U.S. opposes Israeli Phalcon sale to India

TEL AVIV -- The United States opposes a proposed Israeli sale of the Phalcon airborne early-warning system to India.

The U.S. opposition has hampered efforts for an agreement between Washington and Jerusalem to establish a mechanism to monitor Israeli arms exports.

The Israeli Haaretz daily said Washington's objection stems from concern that the Phalcon sale could heighten tension between India and neighboring Pakistan. Last month, Israel cancelled the sale of a Phalcon sale to China amid U.S. protests that the system would endanger U.S. troops in the Straits of Taiwan.

Israeli officials said their government and India are close to completing a contract for the sale of the Phalcon. They said New Dehli does not want to proceed on the issue until the United States provides the green light for the sale.

Haaretz said India has bought what the newspaper termed "a sophisticated land-based radar device that draws upon technology used by the Phalcon airborne system." Israeli defense sources said the reference is to the Green Pine radar, used by Israel in the Arrow anti-missile system.

Next month, Israel and the United States are scheduled to hold another round of negotiations on a mechanism to monitor Israeli arms sales. The Clinton administration wants Israel to provide advance notification of military sales to China, India, Pakistan and Russia but officials said other countries could also be included.

Israel's Defense Ministry opposes the U.S. demand. But Haaretz said Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak appears to support it.