US to give Israel 5000 smart bombs

US to sell Israel 5000 smart bombs

Tuesday 21 September 2004, 10:54 Makka Time, 7:54 GMT

The United States will reportedly sell Israel nearly 5000 smart bombs in one of the largest weapons deals between the allies in years.

The deal could face political controversy since Israel has used such bombs against the Palestinians.

In one such instance in July 2002, a one-tonne bomb meant for a senior Palestinian resistance fighter also killed 15 civilians in an attack in the Gaza Strip.

The deal is worth $319 million and was revealed in a Pentagon report made to the US Congress a few weeks ago, Israeli daily Haaretz said on Tuesday.

Funding for the sale will come from US military aid to Israel.

The bombs include airborne versions, guidance units, training bombs and detonators. These bombs are guided by an existing Israeli satellite used by the military.

As part of the deal, Israel will receive 500 one-tonne "bunker-buster" bombs that can destroy 2-m thick concrete walls, 2500 "regular" one-tonne bombs, 1000 half-tonne bombs and 500 quarter-tonne bombs, the daily said.

Tactical interests

The Pentagon wants the deal to maintain Israel's military advantages and ensure US strategic and tactical interests, Haaretz said.

In addition to American bombs, Israel has used US-made F-16 fighter jets to kill several senior Palestinian resistance fighters whom Tel Aviv accused of overseeing attacks in the four years of the ongoing intifada.

The Israeli Defence Force used a one-tonne bomb to kill senior Hamas official Salah Shahada in July 2002, in an assassination that also left 15 Palestinian civilians dead, including children.

Similar ammunition has been used in several other cases of assassinations and attempted assassinations of Palestinian resistance leaders.



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