Agreement
on Arms Sales to Third Parties
(June 27, 2005)
In late June 2005, Israel and the United States drafted a memorandum stating that the two countries
are "strategic partners" regarding arms sales
to other nations. Each country will be considerate of
the other's concerns about weapons and technology being
transferred to other countries that could be classified
by one as threats. This agreement ended an export crisis
between Israel and the U.S., which began in late 2004
after the U.S. demanded that Israel not return spare
parts of military drones to China that had been sent to the U.S. for repairs. This bitter
conflict over military technology sales was one of the
most serious to occur between the two countries in decades,
and was met with grave concern on both sides. The U.S.
administration claimed that Israel had kept secret some
details of their arms deal with China to improve assault
Harpy UAV drones, and promptly cut relations with the
Israel Defense
Ministry director-general Amos
Yaron. Sanctions were also enacted on defense ties
with Israel during the period of the crisis.
The new agreement, which is called
the "Declaration of Understanding on Technology
Exports," will hopefully ensure that both countries
maintain transparency with weapons sales to other countries,
especially nations that one country may consider a security
threat. It also ensures that America will not try to
force Israeli defense businesses out of the international
marketplace.
Ambassador Danny
Ayalon said the agreement "will upgrade Israel's
standing and its relations with the U.S. to a status
similar to that of countries like Britain and Norway, and
will also help prevent misunderstandings in the future...The
United States' best friends have signed such memorandums
of understanding."
Israel will also give the U.S. a written
commitment stating that it would more tightly regulate
defense exports. New amendments have also been introduced
in Israel to give greater punishment to those who sell
arms that violate the new regulations.
Sources: Aluf Benn, "Israel, U.S. draft agreement
for openness, equality in arms deals," Ha'aretz,
(June 27, 2005) |