- Title: ISRAEL: Israel test-fires missile amid Iran debate
- Date: 3rd November 2011
- Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (NOVEMBER 2, 2011) (REUTERS) WIDE OF SHLOMO BROM OF THE INSTITUTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES BROM TAKING NOTES CLOSE OF BROM TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHLOMO BROM OF THE INSTITUTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES, SAYING: "And this specific test doesn't add anything to this perception (of Israel's military capabilities), so the purpose of i
- Embargoed: 18th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel, Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5Q1L776OZFJMVGQHDKEPY1FT3
- Story Text: Israel test-fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday (November 2), Defence Ministry statement said.
The statement said that the test-fire of a 'rocket propulsion system' had been long planned and was carried out as scheduled.
A Defence Ministry official declined to comment on the type of rocket tested. But Israel Radio's military affairs correspondent, who is regularly briefed by top officers on defence matters, said a ballistic missile was launched.
Israel, considered to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, successfully test-fired a two-stage, long-range ballistic missile in 2008.
It is widely believed to have Jericho missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, civilian "Shavit" rockets used to launch satellites and the Arrow missile interceptor.
The launch coincided with mounting speculation in Israel that its leaders could be preparing a military attack on Iran to curb a nuclear programme they say is aimed at producing atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear activities are peaceful.
The public debate was sparked at the weekend when a newspaper commentator suggested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak may have decided, without seeking wider cabinet approval, to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
Analyst Shlomo Brom of the Institution of National Security Studies said that Wednesday's test-fire did not reveal any new data about Israel's capabilities, but was more of an act of deterrence.
"This specific test doesn't add anything to this perception (of Israel's military capabilities), so the purpose of it is not to demonstrate capabilities, the purpose of it is to demonstrate preparedness to use these capabilities," Brom told Reuters Television in Tel Aviv.
In a policy speech opening parliament's winter session on Monday, Netanyahu again voiced his view that a nuclear Iran would pose a serious threat to Israel and to the world.
But he stopped short of making any direct threat of Israeli military action. Israel has said repeatedly that all options are on the table in trying to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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