A satellite ground station in Australia is expected to provide military information to Israel, following new arrangements negotiated by Israel and the United States.
The Nurrungar facility, based in southern Australia, is part of the U.S. military’s worldwide early warning nuclear attack network, which tracks ballistic missiles.
During the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the facility’s intelligence information “played a very large part in helping to defend civilians in Israel and Saudi Arabia” from Iraqi missiles, said former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans.
But some have expressed concern that Australia could be targeted by terrorists for providing Arab military information to Israel.
Lindsay Murdoch, a commentator for the Age newspaper, expressed concern that Arab countries being constantly monitored would be unhappy about Australia’s role.
“There were fears during the Gulf War of a terrorist attack on the complex,” Murdoch said.
However, Ian McLachlan, a spokesman for Australia’a defense minister, said the government supporters all measures that help reduce conflict in the Middle East, including the use of data from Australian military facilities.
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