Israel Rejects US Request to Approve Arms Transfer From Germany to Ukraine

License-built in Germany

“Eshel rejected the request, telling Kahl that Israel will only supply Ukraine with nonlethal military equipment”

Israel turned down a U.S. request to allow Berlin to supply Ukraine with anti-tank missiles produced in Germany with Israeli technology under an Israeli license, two U.S. and Israeli officials said.

The issue of weapons supply is one of the last policy differences between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to the war.

Under pressure from the Biden administration, Israel has adjusted its policy toward Moscow and gradually taken a more pro-Ukraine position than it did when Russia began its invasion. But it has so far not supplied advanced weaponry to Ukraine.

Amir Eshel, director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, visited Washington two weeks ago for talks with Pentagon officials on security cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.

Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, met with Eshel and raised the Biden administration’s efforts to get countries around the world to supply Ukraine with weapons, according to the U.S. and Israeli officials.

Kahl asked Eshel if Israel would give permission to Germany to transfer “Spike” anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, the officials said.

The missiles are produced in an Israeli-owned factory in Germany. According to the license, Israel must approve any transfer of the missiles to a third party.

Eshel rejected the request, telling Kahl that Israel will only supply Ukraine with nonlethal military equipment, the officials said.

A senior Israeli official said Israel is concerned Russian soldiers will be killed by Israeli-made weapons, which could lead to Russia harming Israeli security interests in Syria.

Russia holds enormous influence in Syria but allows Israel to operate freely against Iranian activity there.

When Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited Washington last week, the missile supply didn’t come up in his meetings with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to Israeli officials.

The officials said Gantz told Austin and Sullivan Israel is committed to supporting Ukraine and has started supplying it with nonlethal military equipment while also maintaining its security interests in the Middle East.

On the day Gantz arrived in Washington, Israel sent a shipment of 2,000 helmets and 500 protective vests for emergency and civilian organizations in Ukraine.

“We continue to discuss with allies and partners the ongoing situation in Ukraine and the need to support Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian aggression, but we will not discuss the details of those conversations,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told me.

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5 Comments
  1. Oscar Peterson says

    Hilarious!

    We subsidize Israel left, right and center.

    And when we want it to support our (admittedly foolish) strategy vis a vis Russia or when we want it to minimize its rather cozy relationship with China, our coddled proteges simply give us the finger.

    Could there be a more illustrative example of the self-serving agenda of international Jewry and its operatives among “American” Jews and of their ability to get almost whatever they want from Uncle Shmuel while providing nothing but liability in return?

  2. Pablo says

    Why did Israel deny this weapons transfer/sale by West Germany to Ukraine? Because the Russians told the Israelis that if Russia ever caught Israel supplying weapons to Ukraine, Russia would bomb Israel back to The Stone Age.

  3. Dan Farrand says

    Your “friend” is behind you with his hand on your back, pushing you to the edge of a cliff and asks you to take another step closer to the edge for the sake of your friendship. Is that friend, really a friend ?

    Russia will win this war in Ukraine and the West and the US in particular will be the losers. After victory, Russias attention will return to Syria and Turkey will find new reasons to make friends with Russia.

    It is Israel who will need to live with that. It is wise for Israel to be as uninvolved in Ukraine as possible.

    If The US insists that Israel poke the Russians in the eye, then it is a clear signal to Israel that the US is not a friend.

    1. Oscar Peterson says

      Israel is a millstone around the neck of the US.

      Let’s dispense with the idea of being “friends,” eliminate the subsidies and UNSC vetoes we afford them, and then they can consort with Russia, China, and anyone else on any terms they see fit. And we can stop driving Iran into the arms of Russia and China on Israel’s behalf.

      That would certainly be a much better arrangement for the US.

  4. GMC says

    The Jews word is about as good as the Hooker that says she’ll watch your wallet – as you take a shower. If you’re lucky.

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