Israeli Defence Minister, Moshe Ya’alon, expressed his concern over Washington’s supply of Gulf Arab states with advanced weapons to deter Iran, noting that this may “eventually challenge Israel’s US-backed regional military supremacy.”
Speaking at Israel’s annual Herzliya security conference yesterday, Ya’alon said “Even if there are not now any hostile designs (among them) against us, as we know in the Middle East intentions are liable to change. The capability will without a doubt be there and this must be prepared for.”
“The Gulf states are arming themselves, mainly with Western, American weaponry, in the understanding they will need defensive capabilities to contend with the new Iran situation,” Ya’alon added, referring to the “international talks on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.”
He also noted, “This of course challenges us, too, and here there is enormous importance to preserving what is called the State of Israel’s ‘qualitative edge’ in the face of this regional arms race.”
Ya’alon is scheduled to hold talks at a later time with General Martin Dempsey, head of the US armed forces, on the side-lines of the Herzliya Conference.
The Defence Minister also spoke at a security conference about the need to maintain Israel’s “qualitative edge”, as Israel is seeking increased defence grants from Washington.
Washington uses the term “qualitative edge” as the pretext for ensuring that Israel receives better American weapons than its potential enemies.
Several Gulf states already possess advanced US weapons in their arsenals and are looking for the possibility of upgrading their missile defence, as well as their cybersecurity and counter-terrorism capabilities.