Israeli Armoured Vehicles In Iraq.

The Associated Press on March 6 quoted Amit Tzimer, spokesman for Israel's state-owned weapons maker Rafael, as saying that, in partnership with US manufacturer PVI, Rafael had signed up to deliver 60 of its new Golan vehicles to the US Marine Corps destined for use in Iraq at a total price of $37m. He said delivery will be made in the US in May to the Marines. Rafael's sales catalog describes the Golan as a multi-purpose vehicle, capable of withstanding armour-piercing machine-gun rounds, rocket fire and bomb blasts. It can carry up to 10 troops up to 600 km on a tank of gasoline and can be outfitted as a fighting vehicle, mobile command post or ambulance.

Tzimer said the initial deal was part of the first phase of a US programme to procure a total of 40,000 armoured vehicles, and Rafael hoped for more orders in the future. He added that the firm previously supplied armour for the Bradley fighting vehicle. AP Quoted Tel Aviv-based defence analyst Zeev Schiff as saying it was only one of several Israeli companies that had long been providing and maintaining equipment for US forces in Iraq, adding: "Israel prefers to keep a low profile, but it's been doing that for years, not just for the [US] Army but for the Navy, too".

AP quoted Robin Hughes, a Middle East military analyst at London-based Jane's Defence Information Group, as saying the issue of Israeli equipment in service in Iraq was a sensitive one, and both suppliers and customers generally preferred to avoid publicity. Hughes said: "There are systems that are deployed, and I wouldn't just say US vehicles, maybe other coalition vehicles. I think that if you were to look carefully, you might spot other Israeli stuff".

Israeli media have reported that Israeli businessmen are active within Iraq itself. In February the Israeli National Security Council issued a cryptic travel warning, citing the danger to Israelis travelling to Iraq and reminding them that such visits were a criminal offence under Israeli law. Israeli citizens are forbidden by law to visit Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia or Yemen, all of which are technically at war with the Jewish state. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab states to have signed peace treaties with Israel.