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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221214-israel-boosts-its-profits-by-arms-deals-fuelling-wars-and-conflicts/">middleeastmonitor.com</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israel boosts its profits by arms deals fueling wars and conflicts</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Dr Adnan Abu Amer - December 14, 2022</div></div>
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<p>As the year end approaches, it's become clear that Israeli arms
manufactures have concluded more unprecedented deals which mean that
three of them are responsible for two per cent of the total arms deals
in the world. These companies — Elbit, Rafael and Aerospace Industries —
remain on the list of the 100 largest exporters, recording three per
cent growth in sales valued at $592 billion. The figure is expected to
have increased dramatically in 2022 due to the Ukraine war.</p>
<p>According to statistics reported by the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute (SIPRI), this year was predicted to be a record year
for Israeli arms sales, with many countries raising their defence
procurement budgets.</p>
<p>Israeli arms deals fuel wars and armed conflicts around the world.
The occupation state has boosted its profits at the expense of the lives
of civilians killed because its deadly weapons often figure in human
rights violations and war crimes. Israel sells arms to oppressive
regimes in flagrant violation of international laws which call for such
regimes to be boycotted.</p>
<p>Very few people in the Israeli military establishment know the
details of these deals due to their sensitivity and possibly the desire
of the buyers not to disclose the details because of domestic
considerations. Nevertheless, the deals involve dozens, if not hundreds,
of people within and beyond Israel and are supervised by military
officials with extensive contacts and cooperation with other states,
some of which have no diplomatic relations with the occupation state.
These are not overnight deals; they take many months of patient
discussions.</p>
<p><strong>READ: <a title="Israel: arms manufacturer sees highest sales growth in 2021" href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221206-israel-arms-manufacturer-sees-highest-sales-growth-in-2021/">Israel arms manufacturer sees highest sales growth in 2021</a></strong></p>
<p>Arms deals are part of the business of building military alliances.
For this reason, approval is often required from army chiefs of staff,
foreign ministers and possibly even senior legal officials within
governments. Diplomatic and legal considerations are taken into account.</p>
<p>Israel is using arms deals to develop various armies around the world
in the name of "mutual interests", especially with countries interested
in the latest technologies at its disposal. In some places, especially
in Africa, military cooperation paves the way for weapons, skills and
training to suppress political opponents and wage wars with neighbouring
states.</p>
<p>The Israeli arms industry employs around 250,000 people, so it is an
important employer. It is believed that its customers for arms are found
in 130 countries with deals worth $9bn a year. According to Israeli
military officials, 35 per cent of the state's arms deals are with
European countries and North America; two per cent are in Latin America;
and 63 per cent are in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. The arms involved
include robots, drones, command and control systems, radars, electronic
equipment, missile and air defence products, manned aircraft and
avionics and surveillance equipment, as well as intelligence and
communication systems.</p>
<p>The US Army has bought into the Iron Dome missile defence system,
while Greece has signed a huge deal with Israel for the establishment
and operation of a flight training centre for the air force over twenty
years, at a cost of $1.68bn. India is believed to be Israel's largest
customer, with arms deals valued at $15bn. Indeed, Israel is India's
second largest arms supplier after Russia.</p>
<div id="gmail-attachment_298066" class="gmail-wp-caption"><p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/18-8-218.jpg?resize=933%2C579&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1" alt="The Iron Dome, Israeli military systems which intercept missiles - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img" style="margin-right: 0px;" width="392" height="243"></p><p class="gmail-wp-caption-text">The Iron Dome, Israeli military systems which intercept missiles – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]</p></div><p>Vietnam
is not only buying more arms from Israel, but it has also established
joint committees for security cooperation and the transfer of advanced
military technology. Israeli businessman Sami Katsab has established a
factory in Vietnam for the production of Israeli Tabor rifles.
Azerbaijan is an important export destination for Israeli weapons, even
though this violates EU regulations, and the EU is a major trading
partner of the occupation state.</p>
<p>Arguably more seriously, Israel does not hesitate to conclude arms
deals with dictatorships that violate human rights and commit war
crimes. Prime Minister Yair Lapid's recent insistence that the Israeli
army cannot be taught about morals by anyone in the world clearly
doesn't extend to arms manufacturers. The fact is that Israeli weapons
play an important and dangerous role in conflicts around the world —
where is the morality in that, Mr Lapid? — and there are no apparent
controls over the deadly trade. Such deals should be source of shame and
disgust for the people of Israel, because of the death and destruction
that they bring, but they seem to be incapable of feeling such emotions.
The ongoing brutal military occupation of Palestine is proof of that.</p>
<p>The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not
necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.</p>
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