- Israel is trying to halt an arms deal in which Russia
would supply advanced missiles to Syria, Israeli officials said Wednesday.
-
- The officials spoke after a Russian newspaper reported
the deal.
-
- The deputy Russian foreign minister is in the region
to discuss the matter, the Israeli officials said on condition of anonymity.
The United States is aware of the growing crisis between Russia and Israel,
they said.
-
- The Russian daily Kommersant reported Wednesday that
Israel recalled its ambassador over the deal. Israeli officials said the
ambassador was in Israel on vacation, and denied he had been recalled.
-
- The newspaper said Moscow planned to sell Iskander-E
missile complexes to Syria. The missiles can destroy targets up to 280
kilometers (175 miles) away and would put all of Israel's territory, including
the Dimona nuclear center in the Negev desert, in jeopardy, Kommersant
said.
-
- It said that Syria had turned to Moscow two years ago
with a request to purchase 18 Iskander-E complexes, but that the equipment
had not even been tested yet so Damascus settled for Kornet-E and Metis-M
missile systems.
-
- The press service of Russia's main arms export company,
Rosoboronexport, said it had no information that Russia was planning such
a sale. No one was immediately available for comment at the Russian Foreign
Ministry.
-
- Israeli military officials, speaking on condition of
anonymity, have expressed concern that the missiles would get into the
hands of Hezbollah and disrupt the military balance in the Middle East.
-
- Syrian President Bashar Assad is due to visit Russia
Jan. 24-28.
-
- Israel rejects Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim
that Israeli officials aided Ukrainian opposition candidate Viktor Yuschenko
on the campaign trail, Channel 2 reported.
-
- Putin further accused Israel of financing Yuschenko in
the presidential race against Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych,
the candidate he preferred.
-
- The Russian president claimed that the Israeli government
could have prevented the financial sponsorship of Yuschenko. Putin's close
associates additionally charged Israel of supporting the Russian opposition.
-
- Israel denies the charges, the Channel 2 report noted.
-
- http://www.jpost.com/
|
