[Ha'aretz] Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid - Earlier this month the U.S. and Israel agreed on the deployment of a high-powered early-warning missile radar system in the Negev, to be staffed by U.S. military personnel. The station will receive information from the U.S. team in Europe that will aid it in its work. The deployment of the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) system, is widely seen as a kind of parting gift from Washington to Jerusalem as President George W. Bush prepares to leave office. The new system is significantly more accurate than Israel's "Green Pine" radar system, which supports the Arrow anti-missile system. The system will protect Israel's skies from missile attacks, but the flip side of the deal is that Israel's freedom of action against Iran or Syria will be significantly curtailed. Senior Israeli defense officials view the radar system deployment as a signal of Washington's opposition to an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program.
2008-08-25 08:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive