Israel Reported Buying Missiles

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30955, 11 January 1966, Page 9

Israel Reported Buying Missiles

(N.Z. Press Association — Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 9. Israel is believed to have entered into a secret arms contract to purchase a large number of medium-range ballistic missiles being developed by France, the “New York Times” reports.

According to information obtained by American officials, the initial Israel order was for 30 of the surface-to-surface missiles.

This is viewed as just the first instalment, however, as Israel tries to build up a missile force as a counter to the growing number of ballistic missiles being produced by the United Arab Republic.

The missile is believed to be a military version of the Diamant space-launching rocket deevloped by France and to have a range of around 500 miles—sufficient to reach Egyptian targets from Israeli launching sites.

The introduction of ballistic missiles obviously represents another upward step in the escalating Middle East arms race.

The Israeli move to acquire ballistic missiles raises disturbing questions in the minds of American analysts about the nuclear ambitions of Israel.

Without nuclear warheads, the missiles would have little military value since they need the mass destructiveness of atomic explosion to compensate for their inaccuracy.

Thus the purchase of the missiles is seen as indicative of an Israeli intention to develop atomic warheads.