Last update - 00:00 27/10/2006
Angolan defense officials fired over arms deals with Israel
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
The president of Angola has fired senior defense officials in his country as a result of what Angolan sources say was their attempt to promote an arms deal involving Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Soltam.
News of the deal was first published in Haaretz in April. No official
explanation for the dismissal of the senior Angolan officials has been released.
The Haaretz report received a great deal of attention in the Angolan media, and as a result, a number of probes were initiated into whether the deal, which was valued at $1 billion, was worth pursuing.
However, Angolan officials and other experts concluded that the country had no need for these weapons, and that the funds would be better used in developing civilian infrastructure.
The deal has been initiated by Israeli businessman Moshe Britsch.
Six months ago, President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos dismissed his chief of intelligence, also because of a controversial arms deal involving an Israeli firm, Image Spot, a subsidiary of IAI.
That deal was put together four years ago, when Angola was still embroiled in its civil war, and was valued at $140 million.
Image Spot was supposed to set up a satellite reception station, where intelligence photos would be collected for use in military operations.
Israel's military industries have been connected to two other controversial arms deals recently.
Nigeria's national security adviser and its transport minister were dismissed over a $250,000 deal with Israel, while a deal to supply India with sea-to-sea missiles has resulted in an investigation into alleged bribes to senior government officials.