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Proposed U.S. Sales of F-35 Jets to UAE Prompts Israeli Fears of Mideast Arms Race
(Washington Post) Ruth Eglash and Karen DeYoung - The proposed sale of advanced U.S. F-35 fighter jets to the UAE is raising concerns among some security experts in Israel that the Middle East could be on the verge of an arms race. The proposed sale is tainting the otherwise great enthusiasm in Israel for the agreements brokered by the White House to normalize relations with the UAE and Bahrain. A senior figure in Israel's defense establishment warned that there was no guarantee relations between Israel and the UAE would remain amicable. "Things change here rapidly, and we always need to be aware of this. Israel is a small country. Its military advantage allows it to maintain strategic virtual depth. Removing this edge is extremely worrying for Israel's security." He added that the sale "will have a cascade effect, and it will be harder to prevent sales of advanced weaponry to other countries in the region."