Obama said to block attack helicopter upgrades for Israel
WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama is delaying an upgrade project for Israel's military on the grounds that it could be deployed against Palestinian militants.
Industry sources said the Defense Department has taken measures to slow
down an upgrade of Israel's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fleet. The
sources said at least three Apache helicopters have been awaiting an upgrade
at Boeing, the prime contractor, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The schedule has been repeatedly delayed because funding from the
Pentagon has not arrived," an industry source said.
The sources said the delay of the Apache project stemmed from the White
House's concern that Israel was rebuilding its military for another war.
They said President Barack Obama was dismayed by the widespread use of the
Apache and other U.S. platforms during the January 2009 war with the Hamas
regime in the Gaza Strip.
"Everything having to do with Israel's Apache fleet has been delayed by
the administration," another source said.
Under the Foreign Military Sales program, the Pentagon finances projects
for Israel through annual American aid of $2.4 billion. The sources said
Boeing had pledged that the Apache platforms would be overhauled, enhanced
and returned to Israel in 2009.
The sources said Israel has also been awaiting Obama's approval for the
request to sell at least six new AH-64D Apache Longbows to the Jewish state.
They said the Israeli request has been shelved for more than a year.
