"Procuring the most advanced fighter jet in the world is a significant
step towards bolstering the state of Israel's military capability,"
Netanyahu said on Sept. 16.
"We provide military resources, security assistance to a range of allies
from Israel to Saudi Arabia," U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley
said. "It is in our national interest to do so to maintain both security and
stability in the region."
The Cabinet decision came at a long meeting that included Chief of Staff
Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan.
Officials said Nehushtan has been a strong supporter of JSF as Israel's next
fighter-jet platform.
Officials said the first F-35s were expected to arrive in Israel in
2015. But they said the U.S. Air Force would train Israeli fighter-jet
pilots to operate JSF as early as mid-2011.
Several ministers have expressed concern over the JSF deal. They cited
the U.S. decision not to allow Israel to install indigenous systems on the
F-35.
But officials said Netanyahu quashed Cabinet discussion of the
feasibility of JSF. They said Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz had demanded
an examination of F-35 cost estimates as well as the repercussions of
Israel's defense industry being denied access to the aircraft.