understandings reached by Gantz and Esper "will allow the procurement of advanced weapon systems that will significantly upgrade Israel's military capabilities, maintain its security and its military advantage in the region as well as its qualitative military edge in the coming decades," said this statement.
According to the statement, Israel was notified by U.S. administration of its plans to notify Congress of its intention to provide certain weapon systems to the UAE.
Netanyahu and Gantz both agree that since U.S. is upgrading Israel's military capability and is maintaining Israel's military edge, Israel will not oppose the sale of these systems to the UAE, said the statement.
Netanyahu made a statement saying Israel opposes any sale of F-35 war jets to the UAE on Aug. 18 after Yediot Aharonot, one of Israel's largest daily newspapers, reported that the White House plans a "giant" deal to sell F-35 war jets to the UAE.
The UAE signed normalization deal with Israel at the White House on Sept. 15. It is the first Arab nation in 26 years to establish formal ties with Israel, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Enditem
