Shamir Hails Arrival of 2 New U.S. Copters

Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir greeted the arrival of two American Apache helicopters at an air base here Wednesday and said the United States is “obliged” to maintain Israel’s military advantage over its Arab neighbors.

Welcoming the delivery of the helicopters, which cost $350 million each, Shamir said the United States and Israel are looking at ways to “maintain and assure” a qualitative Israeli advantage over its Arab neighbors.

The Apache is widely regarded as the finest attack helicopter in the world. It is designed to knock out tanks with Hellfire laser-guided missiles, 70-millimeter rockets and a 30-millimeter cannon.

Shamir said the helicopters arrived at a time of great need. “There is a risk of war,” he said. “We hope there will not be a war, but we have to take into account the risk.”

Foreign Minister David Levy, who was in Washington recently, said Israel has been promised a significant increase in armaments.

U.S. Ambassador William Brown said additional aircraft and weapons for Israel, to be delivered in the weeks ahead, will include 16 more Apache helicopters, 60 F-16 fighter-bombers, 10 Sikorsky helicopters and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry announced in Jerusalem that a high-level delegation is leaving for Moscow at the invitation of Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze. A ministry spokesman said it was “the most important visit in some time.”

The Soviet Union severed diplomatic ties with Israel after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, but in recent months relations have improved between Jerusalem and Moscow.

Nonetheless, Levy said Israel will object to Moscow’s call for an international conference to settle problems in the Middle East.

“We demand the elementary thing, direct negotiations,” Levy said. “And on this the United States will work in order that the situation that will be created after the crisis will be a situation of peace, development and progress.”