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U.S., Israel Spar in Public, But Defense Ties Are Strong

(Wall Street Journal) Gerald F. Seib - The very public feuding between the Obama administration and Israel over the Palestinian peace process has gotten lots of attention, but beyond those headlines, the two countries actually have undertaken a broad effort at military and strategic cooperation - including supplying Israel with sophisticated American military equipment - to counter threats from Iran and Hizbullah fighters armed by Syria. Making it clear that there is a robust American-Israeli security relationship is one way of preventing miscalculations by the Middle East's more dangerous characters. If Iran, Syria, Hizbullah or their extremist friends think U.S.-Israeli relations are so strained that Washington is backing away from its commitment to defend Israel, the perception of a newly vulnerable Israel might well invite attacks that could spin out of control. An advanced American radar system has been deployed to Israel's Negev Desert, whence it can help the burgeoning Israeli missile-defense network. A large military exercise last fall, code-named Juniper Cobra, was used to practice linking up that radar with American defense systems. The U.S. is funding the development of an advanced Israeli long-range, high-altitude system for knocking out ballistic missiles of the kind that might come from Iran. U.S. officials also say there is a high level of intelligence sharing.
2010-05-04 08:56:10
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