Israel wanted Arab states armed against Iran, says WikiLeaks
Israel has been open to sharing the latest US military technology with Arab states to maintain their loyalty to the United States, according to the latest WikiLeaks revelations.
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Israeli and US defence delegates discussed the merits of arming Saudi Arabia and other Arab statesto countrebalance a nuclear-armed Iran, according to a July 2009 document published by Wikileaks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is quoted as saying that Iran's possession of a nuclear bomb could shift Arab states from alliance with the United States to a working with Tehran.
"Israel understands US policy intentions to arm moderate Arab states in the region to counter the Iranian threat, and prefers such sales originate from the US instead of other countries like Russia or China," according to a US embassy cable from July 2009.
Last month the US and Saudi Arabia concluded a 45-billion-euro arms deal.
Other cables reveal Jordan, generally considered a moderate Arab state, feeling squeezed as a result of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Jordan has publicly opposed any attacks on Iran, but WikiLeaks shows the kingdom privately opposing diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran.
US ambassador to Jordan, Steven Beecroft wrote in April 2009 that “such engagement would reward regional hardliners while undermining Arab moderates, without convincing Iran to cease its support for terrorism, end its nuclear programme or drop its hegemonic aspirations”.
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