Netanyahu Privately Condoned U.S. Plan to Sell Arms to U.A.E., Officials Say

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel privately went together with a plan for the Trump administration to promote superior weapons to the United Arab Emirates, regardless of publicly saying later that he opposed the arms deal, in accordance to officers accustomed to the negotiations.

Mr. Netanyahu selected not to attempt to block the deal as he took half in a broader effort in latest months to safe a diplomatic breakthrough normalizing relations between Israel and the Emirates, the officers stated. President Trump introduced the initiative to nice fanfare final month, with out mentioning the arms discussions that have been continuing on a parallel observe.

However after information of the arms sale turned public late final month, the Israeli prime minister repeatedly denied that he had given assurances to the Trump administration that Israel wouldn’t oppose the Emirati arms deal. The officers stated Mr. Netanyahu’s public statements have been false. He then stopped publicly complaining concerning the proposed arms sale after a gathering with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem final week that introduced the Israeli prime minister again in line, the officers stated.

The White Home has accelerated its push in latest weeks to promote a package deal of cutting-edge weapons to the Emirates, together with F-35 fighter jets and Reaper drones. The deal additionally consists of EA-18G Growler jets — electronic warfare planes that pave the way in which for stealth assaults by jamming enemy air defenses. That ingredient of the package deal has not beforehand been reported.

The United Arab Emirates has lengthy sought extra superior weapons, however Israelis have feared a shift within the stability of navy energy within the Center East. A public admission of settlement by Mr. Netanyahu would have almost definitely prompted an outcry in Israel, because the disclosure of the proposed arms sale did, together with from members of Mr. Netanyahu’s personal cupboard.

Mr. Trump’s announcement on Aug. 13 of the diplomatic breakthrough got here as Mr. Netanyahu was struggling to handle a number of crises: the coronavirus pandemic, a fraying governing coalition with political rivals, tense funds negotiations and an ongoing corruption trial.

American officers are cautious to insist that the brand new push to promote the weapons to the Emiratis shouldn’t be a direct reward for his or her function within the settlement, wherein the Emirates turned the third Arab nation to acknowledge Israel in change for Israel suspending plans to annex occupied West Financial institution territory. However they don’t dispute that after years of American refusals to promote F-35s to the Emiratis, the change in place is linked to the diplomatic initiative.

The arms deal may face vital resistance in Congress; by regulation, weapons gross sales should not weaken Israel’s military edge in the Middle East. However Trump administration officers have mentioned bypassing a vital a part of the lawmakers’ evaluate course of, which could enhance their possibilities of pushing by means of the arms gross sales earlier than the election in November.

Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the USA, stated in a press release that it “shouldn’t be true” that Mr. Netanyahu gave approval to American officers for a weapons deal involving F-35s. He added that he was assured the Trump administration “is absolutely dedicated to sustaining” Israel’s navy benefit within the area.

The State Division declined to remark. A spokesman for the Nationwide Safety Council didn’t reply to a message searching for remark.

Dozens of Emirati officers traveled to Washington final week to meet with counterparts on the Pentagon and the State Division to talk about the arms package deal and their diplomatic initiative with Israel.

Hussein Ibish, a scholar on the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, stated officers from all three nations had instructed him that Mr. Netanyahu had given approval for the arms sale, however they’d then publicly denounced it due to the anger that erupted in Israel, together with from protection officers, when the quiet association turned public.

“I’ve heard it from events on all three sides that he gave a inexperienced gentle on this,” Mr. Ibish stated, including that Mr. Netanyahu had beforehand indicated to the Emiratis and the Individuals that “there wouldn’t be substantive and categorical opposition.”

He stated the Emiratis have been surprised at Mr. Netanyahu’s public disavowal. They responded by canceling an Aug. 21 assembly with American and Israeli officers on the United Nations. (Axios first reported the episode.)

However the Emiratis calmed down after being reassured that the sale would stay on observe. “They’ve come to perceive there’s numerous Kabuki theater in all this,” Mr. Ibish added.

The Emirates and Saudi Arabia have an in depth relationship with the White Home. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, views the 2 nations as vital in efforts — which so far have failed — to dealer a peace deal between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Furthermore, Mr. Trump has embraced them as vital patrons of American weapons regardless of resistance in Congress over the killing of thousands of civilians in the Saudi-led air war in Yemen, often with American bombs.

Some Pentagon and State Department officials are uncomfortable with the influence that the Emiratis wield within the White House and National Security Council, and they were unhappy that Emirati military officials received a classified briefing about the F-35 in July.

Some members of Congress and their aides have expressed similar worries, pointing to the Emirati military’s role in the catastrophic Yemen war. The Emirates withdrew most of its forces last year, but it has deployed jets in the Libyan civil war, raising new concerns among American lawmakers.

Trump administration officials say the détente between the Emirates and Israel — and possibly future deals between Israel and other Arab nations — are also part of a wider effort to counter Iran. Administration officials have tried to placate Israeli concerns about an Arab nation getting the F-35 by emphasizing that the Emirates, like Israel, is an avowed enemy of Iran and that strengthening the Emirati military will help Israel’s security.

The regional moves have urgency in Washington because Mr. Trump’s strategists see efforts to bolster Israel as helping strengthen support from evangelical Christian voters as he seeks re-election.

Advisers also fear that if the president loses to former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the next administration would halt the deal.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot reported last month that the Emirati arms deal was directly tied to the peace agreement with Israel. In response, Mr. Netanyahu’s office issued a detailed statement listing government efforts over the summer to convey to Washington its opposition to the sale of F-35s to any country in the region.

“The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales, and the U.S. has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israel’s qualitative edge,” the statement said.

Mr. Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s defense minister, Benny Gantz, a former chief of the Israeli military, had been told in late July of communications with American officials opposing the sale of F-35s.

But Mr. Gantz responded angrily to the reports of a secret arms deal, saying in a news conference on Tuesday that he had not been informed of the normalization agreement in advance and that “it is forbidden to take security risks.”

On Monday, Mr. Kushner was aboard a ceremonial flight between Israel and the Emirates. He addressed the arms deal after touching down in Abu Dhabi.

“The military relationship America has with the U.A.E. is very special — just like the relationship between Israel and America,” he said. He added that the United States was committed to maintaining Israel’s military advantage in the Middle East even as it sold advanced weaponry to the Emirates.

Mr. Pompeo traveled last week to Israel, the Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Sudan. The State Department said in a statement that he and Mr. Netanyahu spoke about countering Iran and establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In that meeting and in a separate one with Mr. Gantz, the department said, Mr. Pompeo reiterated Washington’s commitment to the security of Israel.

The State Department has yet to notify Congress of a new proposed arms package to the Emirates. But some lawmakers and aides have already quietly signaled disapproval to the administration after news reports in August detailed the proposal, officials said.

Many lawmakers from both parties are likely to oppose the package if the Israeli government does not officially support it. Some aides also say it would take months for the United States to take mandatory steps to technically ensure that the proposed weapons do not compromise Israel’s military edge in the region.

The EA-18G Growler, made by Boeing and displayed in November at the Dubai Air Show, is the Navy’s most advanced electronic attack platform. It can blind radars and communications systems, operates an advanced radar for locating targets and can carry long-range missiles. Australia is the only other nation that has the jet.

Its sale to an Arab nation would be certain to raise questions about whether it could be used to evade Israel’s air defenses in a conflict.

Analysts say Mr. Trump could help get Israeli officials and U.S. legislators on board with the sales to the Emirates by offering to provide other advanced weapons to Israel.

“The president thinks like a salesman, and that is what he needs within the Center East,” Mr. Ibish stated.

Trump administration officers may resolve to bypass the casual notification course of in Congress, which some have mentioned backing out of altogether. Some lawmakers have used that course of to maintain up arms shipments to Gulf nations, primarily due to civilian casualties.

Final yr, Mr. Pompeo sidestepped one maintain by declaring an “emergency” over Iranian exercise and pushing the gross sales by means of, infuriating lawmakers.