TEL-AVIV, September 10 (Itar-Tass) - Israeli authorities have called for curtailing all military contacts with Georgia, Israeli defence officials said on Wednesday. The blanket directive stated that all businesses involved in military sales with Tbilisi should immediately cease visits to the region.
This decision was taken following Israel’s concerns over possible worsening of relations with Russia. First of all, Israel is concerned over response supplies of Russia’s state-of-the-art weapons to the Middle East countries hostile to Israel.
Over the past several years Israel exported surveillance drones, camouflage security equipment and small arms to Georgia. The Georgian armed forces have several Israel-made GRADLAR multiple launch rocket systems in their fleet.
Israeli officers trained Georgian commando units. At the same time Israel refused to sell to Georgia a large batch of Merkava battle tanks and several other systems. Even before the conflict in South Ossetia Israel practically stopped military cooperation with Georgia.
This decision was taken following Israel’s concerns over possible worsening of relations with Russia. First of all, Israel is concerned over response supplies of Russia’s state-of-the-art weapons to the Middle East countries hostile to Israel.
Over the past several years Israel exported surveillance drones, camouflage security equipment and small arms to Georgia. The Georgian armed forces have several Israel-made GRADLAR multiple launch rocket systems in their fleet.
Israeli officers trained Georgian commando units. At the same time Israel refused to sell to Georgia a large batch of Merkava battle tanks and several other systems. Even before the conflict in South Ossetia Israel practically stopped military cooperation with Georgia.
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