This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000683 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/IPA (MAHER), PM/RSAT (ROBINSON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2016 
TAGS: PREL MASS MARR RS IS IN MILITARY RELATIONS ISRAEL RELATIONS
SUBJECT: ISRAELI MOD DG TOREN FORCEFULLY OBJECTS TO U.S. 
POSITION ON ELTA RADARS ON RUSSIAN MIGS DESTINED FOR INDIA 
 
REF: A. STATE 04560 
     ¶B. STATE 19516 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones. Reasons: 1.4 (b, d). 
 
¶1. (S) Responding to ref A points, MOD DG Jacob Toren told 
the Ambassador on February 8 that: 
 
-- He cannot agree with the U.S. position and urges the U.S. 
to re-examine its objections.  Agreeing to the U.S. position 
on the ELTA radar transfer to Russia sets another precedent 
that Israel cannot accept.  Toren stressed, "We accept your 
concerns about China.  I personally review any export 
destined for China.  We cannot, however, make the entire 
world our enemy.  Russia is a friend of Israel.  We must be 
able to continue to work with Russian platforms.  Russia is 
not the enemy, and India is a strategic ally."  (NOTE:  Toren 
was very forceful in presenting this point.  END NOTE.) 
 
-- If USG objections are of a technical nature, Toren 
requests that we put technical teams together as soon as 
possible to find a solution that allows the ELTA radar deal 
to go forward, and meets U.S. security concerns.  (COMMENT: 
If the USG decides to send a technical team, it needs to be 
prepared to educate the Israelis on U.S. technical objections 
and make a solid case for continued U.S. opposition to the 
proposal, if the USG maintains opposition to it.  END 
COMMENT.) 
 
-- If Israel is forced to accept the U.S. position and not 
even supply the unclassified version of its ELTA radars to 
Russia, Russia will go elsewhere.  India will then question 
Israel's commitment to it as a strategic ally. 
 
-- There is a lingering sense that Israel is being singled 
out, or that the U.S. is applying a double standard.  France 
and other U.S. allies are selling sensitive equipment to 
Iran, and Israel does not see them being presented with U.S. 
objections.  Israel knows that Russia is selling SA-15s and 
MANPADs to Syria, but Israel also sees the U.S. selling 
sensitive military systems to Saudi Arabia. 
 
-- Israel does not believe that its proposal jeopardizes U.S. 
interests. 
 
-- Israel hopes U.S. objections are not based on commercial 
competition.  Toren noted that the Indians are going to issue 
an RFP for F-16s and F-18s this year.  The Israeli government 
told the Indian government it would be pleased to work with 
any U.S. aircraft manufacturer(s) the Indians designate. 
Israeli officials also relayed this to Boeing and Lockheed 
Martin representatives.  Israel defense contractors are 
currently obtaining all the necessary licenses from the 
Israeli Government so that they can work with whichever of 
the two U.S. defense contractors wins India's bid for fighter 
aircraft. 
 
¶2. (S) Toren asked the Ambassador for assistance in 
expediting USG decisions on Israeli contracts for 
security-related projects connected to the Olympic games in 
China.  He noted that Israel has been waiting three months 
for USG decisions on some of the contracts.  Toren said he 
also looked forward to the USG lifting the ban on exporting 
night vision goggles to Israel -- as was agreed at the JPMG 
-- stressing that they are "badly needed" in Israel. 
 
¶3. (S) In delivering the points and responding to Toren's 
concerns, the Ambassador stressed that: 
 
-- Even if the U.S. agrees with Israel that India is a key to 
stability in South Asia, the USG is still concerned that the 
Russians will gain access to technology that they currently 
do not possess even from the unclassified version of the 
radar that Israel wants to integrate into the MiG-29s 
destined for India. 
 
-- Washington is concerned that the Russians will incorporate 
the technology into their own products destined for China and 
Iran. 
 
-- In reference to Toren's comment on India's bid for 
fighters, the USG position on the ELTA radar deal is not 
based on commercial reasons. 
 
-- He will relay Toren's desire that U.S. and Israeli 
technical teams meet to discuss USG objections to the deal, 
and consider if a mutually satisfactory resolution can be 
found. 
 
¶4. (S) The Ambassador promised to relay Toren's position to 
Washington, and to check on the situation concerning the 
Israeli projects connected with the Olympic games in China, 
and the lifting of the ban on night-vision goggles. 
 
¶5. (U) The Ambassador also delivered to Toren ref B points on 
the IAEA's decision to report Iran to the UNSC, and the 
President and Secretary Rice's statements on the decision. 
 
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JONES