Arms deal said to give Obama veto on Iran attack by Israel

Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — A $3 billion weapons deal was expected to ensure that the
United States could block any Israeli attack on Iran.

Analysts said the U.S. offer of advanced aircraft to Israel was meant to
stop any attack by the Jewish state on Iran. They said Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to President Barack Obama that Washington
would have veto power over any Israeli operation against Teheran.

US President Barack Obama (C) talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) during an official welcoming ceremony on his arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport on March 20.  /Uriel Sinai/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an official welcoming ceremony on his arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport on March 20. /Uriel Sinai/AFP/Getty Images

“The arsenal of weapons that has been promised to Israel is supposed to
rein it in and leave the decision on dealing with Iran’s nuclear facilities
up to the Americans,” former Israel Air Force commander [Res.] Maj. Gen. Eitan Ben-Eliyahu said.

In an analysis in the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot on April 21,
Ben-Eliyahu, who served as a consultant to the military and government,
asserted that Obama was willing to listen to Netanyahu’s warnings of Iran’s nuclear program. But the former air force chief said the prime minister was receiving U.S. weapons on condition that he demonstrates restraint.

“Let us remember that the $3 billion worth of weapons and equipment
being provided to Israel will obligate the government of Israel to show
restraint,” Ben-Eliyahu said. “Talk? Sure. Act? Only in full coordination
with the United States.”

The analysis, confirmed by other Israeli sources, was published during
the start of the visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Hagel, who approved an Israeli request for the V-22 and KC-135 aircraft, said Israel
and the United States agree on the Iranian nuclear threat but don’t agree on
when a military operation would be required.

“Israel will make the decision that Israel must make to protect itself,
to defend itself,” Hagel said. “When you back down into the specifics of the
timing of when and if Iran decides to pursue a nuclear weapon, there may
well be some differences.”

Source Article from http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/04/22/arms-deal-said-to-give-obama-veto-on-iran-attack-by-israel/

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