European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily a a a a /r�?t5 i run a a a a a. A a a a a a. A. ,. A jews Pray at the wailing Wall in Jerusalem boxes with Gas masks hanging from their  expect new attack combined news services i israeli military officials say they believe most of the Mobile missile launchers aimed at their country have not been destroyed. They predict More missiles will come and they expect the conflict in the persian Gulf will be. Quot a Long  their gloomy assessment comes even As Israel was breathing More easily with no missile attacks since Early saturday morning. The israeli military assessment contrasts with More optimistic statements by some . Officials about the number of iraqi missile launchers destroyed. It came As . Deputy Secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger visited the jewish state to offer reassurances of the Quot enormous persistent Quot efforts to erase the missile threat and to protect Israel. Capping five Days of rapidly warming relations Between Washington and Jerusalem Eagleburger spoke in Tel Aviv on monday of the Bush administration s admiration and Quot affection for Israel. No one in the Bush administration would have expressed such sentiments toward Israel just a few weeks  a a. But with the persian Guif War Eagleburger said at a news conference Quot we have a common cause with Israel  after two Days of meetings with All of Israel s senior leaders Eagleburger said Quot we recognize and respect the right of every Sovereign state to defend itself and thus have never questioned Israel s right to respond to  but he added Quot we also recognize and respect Israel s desire not to get drawn into this conflict and greatly Admire Israel s  a for the last year before the Gulf War american israeli relations could charitably have been described As Cool. For the last several Days discussions Between the two capitals have largely entered around whether Israel would retaliate after Iraq s two series of missile attacks on Tel Aviv Haifa and other coastal areas. Judging from Eagleburger s remarks Israel s decision not to attack Iraq for the time being has won the administration Over at least for now. Earlier when Eagleburger toured  the Sites in Tel Aviv struck by an iraqi missile on saturday morning he was mobbed by crowds who cheered him. Quot Good for you Quot he shouted. Quot the people of Israel  returning the Praise Brig. Gen Nachman Shai the chief army spokesman characterized the american. Attacks on Iraq As Quot very successful and important and we fully believe they will be a Complete . In the past israeli military officials have often been dismissive of the american military saying it cannot be compared to israelis in fighting ability. A Eagleburger and several other american officials spent two Days trying to coordinate the two nations approaches to the Gulf War. In All his meetings Eagleburger said the Issue that has caused most of the tension in the relationship Oyer the last year a israelis hesitance to open talks with palestinians a did not come up at All. Quot the talks he said Quot have been quite clearly focused on other things a including the defense department s Rush delivery to Israel of Patriot missile batteries from. Germany along with american military Crews to operate them. A while praising Israel for not attacking Iraq he stressed that a there have been no deals struck on our part to prevent that  prime minister Yitzhak Shamir also said Quot there Are no deals. We Are working together. We Are thinking together How to do it  at a news conference held at the same site visited by Eagleburger a Community Hall damaged by the missile Shamir added Quot we Haven t made a commitment to anyone about How we will act. Israel is an Independent country. It will act according to its decisions and its will Quot but he added that Israel would coordinate any retaliation with the United states. A a t . Troop sin Israel you can feel. The appreciation by Larry Thorson associated press american troops on the unprecedented �.,. Mission of helping defend Israel on its own territory said monday they were honoured to have about 150 soldiers manned  anti missile Battery in a Muddy wheat Field two Days after the patriots arrived in Israel from Germany to Block iraqi missile attacks on the jewish state. A a Quot you can feel and know the appreciation a one Soldier told Israel television. A second american said he got word at 9 . Last Friday to be ready to move from a . Base in Germany Quot by 10 . I was on a military vehicle going Down to Rhein main air base and by saturday at 5. O clock in the morning i was on my Way to Israel Quot he said. Quot in a very honoured to be Here and i was really glad to be chosen to come Here and was really glad to help out on this whole  officers did not permit publication of the names of american troops on the sensitive Mission in Israel. Israeli military censorship Only allows the Media to report the patriots location As Central Israel. Iraqi missiles struck in Central Israel last Friday and saturday the United states urged Israel not to retaliate fearing that could jeopardize the anti Iraq coalition. Two batteries of patriots were rushed to Israel in a massive Airlift by 30 huge c-5 Galaxy transport planes by sunday they were in operation protecting the 1 7. Million people in metropolitan Tel Aviv. The United states has Given Israel billions of dollars. Worth of Aid and military equipment for its defense As Well As valuable intelligence. But never before have american soldiers actually manned equipment in Israel for such a key defense role. Israel agreed to lease two Patriot batteries in mid-1990 but the equipment had not All been delivered and israeli Crews were still being trained in Texas. Deputy Secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger on an official visit As president Bush s personal envoy toured a Patriot Battery monday. A . Major told him his men were working closely with the israelis Quot and the atmosphere Here is  Eagleburger who had just visited Sites hit by iraqi missiles and won applause from onlookers told the. Soldiers Quot you have no idea How much your presence Here is appreciated in  a also on the site were israeli troops who had been trained in the United states to operate the two Patriot batteries that Are not yet in operation Quot we did it All together,.americans , on a very tight timetable and with great efficiency Quot said a senior israeli officer whose name was not made Public Quot i Hope the people of Tel Aviv can sleep a Little better than they did  War in the Gulf wednesday january 23, 1991 the stars and stripes a a Page 13