Israel asks U.S. for arms, air corridor to attack Iran

Amos Harel and Aluf Benn
Haaretz
9/11/08

EXCERPT:

The security aid package the United States has refused to give Israel  
for the past few months out of concern that Israel would use it to  
attack nuclear facilities in Iran included a large number of "bunker-
buster" bombs, permission to use an air corridor to Iran, an advanced  
technological system and refueling planes.

Officials from both countries have been discussing the Israeli  
requests over the past few months. Their rejection would make it very  
difficult for Israel to attack Iran, if such a decision is made.

About a month ago, Haaretz reported that the Bush administration had  
turned down an Israeli request for certain security items that could  
upgrade Israel's capability to attack Iran. The U.S. administration  
reportedly saw the request as a sign preparations were moving ahead  
for an Israeli attack on Iran. Diplomatic and security sources  
indicated to Haaretz that the list of components Israel included:

Bunker-buster GBU-28 bombs: In 2005, the U.S. said it was supplying  
these bombs to Israel. In August 2006, The New York Times reported  
that the U.S. had expedited the dispatch of additional bombs at the  
height of the Second Lebanon War. The bombs, which weigh 2.2 tons  
each, can penetrate six meters of reinforced concrete. Israel appears  
to have asked for a relatively large number of additional bunker-
busters, and was turned down.

Air-space authorization: An attack on Iran would apparently require  
passage through Iraqi air space. For this to occur, an air corridor  
would be needed that Israeli fighter jets could cross without being  
targeted by American planes or anti-aircraft missiles. The Americans  
also turned down this request. According to one account, to avoid the  
issue, the Americans told the Israelis to ask Iraqi Prime Minister  
Nuri al-Maliki for permission, along the lines of "If you want,  
coordinate with him."

Refueling planes. An air attack on Iran would require refueling of  
fighter jets on the way back. According to a report on Channel 10 a  
few weeks ago, the U.S. rejected an Israeli request for more advanced  
refueling tankers, of the Boeing 767 model.

The refueling craft the Israel Air Force now uses are very outmoded,  
something that make it difficult to operate at long distances from  
Israel. Even if the Americans were to respond favorably to such a  
request, the process could take a few years.