Joe W.
>From: Bryan <bryan at indymedia.org.il>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>Subject: [lbo-talk] Israel,South Africa revive defense ties after 15-year
>hiatus
>Date: Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:19:38 +0200
>
>
>Well, um...this is pretty saddening...
>
>I can see this being used as a tool against any future anti-Israel policy
>boycotts proposed: "How can you justify boycotting Israel using Apartheid
>SA as an example when SA is renewing ties with Israel as we speak?..."
>
>Not that boycotts have much of a chance of success following the AUT
>fiasco.
>
>Bryan
>
>---------
>
>Israel, South Africa revive defense ties after 15-year hiatus
>By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
>
>http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=582665
>
>Israel and South Africa are resuming security cooperation after a hiatus of
>almost 15 years, with a senior delegation from the South African defense
>ministry due here next week for the first time since the fall of the
>apartheid regime.
>
>The two countries had close security relations during the apartheid years,
>but the ties were severed when white rule in South Africa was replaced by a
>democratic government.
>
>The delegation, which also includes representatives of South Africa's
>defense industries, will be hosted by Defense Ministry Director General
>Amos Yaron. The trip will include visits to Israel's defense industries.
>
>A spokeswoman for Israel's Defense Ministry declined to respond when asked
>for comment on the visit.
>
>Off the record, however, local officials said the main topic of discussion
>will be cooperation on civilian projects between defense industries in the
>two countries. For instance, the delegation will visit Israel Aircraft
>Industries' (IAI) Bedek division to discuss possible joint ventures in
>converting civilian passenger planes to cargo planes and then marketing
>them in Asia, Africa and South America - all regions where South Africa's
>aviation industry has connections.
>
>However, the sources added, the intention is also to resume cooperation on
>purely military matters at some stage.
>
>Israel and South Africa had extensive security ties throughout the 1960s,
>`70s and `80s, with Israel serving as one of the apartheid government's
>most important suppliers of arms, know-how and technology. Among other
>things, according to foreign reports, Israel helped South Africa's defense
>industries manufacture radar systems and Cheetah fighter jets, which were
>partly based on IAI's Kfir and Nesher planes. Foreign reports also say that
>the two countries engaged in nuclear cooperation during those years.
>
>Since the apartheid regime fell there have been no formal security ties,
>though Israel did give an armored car as a personal gift to South Africa's
>first black president, Nelson Mandela.
>
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