Israeli embassy denies U.S. demanded firing of defense official
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Last Update: 16/12/2004 01:25
Israel's ambassador to Washingon, Danny Ayalon, denied a televised report that the United States is demanding the Defense Ministry fire its director general, Amos Yaron, according to Israel Radio.
In conversations with Pentagon officials, Ayalon said that the matter is not on the agenda, Israel Radio reported.
Nonetheless, embassy officials in Washington confirmed that the Pentagon inquired into details of a certain deal struck between Israel and China.
Israel Radio reported that the embassy officials passed along the information that was asked for, and the matter is said to be settled.
The U.S. is demanding Yaron's dismissal over an Israel-China arms deal, Channel Two TV reported Wednesday.
Defense officials had no comment on the report.
Channel Two analyst Amnon Abramovitz said U.S. officials are furious at Israel for returning what he called a "sensitive weapons system" from China to Israel for upgrading. He did not identify the weapon.
He said Israel was supposed to inform Washington if the weapons system was returned, and then only for repair, not for upgrading.
According to Israeli sources, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Planning Douglas Feith announced that he was severing ties with Yaron. Feith told people who tried to mediate in the affair that it was "either me or Amos Yaron."
In 2000, the United States forced Israel to cancel at the last minute the sale of PHALCON reconnaissance planes to China, fearing that they would be used against Taiwan. Israel gave in to the U.S. demand, though the system did not contain U.S.-made parts that would require American approval for the sale.
Israeli officials told Israel Radio that since the aborted PHALCON deal, there have been no arms deals concluded with China, and the reported transaction at the center of the Yaron controversy was consummated in the early 1990s.
Israeli officials denied that Yaron lied to U.S. officials, saying that the matter was a misunderstanding that is being cleared up by officials in Jerusalem and Washington, Israel Radio reported.
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