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Last update - 00:00 26/09/2008
Israel and Azerbaijan close multi-million dollar arms deal
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Azerbaijan, Iran 

Israel and Azerbaijan have closed a weapons deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to agreements signed by the Defense Ministry and the government of Azerbaijan, which borders on Iran, Israel will sell the southern Caucasus state ammunition, mortars and radio equipment.

Predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan has increasingly been caught in a tug-of-war for influence between its large southern neighbor, and the secular, democratic West.
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Rumblings of Shi'ite political Islam have been particularly noticeable in the more conservative regions that border Iran, and the secular government has displayed concern over Iranian influence.

An number of Israeli firms were involved in the various deal. Soltam will sell mortars and ammunition to Azerbaijan, Israel Military Industries will sell the country rocket artillery and Tadiran Communications will sell it radio equipment.

Israeli companies have also recently signed deals worth tens of millions of dollars with Kazakhstan, a neighbor of Azerbaijan's.

Minister of National Infrastructures and former defense minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer has visited Azerbaijan in the past, and has said that the country can serve as a source of oil and gas for Israel.

Foreign news outlets have reported that the two countries maintain intelligence and security contacts. The bolstering of these ties has reportedly been achieved by former Mossad agent Michael Ross. The Canadian-born Ross describes Iranian intelligence operations in Azerbaijan in a book he published last year.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has met with Israeli leaders at various international forums as well as at Baku, his nation's capital. He has voiced the desire for closer relations with Israel and has also spoken of threats that both countries face from Iran.


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      1.   when do the russians invade ?? 11:47  |  v.hardman 26/09/08
      2.   Israel has been in the weapons selling business a long time 12:32  |  Natallie Durson 26/09/08
      3.   This should encourage Iran to go for nukes. 12:36  |  Michael 26/09/08
      4.   Be wise....Do not mess with Russia! 13:18  |  Persian Hero 26/09/08
      5.   So now it`s bad to sell weaponry? 14:23  |  Hastaroth 26/09/08
      6.   Here we Go Again.. 15:22  |  Steve 26/09/08
      7.   Keep arming Arab countries 15:38  |  D 26/09/08
      8.   #2Natalie and other countries like the US have not 17:40  |  Big Sur 26/09/08
      9.   More and more countries see the threat of Iran, Land of Aryans 18:45  |  David 26/09/08
      10.   #2, Natallie, double standards? try holding the Arabs to NORMAL 18:46  |  David 26/09/08
      11.   #2 Get your facts right, HONEY 19:29  |  MJ 26/09/08
      12.   # 5 hastaroth 20:39  |  Axel 26/09/08
      13.   Liberation of South Azerbaijan? 21:46  |  David G 26/09/08
      14.   2 21:52  |  zionist forever 26/09/08
      15.   #5 Axel 07:27  |  DAVID KAPLAN 27/09/08
      16.   Liberation of South Azerbaijan 10:00  |  Magic 27/09/08
      17.   #13 Liberation of South Azerbaijan!!! Hehehehe.. 13:35  |  Persian Hero 27/09/08
      18.   RIGHT ON Israel give Iran a taste of their own medicine. 15:12  |  PETER SM 27/09/08
      19.   # 17 petersm 17:05  |  Axel 27/09/08
      20.   I dout it`s a good idea. 19:19  |  Ana 27/09/08
      21.   And this is a good idea? 08:38  |  Johnboy 29/09/08
      22.   # 3 not really the case 20:51  |  michael 04/10/08
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