Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau has thrown cold water on comments by Defense Minister Ehud Barak celebrating the U.S. “present” of 20 advanced fighter jets to Israel in exchange for implementing an additronal freeze. Landau clarified that the jets are not guaranteed to Israel and noted that they depend on reaching a final agreement with the PA which most Israelis do not believe is possible.
Landau also reminded Barak that, during the retreat from Lebanon which he ordered when he was Prime Minister, Barak promised Israelis that the U.S. would give Israel $800 million in return for carrying out the retreat. “Whatever happened to the money they promised us then?” asked Landau.