- 4 jan 2011
Israel eyes Korean jet trainer
Korean T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jet trainer
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has reportedly issued a request for information on a Korean warplane, which Tel Aviv might rent for training its pilots.
The request for the aircraft, T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jet trainer, coincides with an underway examination by the military branch of M-346, an Italian transonic trainer aircraft, The Media Line, an outlet reporting on the Middle East, reported on Monday.
Should the IAF make use of the aircraft, it would mark a rare attempt by Tel Aviv to enlist the service of allies other than the United States, from whom it annually receives $3 billion in military aid.
The T-50 is mainly used to prepare military cadets to fly next-generation fighter planes like F-35 and F-16I.
Both foreign aircraft are capable of carrying weapons.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/158528.html
20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
F-35 production frozen due to cutbacks
Major budget cuts in Pentagon, estimated at $78 billion, won't affect delivery of 20 stealth jets to Israel from 2015 to 2017.
WASHINGTON The United States is freezing the production of F-35 stealth jets as part of a Pentagon budget cuts approved by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
The cutbacks, estimated at $78 billion, are the biggest implemented by the American Department of Defense since September 11, 2001, and include a reduction of 37,000 soldiers from the Army and Marine Corps.
Sources in Washington told Ynet that the halt in the production of the advanced stealth jets would not affect the expected delivery of 20 planes to Israel, but that any additional request for combat aircraft on Israel's part would be affected.
The failure of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians about a month ago following the dispute over a renewed West Bank settlement construction freeze led to the annulment of an agreement for the sale of 20 additional F-35 aircraft to Israel.
Gates. Expenses examined
Israel's Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren said about three weeks ago that in spite of the failed talks, Jerusalem still expected to receive the second F-35 squadron.
The first deal states that Israel would receive an F-35 squadron from 2015 to 2017 for $96 million per plane, along with simulators, spare parts and maintenance equipment, at a total cost of $2.75 bullion. According to Gates, freezing the F-35 project would save the Pentagon some $4 billion.
Gates told reporters that the Pentagon cuts were a result of the global recession and pressure within the United States to find ways to reduce expenses. He said he was aware of the fact that in order to maintain American interests in the world, the US Army must strictly examine its expense procedures.
Gates said the White House would propose a Department of Defense base budget of about $553 billion in 2012.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4010268,00.html 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
Israel equips military with C4I
Israeli troopers in the city of al-Khalil (Hebron) in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank's south
Israel has equipped its military with a sophisticated system that displays battlefield information in a videogame-like map, reducing response time to a few seconds.
The command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) system gathers satellite information and compiles it into an easy-to-use map, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
Strikes that used to take 20 or more minutes to coordinate now take just seconds, said Maj. Hagai Ben-Shushan, head of the C4I section for Israel's artillery. "It doesn't take much, then shells are going to the target," he said.
The goal is to have "all the elements of a force ... seeing the same tactical picture, and you can move information from one to the other completely seamlessly," said Britain-based Giles Ebb, who studies such systems for Jane's Information Group, a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.
The United States started the development of such a system in the 1990s. France, Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy are other countries that use C4I.
A massive military budget, which is strengthened with $3 billion in annual assistance by the United States, has enabled Tel Aviv to recurrently target technologically-inferior Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
However, despite being among the most sophisticated militaries, the Israeli military has on occasions failed to achieve its objectives in wars against Gaza and Lebanon.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159236.html 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
Israel Aerospace sells $1.1 bln arms to Asian nation
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel Aerospace Industries will sell weapons systems worth more than $1.1 billion to an Asian country over the next four years, the state-owned defense contractor said on Monday.
It said the deal had been signed but did not identify the buyer. Israel's past defense trading partners in Asia have included Singapore, South Korea, India and China.
The sale includes IAI aircraft, missiles and intelligence technologies, an Israeli defense industry source told Reuters. It is the company's most lucrative deal since the Indian navy bought an aerial defense system for $1.1 billion in 2009.
IAI also develops military and commercial aerospace technology, including communications satellites, and unmanned air systems. Like other Israeli firms, it was hit by the government's suspension last year of defense exports to Turkey after diplomatic feuding frayed a once-strong alliance.
Israel plans a public offering of 20-30 percent of IAI, its biggest defense contractor, this year, the Finance Ministry said in April.
TheMarker financial news website reported that the company, which had sales of $3.15 billion in 2010, was expected to be valued at $2.5-3 billion at privatization.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=451214
20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
American-made F-35 jets defective
An F-35 Lightning II warplane
The US Defense Department reports on the deficiencies and technical shortcomings of the US-made F-35 warplanes, some makes of which are on Israeli shopping list.
The report, compiled by Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate, pointed to problems with the F-35 Lightning II's handling and avionics among other things, reported the US-based newsweekly Defense News on Monday.
The dissatisfaction has prompted Lockheed Martin, the American manufacturer to recurrently delay testing of the aircraft - which are also known as Joint Strike Fighter, said the Israeli media network Arutz Sheva's website said on Saturday.
The United States has promised Israel 20 of the warplanes and promised to veto any anti-Israeli resolution at the United Nations Security Council in exchange for Tel Aviv's extending a partial moratorium on its settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian lands.
Tel Aviv, however, has rejected the offer pushing into a gridlock talks with the Palestinian Authority, which had resumed in early September.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/161579.html 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
Stop the Wall release new report on Brazil s military relations with Israel
On the occasion of the 3rd global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Action Day on March 30 (Palestinian Land Day), http://bit.ly/ig9oKz we are happy to announce the release of Stop the Wall's disconcerting and potentially explosive report on growing and strategic military relations between Brazil and Israel. Notwithstanding its recent recognition of the Palestinian State and its long tradition of supporting Palestinian rights and upholding international law, the Brazilian government has signed contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars with Israel's arms industry.
The fact that Israel continues its decades-old brutal occupation, illegal siege of Gaza, denial of Palestinian refugee rights, increasingly blatant apartheid policies and laws, and rejection of every serious international attempt to reach a just and comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians and Arabs, has not deterred Brazil from becoming one of the top importers around the world of Israeli weapons, many of which are promoted as field tested.
In 30 pages, the well researched and thoroughly documented report reveals the details of Brazil's major programs signed with Israel, totaling close to one billion US dollars. Furthermore, Israel is increasingly buying Brazilian arms industry corporations and forging joint ventures and strategic relationships. The Israeli efforts to establish itself in Brazil and, through this, to penetrate as well markets in other progressive South American countries are supported by political action such as the existence of an office of the Brazilian Armed Forces in Tel Aviv and the recent signature of a security cooperation agreement between Brazil and Israel that allows the latter to carry out deals which are at a high level of security classification.The Israeli military industry is eyeing billions of dollars of contracts in preparation of the 2014 World Cup games and the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. In a newspaper report, six of seven companies vying for contracts have proven links with Israeli war crimes and/or have been involved in suspicions of espionage activities[1].
The major Israeli arms companies active in Brazil Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems are both directly involved not only in providing the Israeli occupation army with weaponry used in committing what the UN Goldstone Report characterized as war crimes and possible crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people, but are directly constructing the Wall and settlement infrastructure, which are grave breaches of the IV Geneva Convention and the 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Israeli Tavor rifles produced in Brazil are explicitly developed and tested through real Israeli army's attacks on Palestinian communities under occupation.
To read the full report:
Portuguese: http://bit.ly/eMBCL1 pdf
English: http://bit.ly/g07KdP pdf
Stop the Wall comments:
Doing business with the Israeli arms industry seriously undermines Brazil's support of Palestinian political and human rights, as these contracts ensure that Israeli wars, occupation and colonialisation remain profitable. These military relations further cast doubt on the Brazilian government's declared commitment to human rights, peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state and appear to contradict Brazil's alliances and interests in the wider Arab region. It is worrying that Brazil hands over its taxpayers money to the Israeli arms industry. Brazil cannot reconcile complicity in Israel's grave violations of international law and its aspirations as a rising world power that advocates respect for international law and human rights.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) http://bit.ly/hLQtRI reiterates its call upon the Brazilian government to stop all military relations with Israel, and urges in particular to:
* Not ratify, and to cancel, the security cooperation agreement with Israel.
* Immediately close down the offices of the Brazilian Armed Forces in Israel.
* Modify the procurement regulations of the Brazilian army to ensure that companies violating international law are excluded from contracts.
* Bar companies involved in violations of international law from establishing themselves on Brazilian territory via acquisitions of companies, joint ventures or licensing.
* Ensure companies violating international law are excluded from the contracts for the World Cup and the Olympics as sports that awards war criminals cannot be fair play.
For more information, please contact:
Hind Awwad (Palestine)
[email protected]
+ 972 (0) 599837796
Downloads
1. rela es militares entre brasil e israel http://bit.ly/elgrxC (358.1 KiB)
2. brazilian military ties with israel http://bit.ly/eQJzJ2 (423.8 KiB)
3.BNC PR-Report on Israel Brazil Arms Trade-30-3-2011 http://bit.ly/hMqtKY (128.7 KiB)
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/brazil-arms-report-5849 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
US parties still far apart on foreign aid
(3:01) US: $3 billion aid to Israel debatable amid huge gov't deficits - PressTV 110330
As the battle for cutting the budget rages, politicians are voicing proposals to cut funds to such previously untouchable issues, or 'sacred cows' as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But one area where very few venture is in foreign aid to Israel.
Senator Rand Paul recently published a budget proposal that would cut the deficit and even bring about a surplus by 2016. In it, he proposes to cut whole departments from the federal government as well as all foreign aid.
This would include Israel which receives an annual $3 billion, maintaining that Israel's ability to conduct foreign policy, regain economic dominance, and support itself without the heavy hand of U.S. interests and policies, will only strengthen the Israeli community. Though Daniel Pollak of the Zionist Organization of America agrees that Paul is a friend of Israel, he argues aid is necessary for U.S. security.
Mohammad Oweis of the Palestine Affairs Council differs sharply in his measure of what would be in the best interest of U.S. national security.
In a recent Reuters poll, 73% of Americans supported scaling back foreign aid as part of budget cuts. But American politicians in support of continued aid to Israel its strategic interests are critical for regional stability.
Whether analysts believe in continuing foreign aid to Israel or not, they can agree on one thing. That military aid from the U.S. to Israel will not stop now, no matter how deep the budget deficit, and will probably continue well into the future.
http://presstv.com/detail/172363.html 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
Disincentives to Peace: US Weapons Sales to Israel
"Counterpunch" http://fwd4.me/0076 Israel may be forgiven for failing to realize the current fiscal woes of the United States. After all, U.S. military aid to Israel not only sailed unscathed through last week's passage of the 2011 budget, but reached the record level of $3 billion.
The United States additionally provided Israel $415 million for procurement, research and development of joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense projects, including $205 million to fund Israel's newly-deployed Iron Dome system.
This anti-missile battery already has altered significantly the strategic balance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when Israel successfully shot down incoming rockets fired from the Gaza Strip earlier this month. With the assured diplomatic backing of the United States to prevent Israel from being held accountable by the international community for its illegal blockade, Iron Dome will embolden Israel to tighten its siege and escalate its attacks on the occupied Gaza Strip by providing its citizens with additional protection against retaliatory fire.
U.S. funding of Iron Dome is but one example of many of how U.S. weapons transfers to Israel privilege Israeli military dominance over Palestinian freedom and create perverse economic disincentives for Israel to defy U.S. policy goals such as halting Israel's colonization of Palestinian land, ending its collective punishment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and negotiating in good faith a lasting peace agreement.
As long as U.S. weapons continue to flow, Israel will feel free to disregard the Obama Administration's mild blandishments and half-hearted attempts to bring Israel to the negotiating table. Unfortunately this disincentive structure is set to be reinforced over the coming years.
Under a Bush-era agreement, U.S. weapons transfers to Israel are scheduled to total $30 billion from 2009-2018, an annual average increase of 25 percent above previous levels. With this 2007 Memorandum of Understanding, the United States solidified Israel's position as the largest recipient of U.S. military aid this decade. In line with increases proposed under this arrangement, President Obama asked for a record-breaking $3.075 billion of weapons for Israel in his 2012 budget request.
A new online database "How Many Weapons to Israel?" casts doubt on whether the United States can afford, either morally, financially or politically, to continue transferring weapons to Israel at taxpayer expense without examining the ramifications of this policy.
From 2000-2009, the United States licensed, paid for, and delivered to Israel more than 670 million weapons and related equipment, valued at nearly $19 billion, through three main weapons transfer programs (Foreign Military Sales, Direct Commercial Sales, and Excess Defense Articles). These weapons transfer programs accounted for nearly 80 percent of the more than $24 billion in military aid appropriated to Israel during these years. The bulk of the remaining money was spent by Israel on its own domestic arms industry, a unique exemption written into law for Israel. All other countries receiving U.S. military aid are required to spend the whole sum within the United States.
the patently absurd one used food steamer valued at $2,100 to the lethal 93 F-16D fighter jets valued at a total of nearly $2.5 billion. With nearly 500 categories of weapons transferred to Israel, the United States is pervasively, intricately, and comprehensively involved in arming its military.
These weapons transfers also make the United States deeply complicit in almost every action the Israeli military takes to entrench its illegal 43-year military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip and the apartheid policies that undergird its government's stance toward Palestinians.
From September 2000-December 2009, roughly the same period during which the United States transferred these 670 million weapons to Israel, the Israeli military killed at least 2,969 Palestinians, of whom 1,128 were children, who took no part in hostilities, according to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.
For example, Israel killed 446 unarmed Palestinians, including 149 children, with missiles fired from helicopters. The Pentagon classifies the number, types, and value of missiles transferred to Israel; however, the United States gave Israel nearly 200 AH-64D Apache, Sikorsky CH-53, and Cobra helicopters from which at least some of these lethal missiles were fired. It was likely one such U.S.-supplied missile from a U.S.-supplied helicopter that Israel fired in the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on December 29, 2008, which killed five sisters, Jawaher (age 4), Dina (age 7), Samar (age 12), Ikram (age 14), and Tahrir Baulusha (age 17) during an attack on a nearby mosque.
Israel's misuse of U.S. weapons to commit human rights abuses like these against Palestinian civilians should trigger sanctions against, rather than increasing amounts of military aid to, Israel. The Arms Export Control Act limits the use of U.S. weapons to "internal security" and "legitimate self-defense." Israel's occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip is defined by the U.S. government as a foreign military occupation, and the killing of thousands of unarmed civilians in support of a military occupation cannot be justified as legitimate without distorting the meaning of self-defense.
In addition, the Foreign Assistance Act strictly prohibits U.S. foreign assistance to any country that "engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights." The State Department's recently released 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices documents amply, if not comprehensively, Israel's human rights abuses of Palestinians.
As Washington now considers raising the debt ceiling and making even more substantial cuts to the 2012 budget, the moral, financial, and political costs of arming Israel can no longer be ignored.
If the Obama Admininstration is serious in its efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and genuine in its stated commitment to the universality of human rights, then it must utilize the significant leverage the United States wields over Israel through its military aid program.
By terminating weapons transfers to Israel at least until Israel upholds its obligations under U.S. and international law, ends its illegal military occupation of Palestinian land, and negotiates in good faith a just and lasting peace with Palestinians, the United States can create an incentive structure to achieve its frustrated policy goals.
Josh Ruebner is the National Advocacy Director of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a national coalition of more than 350 organizations working to change U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine to support human rights, international law, and equality. He is a former Analyst in Middle East Affairs at Congressional Research Service.
http://fwd4.me/00BA 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
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Israel to invest one billion dollars in Iron Dome missile defense system
Defense Ministry director general tells Haaretz: Five countries interested in Israel's anti-missile system.
Defense Ministry director general Maj. Gen. (res. ) Udi Shani says that Israel plans to invest nearly $1 billion in the coming years for the development and production of Iron Dome rocket interception batteries. Shani reveals that five countries have already expressed an interest in the system, especially following its successful operational interception of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip last month.
In his first press interview since his appointment in January 2010, Shani was keen to put the success of Iron Dome into perspective. "We need to adjust expectations in relation to Iron Dome, both in regard to the citizens but also vis a vis the political leadership," Shani said.
"We have [accomplished] a significant achievement in reaching operational capability sooner than expected, but this is not a system that can ensure the interception of every rocket in every situation," he added. "These batteries, when they are deployed, will limit the number of casualties from rockets and will provide, in case of fighting, decision-making space. But in the end, it is also a matter of physics and technology. The technology cannot stand alone."
Shani is referring to the amount of time it will take Rafael, the maker of the Iron Dome system, to produce a large number of batteries and interception missiles, and for the Israeli Air Force to train personnel in usage of the systems.
The director general said that Iron Dome is considered one of the central systems as the new IDF multi-year plan takes shape.
"We are no longer approaching this in terms of initial operational capabilities but are defining the final target for absorbing the systems, in terms of schedule and funds. We are talking about [having] 10-15 Iron Dome batteries. We will invest nearly $1 billion on this. This is the goal, in addition to the $205 million that the U.S. government has authorized," Shani said.
The U.S. grant is expected to cover four extra batteries, in addition to the two that have already been delivered to the IDF. The final number of batteries will depend on the chosen "mix" between batteries and interception missiles, which are costly.
In addition to Iron Dome there are plans to invest, over the coming five years, another $1 billion in the continued development of Magic Wand, a medium-level missile interception system (also developed by Rafael ).
"I hope that by 2012 we will have the first operational capabilities," Shani says, "but our intention is to close procurement contracts within a few months. Traditionally you first wait for the completion of development, but we now need to accelerate this process.
"Along with the third system, Arrow Mark III, whose development is done with the Americans," Shani added, "it will be the largest technological development project in the field of missile interception in the world. The success of Iron Dome has increased interest. Five countries have issued requests for information about the system."
Shani, 54, was appointed to his position by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, after spending most of his career in the armored corps. He is responsible for a vast number of projects: It ranges from the infrastructure budget, to the building of the separation fence, to the new fence along the border with Egypt, to the procurement of weapons systems, and to the supervision of defense exports, which in the past two years peaked at a record $7 billion per year.
The five-year plan and the budget now top his agenda. Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz will hold a workshop this month to discuss IDF expectations for the coming years; the program will need to be approved by the Defense Minister and then the government later in the year.
"We are three and a half years into the current five-year plan. We have nearly accomplished 100 percent of it, with the exception of the procurement of new naval vessels that will not be carried out," Shani said.
Meanwhile there are delays in the production of the new Air Force fighter the F-35, and these will affect its effective entry into the IAF. The delay may be as long as three years, with the first aircraft arriving only in 2018.
"During the last visit by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to Israel a month ago, we were told that the delay may be shorter than they originally thought. In any case, I am not nervous about it," Shani said.
"This [delay] may actually serve our interests. I favor an aircraft with as many Israeli-made systems as possible," he added. "We will see how they try to meet our requests over this time. In the original timetable, it was argued that there was no time [to incorporate Israeli systems into the Israeli F-35s]. We will hear their conclusions and I expect a dialogue with the Americans over the new timetable and the changes."
The idea that the Air Force will, in the meantime, acquire another squadron of F-15s in order to meet the gap that will be created "is not relevant." The delay may mean that in the future there will be more aircraft coming to Israel in a shorter period of time, and the numbers procured may rise from 20 to 30.
http://fwd4.me/012g 20 mar 2012, 22:37 , Respect -
Australians slam arms deal with Israel
(2:38) Australians slam arms deal with Israel - Press TV News
A demonstration took place on Friday outside of the offices of the Australian Defence Department in Sydney to protest the Australian government’s arms trade with Israel.
A large part of Australia’s trade with Israel is made up of contracts to buy or sell military equipment. The two countries also share military technologies.
In 2010 The Rudd government signed a $300 million purchase with Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit. These purchases were for BMS, or Battle Management Systems, complex electronics that permit integration of modern warfare technology.
Elbit claims that it provides similar technology to 20 countries worldwide.
Elbit, whose subsidiary companies provide security systems for illegal West Bank settlements, and the illegal Israeli separation Wall, is also the provider of the Israeli drones that are becoming a staple of many NATO armouries including the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Protesters argue that the Australian government should not buy or sell military equipment to those who implement apartheid policies against populations under their control, occupy or wage war against neighbouring nations, maintain illegally-acquired and undeclared nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and carry out summary executions and collective punishment.
The protesters are calling on the Australian government to implement an arms embargo on Israel, until it can comply with International law and human rights conventions.
The Defence Department and Elbit Australia have refused to comment.
http://fwd4.me/01P3 20 mar 2012, 22:38 , Respect -
'Israel to deploy interceptor in rush'
Israel's upgraded Arrow missile system could be deployed way before its intended delivery date, a senior military official says.
The Arrow III, partly funded by the United States, will be rushed into deployment before the scheduled date in 2015, if it is needed earlier, said the official on condition of anonymity, Reuters reported Thursday.
He made the statement during his tour of the Arrow command center dubbed "Defensive Sword," located on a base near the Tel Aviv coast.
The Israeli regime claims the system is designed to intercept projectiles in space.
Tel Aviv also intends to go fully operational with a shorter-range missile system, called the Iron Dome, purportedly designed to offer protection against incoming rockets.
Israel's defense ministry says it has invested $1 billion for manufacturing and development of the Iron Dome system.
Israel says Arrow III's first live trial is expected later this year.
The projected cost of each interceptor missile is reportedly $2 million to $3 million.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179644.html 20 mar 2012, 22:38 , Respect -
US to aid Israel buy missile equipment
The United States is planning to help Israel buy another four batteries of short-range rockets for its Iron Dome anti-missile system, the US Defense Department says.
“In our budget, we have a proposal to assist [Israel] with procurement of four more batteries," US Army Lieutenant General Patrick O'Reilly said on Wednesday.
Each of the batteries ordered by Israel consists of a mobile air defense system with a radar-guided interceptor missile and is estimated to cost USD 70 million.
The new batteries are expected to be delivered to Israel by the next two years.
The US funds will come from over USD 200 million in tax payer money, in the form of an initiative proposed by US President Barack Obama and approved by US Congress in April.
Although the United States has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in donations to developing the Iron Dome, the latest assist is considered to be Washington's first direct investment.
The Iron Dome is capable of intercepting short-range rockets and artillery shells up to 45 miles, and was designed by Israel after its defeats in the wars on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181810.html 20 mar 2012, 22:38 , Respect -
Israel concerned over Lockheed attack
An F-35 fighter jet manufactured by US Lockheed Martin
The Israeli military has expressed concerns over its security systems after US aerospace company Lockheed Martin came under a cyber attack.
The military said in a statement that “the attack on Lockheed Martin has raised concern for Israeli high-tech institutions,” Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Sunday.
Israel has ordered 20 F-35 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin whose information systems network was attacked by hackers last week. Lockheed Martin provides Israel with a variety of fighter aircraft including F-16, F-22 and F-35.
The Israeli military is concerned about an expected delay in delivery of the planes. It also stated that the scope of adverse effects of the attack on Israel's security systems is yet unknown.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said in a statement late Saturday that it was working with Lockheed to determine the extent of the attack.
Also in 2009, hackers broke into Lockheed's computers holding data on the F-35 fighter program worth an approximate $380 billion.
The Israeli Air Force has selected F-35 planes as the back bone of its future strategic fighters, and there are no plans for an alternative if the American program is discontinued due to cyber threats.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/182398.html 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Israel to get 6th Dolphin sub
(0:56) Israel to get 6th Dolphin sub
Infolive.tv - Israel News - Germany will sell Israel a sixth Dolphin class submarine capable of launching nuclear missiles, German Defense Minister Tomas de Maiziere said.
De Maiziere discussed the deal at a meeting last week in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
The German defense minister said his country would subsidize the deal giving a total of $189.2 million.
The submarine is capable of launching nuclear armed ballistic missiles
Israel already has received three Dolphin class submarines from Germany and will get two more in 2012 and 2013.
The first two were given as a token of appreciation for Israel's restraint in the First Gulf War and also as a step to boost Israel's defense capabilities. The other three were funded by Germany at a third of their cost.
The new submarine, called the U212 , will be fitted with new German technology that combines the conventional diesel system with an air-independent propulsion system used for slow, silent cruising with a fuel cell equipped with oxygen and hydrogen storage.
Report: Israel to get sixth nuclear sub from Germany
Germany will provide Israel with a sixth Dolphin submarine, capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, Der Spiegel reported.
According to the report the German defense minister promised during a visit to Israel last week that his government would partly fund the manufacture of the sub by earmarking 135 million euro for the endeavor in the next budget.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4096664,00.html - 18 juli 2011
A German Submarine to Prepare for Killing All Non-Jews?
Merkel
A horrific incitement to perpetrate holocaust against humanity, to kill all non-jews, was issued and published in the “holy” jewish rabbinic book “Torat Hamelech” or “The King’s Torah” written by the hate-preaching Rabbis Yitzhak Shapira , Yosef Elitzur, Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in the occupied Nablus in the West Bank “Yitzhar, colony, Dov Lior from the Hebron colony, and adopted by many high Rabbis in and out of Israel, among them Haim Druckman.
The King’s Torah
The book, which is widely distributed deals mainly in the laws relating to the killing of gentiles and explains when it is permissible to kill “gentiles” (non-jews) in peacetime and wartime. Among other permissible acts of killing, it says that “if there is a danger to the people of Israel, a non-jew may be killed, even if “it” is a boy or a baby” – according to the head of the of the “Od Yosef Chai” Yeshiva, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, in his “holy” miserable book, which was written together with many others of human hater. The book has over 230 pages.
Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira
The incitement hateful book, which is highly controversial even in israel, not because of its content but because of its potential for bad publicity, was published two year ago and its existence has become widely known around the world. Despite this, the Federal Government of Germany shows itself extremely generous towards Israel. The German government supports the sale, actually gift, of the sixth “Dolphin”-class submarine to Israel, a submarine which could help them to implement the religious edict written in the “King’s Torah”, namely to kill all the non-jews, as they (we) are deemed a “threat” to israel.
According to German magazine Der Spiegel in an article released Sunday July 17 2011, the German government is subvention the price of the submarine with 135 million Euros. The German Federal Administration says that its support for armament sales to Israel will amount to a total of 135 million euros. In the draft of the federal budget for 2012, the issue is itemized as a “contribution to the procurement of defensive systems for Israel” in the “Single Plan 60” (general approvals).
According to the report, German Defense Minister Tomas de Maiziere met Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his counterpart, “Defense” Minister Ehud Barak in Israel last week and promised to finalize the deal for the submarine.
Incredibly, the gift of the “Dolphin” submarines to israel is not controversial in Germany, contrary to the sale of 200 “Leopard 2” tanks to Saudi Arabia, which has been widely criticized.
According also to Der Spiegel, the gift of the submarines is mentioned as “war reparations” in a US telegram. This is extremely interesting because israel DID NOT EXIST in the years 1938-1945, and the people murdered by the nazis were German, Polish, Russian etc. citizens, so it would make sense that war reparations, if at all, were paid to these countries instead of lavishing money and weapons on israel to subvention their plunder and genocide of Palestine and Palestinians.
Ultimately the German government knows best what to do with the money of German taxpayers.
Still, the money aspect is the least important one in this transaction. While the sale of tanks to Saudi Arabia can be called criminal because these tanks will only be used to suppress political dissent, the gift of submarines to israel must be called criminally irresponsible.
Rupert Murdoch
Israelis are raised on a mixture of propaganda and brain-washing wherein Germany, Austria, Switzerland, but also other nations such as the USA are enemies of Israel and want to destroy all jews; Israelis are also taught to hate Europeans (but specially Germans) and “know” that revenge will be obtained sooner or later, and of course, according master propagandist Rupert Murdoch, “We live in a world where there is an ongoing war against the jews”.
In this charged atmosphere, the extremist Rabbis of the squatter movement released their “Torat HaMelech” two years ago, an evil book which allows and instructs jews to kill non-jews who stand in their way – a blanket legitimization for murder. Now, with these facts on the ground which are most likely known in German government circles, the German government gives Israel 6 submarines which can easily be retrofitted to allow for the launching of rockets with nuclear payloads.
Dov Lior
These submarines can be used against European (and other) nations, according to the rabbinical edicts written in the “Torat HaMelech” and popular sentiment among the israeli population, to “avenge” the nazi holocaust and other real and imagined past injuries.
It is extremely problematic that Germany and other countries are firmly playing blind and deaf to this dangerous reality: while they see no evil and play nice, the real power in israel, the fundamentalist rabbis are inciting a population already propagandized into extreme hysteria, to “seek revenge”.
The people of Germany (and other nations) would do well in taking a very critical look at politicians who act against the necessary conclusions from what they know and put extremely dangerous weapons into the hands of irresponsibles with violent proclivities who are “FRIENDS” ONLY IN NAME.
http://fwd4.me/07PI 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 30 juli 2011
IOF troops to use putrid gas to disperse protest rallies
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- The Israeli army plans on using putrid gas to disperse potential upcoming protests, Israel's Ynet has reported.
The Israeli war ministry has spent a total of US $22 million on ''anti-riot'' weapons as Israel's military gears up for possible riots, the paper also said.
The sickening gas is designed to cause nausea and vomiting.
http://fwd4.me/07t5 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 12 aug 2011
Israel seeks used US military equipment
Over 10,000 Humvees were employed by US-led forces during the Iraq War.
Israeli defense ministry is reported to be in talks with the Pentagon to buy the American military equipment that will be retired following US withdrawal from Iraq.
Israel says it wants to equip its military with the used American equipment, including Humvee combat vehicles, which is a highly profitable business due to its low price compared to new equipment.
Israel is also willing to acquire surplus weapons and ammunition the US will no longer need following the withdrawal at bargain prices.
"It seems that in some cases it is cheaper to sell to other countries than to transport back to the US or bases in Europe," JPost quoted an Israeli defense official as saying.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both longtime customers of US weaponry are also reported to be eyeing the used American military equipment.
While Washington has removed thousands of tons of equipment from Iraq but there is still plenty more left in the country.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193619.html 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 16 aug 2011
US senator seeks aid cuts to Israeli army units
TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- A US senator is promoting legislation which would cut aid to Israeli army units accused of committing human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported Tuesday.
Senator Patrick Leahy says that various Israeli elite units such as the Shayetet 13, Duvdevan and Shaldag airforce are involved in human rights violations and should not receive US financial assistance.
The US senator was a strong supporter of a 1997 bill which prohibited the US from providing military or financial aid to foreign military units suspected of war crimes and human rights abuses, Haaretz reported.
Leahy has said that several elite Israeli military units are responsible for harming Palestinian civilians and no system of investigation exists to hold them accountable for human rights abuses.
The Democrat has been an advocate of human rights worldwide and strongly criticized Israel over Operation Cast Lead, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.
Rights groups estimate that the United States gives Israel around $3 billion per year in foreign aid, military and economic grants.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=413503 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 24 aug 2011
Israel uses mini-drone for assassination
The Ghost is an Israeli-made light unmanned drone that looks like a miniature version of the Chinook helicopter.
Israel has designed a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to help Israeli intelligence services identify and target leaders of Palestinian resistance movements.
The newly unveiled spying UAV, dubbed Ghost, is an almost silent drone that weighs 9 pounds (nearly 4 kilograms), UPI reported.
The twin-rotor vertical take-off drone is designed for special clandestine operations in urban areas and has a range of around 2.5 miles (four kilometers), a flight endurance of 6 hours and speed of around 37 miles (59.5 kilometer) an hour.
The device can be carried in backpacks, along with spare batteries and a computer, by two soldiers who control it from a laptop computer.
The mini-helicopter, 4.76 feet in length and with a rotor span of 2.46 feet, is said to be capable of flying into buildings through windows to provide real-time intelligence for special forces or company-size infantry units.
It can also provide ground forces with a unique horizontal, eyelevel visibility and which means a comprehensive view of their targets and operational environment that lookdown UAVs cannot offer.
First displayed in March, the Ghost is to be soon marketed in the United States, where it was first unveiled.
The UAV can track targets for assassination by war drones, helicopter gunships or F-16 strike jets using precision-guided munitions, a tactic frequently used against Palestinian leaders.
Last October, Israel unveiled a larger craft named the Panther with a takeoff weight of about 138 pounds (62.6 kilograms) and a wingspan of 25 feet, which is capable of staying airborne for 6 hours.
The electrically powered UAV is designed to be carried in a backpack by a single soldier.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195603.html 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 26 aug 2011
Gaza: New weapons being used - what are they?
(5:57) Gaza: New weapons being used - what are they?.wmv 1 x viewed
Victims of israel's recent attacks on Gaza are arriving at Al Shifa Hospital with extensive burns, severe deep tissue injuries, and severed limbs and extremeties - mutilation injuries unlike any the medical staff encountered even duirng Operation Cast Lead.
What is this new weapon, and what is the international community going to do about its use on civilians, especially children - the majority of the victims to date. 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 23 sept 2011
'Obama sold special bombs to Israel'
New report claims US secretly approved transfer of 'bunker buster' bombs that could be used in attack against Iran just months after Barack Obama took office, even though Bush administration had previously blocked deal.
The upcoming issue of Newsweek, which is set to hit newsstands on Monday, claims that two years ago US President Barack Obama secretly approved the transfer of 55 "bunker-busters", a form of deep-penetrating bombs, to Israel. The country had been requesting the bombs since the time of the Bush administration, the Daily Beast website reported on Friday.
According to the report, US and Israeli officials told Newsweek that the GBU-28 type bombs, which could be potentially be used in an attack on Iran's nuclear sites, were transferred to Israel in 2009, just several months after Obama came into office.
Israel had asked the US for "bunker-busters" in 2005, but the Bush administration refused the request. At the time, the report noted, the Pentagon had frozen nearly all joint Israel-US defense plans over fears that Israel was transferring advanced technological intel to China.
In 2007 Bush told then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he would order the bomb transfer in 2009 or 2010. Now the report reveals that Obama had already approved the transfer of the advanced weapons two years ago.
The report said that James Cartwright, the Marine Corps general who served until August as the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the military chiefs had no objections to the sale.
Cartwright said, there was a concern about “how the Iranians would perceive it,” and “how the Israelis might perceive it.” It was feared that the move would be seen as if the US was giving Israel a green light to attack Iran.
US and Israeli officials told Newsweek that Israel had developed its own bunker-buster technology between 2005 and 2009, but the purchase from the US was cheaper.
http://fwd4.me/0C9w
(juli 2010)
(10:46) Icon Jim Tucker Reveals New Location for Bilderberg 2010 Meeting on The Alex Jones Show 1/2 1 x viewed
(10:46) Icon Jim Tucker Reveals New Location for Bilderberg 2010 Meeting on The Alex Jones Show 2/2
(2:54) USA says Israel can start war with Iran
(10:46) GREEN LIGHT for WAR with Iran 1 x viewed 20 mar 2012, 22:39 , Respect -
Maria 24 oct 2011
Leading U.S. columnist: Slash defense aid to Israel
Walter Pincus: If Israel can reduce its defense spending because of its domestic economic problems, shouldn't the U.S. - which must cut military costs because of its major budget deficit - consider reducing its aid to Israel?
Veteran Washington Post columnist Walter Pincus has urged the U.S. administration to reevaluate the extent of the defense aid that the United States provides to Israel. Pincus, who has been reporting on intelligence, defense and foreign policy for the Washington Post for 45 years, says the change in U.S. policy that he is calling for is a necessity in light of Israel's decision to slash its defense budget by some NIS 3 billion, in keeping with the recommendations of the Trajtenberg Committee.
In an article published last week, Pincus writes: "If Israel can reduce its defense spending because of its domestic economic problems, shouldn't the United States - which must cut military costs because of its major budget deficit - consider reducing its aid to Israel?"
Pincus notes that among the cost-saving measures currently under consideration by Israel is a delay in purchasing more Iron Dome systems beyond the four to be paid for by a special U.S. aid package of $205 million that the Obama administration transferred to Israel at the beginning of the year. Israel is also mulling a freeze on spending on other missile defense systems that are being manufactured in conjunction with the United States, Pincus adds.
"The question for the Obama administration, Congress and, in the end, perhaps the American public, is: Given present economic problems, should the United States supply the money to make up for reductions the Israelis are making in their own defense budget?" Pincus asks.
Pincus' call is the second of its kind that has come out of the United States recently. Last week, during a debate between potential Republican presidential candidates, Congressman Ron Paul said if elected president, he would stop all U.S. economic aid to its allies, including Israel.
http://fwd4.me/0fXu 20 mar 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 26 oct 2011
Israel may lose German sub deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's frustration over new east Jerusalem housing plans may jeopardize Israel's chances of getting new Dolphin class submarine.
Germany is "reconsidering" its decision to sell Israel a sixth Dolphin class submarine, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the move was prompted by the tensions between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Merkel's frustration over the new housing plans approved in east Jerusalem.
Top political sources said that Merkel was irked with Netanyahu, who "gave her the impression that he would be willing to suspend settlement expansion in order to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks."
Israel's recent approval of 1,100 housing units in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem led Merkel to announce that Netanyahu "cannot be taken seriously and has no intention of complying with the basic terms needed to renew the negotiations with the Palestinian."
Merkel and Netanyahu shared strident words following the decisions, and relations between Jerusalem and Berlin have been strained since.
Disconcerting trend
Defense officials expressed concern over Berlin's intention to suspend and possibly cancel the submarine sale: According to foreign media reports, the new Dolphin was slated to join Israel strategic fleet.
Earlier in 2011, Germany announced that it would grant Israel a €135 million aid package to build its sixth submarine. German funding has been a significant part in the creation of the Israeli Navy's submarine crops.
The Navy currently has three Dolphin class submarines, and is expected to receive two new ones, currently under construction in Germany. According to foreign media sources, the new submarines will be equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
The deal was originally approved by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, despite initial concerns that such ballistic capabilities may upset the nuclear balance in the region.
Senior defense officials refused to comment directly, saying only that "The subject of the sixth submarine is currently being negotiation between the (Israeli and German) governments. It is inappropriate to hash the matter out in the media."
The Prime Minister's Office was unavailable for comment.
http://fwd4.me/0feP 20 mar 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 20 mar 2012, 22:40 , Respect -
Maria 30 nov 2011
Germany OKs subsidized submarine sale to Israel
A senior German official says the government has approved the subsidized sale of another Dolphin-type military submarine to Israel.
The official says Germany has set aside $180 million in next year's budget to pay for about a third of its cost.
http://fwd4.me/0hmh