GERMANY will begin to supply Israel with two Patriot ground-to-air missile systems within the next fortnight, highlighting the countries’ flourishing but largely secret arms trade.

The United States is already supplying Israel with Patriot air defence systems to protect it against attack from Iraqi Scud missiles. Technically, the American missiles are said to be part of a training mission running until mid-February, but Pentagon officials acknowledge that the missiles and 600 accompanying soldiers could stay on longer.

The German Patriots — the two systems comprise 128 missiles — are also said to be on loan, for two years. Defence sources confirm that Israeli technicians have been in Germany for several months of operational training.

Germany’s strict arms export laws forbid weapons sales to areas of tension, but the Patriot deal is likely to be approved by the National Security Council because the missiles are defensive. The Israeli requests state that the missiles would be used to protect cities.

Even during the 1991 Gulf War Germany declared its readiness to supply Patriots, but Israel had favoured a more advanced US version of the system. Iraq fired 41 Scuds on Israel and the Patriots were largely regarded as a failure.

Germany is hesitating about supplying Israel with its Fuchs armoured troop transporter, but there is, nevertheless, an active and barely publicised trade between the countries.

There are regular exchanges between general staff and top Israeli officers often visit Germany. The German Government approved the supply of more than £100 million-worth of armaments to Israel in 2000, making it the most important purchaser of German weapons outside Nato. Supplies include electronic and avionics components that are built into Israeli weapons systems.

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