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DATE=4/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229964
TITLE=COHEN / ISRAEL / ARROW (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS HE IS MORE
THAN PLEASED THE UNITED STATES HAS AGREED TO PAY MUCH OF THE 
RESEARCH COST FOR SOME NEW ANTI-MISSILE MISSILES.  PENTAGON 
CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS MR. NETANYAHU SPOKE (MONDAY) 
JUST BEFORE TALKS WITH VISITING DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN 
IN JERUSALEM.
TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL LIVES -- IN 
A DIFFICULT NEIGHBORHOOD -- THREATENED BY MISSILES SUCH AS THE 
SCUDS IRAQ LAUNCHED DURING THE GULF WAR, AND BY THE ADVANCED 
VERSION OF THE SCUD SOME EXPERTS SAY IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN 
IRAN. 
LAST FEBRUARY, ISRAEL ASKED THE UNITED STATES TO EXPAND A MISSILE
DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORT FROM TWO MISSILE 
BATTERIES (GROUPS OF MISSILES) TO THREE.  SECRETARY COHEN 
ANNOUNCED THE UNITED STATES WILL PROVIDE MORE FUNDING, ALTHOUGH 
HE SAYS CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO SET THE AMOUNT TO BE SPENT.
THE ARROW MISSILE IS AN ADVANCED WEAPON DESIGNED TO SHOOT DOWN 
INCOMING BALLISTIC MISSILE WARHEADS. 
ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK MORDECHAI SAYS THE ARROW HAS HAD
SOME PROBLEMS, BUT INSISTS OVERCOMING SUCH DIFFICULTIES IS 
ROUTINE IN DEVELOPING HIGH TECH WEAPONS. 
                     ///  MORDECHAI ACT  ///
         FROM TIME TO TIME THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS.  BUT 
         GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK WE ARE IN THE RIGHT 
         DIRECTION. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
AFTER TALKS WITH ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER IN TEL AVIV, SECRETARY
COHEN SAYS AMERICAN MILITARY AID --  PARTICULARLY AID THAT DEALS 
WITH THE MISSILE THREAT -- WILL HELP THE TROUBLED MIDDLE EAST 
PEACE PROCESS. 
                       ///  COHEN ACT  ///
         WE WANT ISRAEL TO BE STRONG SO IT CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE 
         RISKS FOR PEACE. 
                        ///  END ACT  ///
SECRETARY COHEN CAME TO JERUSALEM TO DISCUSS ISRAEL'S SECURITY 
NEEDS AND THE PEACE PROCESS.  HIS VISIT FOLLOWS SIMILAR TALKS IN 
JORDAN, EGYPT, AND TURKEY.  MR. COHEN MAKES A STOP TUESDAY IN 
GREECE FOR TALKS WITH OFFICIALS THERE ABOUT SECURITY NEEDS AND 
TENSIONS WITH TURKEY.   (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/JWH/RAE
20-Apr-98 3:11 PM EDT (1911 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.