New conditions for Saudi Arabia to get US F-35, normalize relations with Israel

Israel has not objected to Saudi Arabia's purchase of US F-35 fighter jets, but has made it clear that the deal is only acceptable if Riyadh is interested in normalizing relations with Tel Aviv. The matter was confirmed to the US media Axios by two Israeli officials, who did not want to be identified.

This issue will be of particular importance in the meeting between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) at the White House on Tuesday (November 18). The possible deal to buy the state-of-the-art F-35, the US-Saudi security structure and the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations will be discussed. However, the London-based media outlet Middle East Eye reported that there is little chance of any significant progress on the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations during this visit.

Earlier, on the occasion of the end of the Gaza war, Trump had told the Saudi crown prince by phone that he expected Riyadh to move towards normalizing relations with Israel, albeit slowly. Last Friday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he would discuss this possibility with MBS. He said, "I hope that Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords very soon."
Trump also confirmed that the United States is seriously considering a possible major arms deal with Riyadh, including the sale of the F-35.

According to Israeli officials, they have no fundamental objection to Saudi Arabia receiving the F-35. However, the condition is that the supply of the fighter jets must be linked to the full normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations.

"We have told the Trump administration that the F-35 delivery must be conditional on normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations," one official told Axios. Another official added that arming Saudi Arabia without any diplomatic gain would be a "misguided and counterproductive" decision.