Posted on 10/16/2003 11:13:12 AM PDT by yonif
Israel is trying to prevent the United States from selling progressive weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Army Radio reported Thursday.
According to the report, Israel is in particular trying to block the sale of satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs, which are intended to accurately hit their target even in adverse weather conditions.
Countries bordering Israel must not get these precision bombs, Israeli sources were quoted as saying, adding such sales would put a dent in the Israel Defense Force's qualitative military edge over other Middle East armies.
Israel also expressed dissatisfaction with the sale of missiles and Apache helicopters to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the radio reported.
The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), told the radio he was worried by Egypt's "wild" military build-up, and is speaking to American security officials on the matter. However, Foreign Ministry officials rejected Steinitz' comments, saying the peace with Egypt is stable.
"I have been worried about this for four or five years, already," said Steinitz. "I think we have good reason to be worried."
A political source was quoted as saying Egypt is embroiled in a dangerous arms race with Israel, and that American economic considerations must not be allowed to contribute to the race.
But Foreign Ministry officials told Army Radio that Steinitz' comments were unnecessary and damaging to Israel-Egypt relations. They also said the peace between the two countries remained stable, and that there was no chance of war with Egypt.
Perhaps the President should just sit him down and explain this to him?
For the same reason they practice canal crossings with their new Abrams tanks. Egypt practices moving forces across Canal towards Israel
IMRA
Aaron Lerner
Date: 21 October 2002
Israel Radio Arab Affairs Correspondent Avi Yissakharov reported this afternoon that the Egyptian army has completed a major military training exercise that involved moving a large force across the Suez Canal and into Sinai. The exercise also included destroying "enemy" fortifications.
While the "enemy" was never identified in the exercise, that apparently used American weapons and equipment that the US contributed to Egypt as a reward for agreeing to sign a treaty with Israel (under which they received the entire Sinai), Israel is the only relevant target of such an operation.
Every sovereign country needs army. But if Egypt will switch to Russia as a main supplier, it might help Russian economy. Russia needs money.
Do you want Israel to start a war against Egypt?
Go for it.
So are you proposing the US unilateral embargo on Egypt?
Sounds fair, the U.S. gripes China when tries to purchase arms from Israel. And for the same reason.
The U.S. because it sees potential conflict with China over Taiwan. Israel because it sees potential conflict with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
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