The World Tribune


Barak wants top U.S. weapons in exchange for peace with Syria

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Wednesday, December 22, 1999

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Barak is pressing the United States for a commitment to provide the most advanced American weaponry and technology in any Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.

An Israeli newspaper on Tuesday said this includes six early-warning Awacs aircraft.

"We expect that some of the most sophisticated weapons and early warning systems in the world will be made available to us so that Israel can stride into the coming, post-agreements, period, while maintaining its qualitative advantage," Barak said.

Military commanders, including Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Eitan Ben Eliahu, have relayed to Barak that their endorsement of a full withdrawal from the Golan Heights is linked to billions of dollars of U.S. advanced systems, such as reconnaissance satellites, advanced aircraft, missile technology and helicopters.

The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported on Tuesday that the main concern of military officials is that in the event of a peace agreement between Israel and Syria, the Israeli Air Force will be barred from entering Lebanese air space.

The Air Force currently flies over Lebanon to attack Hizbullah strongholds and to gather information on Syria.

"This would be a hard blow to the information capabilities of the State of Israel," one military source said.

To this end, the Air Force has prepared a shopping list for Barak, including free access to Lebanese air space and a request to the U.S. Air Force to fly reconnaissance missions over the area for Israel.

Miltary officials are also asking that Israel receive from the U.S. three electronic reconnaissance J-Star aircraft and three AWACS reconnaissance aircraft. Israel is also asking for new refuelling aircraft.

That's not all. Israel will also ask for unlimited access to U.S reconnaissance satellites and to reinforce its own satellites.

Addressing members of his party, Barak said he expects negotiations to begin with Lebanon regarding an Israeli withdrawal from that country. The prime minister has set a June 2000 deadline for an agreement with Syria and Lebanon for an Israeli withdrawal.

"As a consequence of progress [on the Syrian track], we expect to see progress in the dialogue with Lebanon, as well,'' Barak said on Monday. "We also would expect to see calming or reining-in of Hizbollah activity."

But Barak did not link an end to Hizbullah attacks to the continuation of the negotiations. Military sources said leading commanders have urged the prime minister to issue such a demand.

The sources said on Tuesday that a withdrawal from the Golan would relocate several key bases in Israel's northern Galilee region. They said the region would see also the relocation of thousands of soldiers and officers to the Galilee.

Barak did not say whether he would agree to a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights but aides have said that such a decision would be demanded by Syria during the next round of negotiations scheduled to begin on Jan. 3.

In Washington, outgoing Israeli ambassador Zalman Shoval told the Israel Policy Forum that the next round of talks is aimed at drafting a "core agreement." He said U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation "may now be of greater importance than ever. The Middle East for years to come may still be a very dangerous neighborhood."

Monday, December 20, 1999

Subscribe to World Tribune.com's Daily Headline Alert
One-stop shopping for world news


Contact World Tribune.com at world@worldtribune.com

Return toWorld Tribune.com front page
Your window on the world