Israel will institute a number of comprehensive changes to its defense export arrangements at the insistence of the United States, following the crisis over Israel's export of attack drones to China. The status of several central divisions in the Defense Ministry will be changed, including that of the head of security and the division for assistance and export. A new division will be established in the Defense Ministry, and Foreign Ministry representatives will sit on a supreme advisory council for defense exports. The U.S. administration has been informed of the expected changes.
"The Chinese crisis" caused a rift between Israel and the Pentagon on several levels. A number of contacts were frozen by the Americans, who said Israel could not be trusted in the area of sensitive technological exports, both American and Israeli, which might reach "dangerous addresses." The American delegates expressed their satisfaction with the plans, but said that it remained to be seen how Israel would enact the decisions.
However, Haaretz has learned that the Americans said they expected the Foreign Ministry to have been given a more serious role in supervising Israel's defense exports. The Foreign Ministry, like the Trade, Industry and Labor Ministry, was given a position only on the supreme advisory council that will operate in the new division, and which will deliberate on export to "special" countries like China, Russia, and countries that have any connection to acts of terror. The Americans demanded in the meeting that Venezuela be added to the list of countries Washington considered "problematic" countries and to which defense exports should be limited.
The Foreign Ministry in fact had no part in supervising defense exports, and diplomatic considerations were insufficient. The Foreign Ministry more than once harshly criticized the actions of the Defense Ministry regarding defense exports. A few dozen people will work in the new division, most of whom will come from other divisions. The Public Service Commissioner will be asked to authorize about ten new positions for the new division of defense exports. The division will also be responsible for enforcement of the various regulations. |