Company In Negotiations With David Ivri Over Top Job In Israel  

Boeing is holding negotiations with David Ivri, formerly Israel's ambassador to Washington, over the possibility that he will serve as president of Boeing Israel in view of the American aviation giant's strategic decision to deepen ties with this country.

Ivri has served as Defense Ministry director-general and commander of the Israel Air Force; he joined the Elul group, which serves as a consultant to Boeing, after completing his term in the U.S. capital, and sits on the board of Aeronautics Unmanned Systems of Yavneh. He was also chairman of the board of Israel Aircraft Industries.

Boeing is the largest manufacturer of passenger airplanes in the world and produces advanced war planes such as the F-15 and the Apache Long Bow combat helicopter, with Israel serving as one of its most important customers.

Last week, Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems, and other senior company officials were in Israel for talks with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, senior IDF officers and top executives of the military industries.

Boeing plans to expand its cooperation with Israeli manufacturers in the framework of reciprocal purchases. Since 1979, the American company has bought $1.9 billion of Israeli products within this framework. During his visit last week, Albaugh said Boeing had offered the Israel Air Force advanced fueling planes and that the IAF was interested in purchasing additional sophisticated fighter aircraft.

ANN Correspondent Dave Bender contributed to this article

FMI: www.boeing.com