Israel Has Ideas for Research
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TEL AVIV — Israel has compiled hundreds of research and development proposals for consideration in President Reagan’s “Star Wars” defense program and has submitted some of them to Washington, an Israeli official said Saturday.
The proposals are in the area of computers, laser and electronic warfare and secret communication systems, Ben-Zion Naveh, chief of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Research and Development section, told state radio.
Israel, one of 17 countries invited by Washington to take part in research for the space-based defensive weapons system, formally known as the Strategic Defense Initiative, has tentatively agreed to participate.
Naveh said his office was assigned to compile proposals from Israeli universities, the Defense Ministry and private companies interested in seeking American funding for “Star Wars” research. Naveh said such funding could help Israel’s own defense research, which has suffered under a government austerity drive.
Some left-wing members of Parliament have opposed Israel’s participation in the program, saying such a step would anger Moscow and jeopardize efforts by Soviet Jews to emigrate.
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