Barak to visit Russia amid concern over arms sale to Syria
Defense Minister Barak will also discuss Russian interest in purchasing Israeli arms, according to an Israeli official.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news Ehud Barak Iran RussiaDefense Minister Ehud Barak will visit Russia next week to discuss Israel's security concerns and Russian interest in purchasing Israeli arms, an Israeli official said on Monday.
Israel is worried by Iranian and Syrian efforts to acquire Russian anti-aircraft missile systems and has long lobbied Moscow to support UN Security Council sanctions targeting Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
Russia has been building up a fleet of Israeli-made spy drones since Georgia used such Israeli aircraft against Russian armed forces in their brief 2008 war.
Asked about Barak's Sept. 5 visit, an Israeli official said: "Moscow is a very important power to us in terms of defense and diplomacy. As far as what we want from them, we see room for accommodation and the same applies to what they want from us."
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Defense Minister Ehud Barak. |
| Photo by: Tomer Appelbaum |
Despite Israel's objections, Russia said on Sunday it will not cancel its sale of advanced missiles to Syria.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday had asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to cancel the sale of long-range surface-to-sea cruise missiles to the Syrian Army.
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Israel doesn't want Russia to sell Syria anti-aircraft missiles and surface-to-sea missiles? Why? Anti-aircraft missiles and surface-to-sea missiles are defensive weapons. Why should a peace-loving country like Israel object to any of its neighbours acquiring defensive weapons? Why should Israel care if Syria wants to waste its money firing missiles at the air and the sea? That's Syria's problem; not Israel's. Mark Marshall Toronto, Canada
UAVs, especially the large ones, are quickly becoming obsolete. They lack the active protection and maneuverability of manned aircraft, and are very easy to shoot down for an enemy who has even basic radar. Compared to mid-price-range Russian jets, they are not cheap, either... http://samsonblinded.org/news/iaf-in-dead-end-arms-race-of-drones-16471
The Russians will sell to whoever is willing to pay the price. Syria is willing to give Russia two Mediterranian ports for its use, so they will get the missiles. Indeed, the given Israeli reason, that Hizballah may get the missiles, not only is ineffective (because Russia does not consider them terrorists), but it is also fake. Hizballah does not have the ability to identify a target far away at sea, so they wouldn't be able to use the missiles effectively. For Hizballah, the shorter range missiles already in Syria's possession are even better. Israel probably just wants Syria not to get this weapon. The Syrians probably will.
..that Israel gives Russia the money they would be making from the sale of the missiles... which, as it happens, would be funded from the US taxpayer.