Israel links West Bank withdrawal to U.S.-backed comprehensive missile defense system
WASHINGTON — Israel and the United States have resumed a high-level
dialogue on missile defense.
Officials said the U.S. Defense Department and Israeli Defense Ministry
were discussing projects to develop missile and rocket defense, particularly
against short-range threats. They said this would lead the agenda of
visiting Defense Minister Ehud Barak, scheduled to meet U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday.
Barak has linked Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank to a rocket and
missile defense system that could intercept such missiles as the
Hamas-origin Kassam and the Russian-origin Katyusha. Hamas has sought to
establish Kassam production lines in such cities as Bethlehem, Nablus and
Tulkarm, Middle East Newsline reported.
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In late 2006, Israel launched the Iron Dome project, meant to defend
against rockets and missiles with a range of up to 40 kilometers. The
project was drafted in wake of the war in Lebanon, in which Hizbullah fired
4,500 rockets into the Jewish state.
Israel has also been administering the David's Sling project. The
project was meant to intercept enemy missiles with a range of between 70 and
280 kilometers.
Officials said Barak would also discuss plans to enhance the Arrow-2
ballistic missile defense project. They said the discussions would include
the prospect of an Israeli purchase of the PAC-3 missile defense system from
the United States.
