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150 meetings and deals in billions: Ganz reveals the extent of military ties with the moderate Sunni states | Israel today

2022-07-07T09:12:11.186Z


In the period since the Avraham agreements about two years ago, defense procurement deals were signed from Israel for the countries of the region for more than three billion dollars. I'm sorry they are dragging this into a political debate "


Defense Minister Bnei Gantz today (Thursday) in a conversation with military reporters ahead of a visit to Biden next week reveals the depth of Israeli arms sales to moderate Sunni Arab countries in the Middle East.

In the period since the Avraham agreements about two years ago, no less than 150 meetings of defense and IDF officials have been held with their counterparts in the Middle East, not including Jordan and Egypt, and security procurement deals have been signed from Israel for more than three billion dollars. To specify which weapons were sold to Arab countries for $ 3 billion, however, the two criteria are: the need of the Sunni countries in the face of the question of what will not harm security in Israel in the event of a regime fall and change of government in these countries.

Documentation from the Hezbollah UAV of a shark rig

Ganz and senior members of the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force will present the Magen Or laser launcher, the new Israeli system by Raphael and Elbit, to intercept rockets and missiles using lasers, which was proven operational this year, for the first time in the world.

It is not inconceivable that Israel will ask the United States for financial assistance in financing the production and equipping of the system, after the defense establishment invested billions in the development and research of the project, which will enable almost unlimited interception and low cost of cement and other threats. 2023 will lead to a delay in the strategic flagship project.

Minister of Defense in the Magen Or laser system, Photo: Elad Malka

"I intend to bring about a budget increase of more than half a billion shekels for the continuation of the project soon," Ganz said.

It is estimated that the system will be declared operational in the Air Force within about two years, at best.

In addition, the defense establishment estimates that the war in Ukraine will lead to an increase in defense production in Israel in favor of armies in Europe - by tens of percent.

Gantz also said in the briefing that the three UAVs that Hezbollah tried to launch to the Israeli shark gas rig on Saturday were Iranian-made standards. A senior security official stated that "Israel will work to strengthen cooperation in the region against Iran, in air defense, navy and other cooperation."

We are preparing for a nuclear agreement with Iran or for a bad agreement in the operational aspect as well. "

A "shark" rig photographed by the Hezbollah UAV,

Gantz intends to put pressure on the powers and persuade the United States to reach as long an agreement as possible and as strong as possible to prevent Iran's military nuclearization. On the Palestinian issue, the defense minister said: "In the territories of the islands and to block the issue of appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. We need to remember where we were a year and a half ago with the Palestinians, and we are also improving the economic situation of the residents of the Gaza Strip, directly opposite them."

Ganz intends to increase the quota of work permits in Israel for Gaza residents to about 20,000, and in any case to condition large civilian development projects in Gaza on a deal to return prisoners and missing persons from Hamas captivity.

The race for headquarters

Defense Minister Gantz is determined to appoint a chief of staff in the transitional government in the coming weeks. Gantz told military reporters that he would respect any decision by Attorney General Gali Bahrav-Myara regarding the appointment of the next chief of staff after the Likud demanded to postpone the appointment until a permanent government was formed.

Ganz has not yet made a decision regarding the choice of the replacement for Lt. Col. Aviv Kochavi, and in any case is expected to receive additional opinions on the subject and to conduct another round of interviews.

Lt. Col. Aviv Kochavi. Who will be the next chief of staff ?, Photo: Yossi Zeliger

Ganz said of this: "This is an issue that is critically important for national security, and state. I am sorry that this is being dragged into a political debate."

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Source: israelhayom

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