Israel Says No To US About Transferring Missiles To Ukraine
By Donald Standeford, Correspondent - Follow -
Date Published: May 28, 2022 10:00PM UTC
Last Modified: May 28, 2022 10:00PM UTC
GERMANY - Israel has said no to a request by the United States to allow Germany to supply Ukraine with anti-tank missiles manufactured in Germany using Israeli technology, according to an Israeli official, and two U.S. officials.
The "Spike" anti-tank missiles are manufactured in a factory in Germany owned by Israel, and according to the license Israel has to approve all transfers of the missiles to another party.
Amir Eshel, director-general of Israel's Ministry of Defense was asked by Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy if Israel would allow Germany to transfer the Spike anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.
Eshel, however said no to the request, saying that Israel will only be giving Ukraine non-lethal military equipment, rather than lethal weaponry, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
A senior Israeli official stated that Israel has concerns about Russian soldiers being killed by Israeli made weaponry, leading to Russia harming Israeli security interests in Syria.
So far, Russia has allowed Israel to freely operate in Syria and carry out strikes against Iranian military activity in the region. In late May however, Russian air defenses fired on Israeli aircraft in Syria for the first time due to escalating tensions between the two countries regarding Ukraine.
