US Muslim group condemns Pentagon’s contract with Boeing for Israeli F-15 fighter jets

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA)—The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday "strongly" condemned the Pentagon’s decision to award an $8.6 billion contract to Boeing for new fighter aircraft for Israel.

"At a time when human rights organizations around the world are condemning the Israeli government’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, the Pentagon’s decision to funnel billions of American taxpayer dollars and advanced weaponry to the Israeli military is morally indefensible," CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement.

Mitchell's remarks came a day after the Boeing Company was given an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15 Israel Program.

"This contract provides for the design, integration, instrumentation, test, production and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Mitchell argued that the contract signals that US defense contractors and foreign governments can benefit financially despite alleged human rights abuses.

"It is a reward for genocide, paid for by American taxpayers," he added.

He called on the US government to halt arms transfers to Israel, demand accountability for past military aid, and pursue what he described as a just and lasting peace.

The Pentagon's announcement came on Monday after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the state of Florida, where Netanyahu also held closed-door talks with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.