— Israel has asked the U.S. to “reconsider” its multi-million dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia, Israeli Ambassador Ephraim Evron said here today. He stressed that Israel is “objecting to the whole package,” not just to the AWACS surveillance aircraft included in the sale.
Evron made his statement after meeting with Nicholas Veliotes, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, at the State Department today. It was a follow-up to the meeting the Israeli envoy had yesterday with Secretary of State Alexander Haig.
Evron said the supply of arms to the Saudis “will make our security that much more difficult to defend.” He noted that even if the AWACS are manned by Americans, where the planes will fly and what they will monitor will be decided by the Saudis. He also contended that the sale “undermines the stability of the area.”
Evron said he was aware of the opposition to the sale in Congress but would not hazzard a guess as to whether it would be rejected by the House and Senate.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
