21 June 2011
U.S. Envisions Folding Israeli Missile Shield Into Regional System
Global Security Newswire

http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110621_6696.php

The head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency on Monday said the Israeli antimissile system would be folded into a regional missile defense effort organized by the United States, Haaretz reported (see GSN, June 20).

Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly told Defense News that Israeli missile interceptors could provide cover to Arab nations that partner with the United States even if they have no diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.

Israel has constructed a multifaceted system to defend against a range of rocket and missile threats. The Iron Done and the Arrow systems were jointly developed with the United States, which also has provided a large amount of financial assistance for Israeli missile defense development.

The United Arab Emirates last year announced it planned to augment its antimissile platforms and connect them with other allied Persian Gulf nations. The nation is a major purchaser of U.S. antimissile technology (see GSN, Dec. 6, 2010). Saudi Arabia has also discussed with the United States strategies for protecting critical infrastructure in the event of an Iranian missile attack (see GSN, May 19).

Persian Gulf states are reportedly growing more worried about the potential for a retaliatory missile attack from Tehran following a U.S. or Israeli military strike on Iranian nuclear installations (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz, June 2010).