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Friday, March 22, 2024
Gallant to present ‘long list’ of US weapons requests on DC trip next week – report
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleDefense Minister Yoav Gallant will reportedly present a wish list of US weapons in a meeting next week in Washington with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, Axios reports.
According to the report, Gallant will arrive in DC with a “long list” of US weapons Israel would like to receive in the short term.
In addition to Austin, Gallant is also expected to meet with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior administration officials on his first visit to Washington as defense minister since he took office last year.
The delivery of US weapons has come under the spotlight as some in the Democratic party want to see more conditions on such sales.
Israeli and US officials told Axios that in a call this week ahead of the trip, Gallant made clear to Austin that he would be coming with a list of specific requests for weapon systems and would like to see them expedited.
Israel has reportedly complained of a slowdown in US weapons deliveries, amid a growing US-Israel rift over the war. Washington has said there was no deliberate delay in shipments.
A senior Israeli official says Gallant’s requests include short-term needs for the war in Gaza and longer-term asks like the option to purchase more F-35 and F-15 jets, according to Axios.
Gallant told Austin he would be making the trip with retired Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the director-general of the Defense Ministry, who is in charge of weapons purchases.
The Times of Israel Community.