The Ministry of Defense has initiated a reform to tighten controls over defense exports. Under the reform, supervision of arms exporters will be increased, including making registration the defense export registry mandatory. A bill on the matter was sent to the Knesset on Friday, which will bring Israeli norms in line with international norms.
Two weeks ago, Israel hosted a conference on arms exports controls, which was attended by senior US administration officials. They expressed satisfaction from the arms exports control bill and from the establishment of a new Ministry of Defense arms exports control department. Hundreds of representatives from Israeli defense companies, as well as officials from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Labor attended the conference.
The arms exports control bill was initiated before the crisis between the US and Israel over sale by Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd. of spare parts for the company’s Harpy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to China, which the US claims was made without prior coordination with it.
Until now, supervision of Israeli arms exports have been based on administrative orders derived from emergency regulations. Under the new bill, both Israeli citizens, even if they do not reside in Israel, and foreign residents in Israel will require a license to export military equipment. Stiffer sentences will also be imposed on violators of the law.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on December 24, 2006
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