Israel asks twice as many Tomahawk missiles in Golan deal

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel has doubled its request for Tomahawk missiles as part of a U.S. military compensation package for withdrawal from the Golan Heights, an Israeli newspaper said on Monday.

The Haaretz daily said the augmented request was submitted during a visit to the United States by a Defense Ministry delegation to Washington led by ministry director-general Amos Yaron. Yaron was said to have asserted that the cruise missiles are required against any attack from Iran or Iraq.

The newspaper said Israel has scaled down its request to $16.9 billion, $500 million less than the original bid.

U.S. officials have not responded to the request. But the Israeli bid for Tomahawks has raised opposition.

Opponents said the United States is bound by the 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime against exporting missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers.

Arab diplomats said Egypt has been disturbed by Israeli request for new weapons and a guarantee that Egypt will continue to be denied advanced U.S. systems.

"That the West in general, the U.S. and Britain in particular, should be keen on promoting an unbalanced Middle East peace where Israel stands superior militarily, monopolizing nuclear weapons and economically and technologically, supported by the U.S. and the new forces of globalization, is only natural," wrote Salama A. Salama in the government Al Gomhoureya daily.

"For then, the Arab world will be just a clay in their hands to shape as they see fit, given its present weaknesses and divisions; and given also the sanctions, the embargos and the constant threats of bombardment under which some Arab countries such as Iraq, Libya and Sudan live."