DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235924
TITLE=ISRAEL / IRAN MISSILES (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ISRAEL THURSDAY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT IRAN'S MISSILE
TEST AND CALLED FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO STOP THE COUNTRY'S
MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S AL PESSIN IN
JERUSALEM.
TEXT: ISRAEL HAS BEEN WARNING OF THE DANGERS OF IRAN'S MISSILE
PROGRAM FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO STOP THE FLOW OF TECHNOLOGY
INTO THE PROGRAM FROM CHINA, RUSSIA AND NORTH KOREA. ISRAELI
TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER NATAN SHARANSKY SAYS MORE
INTERNATIONAL ACTION IS NEEDED -- AND IMMEDIATELY.
///SHARANSKY ACTUALITY///
THIS LAUNCH, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS NOT VERY SUCCESSFUL,
SHOWS IRAN CAN HAVE SUCH A TYPE OF A MISSILE AND THAT
THE EFFORTS WHICH WE ARE ENCOURAGING -- UNITED EFFORTS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND RUSSIA AND OTHER
COUNTRIES -- TO STOP THE LEAKING OF THE TECHNOLOGIES TO
IRAN, SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. AND WE HAVE TO TAKE
IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO PREVENT IT.
///END ACTUALITY///
ISRAEL IS AT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE 13-HUNDRED KILOMETER RANGE OF
THE MISSILE IRAN TESTED ON WEDNESDAY. EXPERTS SAY THE MISSILE IS
NOT VERY ACCURATE AT SUCH A DISTANCE. ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY THE
MAIN CONCERN IS WHAT TYPE OF WARHEAD IRAN WOULD PUT ON SUCH A
MISSILE. THERE ARE MANY MISSILES IN THE REGION ARMED WITH
CONVENTIONAL WARHEADS. BUT, ISRAELI OFFICIALS SAY, IF IRAN PUT A
NON-CONVENTIONAL WARHEAD ON SUCH A MISSILE, IT WOULD BE A MAJOR
THREAT.
//REST OPT// ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN MOSHE FOGEL ADDS THERE
ARE OTHER CONCERNS BEYOND ISRAEL'S OWN SECURITY.
///FOGEL ACTUALITY///
I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF JUST ISRAEL, BECAUSE
THE THREAT, OR POTENTIAL THREAT, POSED BY IRAN IS AS
MUCH A THREAT TO WESTERN INTERESTS AND TO IRAN'S
IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS, AS IT IS TO ISRAEL, IF NOT MORE OF
A THREAT.
///END ACTUALITY///
THE FIRST REPORT OF THE IRANIAN MISSILE TEST CAME IN THE "NEW
YORK TIMES," (NEWSPAPER) WHICH ALSO SPECULATED THAT ISRAEL MIGHT
TRY TO DESTROY IRAN'S MISSILE CAPABILITY BEFORE IT BECOMES
OPERATIONAL. ON THURSDAY, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK
MORDECHAI SAID ONLY THAT ISRAEL WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO
DEFEND ITSELF, BUT HE WOULD NOT ELABORATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/PCF/PLM
23-Jul-98 2:07 PM EDT (1807 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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