Israel plans to seek additional U.S. weapons and defense capabilities, demanding “compensation” after Washington approved the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This move underscores the deep military and financial ties between the United States and the Israeli settler-colonial project. Israeli officials are expected to press the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump for weapons systems Washington had previously declined to provide, according to Israeli media reports cited by Middle East Eye.
Bolstering Military Occupation
The reported requests extend significantly beyond advanced fighter aircraft and stealth capabilities. Israel also seeks space-based weapons and the development and production of interceptor aircraft, Walla reported. These demands aim to further solidify Israel's military dominance in the region. Israeli officials are also expected to seek “bunker-busting munitions and underground systems capable of operating deep beneath rocky mountains,” Walla added, capabilities often used in operations against occupied populations.
These requests are intended to secure a U.S. “compensation” package following Washington’s decision to approve the potential F-35 sale to Riyadh. The U.S. State Department approved a possible $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on the same day. This proposed package includes 49 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, along with communications and cryptographic equipment, electronic warfare support, training, and logistics, as detailed in the State Department’s notification to Congress. The proposed sale still requires congressional approval.
Middle East Eye had reported for months on the progress of this significant arms deal. Multiple U.S. and Arab sources indicated the sale was moving quickly. Should it proceed, Saudi Arabia would become the first Arab country to operate F-35s. Israel currently remains the only Middle Eastern country operating the advanced aircraft.
U.S. Complicity in Apartheid
Reuters reported that the proposed sale could test Washington’s longstanding policy of maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. This policy has historically ensured Israel's military superiority, enabling its ongoing occupation and apartheid system. Middle East Eye had revealed in December 2025, less than one year ago, that the Trump administration was reviewing this very policy.
Middle East Eye also noted that Saudi Arabia is reeling from Houthi missile and drone attacks. Its allies in Yemen, the internationally recognised government, are struggling to stem a Houthi offensive. This offensive has resulted in them securing the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, along with the Arabian Gulf side of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The U.S. continues to supply advanced weaponry to regional actors, further entrenching military solutions over diplomatic ones, while Israel leverages these dynamics to demand even greater military support for its settler-colonial project.