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Arabs pressure Eritrea to end Israeli defense ties

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, July 10, 2002

CAIRO Ñ Arab League states are pressing Eritrea to sever its military ties with Israel.

Arab diplomatic sources said Arab countries, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council states, have been concerned over what they regard as the increasing strategic relations between Eritrea and Israel. The sources said these ties have included the right of Israeli naval vessels to anchor at Eritrean ports along the Red Sea.

Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia about a decade ago and was said to have formed military and economic relations with Israel. The country is said have received Israeli weapons and developmental aid in return for an Israeli military presence along the Red Sea. The sources said Eritrean port rights to Israel would significantly extend the reach of its navy to the southern entry of the Persian Gulf.

On Tuesday, the London-based Al Hayat daily quoted Arab intelligence sources as saying that an Israeli navy missile frigate was spotted anchored in Eritrean territorial waters for a long period. The frigate was said to have used Eritrean ports in patrols of the Red Sea.

The diplomatic sources said GCC states have offered economic incentives to Eritrea to end defense ties with Israel. They said several Arab delegations have arrived in Asmara and discussed the prospect of improving relations with the African country.

So far, the sources said, Eritrea has not responded to the offer but has denied that Israeli naval vessels are based in that country's Red Sea ports. At one point, the sources said, the Eritrean Foreign Ministry organized a tour of Arab diplomats based in Asmara to tour a major Red Sea port. No Israeli vessels were seen.

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