Israeli companies sold millions in weapons, equipment to Qatar, Netanyahu approved deals
In order to make the sales, the companies were required to get approval from the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the prime minister.
Multiple Israeli defense companies have signed contracts with Qatar, with state approval, to supply the state with weapons, ammunition, cyber technology, and other sophisticated weaponry, Maariv learned on Tuesday.
These agreements were signed with the approval of bodies in the Defense Ministry, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and special approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In order to make the sales, the companies were required to get approval from the Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the prime minister.
Netanyahu led this trend and signed the necessary approvals for Elbit, Rafael, and Israel Aerospace Industries, in the advanced talks and contracts signed between them and Qatar, a country that is heavily affiliated with Hamas.
October 7 cancels Israeli defense contracts with Qatar
According to information received by Maariv, Elbit signed contracts with Qatar worth more than $100 million, Rafael signed contracts worth tens of millions of dollars, while Israel Aerospace Industries had a long affair with Qatar - which included at least 20 visits by Israel Aerospace Industries heads to Doha and a significant visit by a senior Qatari delegation, which spent an entire day at the Israel Aerospace Industries offices.October 7 interrupted most of these talks and thwarted some of the contracts that had already been signed.
Elbit stated: "Elbit Systems' activities in the international market are subject to the guidelines and restrictions of the Israeli Defense Ministry, and accordingly, the company operates under these guidelines."
Rafael similarly stated: "Rafael does not provide information about business partners. Rafael has operated and operates according to the strictest international standards, with regard to the compliance of its business partners and in accordance with the Export Control and Licensing Law."
