Haaretz
Adar 14, 5767
An Israeli corporation has
won a contract to supply the United States Marine Corps with state-of
the-art armored vehicles for use in Iraq, the latest in a long line of
Israeli defense sales destined for the Iraqi theater.
Amit Tzimer,
spokesman for Israel's state-owned weapons maker Rafael, said that in
partnership with U.S. manufacturer PVI, Rafael has signed up to deliver 60
of its new Golan vehicles at a total price of $37 million.
Delivery
will be made in the United States in May to the Marines, he
said.
Rafael's sales catalog describes the Golan as a multipurpose
vehicle, capable of withstanding armor-piercing machine-gun rounds, rocket
fire and bomb blasts. It can carry up to 10 troops up to 600 kilometers
(360 miles) on a tank of gas and can be outfitted as a fighting vehicle,
mobile command post or ambulance.
Tzimer said that the initial deal
was part of the first phase of a U.S.
program to procure a total of
40,000 armored vehicles, and Rafael hoped for more orders in the
future.
He added said that the firm previously supplied armor for
the Bradley fighting vehicle.
Tel Aviv-based defense analyst Zeev
Schiff said it was only one of several Israeli companies that had long
been providing and maintaining
equipment for American forces in Iraq.
Israel prefers to keep a low profile, but it's been doing that for years,
not just for the (U.S.) Army but for the Navy, too, he said.
The
Israeli Defense Ministry declined to comment on the sales of Israeli
equipment destined for use in Iraq. The U.S. Defense Department did
not
respond to requests for a comment.
Robin Hughes, a Mideast
military analyst at London-based Jane's Defense
Information Group,
said the issue of Israeli equipment in service in Iraq was a sensitive
one, and both suppliers and customers generally preferred to avoid
publicity.
There are systems that are deployed, and I wouldn't just
say U.S. vehicles, maybe other coalition vehicles. I think that if you
were to look carefully, you might spot other Israeli stuff, he said,
without elaborating.
Israeli media have reported that Israeli
businessman are active within Iraq itself, and last month the Israeli
National Security Council issued a cryptic travel warning, citing the
danger to Israelis traveling there and reminding them that such visits are
a criminal offense under Israeli law.
Israeli citizens are
forbidden by law to visit Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia or Yemen, all
of which are technically at war with Israel.
Egypt and Jordan are
the only Arab states to have signed peace treaties with Israel.