Evening star., 1962-09-27
Israel 10 Buy
Hawk Missiles
From u. 5.
~ TIE Associated Press


The United States has re-
luctantly agreed to sell anti /
aircraft missiles to Israel in an
effort to restore the Middle
East power balance, upset by
heavy deliveries of Soviet arms
to Israel's Arab neighbors.
The missiles, with deliveries
probably beginning in about a /
year, are Army Hawks. They |
have a ground-to-air striking
range of about Is miles and a
homing device which guides
them to the target at supersonic
speeds.
Diplomatic officials said the
United States will keep the
Middle East arms situation
under close observation, REIN
forcing the implication that
Israel viii be able to buy other
weapons here If they are
deemed necessary to maintain
defensive power against the
growing military force particu-
larry Of Egypt.
Practice Changing
United States officials take
the line that the decision to
sell missiles does not involve
any real change in policy. But
whether or not policy is chang
ing, there appears to be a real
change in practice. Israel first
requested short-range anti-air-
caft missiles in 1859. The re-
quest got nowhere.
In early 1861. Russia began
stepping up deliveries Of modern
arms to Egypt and other Arab
countries. These include high
speed jet fighter planes and,
even more Importantly, long
range jet bombers Of a type
known as TU-16, which have an
operating radius of 1900 miles.
In recent years, the United
States has sold some arms to
both Israel and various Arab
states. It has tried to limit such
sales, officials said. to strictly
defensive weapons such as small
arms. radar equipment, COM
munications gear and the like.
IsraePs major arms suppliers
have been United States allies,
notably France.
Power Balance Is Aim
The United States has de-
clsred that the objective of its
policy is to prevent an ifnbal-
snce Of military power as be-
tween Israel and the Arab
states. Throughout last year
United States officials re-
portedly told Israel the buildup
Of Soviet-made weapons in
Egypt was not changing the
power balance in view of Israel's
own military resources. Early
this year, however. United
States military and diplomatic
authorities began taking a new
look at the whole situation.
and the decision to sell missiles
to Israel is a first result.
Israeli authorities obviously
hope that United States inter-
.vention even to this extent will
serve as a kind Of deterrent to
Arab states.
The final terms of the United
States Israeli deal are yet to
be negotiated. These will
cover the cost and numbers Of
missiles and arrangements for
training Israeli troops to handle
the missiles. These things take
time.
Arab Objections Expected
But, meanwhile, the Arab
states and Israel alike have, in
effect. a serious notification of
United States concern over the
trend of events in the Middle
East.
Israel first asked to buy
antiaircraft missiles from the
United States in 1859. The re-
quest was taken under consid-
Grafton here but action was
stalled off.
The United States Army has
provided Hawks to North At
lantic Treaty allies in Europe
but the prospective sale to Is
rael viii be the first to a nom
allied country. The Army has
deployed the Hawk with its
own forces in Europe, the Far
East and the Panama Canal
Zone.