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No US opposition to Phalcon sale: Israel

Harsh Dobhal in Tel Aviv

Israel has said that there is no pressure from the United States of any kind against the sale of Phalcon, an airborne warning and control system, to India, adding it was up to New Delhi to decide on the spy plane deal.

"I do not see any problem with the Phalcon," Amos Yaron, Israeli defense ministry director general, told a group of visiting Indian journalists.

Referring to the Phalcon issue, visiting Communication Minister Pramod Mahajan said that after his meetings with a section of Israeli leaders, including defense minister Benjamin-Ben Elizer, he did not gather any impression that there was any US pressure against the Phalcon sale.

''The deal is on,'' Mahajan said.

When asked about the reported American opposition to the sale Yaron said, "You do not have to listen to everybody if you ask me and my counterpart in India knows it very well. I don't see any problem regarding Phalcon and its up to the Indian side whether to buy it or not, how to negotiate. Its up to them and I am sure that we will have an agreement."

"I don't think this (Phalcon) is a system that can change the balance. Actually at the end of the day its a defense system and this is what Indians have asked for and we are ready to develop it for them," Yaron said allaying fears that the spy plane deal could disturb the balance in South Asia.

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