US defense officials concerned that Israel will attack Iran over its nuclear program; Obama, US secretary of defense have warned Jerusalem of dangerous repercussions of strike, ‘Wall Street Journal’ reports.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 13 (UPI) — Amid controversial cuts in Israel’s defense budget and concerns of new conflict in the Middle East, the Defense Ministry is grappling with the problem of funding costly plans to build a multi-layered shield against Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles.
Arrow 3 Defense Missile Launch Test (Photo credit: Israeli Defense Ministry via Israel Hayom)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel will boost defense spending by about 6 percent this year in the face of deepening regional instability, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, defying calls for cuts as living standards are squeezed. Israel will spend an additional 3 billion shekels ($780 million) on defense this year. The 2012 budget had been projected at around 50 billion shekels …
Netanyahu: We need to defend our citizens and our budget; Mofaz criticizes NIS 1.67b. defense budget addition.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 27 (UPI) — Amid an intense political battle over its budget, the Israeli Defense Ministry and scrapping plans to buy new ships and jet fighters.
Washington TimesIsrael Cancels Military Contract With Turkey to Supply Aerial System
New York Times
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Tehran offers to slow uranium enrichment in stages in step with the lifting of sanctions. The Obama administration is listening – provided Iran ditches Assad. This
No damage or injuries reported; 17 total rockets fired from Gaza in 24 hours; IDF top brass summoned to discuss response to attacks; defense officials don’t believe Hamas, Islamic Jihad behind rocket attacks.
From rocket fire, arms deals and explosions in Iran, security and defense stories are the most read this week.
On Friday night, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will address the Saban Forum–a gathering of Middle East policy hands at Washington’s Brooking Institution. Not surprisingly, the Defense secretary will stress recent developments in the effort to curb Iran’s nuclear program. At the same time, however, Panetta is also expected to call on Israel to do [...]
The Associated PressIsraeli row with Iran triggers memories of one-time ally
Ha'aretz
While Chief of Staff Benny Gantz appeared this week before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and offered the prediction that the Israel Defense Forces would have to embark “on an initiated attack move” in the Gaza Strip, …
Would Obama use military force to stop Iran from getting nukes?Washington Post (blog)
Ehud Barak: Iran Nuclear Program Not About IsraelHuffington Post (blog)
West says Iran deceives world on nukesThe Associated Press
CBS News
Israeli Cabinet ministers decided Monday to hold on to some $100 million in taxes owed to the Palestinians, an official said, despite warnings from Israel’s Defense Ministry that the measure could threaten the stability of the Palestinian government in the West Bank.
Israel has sped up work on a missile defense system for its commercial airliners because of fears that Palestinian militants in Gaza have obtained anti-aircraft weapons looted from Libya, defense officials said Friday.
There is almost no record of the views and orientation of the new Saudi crown prince and defense minister. However, Princes Nayef and Salman will be running the oil kingdom’s foreign and defense affairs in the coming decade, taking the lead for the entire Gulf region as Iran becomes a rising nuclear power.
ABC NewsIsrael speeds work on airline defenses on fears missiles looted in Libya were …
Washington Post
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Israel has sped up work on a missile defense system for its commercial airliners because of fears that Palestinian militants in Gaza have obtained anti-aircraft weapons looted from Libya, defense officials said Friday.
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