Israel seeks 'compensation' from US for Saudi F-35 deal, will buy new weapons

The United States informed the Prime Minister's Office that it intends to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a $25 billion deal, an Israeli official confirmed to Walla on Friday.Israel is expected to seek "compensation" from Washington in the form of weapons systems that the US has so far declined to sell to Israel.A source familiar with the details told Walla that the IDF would prefer that no other country in the Middle East receive the stealth fighter, in order to preserve Israel's qualitative operational advantage. However, the source stressed that even if the deal is signed soon, Saudi Arabia would receive its first aircraft only in five years.Walla was also told that Israel continues to hold a clear operational advantage over other countries that have purchased the aircraft from the United States.