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.


  • Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS
    Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS

    Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that it signed a US $310 million contract with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to produce kits for its Namer (Leopard), a heavy troop carrier based on the indigenous Merkava Mk4 main battle tank.

  • Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine
    Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine

    Eyewitness accounts published Monday from last summer’s war in Gaza paint a disturbing portrait of overzealous, often indiscriminate fire on the part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran
    Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran

    Whether through diplomacy — it’s preferred route — or a potential military option, Washington is “intent on guaranteeing” that Iran won’t get a nuclear weapon, said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

  • Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal
    Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal

    A 260-strong Israeli medical unit reports having treated some 100 victims of the Nepalese earthquake by Wednesday night, Nepal time, less than 12 hours after its rapid deployment of an emergency field hospital in Katmandu

  • Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability
    Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability

    Israel’s Elbit Systems has launched a new division aimed at riding what executives here say is the next big wave to hit the intelligence, surveillance,target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) market: the ability to traverse both space and time

  • Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War
    Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War

    Poor communication between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and UN representatives resulted in damage and civilian casualties during last year’s Gaza conflict, according to a UN Commission of Inquiry report released on Monday.

  • Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within
    Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within

    Israel’s oldest defense firm has established a directorate to deal with one of the newest threats to homeland security: extremist, disgruntled or ideologically driven civilian subgroups bent on sowing civil unrest.

  • Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders
    Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders

    In this five-star studded resort town, where pleasure craft ply crystalline waters beyond sandy Red Sea shores, less than three minutes can make the difference between a dream vacation and a terror-fueled nightmare.

  • Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama
    Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama

    Israeli opposition leaders are demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jettison his congressionally focused strategy of end-running the White House and launch immediate, constructive and intensive engagement with US President Barack Obama and his team aimed at improving a prospective nuclear deal with Iran.

  • Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons
    Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons

    Infuriated by Moscow’s decision last week to revive a long-shelved S-300 missile deal to Tehran, officials here reiterated Israel’s right to target those batteries or any other high-end Russian arms transferred to regional terrorist organizations via Iran or Syria.

  • Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS
    Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS

    Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that it signed a US $310 million contract with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to produce kits for its Namer (Leopard), a heavy troop carrier based on the indigenous Merkava Mk4 main battle tank.

  • Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine
    Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine

    Eyewitness accounts published Monday from last summer’s war in Gaza paint a disturbing portrait of overzealous, often indiscriminate fire on the part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran
    Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran

    Whether through diplomacy — it’s preferred route — or a potential military option, Washington is “intent on guaranteeing” that Iran won’t get a nuclear weapon, said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

  • Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal
    Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal

    A 260-strong Israeli medical unit reports having treated some 100 victims of the Nepalese earthquake by Wednesday night, Nepal time, less than 12 hours after its rapid deployment of an emergency field hospital in Katmandu

  • Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability
    Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability

    Israel’s Elbit Systems has launched a new division aimed at riding what executives here say is the next big wave to hit the intelligence, surveillance,target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) market: the ability to traverse both space and time

  • Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War
    Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War

    Poor communication between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and UN representatives resulted in damage and civilian casualties during last year’s Gaza conflict, according to a UN Commission of Inquiry report released on Monday.

  • Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within
    Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within

    Israel’s oldest defense firm has established a directorate to deal with one of the newest threats to homeland security: extremist, disgruntled or ideologically driven civilian subgroups bent on sowing civil unrest.

  • Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders
    Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders

    In this five-star studded resort town, where pleasure craft ply crystalline waters beyond sandy Red Sea shores, less than three minutes can make the difference between a dream vacation and a terror-fueled nightmare.

  • Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama
    Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama

    Israeli opposition leaders are demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jettison his congressionally focused strategy of end-running the White House and launch immediate, constructive and intensive engagement with US President Barack Obama and his team aimed at improving a prospective nuclear deal with Iran.

  • Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons
    Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons

    Infuriated by Moscow’s decision last week to revive a long-shelved S-300 missile deal to Tehran, officials here reiterated Israel’s right to target those batteries or any other high-end Russian arms transferred to regional terrorist organizations via Iran or Syria.

  • Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS
    Israel Signs Heavy APC Deal With GDLS

    Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that it signed a US $310 million contract with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) to produce kits for its Namer (Leopard), a heavy troop carrier based on the indigenous Merkava Mk4 main battle tank.

  • Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine
    Report Cites Shift in Israeli War Doctrine

    Eyewitness accounts published Monday from last summer’s war in Gaza paint a disturbing portrait of overzealous, often indiscriminate fire on the part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran
    Kerry Pledges Defense of Gulf States, Israel Against Iran

    Whether through diplomacy — it’s preferred route — or a potential military option, Washington is “intent on guaranteeing” that Iran won’t get a nuclear weapon, said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

  • Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal
    Israel Deploys Emergency Med Unit to Nepal

    A 260-strong Israeli medical unit reports having treated some 100 victims of the Nepalese earthquake by Wednesday night, Nepal time, less than 12 hours after its rapid deployment of an emergency field hospital in Katmandu

  • Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability
    Elbit Touts New ISTAR Capability

    Israel’s Elbit Systems has launched a new division aimed at riding what executives here say is the next big wave to hit the intelligence, surveillance,target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) market: the ability to traverse both space and time

  • Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War
    Poor UN-IDF Communication Cited in Gaza War

    Poor communication between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and UN representatives resulted in damage and civilian casualties during last year’s Gaza conflict, according to a UN Commission of Inquiry report released on Monday.

  • Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within
    Israeli Firm Focuses On Threats From Within

    Israel’s oldest defense firm has established a directorate to deal with one of the newest threats to homeland security: extremist, disgruntled or ideologically driven civilian subgroups bent on sowing civil unrest.

  • Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders
    Israeli Snapir Units Defend Maritime Borders

    In this five-star studded resort town, where pleasure craft ply crystalline waters beyond sandy Red Sea shores, less than three minutes can make the difference between a dream vacation and a terror-fueled nightmare.

  • Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama
    Israelis Urge Netanyahu to Work With Obama

    Israeli opposition leaders are demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jettison his congressionally focused strategy of end-running the White House and launch immediate, constructive and intensive engagement with US President Barack Obama and his team aimed at improving a prospective nuclear deal with Iran.

  • Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons
    Israel: We Can Target Russian-Made Weapons

    Infuriated by Moscow’s decision last week to revive a long-shelved S-300 missile deal to Tehran, officials here reiterated Israel’s right to target those batteries or any other high-end Russian arms transferred to regional terrorist organizations via Iran or Syria.