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"There's less and less confidence
before Pollard, a U.S. Naval in-
in Israel's competence," said one
telligence analyst, was arrested
pro-Israeli observer, suggesting
outside the Israeli Embassy in
that the Israeli government
Washington on espionage
should impose stricter political
charges. But the actual in-
oversights on its intelligence and
vestigation of this arms smuggl-
defense establishments. "People
ing operation apparently did not
don't really know what the
get off the ground until after
Israelis are doing," he added.
Pollard's arrest.
Thus, it would be a serious
American agents are said to
mistake for Israel to simply con-
have stumbled across this
clude that there are anti-Israeli
cluster bomb affair when they
forces in Washington out to
stepped up their investigations
"get" Israel and to weaken the
into the activities of the Defense
relationship between the two
Ministry's Purchasing Mission
countries. Yes, there are some
in New York — again, only after
American officials who have no
Pollard's arrest. That office,
great love for Israel and are only
headed by Gen. Avraham Ben-
too happy to see it squirm. But
Yosef (ret), is responsible for
Israel also has to take a closer
procuring military equipment in
look at how it operates in the
the United States. At its dis-
United States. There is a certain
posal is much of the $1.8 billion
arrogance sensed by American
in annual U.S. military aid ap-
officials who deal routinely with
propriated for Israel. The office
Israeli representatives. And the
has over 200 people working
Americans resent this deeply.
there. They go around the coun-
American officials, when
try, looking for the best weap-
suspicious of any Israeli wrong-
dnry available.
doing from no on, are going to
One of their most important
pursue the leads full speed
assignments is to learn of the
ahead. That means that Israel is
latest technology on the market
going to have to be more cau-
and to make sure it becomes
tious in its American operations
part of Israel's inventory.
than in the past — even if it
U.S. officials have long sus-
means exercising a little less
pected that these Israeli of-
political clout or getting a little
ficials, at times, "bend the law:'
But despite Modai's
less intelligence information and
But until now, there has not
military hardware.
sympathy and
really been any hard evidence
against Israel — only ugly suspi-
Meese's
cions. Israeli officials concede
reassurances, there
that before the Pollard case,
Three Israeli
is little doubt that
Israel may occasionally have
Firms Among
there are indeed
gone too far in pressing for some
'Forbes 500'
new
military
technology.
But
influential elements
they maintain that it was not
New York (JTA) — Three
in the Reagan
done out of malice against the
Israeli banking firms are among
Administration in
United States; only to strength-
the 500 largest international
en Israel's overall security.
fact within the
companies listed in the annual
In the cluster bomb case, U.S.
Justice Department
Forbes Foreign 500 rankings. gel
officials are said to have sealed
Aviv is also listed among the
who are only too
affidavits demonstrating that
cities headquartering some of •
Israeli Defense Ministry repre-
happy to try to
the 500 largest firms.
sentatives — who do not have
According to the prestigious
embarrass Israel.
diplomatic immunity — coached
Forbes listing, appearing in its
American manufacturers on how
July 28 issue, the three firms are
to skirt around existing export
Bank Hapoalim, ranked 51 in
was an incredibly stupid and in-
controls in order to make sen-
1985 (17 in 1984); Bank Leumi,
sensitive affair which deeply
sitive and restricted technology
ranked 98 in 1985 (49 in 1984);
angered American officials.
and equipment available for
and. IDB Bankholding Corp.,
They quickly became embold-
Israel. Israel has strongly denied
ranked 235 in 1985 (112 in 1984).
ened to go after Israel on other
any wrongdoing.
Aviv is listed as home to
alleged improprieties.
these three banks.
But there is no doubt that the
Prime Minister Shimon Peres
Israeli defense bureaucracy has
quickly apologized for the
in the past occasionally become
Pollard business and promised
carried away in pressing and
that it would never happen
pressing for yet more informa-
Israeli Water
again. But there is still a general
tion or hardware. In the process,
sense in Washington that Israel
Being Improved
U.S. officials said, the Israelis
did not really come clean. It did
have tested the limits of Amer-
Haifa. — More than 95 percent
\-‘ not, for example, provide U.S. in-
ican tolerance.
of Israel's available water re-
vestigators with all of the
"We both have a problem with
sources are being utilized for pub-
necessary information, including
our bureacracies," said one State
lic consumption and irrigation
the role of Air Force Colonel
Department official, referring to
and most of the water used in Is-
Aviem Sella, Pollard's original
Israel's desire to squeeze the
raeli agriculture is fresh. But cur-
"handler." There was also no
U.S., "one way or another," for
rent predictions by Technion sci-
serious punishment of those
more and more weapons, and the
entists project that within ten
supposedly "rogue" operatives
years more than 50 percent of the
U.S. law-enforcement agencies
involved.
water used in irrigation in Israel
who want to go after Israel as
"Israelis are always pushing
thoroughly as possible, irrespec-
will be brackish.
the limits," said one knowl-
However, a research project
tive of the potential damage to
edgeable Washington observer.
conducted by Israeli and German
the overall American-Israeli
"Then they scream foul play
scientists, has led to the develop-
relationship.
when they get caught."
ment of new and improved
At this point, serious ques-
The latest incident involving
methods to control varying water
tions are being asked in Wash-
qualities, and will be applicable in
the cluster bonibs technology
ington about the Israeli govern-
reportedly occurred late in 1984
the near future.
ment's ability to control itself.
and early in 1985 — months
, ent
would try to keep a lid on
ae story. The investigation
could be conducted quietly,
,ithout the fanfare of news-
aper headlines.
But within hours, CBS News
,roadcast a report, including all
1 ► the various details, on its
television program. The
st of the American news media
uickly followed suit. The CBS
eport came from its Justice
epartment correspondent.
As a result, Israel once again
finds itself accused of commit-
`- 1.1g another sordid act against
the United States, its best friend
end major ally. And in the pro-
Icess, the perception in America
of Israel as ungrateful and
treacherous is strengthened. The
damage is very real, Israeli of-
ficials concede. There is a
cumulative impact; each episode
weakens Israel's image. Israel's
most active enemies can simply
sit back, smile and gloat.
lb a certain degree, Israel has
itself to blame for much of this
most recent negative publicity.
,It was, after all, caught red-
handed in the Pollard case. That
rest
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