According to a report by The Times Of Israel, opposition Leader Yair Lapid has strongly criticized the government, accusing it of displaying “weakness” after reports surfaced that Israel does not oppose the United States supplying Saudi Arabia with F-35 stealth fighter jets.
“As someone who participated in dozens of discussions on a normalization arrangement with Saudi Arabia, an F-35 deal was never part of a normalization agreement, because it was clear that Israel’s security requires maintaining its qualitative military edge,” Lapid said.
He added, “It is unacceptable that due to the weakness of the government, we are giving up on Israeli security interests and allowing the F-35 deal.”
Lapid’s comments come amid media reports from Channel 12 and Axios suggesting that Israel has signaled it would not object to the potential transfer of advanced fighter jets to Riyadh. The move appears to reflect ongoing U.S. efforts to bolster ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, though Israeli officials have stressed that any such transfer must be contingent upon full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The issue has sparked concern among Israeli policymakers and defense experts who argue that maintaining a qualitative military edge is essential for national security. Lapid’s remarks underline the opposition’s position that the government should adopt a firmer stance to ensure Israel’s strategic interests are not compromised in negotiations involving regional security and arms transfers.
While details of the discussions remain limited, Lapid emphasized that security considerations must remain paramount in any regional agreement. The opposition leader’s critique highlights tensions within Israel over the balance between advancing diplomatic relations and safeguarding military superiority in the region, especially regarding the sensitive issue of advanced U.S. weaponry being supplied to neighboring states. View, More,
Explore More News By Using The Button.