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ISRAEL
Strategic significance:
Most-favored U.S. ally, a relationship that complicates Washington's relations with Arab friends
In the 1991 Gulf War they:
Were attacked 39 times by Iraqi Scud missiles, but refrained — at Washington's request — from retaliating
Now they:
Support the U.S. drive for regime-change, vow to retaliate for any Iraqi attack
Their interest in Iraq:
Eliminating weapons of mass destruction, seeing a more pro-U.S. regime in Baghdad
Domestic concerns:
Protecting Israelis from Iraqi and Palestinian attack
Price for backing the U.S.:
Washington wants Israel to refrain from actions that inflame the conflict with the Palestinians, Israel's price may be freedom of action to retaliate for any Iraqi attack
An Israeli viewpoint: www.haaretzdaily.com/
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