U.S. to withhold technology over Israeli arms to China
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, February 25, 2000
WASHINGTON -- The United States has acknowledged that it is
withholding technology to Israel because of its weapons sales to China.
U.S. officials provided what appears to be the first explanation to a
refusal by the Defense Department to release software codes of the Apache
Longbow computers. Israel has signed an agreement in principle to purchase
the upgrade of 12 Apaches to the advanced Longbow model.
Pentagon officials said the Clinton administration did not intend to
impose a blanket ban on technology transfer. But, Pentagon spokesman Kenneth
Bacon said, the policy is "much more likely to have an effect on very
specific programs involving technology programs rather then on the general
support."
The administration has again raised Israeli arms sales to China amid
threats by Beijing to use force against Taiwan to impose unification. The
threats have alarmed Congress.
Both Pentagon and State Department officials said Israeli weapons deals
with Beijing have increased and involve more sophisticated systems. They
point to an Israeli-Russian project to provide an airborne early-warning
system to China worth $250 million. China has denied the deal.
Israeli officials have lobbied the administration to lift the ban on the
software codes for the Longbow. Some officials said Israel is prepared to
abandon the sale unless the codes are released.
The tiff between Israel and the United States comes as an Israeli
delegation continued their meetings with U.S. officials regarding future
strategic relations. Sources said one option being raised is a U.S.-Israeli
defense pact.
Israeli sources said other proposals raised by the Israeli delegation
include guarantees that Israel can maintain nuclear deterrence after a peace
treaty with Syria and raising Israel's status to that of Britain and Canada
regarding technological cooperation.
Friday, February 25, 2000
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