Israel is trying to stop a huge defense contract between the United States and Saudi Arabia from going through, a senior defense source was quoted as saying by Haaretz. The deal includes the purchase of scores of new F-15 fighter jets and the upgrading of the 150 F-15s already in the Saudi air force.
The source added Israel presented a number of reservations to the Americans over the past month, and the issue is set to be discussed in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meetings in Washington on Tuesday.
According to the report, Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak raised the issue in meetings with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor General Jim Jones two weeks ago in Washington.
The aircraft deal was also raised in talks between Saudi King Abdullah and U.S. President Barack Obama last week.
