Barbara Opall-Rome

Opall-Rome is Israel bureau chief for Defense News. She has been covering U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation, Mideast security and missile defense since May 1988. She lives north of Tel Aviv. Visit her website at www.opall-rome.com.


  • Netanyahu Hints at V-22 Orders
    Netanyahu Hints at V-22 Orders

    Israel’s prime minister hailed US-Israel bonds and hinted that he intends to purchase with US aid the Bell Boeing V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.

  • Analysis: Israel-Turkey Accord Will Not Signal Near-Term Revival of Defense Ties
    Analysis: Israel-Turkey Accord Will Not Signal Near-Term Revival of Defense Ties

    Officials and experts in Israel warn that strategic cooperation between Israel and Turkey, if and when it resumes, will be focused on regional stability and safety measures to be conducted primarily in the context of the US-Israel or NATO alliance.

  • Israel, Turkey Announce Reconciliation Deal
    Israel, Turkey Announce Reconciliation Deal

    Israel and Turkey announced Monday a reconciliation deal that both sides claim will normalize relations.

  • Israel Liberalizes Cyber Export Policy
    Israel Liberalizes Cyber Export Policy

    After three years of contentious review, the Israeli government has codified a new policy for cyber-related exports that aims to liberalize licensing and technology-transfer restrictions for all but defense and military end-users.

  • Israeli Fighter Pilots Head to US for F-35 Training
    Israeli Fighter Pilots Head to US for F-35 Training

    By the middle of next year, 12 IAF pilots will have passed through the approximately 100-day US Air Force training program.

  • Israeli Intel Chief Has ‘Slim’ Hopes for Syrian Peace Deal
    Israeli Intel Chief Has ‘Slim’ Hopes for Syrian Peace Deal

    Likening war-wracked Syria to a “cemetery of the good, the bad and the ugly,” Israel’s military intelligence chief warned of “slim” prospects for the type of diplomatic settlement sought by members of the 17-nation International Syria Support Group.

  • Still No Sales for Israel’s Iron Dome
    Still No Sales for Israel’s Iron Dome

    Despite widespread global interest and reputed export sales to countries from East Asia to the Arabian Gulf, Israel’s Iron Dome anti-rocket intercepting system has not yet been sold to a single customer, government and industry sources say.

  • Rafael Concludes First Exports of Shoulder-Fired Anti-Tank Missile
    Rafael Concludes First Exports of Shoulder-Fired Anti-Tank Missile

    Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems recently concluded first export deliveries of its shoulder-launched, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile.

  • Israel Touts Tech Transfer As Edge for Global Exports
    Israel Touts Tech Transfer As Edge for Global Exports

    Israeli firms are expecting a competitive edge at Eurosatory, in part because of their government’s willingness to allow technology transfers.

  • Elbit Poised for Next Growth Spurt
    Elbit Poised for Next Growth Spurt

    As the founding head of Elbit’s Land Systems Division more than a decade ago, Bezhalel “Butzy” Machlis led integration of the firm’s acquisition of Israel’s Soltam Systems while spearheading one of the firm’s most lucrative programs.