Israel Foreign Ministry Statement on U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi
Arabia
(March 6, 1981)
Israel's concern
with the sale of American military equipment to Arab
countries was expressed in this statement, which focused on the
Reagan administration decision to supply enhancement equipment for the
F-15s Saudi Arabia had contracted
for in 1978. All this was in addition to the supply of A WACS and 22
ground radar stations, which could seriously harm Israel's security.
The Foreign Ministry Spokesman said today that the
American government's decision to sell additional parts for the F-15
planes is cause for the utmost concern and intensifies the danger to
Israel. This sale, as with the handing over of other war material by
the industrial nations, escalates the arms race in the area to dangerous
proportions liable to endanger the strategic balance in the Middle
East.
As is known, these and other considerations were brought to the attention
of the American administration by Foreign Minister Shamir during his last visit in Washington. The Foreign Ministry Spokesman
also reiterated Israel's view that the area's problems cannot be solved
by an unrestrained arms race, but rather through negotiations, with
all the nations of the area joining the Camp
David process and the active support of this process by all the
nations outside the area.
The Spokesman also stressed the fact that Saudi Arabia
is not a "moderate" nation with regard to the Arab-Israeli conflict, but is counted among the leaders of the advocates of war against
Israel, and provides aid to the PLO and to all those nations and elements actively fighting against Israel.
Sources:
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |