Israels våpeneksport til Kina og lekkasjene fra en ansatt i Forsvarsdepartementet til AIPAC har ført til det som kan bli en krise mellom USA og Israel. Amerikanerne forlanger nå vetorett over Israels eksport til Kina, noe Israel nekter.

Forsvarsminister Shaul Mofaz skulle besøkt Washington, og det var antatt at det ville klarnet luften, men besøket ble avlyst.

Israeli and US officials have been working on negotiations about the weapons shipments, which had originally led to the US imposing sanctions on Israel several months ago, including «halting cooperation on several sensitive projects and freezing delivery of some military equipment. The US opposes the Harpy [unmanned attack drones] parts sale on the grounds it would upgrade China’s anti-radar aircraft.» The US worries that the drones could be used against the US and its allies if there is ever an armed conflict over Taiwan.

Mr. Mofaz was scheduled to come to Washington to work out the final details on an agreement that would have put new restrictions on Israeli arms sales to certain countries like China, but the trip was put on hold when the US also demanded a written apology signed by Mofaz [for Israel’s role in the arms sales], and that the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, pass new laws within 18 months that would tighten «oversight of military exports.»
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In an analysis for Ha’aretz Friday, Ze’ev Schiff, writes that the disagreement between the US and Israel is «a serious crisis that has spilled over into political and economic spheres,» and signals a «crisis of confidence.» Mr. Schiff writes that the important strategic dialogue between the two countries has «slowly evaporated over the past two years…»

FBIs granskning av den tidligere Pentagon-ansatte Larry Franklin, gnager også på forholdet. Til å begynne med var det lobbyorganisasjonen AIPAC som var i søkelyset. Nå ønsker FBI ønsker å snakke med lederen for politisk avdeling ved den israelske ambassaden.

US, Israel working to mend rifts