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Israeli arms deal with China sparks tensions with U.S. -
A weapons' deal between Israel and China has sparked tensions between Israel and its key ally the U.S., a senior Israeli defence official said. 'There are tensions... hidden from the public, which have appeared over the last one or two years concerning Israeli weapons sales, particularly to China', Youval Steinitz, head of the Israeli parliament's defence committee, told Israeli radio. Steinitz's remarks came after yesterday's report, on Israel's Channel 2 TV, saying that Washington is demanding Israel to fire defence minister director general, Amos Yaron, over an Israel-China arms deal.It has been reported that the U.S. officials are angry at Israel for returning a 'sensitive weapons system' from China to Israel for to be upgraded, the channel said. The weapons deal became very sensitive, after Israel cancelled a contract to sell China a Russian Ilyushin-76 plane equipped with its own Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) in July 2000. Posted by: Fred 2004-12-16 |
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