Israel’s World Cup Play

There's a remote chance Israel could have a soccer team on the field at this summer's World Cup competition in Brazil, but there's no question it will have a very important team overhead helping make sure the players and fans are safe and secure.

The protection will be provided by a fleet of Hermes 900 unmanned aircraft built by Israel's Elbit and equipped with advanced new intelligence gathering systems, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The advanced new models will be deployed by the Brazilian Air Force along with the country's current fleet of Hermes 450 drones.

Elbit announced delivery will take place within two months.  The drones can fly at 30,000 and carry a heavy payload.  Brazil uses its current Israeli-built drones for border intelligence gathering aimed at interdicting narcotics smuggling.

There's a remote chance Israel's national soccer team could wind up competing in Brazil.  That would require FIFA , world soccer's governing body, to embrace the suggestion of two U.S. senators to suspend Russia from the World Cup in Brazil as punishment for its takeover of Crimea, and give its place to Israel, which trailed Russia and Portugal in its qualifying group, the Post reported.

About the Author
Douglas M. Bloomfield is a syndicated columnist, Washington lobbyist and consultant. He spent nine years as the legislative director and chief lobbyist for AIPAC.
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