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.


  • Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year
    Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year

    Israeli companies exported some US $6 billion in cyber-related products and services last year, a peak figure which surpasses the amount of Israeli defense contracts signed in 2014.

  • Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder
    Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder

    Over the past few years, Avi Felder has worked to ready Israel Military Industries (IMI) for privatization through sweeping efficiency measures, a streamlined workforce, transparent reporting procedures and a new portfolio of advanced systems, many of them combat-proven in last summer’s Gaza war.

  • Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat
    Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an annual doomsday drill here to reiterate warnings that a looming deal between world powers and Iran will pave the way for nuclear weapons and could put billions of dollars in the hands of the extremist, terrorist-supporting leaders in Tehran.

  • Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat
    Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat

    The chemical threat from Syria has plunged over the past year to the point that Israeli planners did not include gas-tipped missile strikes among the doomsday scenarios driving this year’s annual emergency homefront drill.

  • Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars
    Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars

    HERZLIYA, Israel — Whoever thinks the F-35 or other heavily armed fighter jets are no longer relevant for urban combat better think again, said Israel’s top Air Force officer.

  • Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force
    Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force

    Israel’s top Air Force officer said Wednesday that Russian S-300 air defense systems, if or when deployed by Iran, would constitute more of “a strategic issue than an operative issue” because it would embolden Tehran to “even more aggressive” behavior.

  • Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support
    Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support

    Israel is seeking a hefty surge in annual security assistance from Washington and has begun preliminary talks with the US administration on a long-term package that would provide up to US $45 billion in grant aid through 2028.

  • Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low
    Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low

    Israeli defense sales last year plunged to their lowest point in seven years, with just $5.66 billion in new contracts signed in 2014, according to data released Thursday by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

  • US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF
    US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF

    The US government has cleared a US $1.9 billion package for the Israeli Air Force to replenish its precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

  • IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks
    IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks

    Israel’s top military officer has decided to disband a 40-year-old Druze-only battalion in favor of integrating soldiers from the minority ethnic community across the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year
    Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year

    Israeli companies exported some US $6 billion in cyber-related products and services last year, a peak figure which surpasses the amount of Israeli defense contracts signed in 2014.

  • Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder
    Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder

    Over the past few years, Avi Felder has worked to ready Israel Military Industries (IMI) for privatization through sweeping efficiency measures, a streamlined workforce, transparent reporting procedures and a new portfolio of advanced systems, many of them combat-proven in last summer’s Gaza war.

  • Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat
    Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an annual doomsday drill here to reiterate warnings that a looming deal between world powers and Iran will pave the way for nuclear weapons and could put billions of dollars in the hands of the extremist, terrorist-supporting leaders in Tehran.

  • Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat
    Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat

    The chemical threat from Syria has plunged over the past year to the point that Israeli planners did not include gas-tipped missile strikes among the doomsday scenarios driving this year’s annual emergency homefront drill.

  • Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars
    Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars

    HERZLIYA, Israel — Whoever thinks the F-35 or other heavily armed fighter jets are no longer relevant for urban combat better think again, said Israel’s top Air Force officer.

  • Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force
    Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force

    Israel’s top Air Force officer said Wednesday that Russian S-300 air defense systems, if or when deployed by Iran, would constitute more of “a strategic issue than an operative issue” because it would embolden Tehran to “even more aggressive” behavior.

  • Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support
    Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support

    Israel is seeking a hefty surge in annual security assistance from Washington and has begun preliminary talks with the US administration on a long-term package that would provide up to US $45 billion in grant aid through 2028.

  • Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low
    Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low

    Israeli defense sales last year plunged to their lowest point in seven years, with just $5.66 billion in new contracts signed in 2014, according to data released Thursday by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

  • US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF
    US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF

    The US government has cleared a US $1.9 billion package for the Israeli Air Force to replenish its precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

  • IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks
    IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks

    Israel’s top military officer has decided to disband a 40-year-old Druze-only battalion in favor of integrating soldiers from the minority ethnic community across the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year
    Israeli Cyber Exports Double in a Year

    Israeli companies exported some US $6 billion in cyber-related products and services last year, a peak figure which surpasses the amount of Israeli defense contracts signed in 2014.

  • Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder
    Interview: IMI President & CEO Avi Felder

    Over the past few years, Avi Felder has worked to ready Israel Military Industries (IMI) for privatization through sweeping efficiency measures, a streamlined workforce, transparent reporting procedures and a new portfolio of advanced systems, many of them combat-proven in last summer’s Gaza war.

  • Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat
    Amid Drill, Netanyahu Warns of Iran Threat

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used an annual doomsday drill here to reiterate warnings that a looming deal between world powers and Iran will pave the way for nuclear weapons and could put billions of dollars in the hands of the extremist, terrorist-supporting leaders in Tehran.

  • Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat
    Israeli DM Cites Drop in Syrian Chem Threat

    The chemical threat from Syria has plunged over the past year to the point that Israeli planners did not include gas-tipped missile strikes among the doomsday scenarios driving this year’s annual emergency homefront drill.

  • Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars
    Israel Air Chief: Heavy Weapons for Small Wars

    HERZLIYA, Israel — Whoever thinks the F-35 or other heavily armed fighter jets are no longer relevant for urban combat better think again, said Israel’s top Air Force officer.

  • Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force
    Israel Air Chief: Nothing Can Stop Our Air Force

    Israel’s top Air Force officer said Wednesday that Russian S-300 air defense systems, if or when deployed by Iran, would constitute more of “a strategic issue than an operative issue” because it would embolden Tehran to “even more aggressive” behavior.

  • Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support
    Israel Seeks Surge in US Security Support

    Israel is seeking a hefty surge in annual security assistance from Washington and has begun preliminary talks with the US administration on a long-term package that would provide up to US $45 billion in grant aid through 2028.

  • Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low
    Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low

    Israeli defense sales last year plunged to their lowest point in seven years, with just $5.66 billion in new contracts signed in 2014, according to data released Thursday by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

  • US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF
    US Approves PGM Resupply for Israeli AF

    The US government has cleared a US $1.9 billion package for the Israeli Air Force to replenish its precision-guided munitions (PGMs).

  • IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks
    IDF To Integrate Druze Across Ranks

    Israel’s top military officer has decided to disband a 40-year-old Druze-only battalion in favor of integrating soldiers from the minority ethnic community across the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).