Israeli arms sales to normalizing Arab countries hit $3bn in 2022
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Abraham Accords countries are revealed to be the main importers, with contracts jumping from $853 million (9%) in 2021 to $2.96 billion (24%) in 2022.
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An Emirati examines an Israeli rifle at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023 (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
According to the Israeli security ministry, exports last year recorded an all-time high of $12.5 billion with Arab nations that normalized ties with the occupation, accounting for nearly a quarter of purchase contracts.
On Wednesday, the ministry which is responsible for overseeing and authorizing the exports of Israeli arms industries, stated that one-quarter of the contracts were for drone systems, with "missiles, rockets, and air defense systems" making up 19% of the deals.
Citing figures, the ministry claims that total exports have doubled over the past nine years.
The normalizing Arab countries were the main importers, with contracts jumping from $853 million (9%) in 2021 to $2.96 billion (24%) in 2022.
The 2020 US-brokered normalization agreements (so-called Abraham Accords) witnessed "Israel" normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco.
Read more: US, UAE agree to bolster Israeli normalization in West Asia: Abu Dhabi
Security ministry director general Eyal Zamir released a statement that read: "Global instability increases the demand for Israeli air defense systems, drones, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and missiles, and we continually work to preserve our capabilities and strengthen them".
This report follows a deal by the German parliament which set to approve a $4.3 billion deal on Wednesday to purchase the occupation's Arrow 3 air defense system.
It also comes in light of US Army Space and Missile Defense Commanding General Daniel Karbler told the US Senate last month that one of the two US Iron Dome batteries is ready to be deployed to Ukraine.
It is noteworthy that senior Russian Security Council member, Dmitry Medvedev, warned in October "Israel" against providing weapons to Ukraine, threatening that any move to boost Kiev's arsenal would severely damage bilateral relations.
