War in Georgia: The Israeli connection

Anti-Globalist · 08-11-08, 12:02 PM

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For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Gerogian army to preparer for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice.

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The military cooperation between the countries developed swiftly. The fact that Georgia's defense minister, Davit Kezerashvili, is a former Israeli who is fluent in Hebrew contributed to this cooperation.

"His door was always open to the Israelis who came and offered his country arms systems made in Israel," the source said. "Compared to countries in Eastern Europe, the deals in this country were conducted fast, mainly due to the defense minister's personal involvement.

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"The Israelis should be proud of themselves for the Israeli training and education received by the Georgian soldiers," Georgian Minister Temur Yakobashvili said Saturday.

Yakobashvili is a Jew and is fluent in Hebrew. "We are now in a fight against the great Russia," he said, "and our hope is to receive assistance from the White House, because Georgia cannot survive on its own.

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/Art...0136%2C00.html

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"Georgian government officials used to tell me that they wanted to model their army after the IDF," former Israeli ambassador to Georgia Shabtai Zur told Ynet Sunday evening amid the country's bloody feud with Russia over the separatist region of South Ossetia.

"In my opinion these developments are due in part to advice Georgia received from Israeli companies that operate there," Zur said, adding that the economic development in the country has attracted many Israeli businessmen.

The former envoy said the ongoing tension between Georgia and the separatist provinces brought Israeli experts to the area.

"The private company of Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch (Galilee Division commander during the Second Lebanon War) has been operating in Georgia for some time now and is providing consultation to the Georgian army," he noted.

Ex-envoy: Georgia modeled its army after IDF - Israel News, Ynetnews

both articles from same Israeli source.

Interesting eh?

Tashah · 08-11-08, 12:33 PM

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Originally Posted by Anti-Globalist

Interesting eh?

Not really. Israel produces high quality military arms. India has recently decided to trash its own Arjun tank program and purchase Israeli Mk3/Mk4 Merkava main battle tanks.

Jake Blues · 08-15-08, 01:15 PM

Just another player in the region with some interests of its own.