To boost the maneuverability of its army, particularly in the urbanized West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Israeli military plans to equip its troops with armored vehicles that use wheels instead of tracks, Israeli officials said.

The military will buy 500 American-made Stryker LAV-3 armored personnel carriers for its soldiers, the Haaretz daily newspaper said.

The $750 million purchase of the Strykers will be funded by America's annual defense aid to Israel, Haaretz said. The Strykers, expected to be in use within seven years, would replace the old M-113 APCs the army has been using since the early 1970s.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army also was set to receive and equip its special forces with an armored version of the U.S.-made Humvee fighting vehicle in the coming weeks.

The army also is considering buying a German-made APC, called the Dingo, for use in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, another Israeli source said. Such a move would be controversial in Germany, which has refused similar requests in the past.

The German defense ministry could not comment but noted that such a sale would require government approval. The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv declined comment. The Israeli military spokesman's office said final decisions had not yet been made.

The Humvee, the Stryker and the Dingo all have wheels while the older APCs run on tracks. In the past, the army needed tracked vehicles to reach the battleground over harsh terrain.

But the tracked vehicles cannot use today's network of roads for rapid deployment, needing the help of tank carriers.

The Stryker, with a maximum speed of 65 mph, also fits the military's combat doctrine that calls for an integration of infantry and armored forces. The old M-113 proved itself slow in keeping up with Israel's modern tanks.

The change in focus is a result of both the U.S. army's conclusions from the two Gulf wars and Israel's own experiences during the 33 months of bitter fighting with the Palestinians that often saw cumbersome APCs operating in the narrow alleyways of the West Bank and Gaza.

According to the Israeli source, the army also is considering attempting to purchase the German-made Dingo APC for its mechanized infantry units that operate exclusively in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Dingo is said to offer its crew unparalleled protection from mines and roadside bombs for its class of armored vehicle.

A similar Israeli request in September caused an outcry in Germany, which has strict guidelines for exporting armaments to conflict areas.

The company that makes the Dingos, Krauss-Maffel Wegmann, said they have no knowledge of Israeli interest in the vehicles.

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