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Israel: Washington and Tel Aviv Plan Joint Exercise The United States and Israel are preparing to conduct a joint missile defense exercise in Israel in January, the Israeli Defense Ministry said today. Both U.S. and Israeli air defense units are to participate in the exercise, with the United States expected to leave behind three upgraded Patriot air defense batteries when the exercise is completed, the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported, according to the Associated Press (see GSN, Nov. 4). The exercise is part of the continuing cooperation between the U.S. and Israeli militaries, Israeli Defense Ministry spokeswoman Rachel Ashkenazi said (Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Nov. 8). Israel Shows Off Interceptors Israel displayed its Arrow missile interceptors to reporters yesterday as part of an effort to deter Iraqi missile strikes in the event of war with the United States (see GSN, Oct. 7). The Arrow is considered the most advanced missile defense system currently deployed in the world, according to the Associated Press. The Israeli military has said the system will provide a better defense against Iraqi missile attacks than Israel had during the 1991 Gulf War. “I’m sure we are better prepared today,” said Brig. Gen. Yair Dori, head of the Israeli air defense forces. “In 1991, we had almost nothing. Now we have a very active, robust defense,” he added. Israel deployed its first Arrow battery two years ago at the Palmachim Air Force Base to defend Tel Aviv. A second system has been deployed near the northern costal city of Hadera and a third is currently being constructed, AP reported. Israel jointly developed the Arrow with the United States at a cost of about $2 billion. Israeli military historian Martin van Creweld said that while the Arrow represented a significant technological advance, it is overly expensive for the level of threat Israel faces from Iraqi missile strikes. “If it were me, I would rely on the threat of retaliation,” van Creweld said. “There is no defense system that is 100 percent effective,” he added (Greg Myre, Associated Press/Boston Globe, Nov. 8). For further information, see: Federation of American Scientists Background on Arrow
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