Jesus H. LeMay Christ: USAF restricts F16s from engaging modern opponents

[Malicious Intent]

I knew Jordan had M48s but didn't know Israel did.  I thought it was all Centurions, M60s, and Ishermans.

Germany secretly supplied Israel with Pattons in the early 60s. They were disassembled in Germany, then shipped through various channels to Israel and reassembled there. The deal was leaked to the press (most likely from the german foreign ministry) and delivery had to be stopped with only 40-50 tanks completely shipped, due to arab threats to formally acknowledge the GDR.
The US later supplied more M48 tanks to Israel, again with secret help from Germany, who participated in the funding.

[The Minsky Moment]

I know you think you know everything, but Arabs had a numerical AND technological adavantage on Eretz during the Arab Wars.

Not in everything.
Israel definitely had a technological advantage in nuclear weapons, in that they had them in 73 Sadat didn't. 

[derspiess]

due to arab threats to formally acknowledge the GDR.

Was that really a big deal, even at the time?

[Jacob]

due to arab threats to formally acknowledge the GDR.

Was that really a big deal, even at the time?

Yes it was.

[derspiess]

Okay, Arab countries recognize the DDR.  Then what?  West Germany is canceled?

[Barrister]

Okay, Arab countries recognize the DDR.  Then what?  West Germany is canceled?

It would be part and parcel of falling in with the soviet bloc, and rejecting the west.

[Viking]

Okay, Arab countries recognize the DDR.  Then what?  West Germany is canceled?

It would be part and parcel of falling in with the soviet bloc, and rejecting the west.

Well they are batshit about this one issue.

[Malicious Intent]

due to arab threats to formally acknowledge the GDR.

Was that really a big deal, even at the time?

Yes, sadly. Our foreign policy back then was dominated by the Hallstein doctrine: The BRD is the only legitimate german successor nation. Acknowledging the DDR was declared an unfriendly act and could be sanctioned breaking off diplomatic relations (which also meant no more development aid and economic cooperation). For a time, this threat had the desired effect and kept many states depending on help from the BRD from acknowledging the DDR. But the "tank crisis" showed, that the threat also worked the other way around.
In the end, Ostpolitik made the Hallstein doctrine obsolete.

[Ed Anger]

Okay, Arab countries recognize the DDR.  Then what?  West Germany is canceled?

It was later picked up by Netflix.

[CountDeMoney]

LULZ, but I wanted to know how it ended.