ISRAEL'S IMI SELLS OFF AIRCRAFT DIVISION

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- In a move that could signal the start of the government'sdefense privatization program, a leading Israeli state-owned weaponscontractor has sold off a major business unit. The state-owned Israel Military Industries has sold its Aircraft SystemsDivision to Elbit Systems. Elbit Systems is the largest non-state-owneddefense firm in Israel and has expressed interest in purchasing severalparts of IMI.