Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., September 06, 2008 Elul 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:26 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  77
Israel's missile shield against Iran: Three Americans in a trailer
By Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: U.S., Israel, missile shield 

A commander and two operators monitor missile radars in an armored trailer somewhere in Europe. Inside, they use satellite technology to track the origin and trajectory of long-range missiles. In true American fashion, each shift begins with calisthenics, followed by an intelligence briefing.

That is the envisioned routine of the U.S. team that will be responsible for protecting Israel from surface-to-surface missiles launched from Iran or Syria.

Earlier this month the U.S. and Israel agreed on the deployment of a high-powered early-warning missile radar system in the Negev, to be staffed by U.S. military personnel. The station will receive information from the U.S. team in Europe that will aid it in its work.
Advertisement
The deployment of the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) system, is widely seen as a kind of parting gift from Washington to Jerusalem as President George W. Bush prepares to leave office.

The system will protect Israel's skies from missile attacks, but the flip side of the deal is that Israel's freedom of action against Iran or Syria will be significantly curtailed.

Israel will be required to obtain U.S. permission for any such operation, since it would endanger the lives of the U.S. personnel operating the system. The ground station itself would likely become the target of any reprisal attack by Iran or Syria.

Senior defense officials view the radar system deployment as a signal of Washington's opposition to an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear program.

Sources in Jerusalem said on Saturday that the Negev station would be operated by civilian firms contracted by the Pentagon, along with a small staff of liaison officers. The early warning station is expected to be transferred to Israeli operation at some point in the future.

The officials said the agreement does not stipulate the establishment of a permanent U.S. base in Israeli territory.

They said the warning station would significantly extend the response time to a missile attack and intercept those attacks from a far greater distance than had been previously possible.

Israel's current missile defense system depends on the identification of a single U.S. satellite, which can spot the missile itself but not its origin or path.

The new system is significantly more accurate than Israel's "Green Pine" radar system, which supports the Arrow anti-missile system.

JTAGS will cost between $20 and $30 million, the U.S. periodical Defense News reported last week.

The system is expected to be set up next year, but it could go on-line earlier, ahead of a large-scale U.S.-Israeli missile defense drill slated for this fall.

Israel asked for a similar system ten years ago, but encountered firm opposition from the Pentagon, which was opposed to divulging U.S. defense secrets.

Two years ago, U.S. Senator John McCain voiced support for the deal while visiting Israel.

Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois also joined lobbying efforts for the agreement. Kirk is a former naval officer and is expected to be given a senior position in the Department of Defense if McCain is elected president.

On onee of his own visits to Israel, Kirk heard a briefing on the Iran threat, after which he contacted Yoram Ben Ze'ev, then head of the Foreign Ministry's North America division, about setting up an early warning station in Israel.

Kirk suggested building a U.S. base in Israel which would enjoy extraterritorial status, like U.S. bases in South Korea.

Proponents of the plan in Jerusalem said that sealing the deal would "raise the price" of an Iranian strike on Israel, as such an attack would now be viewed as targeting the United States itself.

On the other hand, critics said the U.S. presence in Israel would tie Israel's hands in dealing with its adversaries, and subject any attack to prior U.S. approval.

Kirk also recruited Congresswoman Jane Harman of California to the cause.

On the eve of President Bush's May visit to Israel, some 70 members of Congress from both parties signed a petition calling for the missile defense system.

In July, after Iran tested its long-range Shihab-3 missile, Kirk and Harman wrote to Bush again, urging him to take action.

In the subsequent meetings between Israeli and American officials, the latter reiterated their opposition to a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran.

The deal was finally sealed in a meeting between Barak and his U.S. counterpart, Robert Gates, in July, and details were worked out by Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, the head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency, earlier this month.

Related articles:
  • Attack isn't the answer
  • Daniel Levy / There are better options
  • Diplomatic effort on Iran nukes jeopardized by U.S.-Russia crisis
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Playing with fire
    Sarkozy warns Iran it risks Israeli strike on nuke program.
    Our own desert island
    Israel tries to lure 'Big Brother' type U.S. reality TV series.
      1.   How is radar a shield? 04:03  |  George 24/08/08
      2.   Good for everyone 04:44  |  American 24/08/08
      3.   Fenced in, poor little Israel. 05:07  |  Maureen Ann 24/08/08
      4.   good deal for the US bad deal for Israel 06:31  |  zionist forever 24/08/08
      5.   Protection shield 06:33  |  Shmuelshachor 24/08/08
      6.   Israel must be allowed to sink or swim on its own merits 06:55  |  Natallie Durson 24/08/08
      7.   For 3 Americans, read 3 idiots 07:30  |  Socialist 24/08/08
      8.   For Socialist, read, it might improve your level of childish thi 08:12  |  Ramius 24/08/08
      9.   This destroys US deniability 08:19  |  Rowan Berkeley 24/08/08
      10.   # 4 Shmelshachor 08:23  |  maoriboy 24/08/08
      11.   help, please! 08:24  |  Mark 24/08/08
      12.   Blah, blah and more blah Natallie 08:48  |  Michael Durson 24/08/08
      13.   Lots of high-tech, very little common sense. 08:54  |  Fortuna Benmayor 24/08/08
      14.   So we have Israelis here that object to America`s assist? 09:52  |  Mickey 24/08/08
      15.   Fortuna Its a Mad, Mad World. 10:19  |  Ramius 24/08/08
      16.   Space based weapons 10:42  |  Gregor 24/08/08
      17.   Mickey Calm down, you`re gonna bust a gut. 10:43  |  Ramius 24/08/08
      18.   American foreign policy 10:55  |  Yossi 24/08/08
      19.   mickey...durson 11:30  |  JL 24/08/08
      20.   Yossi to join Socialist and enlist in the `Red` Army 11:38  |  Ramius 24/08/08
      21.   First nukes then ICBMs 11:46  |  Gregor 24/08/08
      22.   Natallie wants Israel to sink, on its own merits 11:56  |  x-ray 24/08/08
      23.   Russia is a paper tiger 11:57  |  Clint 24/08/08
      24.   Mickey your ass is a great deal safer with Israel as a friend 11:59  |  x-ray 24/08/08
      25.   Genious solution 12:36  |  Dr D 24/08/08
      26.   100 shahab 3 available now. 12:38  |  julie 24/08/08
      27.   Israels` missile shield No thank you 13:46  |  DT 24/08/08
      28.   The zionists and Natalie Durson. zionist forever is right,israel 13:48  |  lakshmi 24/08/08
      29.   U.S: Please cut us lose 13:50  |  DT 24/08/08
      30.   Who is operating Hez`s radar-system in Lebanon? 14:05  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/08/08
      31.   "Investiture" 14:11  |  Elianah 24/08/08
      32.   Please explain the logic behind the following 14:43  |  AliciaYasmeen 24/08/08
      33.   weapons or not,its aquestion of soldiers 14:49  |  saci 24/08/08
      34.   Wonderful Israeli leadership been outsourced to foreign workers 15:39  |  David P 24/08/08
      35.   #24 x-ray to Mickey ha ha ha 15:55  |  Labhras 24/08/08
      36.   #3 Maureen Ann - You`re hearing things agan 16:18  |  * BEN JABO 24/08/08
      37.   timing 16:19  |  isiaiah 24/08/08
      38.   gregor 16:20  |  wh 24/08/08
      39.   # 35, LABHRAS 16:23  |  indrajaya 24/08/08
      40.   False Sense of Security 16:40  |  Joseph L. 24/08/08
      41.   "SOCIALIST"Technology has improved since Pearl Harbor 16:52  |  PETER SM 24/08/08
      42.   It`s all a SCAAAAM 16:52  |  Joseph L. 24/08/08
      43.   interestig subject: 16:53  |  wh 24/08/08
      44.   # 42, JOSEPH L 17:03  |  indrajaya 24/08/08
      45.   israel and jews are chicken.... 17:04  |  jc 24/08/08
      46.   Bad deal for the US 17:45  |  Woken up 24/08/08
      47.   #39 INDRAJAYA Not all Israelis 17:55  |  Labhras 24/08/08
      48.   Sink or swim Natallie? USA`s interests, thats all 17:59  |  Israeli citizen 24/08/08
      49.   Three guys in a trailer. Sleep well Israel. 19:06  |  Stephen 24/08/08
      50.   Why talk about that?! 19:07  |  D.S. 24/08/08
      51.   Labhras 47 19:38  |  alan 24/08/08
      52.   The missile shield should be ready to handle 11K missile/minute 19:39  |  Aounist 24/08/08
      53.   #47 Right Labhras; It`s the Ziono-Settlers 19:55  |  Gray 24/08/08
      54.   46 20:28  |  zionist forever 24/08/08
      55.   Gray and jewish decency 20:45  |  Israeli citizen 24/08/08
      56.   #7 most americans 21:10  |  bri 24/08/08
      57.   3 americans 22:17  |  JL 24/08/08
      58.   Thank you, Ramius, # 15, for your response to me. 22:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 24/08/08
      59.   Israel doesn`t need more U.S. Weaponry; There`s no REAL threat 22:37  |  Gray 24/08/08
      60.   On gift-horses and suchlike... 23:53  |  Esther 24/08/08
      61.   # 59 Gray....do you reside in Alexandria? 00:27  |  Lynn 25/08/08
      62.   AliciaYasmeen and `logic`#32 00:30  |  Logician 25/08/08
      63.   #24 x-ray 00:41  |  Moshe 25/08/08
      64.   #53 Gray 00:58  |  Moshe 25/08/08
      65.   #6; Natalie Durson, Israel has always been on its own 03:20  |  Doc Holliday 25/08/08
      66.   what happens if the trailer is bombed? 03:51  |  allan 25/08/08
      67.   What if only 95% of missiles are stopped? 03:57  |  allan 25/08/08
      68.   GRAY Iran/Arabs outgun Israel5:1&have weapons of mass destruction 04:08  |  PETER SM 25/08/08
      69.   WAKE up@ 46.So why does the USA man radars in Australia&NATO etc? 04:12  |  PETER SM 25/08/08
      70.   Protection 06:40  |  Dani 25/08/08
      71.   three americans in a trailer? 12:34  |  eric 25/08/08
      72.   Why would Iran Bomb Iseal ? 19:45  |  Gern 25/08/08
      73.   ISRAEL HAS THE ULTIMATE DEFENSE SYSTEM 22:16  |  Emet 25/08/08
      74.   Genesis 1:3 I Stand With Israel 23:28  |  W Carter 25/08/08
      75.   Iran will not initiate an attack 17:00  |  michael mazur 26/08/08
      76.   they always start the havoc.. 05:56  |  ben gurion ben laden 05/09/08
      77.   God will recompense 19:51  |  Belinda Raines 05/09/08
     Read & React
    Rosenblum: Israeli leaders want to be Obama
    Responses: 21
    Pfeffer: Jewish Agency has signed its own death certificate
    Responses: 70
    Greenberg: The hero on flight 11
    Responses: 20
    Nasrallah: We still seek fallen guerillas' bodies
    Responses: 62
    Top IDF officer: Israel not prepared for next war
    Responses: 50
    Chabad envoy to Alaska: Palin staunch friend of Jews
    Responses: 49


    More Headlines
    17:46 Peres and Abbas: We are closer than ever to peace
    16:25 Hamas' Meshal agrees to pass Noam Shalit's letter to Gilad
    16:25 Israel okays arms transfer to Palestinian Authority
    23:10 Israeli hacker arrested in Canada for $2 million online fraud
    23:17 Palestinians clash with IDF as Israel limits entry for Ramadan
    19:18 Why was airing of 1st Palestinian soap opera cancelled?
    18:26 Jewish World / The language of anti-Semitism
    20:53 VIDEO / Nasrallah: Freeing Shaba won`t stop struggle against Israel
    01:25 Chabad envoy to Alaska: Palin staunch friend of Jews
    14:27 McCain takes swipe at Bush, pledges to recover Americans' trust
    16:26 France mulls EU mission to help Palestinian security forces
    08:39 Top IDF officer: Israel not prepared for next war
    13:17 VIDEO / Police detonate device allegedly aimed for target of Bat Yam shooting
    10:08 Nir Barkat campaign first to pursue Anglo constituents in Jerusalem
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    JMG your online solution
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    MBA in Israel in English
    APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved