(Ha'aretz) Barak Ravid - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested the U.S. approve the sale of advanced refueling aircraft as well as GBU-28 bunker-piercing bombs to Israel during a recent meeting with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday. President Barack Obama instructed Panetta to work directly with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the matter, indicating that the U.S. administration was inclined to look favorably upon the request as soon as possible. Another issue raised during Obama's Monday meeting with Netanyahu was the Syrian crisis. Israel fears that chemical and biological weapons from Syrian army stockpiles could end up in the hands of Hizbullah or other terror groups. A top U.S. official said the U.S. has discussed the issue of Syria's WMD stockpiles with Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
2012-03-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive