President Obama and Israeli PM Natanyahu eye a historic arms deal to mend bilateral ties
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WASHINGTON: Obama and Natanyahu discuss commitments that could see Israel get more than 33 hi-tech F-35 jets already ordered. Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a meeting, hoping a massive 10 year defense deal that will help them move beyond a bitter public fight that shook a decades-old alliance. After clashes over the US-backed nuclear deal with Iran, the two leaders will discuss a deal expected to be worth more than $30 billion which will include a string of advanced weaponry systems, officials said. The deal will not be finalized during the summit and would only come into effect after a current accord expires in 2017 but But Obama and Netanyahu are expected to discuss commitments that could see Israel get more than the 33 hi-tech F-35 jets already ordered, precision munitions and a chance to buy V-22 Ospreys and other weapons systems designed to ensure Israel's military edge over its neighbors. The weapons said to be under discussion reflect the prominence of Iran in US and Israeli military thinking. The F-35 is the only aircraft able to counter the S-300 surface-to-air missile system that Russia has suggested it may sell to Tehran. Military experts say Israel's lack of bunker busting capability has limited Netanyahu's ability to launch a unilateral strike against Iran, effectively giving Washington a veto over military action.
