US would defend Israel as it would a NATO ally

A US defense official said Monday that his country would defend Israel as it would a NATO ally. If Israel were attacked by Iran, the US would come to its defense. The US commitment to Israel’s security is “something US defense officials live on a daily basis,” he said in a briefing to Israeli diplomatic correspondent on a visit to Washington. The official said too that the US will not sell the state-of-the-art F35 fighter, promised to Israel to any other country in the Middle East, including Egypt. The official said that the US was “appalled” by Iranian calls to destroy Israel, “but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t sign a deal that decreases the likelihood they will be a nuclear state,” he said.

DEBKAfile: the Obama administration is in the midst of a media assault in Middle East countries to win journalists round in favor of the nuclear accord signed with Iran last month. The objective is to present their supportive articles to Congress to show US lawmakers that the nuclear deal enjoys a good press in the countries most affected.