ACCESSION NUMBER:221923
FILE ID:PO-404
DATE:04/02/92
TITLE:NO EVIDENCE ISRAEL TRANSFERRED PATRIOT TECHNOLOGY (04/02/92)
TEXT:*92040204.POL
NO EVIDENCE ISRAEL TRANSFERRED PATRIOT TECHNOLOGY

(U.S. gives Israel "clean bill of health")  (440)
By Edmund F. Scherr
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- A U.S. inspection team "found no evidence that Israel has
transferred a Patriot missile or Patriot missile technology" to another
country, the State Department said in a prepared statement April 2.

"We plan no further action on this question with Israel and consider the
matter closed," spokesman Margaret Tutwiler added at the regular department
briefing.  "As far as we are concerned, based on the results of this
mission, the Israeli government has a clean bill of health on the Patriot
issue."

Numerous recent press reports, citing leaked intelligence reports,
speculated that Israel had secretly resold a Patriot missile and its
technology to China.  Last week a team of U.S. experts went to Israel to
investigate that charge and to question Israel about laws governing the
resale of other U.S. weapons and technology.

Tutwiler said that those officials who had leaked the intelligence reports
about the Patriot allegations to the press "owe both the United States
government and the Israeli government an apology."

The spokesman made it plain that the United States government would have
"preferred to pursue the Patriot missile question through diplomatic
channels" rather than through a much-publicized inspection mission.

She expressed the department's appreciation to the Israeli government,
"especially the Defense Ministry, for the superb cooperation it gave to our
team."

Questioned about a reported statement by U.S. Ambassador to Israel William
Harrop that he would recommend a U.S. apology in the Patriot matter, she
noted that the ambassador had expressed his "personal views."

Following is the text of Tutwiler's statement on the Patriot team report:
(begin text)
I have a short statement on the recent Patriot mission.
First, we would like to express our appreciation to the Israeli government,
especially the Defense Ministry, for the superb cooperation it gave to our
team.

Secondly, the United States government would have preferred to pursue the
Patriot missile question through diplomatic channels.

Third, as I said last week and the secretary repeated this morning, those
who leaked intelligence reports owe both the United States government and
1he Israeli government an apology.

Fourth, our team found no evidence that Israel had transferred a Patriot
missile or Patriot missile technology.  We plan no further action on this
question with Israel and consider the matter closed.

Fifth, as far as we are concerned, based on the results of this mission, the
Israeli government has a clean bill of health on the Patriot issue.

(end text)
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