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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hdl who wrote (554315)	3/21/2004 10:58:35 AM
From: Eashoa' M'sheekha	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Israeli suspected of missile-part sales to Iran, cache seized ( YA..I'm not smart like you Israel Folks who would sell anything to America's enemies to feather your own nests,eh....discusting little Pr*cks.....) Warehouse uncovered in Binyamina after joint effort with US authorities. Owner Eli Cohen and based brother-in-law suspected of receiving parts from US associate indicted Friday. Ami Ben-David A months-long, clandestine joint operation with the American Department of Homeland Security has led Israel Police to the discovery of a warehouse in Binyamina -- a small town south of Haifa -- containing missile parts apparently destined for Iran. Equipped with photos that were supplied by the American authorities, police raided the warehouse Thursday. They identified crated pipes that were found there as spare parts for the radar systems of American-made Hawk anti-aircraft missiles, which were supplied to the Shah's Iran (and to Israel) by the US decades ago. The parts' final destination is suspected to be Iran. Simultaneously, businessman Eli Cohen, whose company owns the warehouse, was arrested. Under interrogation, he denied that the merchandise was destined for Iran -- and also claimed it had been sent to his company by mistake. After questioning he was released on bail, under limitations. The investigation began when the US Department of Homeland Security suspected a 70-year old American businessman named Leib Cohen of purchasing spare parts for Hawk missiles and F-4 Phantom jet fighters (which were also sold by the US both to Iran and to Israel). Cohen allegedly transferred the parts to the Israeli companies PAD and VSR, which are owned by Eli Cohen and his brother-in-law, Avihai Weinstein, who is also being questioned by police. The parts were then allegedly transshipped to Iran. Leib Cohen's company L&M, of Brooklyn. New York, allegedly sent the parts to the warehouse in Binyamina ownd by PAD and VSR, from where they were shipped to Europe (possibly Germany) and to the Far East (possibly Thailand), for ultimate transfer to the Iranian port Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf. Lied Cohen was indicted Friday in a Connecticut court of export violations and arms smuggling. He was released on $200,000 bail. Previously investigated on similar suspicions Cohen, 54, was employed by the Military Industries from 1974. In 1989 he went into private business, establishing a company which bought spare parts from Defense Ministry surplus and sold them to various foreign countries. In 1992 Cohen was suspected of extending his business links to Iran. Portuguese customs seized several containers of motors and spare parts for armored personnel carriers (APCs) on their way to Iran. Cohen was arrested and put on trial in the US but denied the goods were destined for Iran. He was sentences to six months in prison on a plea bargain. Following this case the Israel Defense Ministry revoked Cohen's license for export of military materiel. However in 1997 he was acquitted here of selling the motors to Iran. Cohen then went into business with his brother-in-law Weinstein. In 2000 both were arrested for selling APC motors and spares to Iran. The State Prosecution has not yet decided whether to indict them in this matter. However new suspicions arose against them in 2002. This time they were suspected of selling Iran thousands of cushions for APC tracks. German authorities suspected that the shipment was destined, via Hamburg, to Iran rather than Thailand, which Weinstein listed in the manifest. This investigation is still in progress, with the police International Investigations Unit awaiting the questioning of several witnesses overseas