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Wednesday, September 8, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Israel seeks OK to expand smart-bomb arsenal

TEL AVIV — Israel has requested U.S. permission to expand the military's arsenal of American-origin precise-guided munitions.

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Officials said the Israeli Defense Ministry has requested U.S. permission for the Joint Direct Attack Munition, manufactured by Boeing. They said the ministry was renewing a request approved by then-President George Bush in 2006 and suspended by President Barack Obama three years later.

"We badly need to increase our JDAMs to prepare for any sudden threats," an official said.


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Officials said Obama withheld the U.S. approval of JDAMs for more than 14 months. In April 2010, the first shipment of JDAMs arrived in Israel under the current U.S. administration, Middle East Newsline reported.

"They were only a fraction of the weapons that were approved," the official said. "We need a lot more."

Officials said the JDAM arsenal of the Israel Air Force was significantly reduced by the wars against Hizbullah and Hamas in 2006 and 2009, respectively. They said the Air Force was also seeking more powerful general purpose air bombs from Washington.

In May 2010, Defense Minister Ehud Barak renewed Israel's request for JDAMs in meetings with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other senior administration officials. Barak also raised the JDAM issue with leaders of the House and Senate.

"The administration has not said 'no,' but the fact is that we've been waiting and waiting," the official said.

The Pentagon has explained delays in JDAM and other weapons deliveries were due to the U.S. military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Pentagon has pointed to complaints by Saudi Arabia of huge delays.

Barak has also sought to win a U.S. commitment to expand the prepositioning of U.S. Army equipment in Israel. In early 2010, the administration approved the doubling of the prepositioned equipment from $400 million to $800 million. So far, the stockpile has increased to $600 million.

Under the latest Israeli request, the expansion would reach $1.2 billion in prepositioned U.S. military equipment, including JDAMs and other weapons. Under an agreement with Washington, Israel would be allowed to use the U.S. stockpiles during war.



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