WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (AFP) - Israeli opposition is unlikely to scuttle US plans to sell an air-to-air missile system to Jordan, senior US officials said on Monday after weekend reports that the Israeli government was trying to block the sale.
"The details are being worked out but we think the sale will go forward," one official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
A second official said Washington foresaw no changes in the planned sale but stressed that it could be modified to ensure that Israel, the top US ally in the Middle East, would not be threatened.
The State Department declined to comment on the status of the potential sale of the AAMRAM system to Jordan, saying the issue could not be discussed until the US Congress was notified but praised close US-Jordanian ties and gave no indication that Israel's objection would prevail.
"We have a strong relationship with Jordan," deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said.
"We certainly appreciate all that Jordan has done to contribute to regional stability, including its support for a stable, secure and democratic Iraq, as well as its efforts to foster peace between Palestinians and Israelis," he told reporters.
At the same time, Ereli added: "We remain committed to Israel's qualitative military edge and will do nothing to degrade it."
Earlier Monday, Jordan rejected Israel's reported opposition to the deal, which was revealed in weekend media reports in Israel.
"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.
On Sunday, reports in Israel said the government, fearing that Jordan could eventually sell the AMRAAM system to Egypt, had written to members of the US Congress in an attempt to torpedo the sale.
Opposition to the deal is being led by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom who are both concerned about the idea of Israel's large southern neighbor Egypt possessing such advanced weaponry, according to the reports.
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.