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Last update - 23:11 18/01/2008
Missile test / Launched from Palmachim, heard in Tehran
By Amir Oren, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: IAI, Iran, Israel

First, the facts: A successful test of a new dual-stage missile was carried out at the Palmachim air base at 8:45 A.M. Thursday. Every part of the system, including the launcher and the missile itself, functioned properly, and can thus be considered operational. This success can be credited to Israel Aerospace Industries; to the other firms involved in the project; and to the Israel Air Force.

The timetable for the test was not dictated by Tehran. The government and the defense establishment are always happy when these tests succeed, but the pace of development, including the schedule of tests, generally depends on the technology rather than on external events.

But foreign experts will surely issue lengthy analyses explaining how Israel is maintaining its deterrence, especially vis-a-vis Iran, by openly testing a missile without officially saying a word about the missile's significance. Those wily Israelis are reminding everyone what ammunition they have available, the pundits will say. Some will also comment on the exquisite timing: while U.S. President George W. Bush is visiting the region and Israel's foreign minister is in Moscow trying to persuade the Russians to take action on Iran's nuclear program.
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These explanations are enticing, but unfortunately far from the gray reality. Israel never intended to publicize Thursday's test; it did so only under heavy pressure from the media, and even then only because the evidence was obvious to anyone who happened to be watching the sky over central Israel at the right moment, and had even been captured on camera.

Until noon, the defense establishment had hoped it could get away with the mandatory but uninformative announcement to aviators that the country's air space would be closed to traffic for a few hours. But since Israel lacks isolated deserts or islands to use as testing grounds, the test was doomed to discovery
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  1.   The timetable for the test was not dictated by Tehran 12:56  |  Paul Wood 18/01/08
  2.   TO ALL ANTI ISRAEL AND PRO ARAB PINHEADS 12:58  |  MJ 18/01/08
  3.   Human factor is essential in deterrence & Israel`s lagging behind 13:38  |  Absolute Sweden 18/01/08
  4.   true, israel`s soldiers have conscience - this test is awesome! 14:04  |  Michelle 18/01/08
  5.   To Absolute Freedom: How Do You Know All This? 14:13  |  Dave Levy 18/01/08
  6.   Don`t kid yourselves this will `deter` anything 14:13  |  Rowan Berkeley 18/01/08
  7.   eh, rowan, safe in the uk, what do you know about war 14:25  |  michelle 18/01/08
  8.   "Israel has a First Class Aerospace Industry."! 14:33  |  Stephen. 18/01/08
  9.   # 5 He knows all he`s an out of work screen writer! 14:36  |  Petra 18/01/08
  10.   #2 MJ 14:49  |  Paul Wood 18/01/08
  11.   Missile test. 14:57  |  David Nigel Braham 18/01/08
  12.   its no big deal 15:26  |  zionist forever 18/01/08
  13.   6 15:31  |  zionist forever 18/01/08
  14.   Rowan Berkeley missed the point # 6 16:08  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/01/08
  15.   Israel, please, less talk more action! 16:20  |  Igor D. 18/01/08
  16.   # 6 the moron !! 17:00  |  PJ 18/01/08
  17.   To Rowan #6 17:10  |  Rob Redstone 18/01/08
  18.   rowan berkeley 17:11  |  bigfaceddog 18/01/08
  19.   how many ore mines h. sr? how many 17:34  |  bozhida balkas 18/01/08
  20.   Kol hakavod! 17:44  |  adam 18/01/08
  21.   #7 17:51  |  Cheops 18/01/08
  22.   bozhida---huh? 17:59  |  Mark T 18/01/08
  23.   ISRAEL BLOWING HOT AIR !.... IRAN HAS GREATER MEANS TO HARM 17:59  |  TrippleJump 18/01/08
  24.   SO many male hormones flowing in the talkback 18:01  |  Natallie Durson 18/01/08
  25.   Israel can strike Tehran 18:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/01/08
  26.   To all the fools out there 18:23  |  Dov 18/01/08
  27.   TO NO 18 TRIPPLEJUMP 18:41  |  DANNY. 18/01/08
  28.   #21 Dov 19:02  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/01/08
  29.   #24 Danny 19:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/01/08
  30.   hahaha number 19 19:13  |  John 18/01/08
  31.   Who`s afraid of the Big Bad Paper Tiger? 19:52  |  Clickfool 18/01/08
  32.   Would the real Natallie Durson please come forward ? 19:56  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 18/01/08
  33.   Iran 20:37  |  Paul 18/01/08
  34.   what is bozhidar talking ab.? what im` saying 20:45  |  bozhidar balkas 18/01/08
  35.   NEXT TEST ON TEHERAN 20:55  |  don 18/01/08
  36.   How quick some people are to believe the NIE report this time.. 21:32  |  Avi 18/01/08
  37.   Moreover.. 21:38  |  Avi 18/01/08
  38.   Darth - there is only one Natalie D here 21:52  |  Avi 18/01/08
  39.   #27 Danny can`t see the forest for the trees 21:53  |  Jim 18/01/08
  40.   Some of these missiles should malfunction when fired so they 22:04  |  Joseph E . 18/01/08
  41.   #24 Natalie Durson 22:23  |  Jim 18/01/08
  42.   Was That Fake Clickfool? 22:38  |  Tex 18/01/08
  43.   #34 Avi 22:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/01/08
  44.   #26 Dov 22:53  |  Jim 18/01/08
  45.   Clickfool might be right... Israel is going to throw the towl 22:58  |  Absolute Sweden 18/01/08
  46.   I miss Zeev Schiff 23:09  |  Mark Lincoln 18/01/08
  47.   Bomb Iran or let Iran Govern over Gulf States , Saudia , Mideast 23:11  |  Joseph E . 18/01/08
  48.   #34 Avi 23:17  |  Jim 18/01/08
  49.   Clickfool confuses restraint for weakness 23:41  |  Stephen in New York 18/01/08
  50.   Missile Test 23:48  |  Jim 18/01/08
  51.   #39 Joseph E. 00:17  |  Jim 19/01/08
  52.   just a joke, Paul 00:30  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  53.   to " sweden " 00:35  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  54.   to steven 00:46  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  55.   I hear you Chris but... 00:47  |  Avi 19/01/08
  56.   #49 Stephen 00:51  |  Clickfool 19/01/08
  57.   test missile to teheran 00:52  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  58.   to natallie durson 01:01  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  59.   TO JIM 01:13  |  jean marie 19/01/08
  60.   # 51 Jim @ Murfreesboro,Tn / USA 01:36  |  Joseph E . 19/01/08
  61.   # 45 Absolute Sweden 01:56  |  Joseph E . 19/01/08
  62.   # 53 Jean Marie @ lille / France 02:21  |  Joseph E . 19/01/08
  63.   #1 Paul Wood - as usual, you misunderstand 02:28  |  * BEN JABO 19/01/08
  64.   #6 Rowan Berkley 02:30  |  * BEN JABO 19/01/08
  65.   #23 Tripple Jump - don`t forget your penecillin 02:33  |  * BEN JABO 19/01/08
  66.   Clickfool- cork the bottle, get a hobby 02:35  |  Stephen in New York 19/01/08
  67.   #28 Linthwaite 02:36  |  * BEN JABO 19/01/08
  68.   Jim-Israeli missile tests go west. 02:38  |  Stephen in New York 19/01/08
  69.   To imposter lying I`d agree with Clikfool:You`re Abu Banat 02:56  |  Absolute Sweden 19/01/08
  70.   God bless Israel! 02:57  |  Nechama 19/01/08
  71.   Petra,I work 10-12 hours a day.Most of my postings 03:02  |  Absolute Sweden 19/01/08
  72.   IT IS ALWAS WATCHED 03:36  |  TOBIA 19/01/08
  73.   Tehran "secret" missile silos built in underground sewer system ? 03:37  |  avigdor