<p>The Israeli request includes Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM ) bombs for its Air Force as well as significant expansion of the emergency stores held by the American army in the Jewish state which can be utilised when need be, daily 'Ha'aretz' reported.<br /><br />The request was made during recent visits to Washington by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Director General of the Defence Ministry, Udi Shani, in their conversations with senior administration and Congress officials.<br /><br />The priority list reflects the security threats the defence establishment believes Israel will face in the next few years, including possibility of a prolonged war, which would necessitate the country using its Air Force widely to attack many targets, along with ensuring enough spare parts and supplies, the report said.<br /><br />Israel has requested for the JDAM bombs to increase the number of such munitions already in its arsenal.<br /><br />They were used by the Jewish state in the Second Lebanon War against Shi'ite militant faction, Hizbullah, in 2006 and during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008.<br /><br />Israel is also seeking an increase in the amount of gear held by the American army in their emergency stores in Israel by 50 per cent, raising it from ammunitions worth USD 800 million to USD 1.2 billion.<br /><br />The US administration placed the stores in Israel in December as part of a number of steps to improve American assistance to Israeli security. Some USD 600 million worth of American emergency equipment is said to have already reached the stores in Israel.<br />The US is storing rockets, bombs, aircraft ammunition and armoured vehicles, along with other weapons in its Israeli emergency store.<br /><br />The gear fully matches equipment already used by the Israel Defence Forces and is catalogued upon arrival to ensure quick and easy access at a time of need, pending permission from the United States, the daily reported.<br /><br />The American move is said to have a dual purpose - bringing military equipment closer to areas in which Americans might have to fight, and assisting its ally should the need arise.<br />Senior military sources told Ha'aretz that the Israeli Defence Forces attach great importance to the stores, in the event of an extensive conflict, since considerable time will pass before an airlift of ammunition and spare parts similar to the one operated during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war gets under way.</p>
<p>The Israeli request includes Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM ) bombs for its Air Force as well as significant expansion of the emergency stores held by the American army in the Jewish state which can be utilised when need be, daily 'Ha'aretz' reported.<br /><br />The request was made during recent visits to Washington by Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Director General of the Defence Ministry, Udi Shani, in their conversations with senior administration and Congress officials.<br /><br />The priority list reflects the security threats the defence establishment believes Israel will face in the next few years, including possibility of a prolonged war, which would necessitate the country using its Air Force widely to attack many targets, along with ensuring enough spare parts and supplies, the report said.<br /><br />Israel has requested for the JDAM bombs to increase the number of such munitions already in its arsenal.<br /><br />They were used by the Jewish state in the Second Lebanon War against Shi'ite militant faction, Hizbullah, in 2006 and during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008.<br /><br />Israel is also seeking an increase in the amount of gear held by the American army in their emergency stores in Israel by 50 per cent, raising it from ammunitions worth USD 800 million to USD 1.2 billion.<br /><br />The US administration placed the stores in Israel in December as part of a number of steps to improve American assistance to Israeli security. Some USD 600 million worth of American emergency equipment is said to have already reached the stores in Israel.<br />The US is storing rockets, bombs, aircraft ammunition and armoured vehicles, along with other weapons in its Israeli emergency store.<br /><br />The gear fully matches equipment already used by the Israel Defence Forces and is catalogued upon arrival to ensure quick and easy access at a time of need, pending permission from the United States, the daily reported.<br /><br />The American move is said to have a dual purpose - bringing military equipment closer to areas in which Americans might have to fight, and assisting its ally should the need arise.<br />Senior military sources told Ha'aretz that the Israeli Defence Forces attach great importance to the stores, in the event of an extensive conflict, since considerable time will pass before an airlift of ammunition and spare parts similar to the one operated during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war gets under way.</p>