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Israel puts arms suppliers on war footing

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Saturday, January 27, 2001

TEL AVIV — Israel has placed its weapons suppliers on alert amid military warnings of an outbreak of regional war.

The Israeli Defense Ministry alert has been relayed to purchasing missions in the United States and Europe as well as to suppliers of weapons, ammunition and emergency equipment. Officials said the ministry alert does not mean that war is imminent but constitutes preparations for any conflict.

Defense Ministry director-general Amos Yaron has ordered Israeli purchasing delegations abroad to prepare for conflict that would require accelerated deliveries. Officials said a similar alert was last issued in 1996 amid reports that Syria had advanced commando forces near Israeli positions along the Golan Heights.

The order by Yaron, approved by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, is largely meant for U.S. contractors, which supplies most of Israel's defense needs.

Israel has signed orders with U.S. defense firms that require them to supply spare parts and other equipment in times of emergency in the Jewish state.

The Defense Ministry has a major purchasing mission in New York. In addition, the United States maintains ammunition and equipment in Israel that can be used in case of emergency. But the United States must provide the green light for use of the supplies.

The Israeli Haaretz daily quoted defense sources as saying that Israel does not sustain an ammunition shortage and has a reasonable supply of parts and supplies.

The missions in Paris and Bonn would focus on providing protection against a nonconventional weapons attacks. European companies supplied most of the gas masks to Israel in 1998 when war between Iraq and the United States appeared imminent.

The alert comes as the ministry has been battling allegations of corruption by procurement officials. The ministry said it suspended a senior member of the New York delegation accused of embezzling $230,000. The ministry said the unidentified official returned half of the money.

Saturday, January 27, 2001


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