DATE=7/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236329
TITLE=ISRAEL / ETHIOPIA / ERITREA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ISRAEL SAYS ITS PROGRAM TO UPGRADE ETHIOPIAN FIGHTER JETS
WILL  NOT  BE FINISHED FOR ANOTHER YEAR -- AND ISRAEL SAYS IT 
HOPES THE ETHIOPIA-ERITREA CONFLICT WILL BE OVER BY THEN.  
V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM JERUSALEM.

TEXT:  A DEFENSE MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS THE PROGRAM TO UPGRADE 
ETHIOPIAN MIG-21 FIGHTERS IS A LONG-TERM PROJECT AND WILL  NOT  
BE COMPLETED FOR ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR.  THE MINISTRY SAYS IT IS 
CAREFULLY WATCHING THE ETHIOPIA-ERITREA CONFLICT TO ENSURE 
NOTHING ISRAEL DOES WILL HAVE ANY IMPACT ON IT.

THE REUTER NEWS AGENCY QUOTES AN UNNAMED ISRAELI DEFENSE OFFICIAL
AS SAYING SPECIFICALLY THAT THE UPGRADED AIRCRAFT WILL  NOT  BE 
DELIVERED UNTIL THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED.  THE ISRAELI NEWSPAPER 
HA'ARETZ SAYS THE PROJECT INVOLVES 11 PLANES, WHICH, IF UPGRADED 
AND DELIVERED BACK TO ETHIOPIA, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE 
BALANCE OF FORCES IN THE CONFLICT.

ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA FOUGHT AN INTENSE FIVE-WEEK WAR IN MAY AND  
JUNE OVER DISPUTED BORDER TERRITORY, IN WHICH BOTH GROUND FORCES 
AND AIRCRAFT WERE USED.

ISRAEL HAS GOOD RELATIONS WITH BOTH COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SECURITY
COOPERATION.  

THE AUTHORITATIVE PUBLICATION JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY, SAYS ISRAEL 
HAS TWO BASES IN ERITREA -- ONE ON A RED SEA ISLAND TO SUPPLY 
SUBMARINES AND EAVESDROP ON NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, AND ANOTHER ON
THE MAINLAND FOR SURVEILLANCE OF SUDAN.  JANE'S ALSO REPORTS 
ISRAEL HAS A LARGE INTELLIGENCE OPERATION IN ETHIOPIA.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS WILL  NOT  COMMENT ON SUCH REPORTS.

ISRAEL IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH ETHIOPIA ON THE EMIGRATION OF  
ETHIOPIAN JEWS.  MOST OF THE ETHIOPIANS THAT ISRAEL RECOGNIZES AS
JEWS HAVE ALREADY MADE THE TRIP, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHOSE 
STATUS IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/AWP/JWH

31-Jul-98 8:41 AM EDT (1241 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America