US to sell (5000) smart bombs to Israel: report

[Robbien]

From correspondents in Jerusalem
September 22, 2004

ISRAEL is set to buy 5000 smart bombs from the United States in one of the Jewish state's largest weapons deals in recent years, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported yesterday. The $US319m ($454m) purchase also includes airborne models, guidance units, training bombs and detonators for Israel's air force, said the paper citing a US Congress report.

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According to Haaretz, quoting US defence sources, "the bombs are meant to maintain Israel's qualitative advantage, and advance US strategic and tactical interests".

Finance will come from US military aid to Israel, which combined with economic assistance totals more than $US3 billion ($4.3bn) a year.

The paper said the deal, which includes 500 one-tonne bunker busters that can penetrate 2m-thick cement walls, 2500 regular one-tonne bombs, 1000 half-tonne bombs and 500 quarter-tonne bombs, was easily reached despite the Israelis' previous use of high explosives against Palestinian targets.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10842935%255E401,00.html

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