fighter-bombers only 150 kilometres from its borders, reports said Thursday, September 4.
"Israel has tacitly asked America to pressure the Saudis to remove the jets form the Tabuk airfield in the northern part of the country, a quick strike range from Israel," said the well informed International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ).
Saudi Arabia had been restricted from deploying the American made planes at Tabuk to minimize friction with Israel. However Washington ended the 25-year-old restriction this spring in return for approval to allow US aircraft and missiles fly over Saudi airspace to strike Iraq, the ICEJ News Service said.
"HOSTILITIES"
Shortly after the recent Iraqi war ended, Israel asked the Americans to get the Saudis to move the F-15s back, the ICEJ said, citing Foreign Ministry sources. But Saudi Arabia has reportedly refused to move the jets, because of "hostilities by Israel."
Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, minister of defence and aviation told reporters earlier that "Israel is trying its best to harm the kingdom in these crucial circumstances," the ICEJ reported
"Therefore, we have moved the largest military fleet in the world, from America, to protect the kingdom. But this does not mean that we are with the Americans or that we have any plans for war against Israel," he was quoted as saying.
SOLDIER KILLED
It came as Israel experienced more violence, Thursday, when Palestinian gunmen ambushed and killed an Israeli soldier near Jenin after opening fire on a group of soldiers in the morning
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a wing affiliated with Palestinian Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction, and the Al Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the ambush.
The attack came hours before Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was to address what was expected to be a tense session of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Abbas has been fighting for control with Arafat, analysts say.
