World

For years it has been an open secret that Israel and South Africa share information on military technology. In 1987 the Israeli Cabinet banned "new" + defense contracts with Pretoria. But the "old" ones appear to have included missile development.

Last week U.S. officials confirmed that the launching of a booster rocket July 5 at South Africa's De Hoop testing range was the successful first firing of a new long-distance missile developed with Israeli help. The missile has a 900-mile range, similar to that of Israel's nuclear-capable Shavit.

South Africa and Israel denied all the charges. Officials in Jerusalem claimed that Washington leaked the story as punishment for Israel's foot dragging in the stalled peace process. There could be another explanation. The U.S. is currently debating whether to let Jerusalem purchase U.S.-built supercomputers for Technion, an Israeli scientific institute. The application is opposed by the Defense Department and the CIA on the grounds that Technion scientists participate in Israel's sub-rosa nuclear and missile programs.