Morocco chooses 'Israel's' Elbit Systems for its defense partner

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
9 Feb 2025 19:31
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Morocco has chosen Elbit Systems to be its weapons supplier, strengthening "Israel's" foothold in the country, and reinforcing its defense partnership with the occupation.

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Activists from Extinction Rebellion North and Palestine Action fix a banner as they protest outside the Elbit Ferranti factory in Oldham, in northwest England, on February 1, 2021. (AFP)

Morocco has signed a defense contract with Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, strengthening its defense partnership with the Israeli occupation.

According to French newspaper La Tribune, the deal entails the purchase of 36 ATMOS 2000 self-propelled artillery systems.

This would make "Israel" Morocco's third-largest weapons supplier, making up to 11% of its total arms imports, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found.

This comes after Morocco broke its contract with its former arms supplier, France’s KNDS. According to La Tribune, tensions rose between Morocco's Armed Forces and KNDS following repeated technical failures in the Caesar artillery systems, which Morocco placed an order for in 2020 and partially received in 2022.

According to the report, issues with the system surfaced shortly after the initial delivery.

"Morocco quickly complained to the French group about recurring problems with the artillery systems that were supplied," La Tribune reported. Multiple complaints were issued, but KNDS's response was considered slow and several weapons remained non-operational, prompting a shift in supplier.

It is worth noting that Elbit Systems is known for supplying the Israeli occupation forces with drones, munitions, combat vehicles, missiles, and various other types of weaponry. According to the British newspaper Morning Star, "The majority of their arms are marketed as 'battle-tested,' meaning they have been deployed in bombardments against the Palestinian people."

In January, the Israeli government signed two significant contracts with Elbit Systems, tasking the arms contractor with supplying the military with thousands of heavy bombs and establishing a new facility to produce raw materials, Israeli media reported.

The ministry describes the two agreements, valued at approximately NIS 1 billion ($275 million), as "crucial for enhancing the Israeli army’s operational endurance and force build-up capabilities."