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American experts present at the launch confirm Israeli superiority in anti-missile development; Boeing representatives to arrive in Israel to finalize deal to continue manufacture of Arrow in US Israel this week launched a new era in anti-missile defense system testing: in the eleventh test of the Arrow system, four missiles were fired simultaneously at incoming "enemy" rockets. In previous tests, single Arrow missiles were launched in order to intercept single ballistic missiles. The test was successful. The Arrow met several difficult and complicated demands: it flew at a speed of 1700 meters a second at a height of 15 kilometers above the ground (heretofore heights of more than 50 meters were tested), under difficult atmospheric conditions. The test was carried out under the supervision of representatives of America's Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), who, following the successful testing, confirmed that Israel is much farther advanced than the US in its anti-missile defense systems. Two months ago, the American Congress, ratified, by a huge majority, continued support for the development of the Arrow missiles and authorized an additional grant of $70 million to manufacture them. Some $2 billion has been invested in the development of the Arrow to date. An additional test will take place in Israel before the end of the year, while the following year, testing of the Arrow will begin in the US; the missiles will be launched against real Scud missiles. The manufacturing will be transferred to the US, but Israel Aircraft Industries will continue to be responsible for the integration the system's components; the final assembly will be done in Israel. A top-level delegation from Boeing is scheduled to arrive in Israel to finalize the deal to manufacture the Arrow missiles in the US. They will also discuss supplying missiles to other countries, inasmuch as Israel Aircraft is interested in selling the Arrow to countries like Turkey, Japan, India, and South Korea.
Israeli, US, and Turkish naval boats and airplanes last week conducted joint search and rescue exercises in the international waters off Israel's shores. The purpose of the one-day drill was to test coordinated search and rescue procedures during crisis at sea. Another exercise, dubbed Juniper Cobra, in which Israeli and American forces will practice cooperative procedures in case of an Iraqi attack, is starting this week. In the meanwhile the deployment of Patriot missiles is continuing, with Patriot batteries recently deployed in Eilat to protect the city in the event of an Iraqi aerial attack.
An Israeli delegation that was sent to Washington to discuss a request for special US aid, this week formally submitted the request, which includes: $4 billion in military aid; $8 billion in loan guarantees needed to maintain Israel's credit rating because of the economic crisis; funding for the war against terror and the anticipated danger from Iraq; funding of the anti-missle defense systems in all El Al and other Israeli civilian airplanes. The prime minister's bureau chief and head of the delegation, Dov Weisglass, said after the meeting in which the request was submitted, that the US administration did not tie the aid to limitations on investments in the settlements nor request that Israel refrain from responding to a possible Iraqi attack. Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Dan Ayalon, who was also present at the meeting, said that the American representatives were very positive about Israel's request. Israel is interested in finalizing the aid request before a possible war with Iraq. It is believed that the American response will be received only after the elections in Israel.
Various Middle Eastern countries partners in scientific research project in Jordan Terror and scientific cooperation are two separate matters. Israel this week joined a scientific research project in Jordan, which also includes Iran and the Palestinian Authority, as well as other Middle Eastern countries such as Bahrain and Turkey. This is the first time that Israel and Iran will collaborate on a joint project. The project, known as SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) will provide training and research for Middle Eastern scientists in structural biology, environmental and materials science, including medical and other applications. It will be based on a synchrotron-light source facility Israeli scientists say that although scientific collaboration between Israel, Iran, and the Palestinians seems surrealistic in today's world, it will in all likelihood help build relationships in other areas.
A special agreement for industrial collaboration between Bedouin and Jewish authorities was recently signed between the heads of the Bedouin settlement of Rahat, and the Lehavim and Bnei Shimon regional councils in the Negev. According to the agreement, a joint industrial zone will be set up on an area of 3,000 dunam. The income from taxes will be divided as follows: Rahat - 44%, Bnei Shimon - 33%, and Lehavim - 17%. Talal Al-Krenawi, the head of the Rahat municipality, expressed the hope that this important collaboration between Jews and Arabs will also bring about an improvement in the employment situation in this region.
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