US says yes to Israel-India deal on Phalcon

By: Nabil Raza

WASHINGTON: Washington has given green signal to Israel – that has shattered peace in the Mideast by massacring Palestinians - for the sale of the Phalcon airborne early warning systems worth one-billion-dollar to India – which has made the lives of Kashmiris difficult.

Citing State Department officials, the Space Daily reported that recent developments in South Asia have reduced tension between India and Pakistan and thus the acquisition of this system by New Delhi no longer poses a threat to regional stability.

The sale of Phalcon radar systems to Indian Air Force was approved in the last week of May without any conditions or limitations by the US, which in principle backed the deal about a year and a half ago.

However, the United States asked Israel Defense Ministry in 2002 to postpone the sale, and the deal had since been waiting for White House endorsement.

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