The State Department has confirmed that “the U.S. Government has agreed to approve a number of military items for Israel”. The items approved are helicopters, hydrofoil patrol craft and ammunition of a routine nature. According to State Department spokesman John Trattner, the U.S. has also decided to approve Israel’s request for $107 million in U.S. financing to help “Israel support production of its locally manufactured Chariot tanks”.
Trattner said “the general magnitude of the proposed transaction is about $250 million”. He stated that the decision on Israeli co-production of the F-16 fighter jets “remains under active consideration”. He said the “U.S. is committed to supply F-16s to Israel. What we are considering is the number, delivery times and the co-production requests”.
Trattner said the decision on the Chariots was made because “answering the Israeli requests would be the best way to proceed in line with our commitment to the security of Israel.” He said that the hydrofoils would be a mixture of some purchases here and some co-production.
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