Vice President Joe Biden says US will deliver new F-35 planes to Israel next year

Vice President Joe Biden announced on 23 April that the United States would deliver new F-35 jets to Israel in 2016. The vice president made the announcement during an Israeli Independence Day celebration in Washington DC, Reuters reported.

Biden cited the country's relationship with Israel and said the jet was "our finest, making Israel the only country in the Middle East to have this fifth generation aircraft". He said the US would ascertain that Israel maintains its "qualitative edge".

According to Reuters, the vice president told the pro-Israel crowd, "Next year, we will deliver to Israel the F-35."

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