Israel air force training for distance missions

[Scurrilous]

Report: Israel, United States to hold joint assessments of effectiveness of sanctions against Iran.

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"Israel's air force is training for long distance missions, after agreeing a timetable with the United States for sanctions against Iran's nuclear programme to work, a report said on Friday.

Israel's tabloid-style Maariv daily, which said the military censor had authorised its report, said the training included long-range strikes as well as in-flight refuelling.

The newspaper gave no further details of the flights but said Israel and the United States would hold joint assessments at the end of the year of the effectiveness of economic sanctions against Iran.

A new package of tougher sanctions was drawn up in Tuesday's talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George W. Bush, including pressure on European governments to cancel guarantees worth 22 billion dollars a year to firms trading with Iran, the paper said.

The draft package also includes sanctions against banks working with Iran and measures to stop the OPEC cartel's number two producer of crude from maintaining its oil infrastructure, the paper added."

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