Israeli weapons industries profited $3 billion from Arab states: WSJ

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Wall Street Journal
10 Oct 2022 13:10
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The UAE, Morocco and Bahrain are among "Israel's" critical customers in the region.

The Drone Dome System, exhibited in occupied Palestine.

In the aftermath of the normalization deals with certain Gulf and Arab countries, the Israeli weapons industry has been witnessing more profit than before.

With the sensitive security situation in the United Arab Emirates as it continued to bomb Yemen, Abu Dhabi purchased an Israeli air-defense system - the Rafael Drone Dome - made to take down drones, as revealed by former Israeli leaders and security-industry officials.

On the Emirati side, officials refused to disclose information.

Since "Israel" normalized with a number of Arab countries - namely the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, "Israel" immediately went on to put forward defense deals, sealing $3 billion in deals with the three normalizing states.

Israeli military sales to Gulf countries formed 7% of total exports last year, according to the Israeli security ministry.

"Tel Aviv" has also signed deals with Morocco to build drone factories there, according to security contractors, and is currently discussing selling to the three normalizing states cybersecurity systems and advanced radar technology.

“It’s a new playground,” said Stacy Dotan, the chief marketing officer and director of the board at the Avnon Group. Avnon has sold drone defense, such as the Skylock, to the UAE and Morocco.

Dotan revealed that the company has experience working with the UAE since they have been on the ground even before the normalization deals. Dotan is one of the few who worked with Emirati officials before 2020.

Since normalization, Israeli security officials have revealed that they have had almost over 150 meetings with their counterparts in the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.

However, the relationship between "Israel" and the Arab states is not one based on absolute trust, as "Tel Aviv" remains wary regarding what they sell to them. The main focus, for the time being, is on air defense systems; offering advanced offensive weapons is not on the table and is unlikely to be rendered available any time soon.

Within Israeli security industries, the biggest players are Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries. The companies' officials declined to disclose information regarding the matter.