The World - News from Jan. 8, 1987

Israel is giving consideration to scrapping the Lavi, its controversial fighter aircraft project, after a strong plea from the Pentagon, which urged the Israelis to buy cheaper, U.S.-built warplanes instead. The United States has already contributed more than $1 billion to the plane’s development. Dov Zakheim, the American deputy defense under secretary for resources and planning, wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel, in which he worked to convince leaders there that the Lavi is neither militarily necessary nor suited to Israel’s tight economy. He brought a list of five alternatives, all of which the Pentagon says would be cheaper and more practical.