AMMAN, Aug 2 (AFP) - Jordan on Monday rejected Israel's reported opposition to a deal between the United States and Jordan for the sale of an air-to-air missile system.
"Jordan is sticking to its right in possessing all weapons it deems necessary to arm its forces to guarantee Jordan's security and stability against any aggression," government spokeswoman Asma Khodr told reporters.
"We don't accept at all (for anybody) to interfere in this issue, because we consider it an internal affair and one of our rights," she said. "We are ready to defend ourselves and we don't need any party to do that on our behalf."
Israel's government, fearing that Jordan could eventually sell on the AMRAAM system to Egypt, has written to members of the US Congress in an attempt to torpedo the sale, Israeli military radio reported Sunday.
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom are both concerned about the idea of Israel's large neighbour Egypt possessing such advanced weaponry, according to Haaretz newspaper.
Israel concluded a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994, while Egypt in 1979 became the first Arab country to make peace with the Jewish state.
Khodr already said on Sunday that the Israeli efforts were motivated by Amman's opposition to the controversial West Bank separation barrier being built by the Jewish state.