Despite words of war, Iran quietly seeks Israeli aid
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
LONDON — Iran might be advocating and paying tens of millions of
dollars for Israel's destruction.
But quietly the Islamic republic continues to seek help from the Jewish
state.
Arab and Israeli sources report that cooperation continues between
Israeli companies and Iranian state institutions in such fields as
agriculture and infrastructure. They said much of the cooperation is
conducted through European companies.
The sources said Israel is quietly helping Iran with an infrastructure
renewal project in Teheran. They said Israel and a French partner are
reviewing Teheran's underground pipe and sewer network as part of a plan to
install new systems.
The Israeli introduction to the project began in late 1998, the sources
said, and was based on Israeli knowledge of the Teheran system. Israeli
contractors helped build Teheran's sewage and other infrastructure systems
in 1971 and has the maps from the work.
The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily reported that Israel's
government is also involved in the Iranian project. The daily said the
government is involved in a program to establish a water and health-care
network throughout Iran, which has been marked by rising unrest amid
complaints of poor services and lack of democracy.
The newspaper said Israeli engineers and building contractors are
involved in the Iranian projects. The Israelis are also helping to obtain
foreign funding for the projects. The companies were not identified.
In 1998, an Israeli delegation arrived in Iran for an agricultural
survey. Iran denied the visit, but Arab diplomatic sources confirmed that
the delegation was sent from the Israeli Agriculture Ministry.
"The ties with Iran will not be affected by any decision to cut
[Islamic] relations with Israel," said Yehoshua Meiri, head of the Tel
Aviv-based Israeli-Arab Friendship Association, which forges business ties
around the Middle East. "This is because they are based on economic and
political decisions."
Meiri said Iran seeks -- through third parties -- to invest in
infrastructure projects in Israel that will reduce transit routes and cut
the price of oil shipping costs. One proposal is to revive the moribund
Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline that will avoid the use of the Suez Canal, owned by
Egypt.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia agreed to donate $100 million for development
projects in Egypt as part of an effort to improve bilateral relations. In
another development, Syria has resolved a $500 million debt to Iran.
Tuesday, November 14, 2000
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