BICOM

During the course of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, the US offered Israel a “‎package deal” by which Israel would hold back an operation against nuclear facilities in Iran. The US, in turn, would provide Israel advanced weapons systems, Ma’ariv reported this morning, citing diplomatic and Western intelligence officials.

The advance weapons the US will provide Israel with, according to the report, are the latest ‘bunker busting’ bombs developed by the US military, and air refueling planes. The news that the administration was considering providing Israel with this equipment was reported during Netanyahu’s visit. However, it has now emerged that the supply of this equipment is contingent upon Israel’s consent to postpone its strike.

According to Western sources cited in the report, Obama did not give Israel a “green light” for a strike, but neither did he reject such an action outright.

Israel is concerned that its current military capabilities will not be sufficient to damage Iran’s heavily fortified nuclear facilities. The enhancement of these capabilities extends the timeframe in which Israel can act against the Iranian sites, even if the Iranians continue to move their nuclear technology to underground sites.