TV: Israel calls off warplanes deal
Channel 1 TV reports lucrative deal to upgrade Venezuelan warplanes called off due to U.S. reservations; Bush Administration considers regime of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as hostile, destabilizing element in South America
Israel canceled a lucrative deal to upgrade Venezuelan warplanes under American pressure, Channel 1 TV reported Thursday.
The report said Israel was to install its own systems in U.S.-made F-16 fighters for the Venezuelan air force, but the U.S. forced Israel to call off the deal. No dollar figure for the deal was given. Israeli Defense Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.
The U.S. Administration considers the regime of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a hostile, destabilizing element in South America. Chavez is close to Cuban ruler Fidel Castro, a longtime U.S. Enemy.
The reported cancellation of the Venezuela-Israel deal is only the latest conflict between Israeli and American defense establishments. Under stiff U.S. pressure, Israel called off a multimillion dollar deal to sell PHALCON reconnaissance aircraft to China five years ago, and this year the U.S. complained sharply about an agreement for Israel to upgrade China’s Harpy drone aircraft.
Consequently, the U.S. threatened to cut USD 250 million from its military aid to Israel, and Israel was forced to call the deal off.
A few months ago the Pentagon demanded that Defense Ministry Director-General Amos Yaron be dismissed following Israel’s upgrading of Harpy drone aircrafts for China last year.
Yaron announced his retirement in August, and the U.S. and Israel were quick to sign a pact aimed at resolving security issues and restoring trust between the nations.
Associated Press contributed to the report
