Business as usual for U.S.-Israeli defense tiesdespite political tension

by David Harris

JERUSALEM, July 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to arrive in Israel for a working visit next week. The trip, the first by Gates to the Jewish state in two years, was "routine" as described by Gates himself.It is unlikely the main focus of his talks will be the Palestinian issue, but rather other bilateral subjects of mutual interest -- quite possibly dominated by the Iranian issue.

"I think the only thing that I'm prepared to say about that is that I'm confident that subject will come up," Gates said at a press conference on Monday in response to the Iranian issue and the overall agenda for his planned meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.The trip comes at a time when relations between the two allies seem to be at a real low due to the tension over political differences, such as Israel's settlement policies.

However, Israel and the United States seem to have more in common when it comes to the security arena and, despite clear political differences right now, both bring enough to the table to make the relationship worthwhile."The Americans know we need them, but they also know they need us. For example, we have intelligence on this region they don't possess," said Zaki Shalom, an expert on Israeli defense policy at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva.It is generally felt in Israel that the defense relationship will not be affected by the political turmoil.

Israel and the United States have enjoyed a robust defense relationship, with shared interests in the Middle East leading to intelligence sharing, joint weapons development programs, huge military contracts and a large annual aid package for Israel.Much of the work between the two countries in this realm goes on behind closed doors. It is difficult to assess just how much information is pooled between the two. For example, whether Israel helps the Pentagon in intelligence gathering in countries surrounding Iran and whether the United States provides Israel with information concerning its neighbor Syria.Israel currently receives an annual 3-billion-U.S. dollar military aid from Washington. Most of that sum is pumped directly back into the U.S. economy, as tight regulations dictate Israel where and how it can spend the money.As a result of the aid package, the U.S. has also tied Israel's hands when it comes to military deals with third countries.

"When we're talking about security cooperation and not what's in the headlines, in other words the real work behind closed doors, the level of strategic collaboration is far greater than the harsh tones on the political level," said Galia Bar-Natan, a senior lecturer in international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.But both Shalom and Bar-Natan warned that American patience might not last forever.

There is a precedent for a "reassessment" of the U.S.-Israeli relationship, said Shalom. From March to September 1975, then U.S. President Gerald Ford instituted a reassessment of relations between the countries, which meant no arms deals during that period.While no one is suggesting that type of arrangement in the current circumstances, publicly at least, the United States has made clear to Israel its displeasure at some of the policies of the Netanyahu government.Key among them is Israel's refusal to stop all settlement activity, as demanded repeatedly by the Barack Obama administration.

Netanyahu went public on Sunday in saying Israel will not halt construction in East Jerusalem. He also opposes the U.S. request for an end to building settlements in the West Bank, which Israel calls "natural growth."Meanwhile, there is a school of thoughts in Israel that suggest Israel consider sanctions of its own against the United States, if Washington continues to censure Israel and maintains its own policy of creating closer ties with Syria and Iran.Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post obtained a letter written to cabinet colleagues in June by Minister Yossi Peled of Netanyahu's hawkish Likud Party.

In it, he suggested Israel mull making military and civilian purchases elsewhere and possibly engaging other countries that see themselves as potential alternative peace negotiators to Washington -- and that would mean passing on intelligence information normally reserved for Washington to other states.No one in Israel appears to be seriously considering adopting that sort of approach, but some do suggest Obama has got himself into a sticky situation with Israel over the settlement issue and that could impinge on other areas."President Obama has climbed up a very high tree and has not left room for anything other than some sort of head-on clash. It looks like he wants a confrontation with Netanyahu," said Shalom, adding that he was somewhat concerned that this dynamic may at some point affect broader strategic thinking, particularly when it comes to Iran.Nevertheless, for the time being, all the signals from the United States and Israel are that it is business as usual in the realm of defense.

Gates' visit to Jerusalem next week will be a chance for Israeli officials to gauge current opinion in the Pentagon concerning Iran, the Palestinian conflict and bilateral relations.