High tech imports from Israel disturb Arab regimes

NICOSIA [MENL] -- Several Arab regimes are concerned over a backlash from the quiet entry of Israeli exports.

Arab diplomats said authorities have detected an increase in Israeli products and parts. In all the cases, they said the products are not advertised as Israeli.

Despite peace negotiations, Israeli products are still formally banned in much of the Arab world.

In the Gulf, Arab diplomats report the entry of Israeli agricultural products. In some cases, they said, the Israelis compete against inferior local produce.

The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia has been alarmed by the entry of Israeli dates in the Gulf. Officials were quoted as saying that the Israeli produce was harming Saudi production and resulting in losses.

In Beirut, Lebanese authorities have blocked imports of computers from U.S.-based Intel because they contain Israeli parts. Lebanese law bans the import of any Israeli products.

The A-Safir newspaper said authorities discovered only last week that Intel was on an Arab League blacklist. The company has two plants in Israel.

But diplomats said boycotting Israeli products is more difficult as major manufacturers use parts from the Jewish state. They said that Lebanese officials don't want to prevent advanced computer technology from entering the country as Beirut prepares to face the Y2K bug.

"More than 80 percent of the computer equipment and machines used in Lebanon are Intel products," As-Safir quoted an unnamed importer as saying.