Israel's Army Markets to Foreign Armies (?!)

[Aidoneus]

Israel's Army Markets to Foreign Armies
1 hour, 27 minutes ago
By PETER ENAV, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM - Israel is building a mock Arab town at a military base in southern Israel for millions of dollars — part of a new sales pitch to foreign armies to teach them how to fight insurgencies.

Later this month, the Israeli military is hosting an arms show and seminar on "low-intensity conflict" for defense officials from 20 countries.

The campaign comes as the country moves into the 42nd month of its current round of fighting with the Palestinians.

Some experts wondered, however, how Israel could market "success," since it has failed to halt attacks by Palestinian militants and is considering withdrawing unilaterally from parts of the West Bank and most of the Gaza Strip.

In recent years, Israel has emerged as one of the largest exporters of weapons and defense systems in the world. Israeli security sales reached $4 billion in 2002 before falling to $2.8 billion in 2003, Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron told a Cabinet meeting Sunday.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=3&u=/ap/20040302/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_intefadeh_expertise