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Israel: Missile defense shield working
From Jerrold Kessel (CNN Jerusalem Bureau)
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An antiballistic missile defense system is up and running to protect Israel in the event of an attack, senior Israeli officials have said in recent weeks. Israeli officials declined an official comment on the Arrow missile shield. However, Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer revealed that it was operational on September 11. "In the years since the [Persian] Gulf War, we have developed the Arrow missile [shield], which is today a fully operational system and which provides us with an efficient system against missiles," Ben-Eliezer said.
This information comes as the United States continues to threaten military action against Iraq if the Baghdad government does not allow U.N. weapons inspectors unlimited access to sites across the country. Should the United States target Iraq, Iraq could retaliate against nearby Israel, as it did with Scud missiles during the Gulf War. If Scud missiles were moved into western Iraq -- where they were launched toward Jerusalem in 1991 -- Israel "would expect U.S. forces to destroy them," according to Maj. Gen. Aharon Farkash, the head of Israeli military intelligence. Speaking in a weekend television interview, Farkash said Iraq had not deployed any missiles with a range that could target Israel and "is unlikely to do so any time soon." He said a more credible threat is the dispatching of Iraqi aircraft, possibly carrying biological or chemical agents, against Israel. The intelligence chief said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might try to launch such an attack "if he felt threatened and he might want to carry out an action that would draw the Arab world to his side." The Arrow system will operate alongside Patriot anti-aircraft missile defense systems situated at strategic locations across Israel. Patriot defense shields are reportedly arriving in Israel from the United States. Israeli defense officials are reluctant to comment publicly on the Arrow system or any other operational activities Israeli security forces have undertaken in respect to possible U.S. action against Iraq. The Bush administration has requested that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other Israeli officials go "mum" on the subject. When they meet at the White House in 10 days, Sharon is expected to hear from President Bush that the United States wants Israel to adopt an altogether low profile and to stay out of any war with Iraq. At the same time, the Israeli leader expects an American promise that the United States will do its utmost to prevent Iraq firing missiles at Israel, including the deployment of a full defensive array of Patriots.
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