ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS DEPLOYED U.S.-SUPPLIED PATRIOT MISSILES TO PROTECT ISRAELIS IN THE EVENT OF IRAQI ATTACK/ISRAELI PM ARIEL SHARON MEETS HIS NEW CABINET

Record ID: 400192

  • Title: ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS DEPLOYED U.S.-SUPPLIED PATRIOT MISSILES TO PROTECT ISRAELIS IN THE EVENT OF IRAQI ATTACK/ISRAELI PM ARIEL SHARON MEETS HIS NEW CABINET
  • Date: 4th March 2003
  • Summary: (W4) JAFFA, ISRAEL (MARCH 4, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV PATRIOT MISSILE SITE IN JAFFA 0.05 2. SLV PATRIOT BATTERIES 0.15 3. SLV PULL OUT LV/LV TRUCKS HAULING PATRIOT BATTERIES (2 SHOTS) 0.35 4. LV ARMY JEEP DRIVING TOWARDS PATRIOT BATTERY 0.46 5. LV/SLV OF BATTERIES BEING TRANSPORTED (2 SHOTS) 1.00 6. SLV SOL
  • Embargoed: 19th March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAFFA, ISRAEL/ JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA32WP2Z1K380GMUWJM20FC9SLS
  • Story Text: The first battery of American Patriot missiles has
    been set up on a beach south of Tel Aviv to protect Israelis
    in the city in the event an Iraqi Scud missile attack follows
    a widely-expected U.S. strike on Baghdad.

    Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said Israel reserves the
    right to defend itself and its citizens from Iraqi attack and
    would retaliate if an Iraqi strike caused heavy casualties.

    Sharon's new cabinet, expected to take a hard line against the
    Palestinian uprising against occupation has convened for the
    first time.



    Faced with the looming threat of regional war, the
    Israeli military has deployed U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles
    in the greater Tel Aviv area.

    The Patriot batteries are being used as a back-up system
    to the Arrow missile-killer which is meant to protect the
    densely populated centre from the potential threat of Iraqi
    Scud missiles.

    They have been set up at three sites including the coastal
    towns of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. The deployment of the U.S.

    Patriot batteries, which had been stored at Israeli Air Force
    bases, indicates that the U.S. assault on Iraq may be near.

    The remainder of the Patriot batteries, including two
    received from Germany, will be deployed to other areas of
    Israel such as the northern city of Haifa and southern town of
    Dimona.

    The Patriot systems are intended to serve as a second line
    of defence should the Arrow fail to intercept incoming Iraqi
    Scud missiles. The Arrow is designed to intercept Iraqi Scud
    missiles some 70 kilometres above the ground, while the
    Patriot is designed to hit the Scuds at an altitude of 15-30
    kilometres.

    Israeli military officials have consistently said they
    believe the likelihood of an Iraqi attack against Israeli is
    low, but in the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's forces fired
    39 Scuds at the Jewish State, causing moderate damage and few
    casualties.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with
    his new right-leaning cabinet for the first time on Tuesday
    (March 4).

    Sharon said he believed the new government would work
    together to provide security and economic growth and stability
    for the Israeli people, to begin a diplomatic process, and to
    promote immigration.

    "Sitting here next to me is a serious and responsible
    group of people, unified towards one goal - to serve the
    nation and state to the best to their ability," said Sharon.

    The thirteenth government convened at the prime minister's
    office in Jerusalem.



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