Sharon in India today, Falcon deal is postponed
Israel-India, Politics, 9/8/2003

An official at the Israeli foreign ministry expected that the visit of the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to India will be fulfilled without signing a contract of 3 billion dollars to sell India three air-born Falcon Radar systems for warning and surveillance, already approved by the US administration in August.

On the other hand, the Indian security forces were put in a state of utmost alert prior to the visit to be made by Sharon. A visit which will start today and continues for three days. It is the first for an Israeli prime minister to India since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992.

The Indian intelligence departments have warned from al-Qaida organization or the Islamic resistance movement ( Hamas ) might collaborate with groups active in India like "Teiba camp" and " Muhammad army" to implement an attack during Sharon's visit.

An official at the Israeli foreign ministry said that the Falcon deal is not ready yet, noting that "after the US has approved the deal, the finalization of the agreement is to be the responsibility of companies."

In his visit, Sharon is accompanied by a delegation which is composed of 150 members including politicians and several industrialists especially in the area of military industry. The Israeli daily Haartez said yesterday that Israel had sold India two years ago the Radar system "Green pine" to monitor missiles, noting that this system is part of the "Arrow" anti-missile missile system, but Israel had developed it without foreign aid and therefore was able to export it without Washington's consent.

Previous Stories:
  First visit by an Israeli prime minister to India in September   (8/12/2003)
  Sharon to visit India   (7/21/2003)
  Israel, India for launching a joint Satellite   (1/11/2003)

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