Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Monday that Israel has been working with regional countries on a US-backed anti-Iran military alliance that focuses on integrated air defense systems, dubbed the Middle East Air Defense Alliance.
The revelation demonstrates the growing military cooperation between Israel and Washington’s Arab allies since the US-brokered Abraham Accords saw Israel normalize relations with the UAE and Bahrain. A major aspect of the US push for the normalization deals was to isolate Iran in the region.
“Over the past year I have been leading an extensive program, together with my partners at the Pentagon and in the US administration, that will strengthen the cooperation between Israel and countries in the region,” Gantz said in a briefing to Israeli lawmakers.
Gantz wouldn’t elaborate on what countries are involved in the alliance at this point but claimed it has already been used to thwart Iranian attacks. “This program is already operative and has already enabled the successful interception of Iranian attempts to attack Israel and other countries,” he said.
Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020, Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain have begun participating in US-led military exercises together. Earlier this year, Israel signed an agreement with Bahrain meant to boost security ties, and Israel has dispatched a military official to be stationed in the Gulf country.
Saudi Arabia has been hesitant to sign a normalization deal but has been signaling its openness to increasing military ties with Israel. Earlier this year, the Saudis openly participated in US-led military naval exercises with Israel for the first time. Oman, which also doesn’t have relations with Israel, also took part in the drills.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Saudi Arabia is engaged in US-brokered talks with Israel on economic ties and “security arrangements,” and a public deal to boost relations is expected to be announced soon. Gantz said more details on the Middle East Air Defense Alliance might be announced during President Biden’s tour of the region next month, which includes stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
While in Saudi Arabia, Biden will attend a summit of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders. A Western diplomat told Reuters that the US is still working on convincing the GCC to join the regional air defense alliance, and Biden will likely push the issue at the meeting. The GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
The effort has support in Congress as a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation in the House and the Senate that would coordinate missile defense upgrades for Israel and several Arab states to counter alleged threats from Iran.
A pure fantasy. But fantasy Israel and US are very much invested in. Sure, all these countries will play along up to their red lines. They will never be roped into becoming the cannon fodder in any wsr against Iran. With both China and Russia having agreements with Iran for the next quater century EACH — it does not behoove Gulf Stares to risk their economic future. And for what? No Western country will ever guarantee suchong term committments, Just the oposite. Islamophonia is a permanent Western feature. Eclipsed only by Russophobia. Doubt they will get into airdefense. Given track records Patriots have shown in Saudi Arabia — and given that US withdrew them, why go for more of the same,
I really hope you’re correct. However, based on what’s happening in Europe, logic doesn’t seem to matter anymore. Neocons are working hard to ignite WWIII. For WWIII to ignite and destroy the entire world, people have to set aside their logic.
Well said NA!
Yes, they are consumed by their madness, ,,,and there is method to it. Very dangerous times.
“A major aspect of the US push for the normalization deals was to isolate Iran in the region.”
The only aspect of the deal. Those other countries would slit Israel collective throat if not for the Iran isolation. Oh, and those bribes help out too. And when Iran is a failed state, those other countries will be next.
The people of the Middle East need to try pull the plug on this.
This will be difficult as the US, Saudis and Israelis back
authortitarian regimes that brook little criticism from their populations.
WW III will not be fought in he Americas though. It will be fought in the
Middles East and the people there will bear the brunt.
They have the most to lose from American-Israeli-Saudi the shennanigans
Good assessment, Dave.
Kuwait, Qatar and Oman will never join…!
An underappreciated aspect of dealing with Saudi Arabia is that it substantially sits atop a foundation of religious fanaticism. Like Israel. Such regimes are inherently unstable in the modern world. And whatever agreements you want to come to with them, understand you’re swimming with sharks.
Both the US and Israel have identity crisises… They should not lose sight of the fact that Iran can defend itself…………………. And let us not forget, Israel/US can stir the sh-t storm but Iran can answer back…
What concerns me is that when Israel/US are up to such shenanigans, trouble is brewing…
Trouble IS brewing, Donna. Neither Russia nor China are going to take such nonsense lying down.
Zionism is the scourge of the planet. It won’t be Russia/Ukraine that will initiate WWIII; it’ll be IsraHell.
Succinctly put Gypsy, succinctly.
Why, thank ye, Ma’am 🙂
“Zionism is the scourge of the planet”
Not Soviet communism-60 million dead
Not Chinese communism-35 million dead
Not Nazism-20 million dead
Not Assad’s Syria-400,000 dead
Not…
Just say what you mean Gypsy. Zionism = Judaism.
You need to distinguish between “is” and “was”. And zionism could well end up leaving all those body counts in the dust. And no, zionism is assuredly not the same as judiasm. Judiasm is a religion. Zionism is Abrahamic colonialism.
I am pleased to learn that you do not yet consider Zionism to be as great a “scourge” as the many mass murdering “isms” that have preceded it. Judaism the religion, includes constant referrals to the Land of Israel and daily prayers of “Next Year in Jerusalem”. So perhaps you want to amend your statement.
Your fictitious “god” is not in the real estate business
You shouldn’t assume belief. And perhaps you should google “Jewish Non-Zionism”.
Oh dele, the chance of me ever amending anything on your correction is so slim as to not be worth the wish.
I assume nothing. Fifty percent of the world’s Jews live in Israel. Zionism is inextricably linked to their lives. Most diaspora Jews (surveys place the percentage in the high 80s) recognize the connection with Israel as a central part of their Jewish identities. So anti-Zionist Jews are outliers. They serve as useful idiots to the enemies of Israel.
“Fifty percent of the world’s Jews live in Israel.”
43%. And living in Israel does not necessarily make one a Zionist. 70% of the Jews living in Israel live there first and foremost because they were born there.
While it’s understandable that the Israeli regime finds its false claim to represent “all Jews” useful, in actuality it represents the people who choose to let it represent them, and no others.
“Fifty percent of the world’s Jews live in Israel.”
43%. And living in Israel does not necessarily make one a Zionist. 70% of the Jews living in Israel live there first and foremost because they were born there.
While it’s understandable that the Israeli regime finds its false claim to represent “all Jews” useful, in actuality it represents the people who choose to let it represent them, and no others.
“Fifty percent of the world’s Jews live in Israel.”
43%. And living in Israel does not necessarily make one a Zionist. 70% of the Jews living in Israel live there first and foremost because they were born there.
While it’s understandable that the Israeli regime finds its false claim to represent “all Jews” useful, in actuality it represents the people who choose to let it represent them, and no others.
I guess it’s my turn. Ditto what TLK said, and so what’s your point Odele? Clearly Zionism isn’t Judaism, at least not according to google and everyone else in the discussion, but are you trying to equate the two so you can claim that finding fault with Israel is antisemitic? Do you imagine people boycotted South Africa because they didn’t like whites? I’ve personally never been able to fathom a racist explanation for opposing the oppression of anyone, and certainly not Palestinians.
Anything there you want me to amend?
Sorry Ted but South Africa was not the nation state of white people. Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people. It was historically that and it was reborn as that.
Zionism is not Judaism but they are inexorably linked. My stats are 46% and rising. Of course the majority of Jews living in Israel were born there. But the vast majority of those believe in the idea of a Jewish homeland (ie Zionism). And I do not seek to equate antizionism with antisemitism. I can, however, smell the
difference between someone who pretends to be one, but is in his/her heart, the other.
“Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, whether the Jewish people like it or not, because I say so.”
Fixed, no charge.
“Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, whether the Jewish people like it or not, because I say so.”
Fixed, no charge.
“Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, whether the Jewish people like it or not, because I say so.”
Fixed, no charge.
That’s just not a serious reply Thomas
It’s a very serious reply.
The Israeli regime tries to claim a monopoly on global representation of Jews. And then any time it’s criticized, it howls that its critics are just anti-semitic.
The Israeli regime is just another Middle East ethno-religious garrison state. It represents all Jews about as much, and in the same way, that Saudi Arabia represents all Sunni Muslims.
It’s a very serious reply.
The Israeli regime tries to claim a monopoly on global representation of Jews. And then any time it’s criticized, it howls that its critics are just anti-semitic.
The Israeli regime is just another Middle East ethno-religious garrison state. It represents all Jews about as much, and in the same way, that Saudi Arabia represents all Sunni Muslims.
There are 50 majority Muslim countries. There is only one majority Jewish country. Your comparison does not hold water. I think the Jews are entitled to determine which nation is the Jewish nation. The majority would call that nation Israel.
Yes, there’s only one majority Jewish country.
And it represents the people who choose to be represented by it, and no others.
Yes, there’s only one majority Jewish country.
And it represents the people who choose to be represented by it, and no others.
Yes, there’s only one majority Jewish country.
And it represents the people who choose to be represented by it, and no others.
Good analogy, and “Middle East ethno-religious garrison state” sums it up. Odele sniffs out analogies and tries to debunk them by pointing out differences, but the similarities remain. His basic position is that individual belief is determined by majority opinion, which would be specious even if he had a majority. And even if every Jew on Earth supported Zionism it wouldn’t make it the same as Judaism or, more to the point, justify what Israelis do to Palestinians.
You can smell something over the internet? I knew I should have stuck with dial-up. You’re an inferring machine there Odele. Do the voices tell you these things? South Africa was a white minority oppressing a black majority, Israel is mostly whites oppressing Palestinians. I say “mostly” because I’ve seen black IDF soldiers on patrol. Both groups of oppressors arrived principally from Europe. Both originally came from East Africa, somewhere around the Serengeti I think.
Why would you include “Assad’s Syria” with the other “isms”? And why only mention Assad?
Odele’s Saudi pals apparently don’t count, Wars.
Why don’t you just STFU?
Oh, by the way, this is my 585,324th post on AW, since you’re counting. 😆
Now settle down Gypsy.
You sound a bit agitated
Not agitated…just calling out your delusions 😁
I don’t know…you seem very angry
Well, think what you like; it’s all the same to me. I don’t exactly value your opinions 😉
How sad for me Gypsy
Yes, I’m sure you’re shedding bitter tears.
Judaism is based on faith. Zionism is based on domination. It is blasphemy to equate the two.
Are you Jewish? Didn’t think so
Apes! and I’m not talking about Iran.