Sharon claimed a successful U.S. attack against Iraq could create "new momentum" for the diplomatic process in the ME region

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, December 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is to meet with the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Thursday, December 12, in a bid to discuss an upcoming attack on Iraq, as Israel gets two Patriot missile batteries before joint U.S.-Israeli exercise.

Sharon is to meet with Douglas Feith Thursday in a bid to discuss impending military issues, a U.S. official said Thursday, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

U.S. embassy spokesman Paul Patin said they would discuss, amongst other things, what he described as the U.S. "campaign" against Iraq.

"It's likely they will discuss the U.S. campaign against Iraq," he said. "There is a long-standing history of deep military cooperation with the Israeli government on military-to-military matters," he added, quoted by AFP.

According to a statement from the prime minister's office, the two will meet at Sharon's Jerusalem offices, after which Feith will travel to Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

Feith arrived in Israel late Wednesday, December 11, for a 24-hour visit to discuss U.S.-Israeli military cooperation, Patin said.

It was also likely the meetings would include some discussion about the planned joint U.S.-Israeli military exercise to be held next month.

According to a report on Israel public radio Wednesday, U.S. warships alongside Patriot and state-of-the-art Arrow interceptor missiles would participate in the exercise.

Meanwhile, two batteries of Patriot missiles arrived in Israel late Wednesday ahead of the exercise, the radio said, noting that the Patriots would remain on Israeli soil after the exercise is completed.

U.S. warships and state-of-the-art Arrow interceptor missiles will also participate in the exercise, after which the Patriot missiles will remain in Israel, the radio said.

The new generation Patriots are to form part of Israel's double-layer anti-ballistic missile defense system, which uses both Patriot and Arrow missiles, ahead of the possible U.S. strike on Iraq.

According to a report on the website of Israeli daily Ha’aretz, the joint exercise will include the use of both Arrow and Hawk missiles, as well as an American ship-based radar system designed to pinpoint incoming ground-to-ground missiles.

Three weeks ago, Germany said it planned to supply Israel with requested U.S.-made Patriot anti-missile missiles, saying it was the country's "historic and moral duty."