The sale of Israeli weapons to China does not necessarily run counter to US interests. This comment came yesterday from Israel's Ambassador to the US, David Ivri, in an interview with "Globes".
Asked about Washington's mounting opposition to Israeli decision to realise a deal for the sale of an airborne early warning system to Beijing, Ivri said: "There are interests that seemingly conflict, but actually do not. And when interests appear to conflict, the parties may try dialogue".
Ivri noted that the issue of the early warning system did come up in talks in Washington, and that Congress and the Administration were entitled to raise the issue. He said the US must take into account that Israel has to maintain credible ties with so large and important a country as China. "The last thing we want is to create a situation of Chinese hostility towards Israel", Ivri said.
According to Ivri, a China hostile to Israel will act more freely in selling arms to Israel's enemies. An effort to prevent Chinese hostility is therefore both a US and an Israeli interest.
Ivri emphasised, however, that Israel's considerations are anchored partly in Israel's dependence on the United States and the Israeli commitment towards Washington, and that the issue of the early warning system was discussed at the two countries' joint commission.
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) subsidiary Elta manufactures the controversial Falcon early warning system. The official Israeli position is that Israel's agreement with China, for the installing of the first system on a Russian-manufactured Ilyushin plane, was signed three years ago. Israel claims that the US did not express any opposition to the signing or implementation of the agreement when then Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reported it in his talks with the administration.
Israeli sources maintain that US opposition to the deal started to emerge gradually, last year, when relations between China and Taiwan deteriorated.
Deputy Minister of Defence Ephraim Sneh said yesterday, at a meeting with US correspondents in Washington, that Congress legislators had raised the issue of the Falcon in talks with him.
In a move designed to cool resentment in the administration and Congress, Sneh said: "We understand Washington's sensitivity on this issue. We are examining it seriously, and will also discuss it very frankly with the US authorities".
Sneh, however, evaded any statement as to whether Israel would agree to cancel the deal with China.
He said he had heard that China wished to purchase another two to four early warning systems, but that the two countries had held no talks on the subject. "Inasmuch as the aircraft (with the airborne system) is very successful, an idea was mooted that China might extend the order to a few additional aircraft. But there is nothing in writing, nothing official. I would almost say these are mere rumours".
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 1 March, 2000>