Israel’s Defense Ministry Director General, Amos Yaron will head for China on Tuesday on an official mission, in an attempt to resolve a dispute between the two countries, as a result of the “Phalcon affair.” The cancellation of Israel's deal to sell the AWACS system to China, under American pressure, has chilled ties between the two countries.
The crisis is rooted in the cancellation of the sale of a plane’s deal in July 2000. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak called off a contract agreed upon, to supply China with ILYUSHIN-76 Phalcon planes, equipped with an ultra-sophisticated AWACS-style radar warning device system. This move triggered a clear frost in ties between Tel Aviv and Beijing.
As of now, China is demanding more than one billion dollars in compensations for the cancellation or a fulfillment of the deal by Israel.
The Israeli official is expected to negotiate with senior Chinese officials on the matter. Israel relates enormous importance to resolving the dispute diplomatically and improving relations with China. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
