Israel has agreed to sell an advanced air defense system to the United Arab Emirates. Reuters reported the information citing two sources related to the matter.
From 2020, the Emirates began normalizing relations with Israel through an agreement. Resolving the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict has now become as much a national priority as security and the economy for some Arab states.
Israel and US-ally the United Arab Emirates now have only one fear, Iran’s nuclear weapons development. So Israel recently approved the supply of Rafale-made Spider mobile interceptors to the Emirates, Reuters reported, citing sources. However, due to the confidentiality of the contract, the sources did not give any detailed information in this regard.
A third source told Reuters the UAE had acquired Israeli technology capable of countering drone strikes this year.
Israel’s Defense Ministry and Spider maker Rafael declined to comment. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not comment on the matter.
However, there are no details on how many interceptors will be supplied or if any have been shipped so far.
Asked whether Israel was providing air defense systems to the UAE, Ram Ben-Barak, chairman of the parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee, told Israel Radio on September 20 that there was extensive cooperation with the UAE. But he refused to comment in detail on the matter.
(September 23)