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| Israel-Palestine |
| Israeli arms deal with China sparks tensions with U.S. - |
| 2004-12-16 |
| 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 |
| #9 I'm forced to assume that Let's do the math. Israel helps to upgrade the military readiness of China, who is working hard to export guided missile technology to Iran, who is vowing to launch their first nuclear bomb at Israel. Hellooooooooo ... big red truck!!!! This represents a disconnect on the level of Russia, vis the Beslan atrocity and Islamist terrorism. America has an incredibly simple trump card to play. If Israel continues to maintain such a mercenary stance, all future foreign aid and roadmap status suddenly becomes dependent upon the ENTIRE Middle East undergoing nuclear disarmament. Not only will Iran have to be stripped of its nuclear If Israel wishes to have its cake and eat it too, they will do so without another Israel cannot have it both ways. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-12-16 9:07:05 PM |
| #8 Mrs. D is right. We must let everyone, friend and foe alike, know that we are taking things seriously. In the words of the infamous Sonny Barger, "treat me good and I treat you better, treat me bad and I'll treat you worse." No bullshit. |
| Posted by: Sgt.D.T. 2004-12-16 6:43:32 PM |
| #7 I predict nothing will come of this. Sad. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-12-16 5:08:14 PM |
| #6 What Mrs D said. Not nice to play with China |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-16 4:38:56 PM |
| #5 Think we got a live one. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-16 4:35:49 PM |
| #4 What is Israel thinking? Dealing with China might be in Israel's national interest. Here's a customer with cold hard cash to help absorb our fixed costs. Perhaps we should cover our bets. We aren't the 51 st state. Our response? Hardball. Weapons cutoff, to be sure. Co-operate with the Euros on the roadmap to the peace process also. Green cards for Israelis with college degres. Make it clear that we think Israel's survival is important but not a national interest, expecially at the cost of aiding those who are an active threat. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2004-12-16 4:32:38 PM |
| #3 Otherwise, we need to yank technology transfers and weapons aid to Israel. I'll ditto that. Not only has Israel back-stabbed its best ally and benefactor, but Israel is screwing its own citizens long term by selling weaponry to China. China is no "partner" of Israel. China has been making nice with Saudi Arabia and Syria in recent years. What is Israel thinking? http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2004/june/06_23_2.html http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/9/6/132729.shtml |
| Posted by: joeblow 2004-12-16 3:42:28 PM |
| #2 I'll bet. They sold China the Lavi jet, an F-16 copy with composite body and upgraded avionics, just a year or two ago. |
| Posted by: rkb 2004-12-16 3:16:46 PM |
| #1 I had thought that Clinton permitted the Phalcon sale as a backdoor means to getting AWACS technology in Chinese hands. It now appears, from Israeli sources, that Israel initiated this transaction without American knowledge. Once Clinton found out, he rejected the deal. I think the Israeli government needs to rethink its stance on exports to China. Otherwise, we need to yank technology transfers and weapons aid to Israel. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-12-16 3:16:15 PM |