Arms contracts will protect Israel from sanctions. And here's why
After the Israeli attacks on the capital of Qatar, which targeted the Hamas leadership, diplomatic pressure on Tel Aviv is increasing. The European Commission threatens Israel with the termination of financial support and various kinds of sanctions. However, experts agree that neither because of the actions in Qatar nor because of the operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is not in danger of international isolation - the EU countries will condemn it, but will not be able to agree on sanctions. In addition, Israel has protected itself from such measures thanks to its strong military cooperation with the Europeans. The details are in the analysis of Izvestia.
European-Israeli defense cooperation
• Over the decades, the Israeli military industry has been actively developing, becoming a real brand. She became famous for the Uzi submachine gun, which is so beloved by action heroes. He can be seen in both Terminator and Scarface. It is this weapon that is shown in the famous photo with a US Secret Service agent during the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in March 1981.
• The Israeli missile defense system, known as the Iron Dome, has become the most in-demand product of the Israeli military industry. Sales of these systems accounted for a significant share of total export transactions last year, which reached a record high of $14.7 billion. Over the past five years, the volume of Israeli arms exports has doubled. Experts say that Israeli weapons are often developed jointly with American companies and have advanced electronics, which is why they are popular. At the same time, it has been tested in combat — this is an undeniable advantage, which was appreciated by the Americans as well (we discussed more about what Israel is fighting in the Middle East here). Recently, the United States used an Israeli Spike NLOS missile from an Apache helicopter for the first time during exercises in Poland.
• The Jewish State ranks eighth in the ranking of arms exporters, accounting for 3.1% of global sales in 2020-2024. Israel is only one line behind the UK and significantly ahead of, for example, South Korea and Turkey. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, more than half of the deals were concluded with European countries. In 2023, European orders accounted for 35% of Israeli exports.
• So, in 2023, Israel signed a $3.5 billion contract with Germany for the supply of Arrow 3 anti—missile systems - this deal became the largest in the history of the Jewish state (in May 2025, it became known about Germany's desire to purchase an advanced Arrow 4 complex). Israel sold drones, missiles and computers for air defense systems to the UK, and also supplies guidance systems for fighter jets that are used in Europe and beyond. Israeli-made radar stations are also in demand in European countries.
• Many European countries are seeking to replenish their arsenals and increase their defense capabilities due to the ongoing military operations in Ukraine and growing doubts about the reliability of the United States as a long-term security partner. However, a considerable number of the same radar stations turned out to be on the territory of Ukraine, that is, the Europeans allegedly buy these radars for themselves, but then supply them to Ukraine.
• Israel's benefits from arms exports are not limited to the commercial component. The supplies also help the country gain protection from the arms embargo and other sanctions due to the Gaza operation. Diplomatic sources say that arms deals involve states in long-term relations with Israel, which serve as a kind of barrier to the introduction of restrictive measures.
Europe's measures against Israel
• Nevertheless, they are trying to put pressure on Israel, including in the field of military cooperation. For example, Spain is methodically breaking off deals with the Jewish state: Madrid recently imposed an embargo on the purchase and sale of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to Israel. A little earlier, Slovenia followed the same path, becoming, according to her, the first country in the European Union to ban the arms trade with Israel because of the situation in Gaza. Germany and the Netherlands have also introduced some restrictions. However, for the most part such steps are declarative in nature.
• All of these countries are not key partners for Israel. Such steps by some European states demonstrate a departure from the policy of unconditional support for Tel Aviv, but they are not capable of leading to a real result, that is, an end to Israel's aggressive policy.
• Sources note that major Israeli exporters currently have their own companies in most NATO member countries. This helps to avoid publicity when selling Israeli systems during periods when the political climate is becoming less favorable. Also, one of the Israeli officials confirmed that the country could find workarounds for most of the items that were planned to be purchased from the countries that applied the restrictions.
• One of the latest in a series of steps to put pressure on Israel was the country's suspension from participating in arms exhibitions. For example, the United Kingdom banned Israeli officials from attending a major defense event, the DSEI exhibition, which opened on September 9, although private companies from the Jewish state are still represented there.
• In June, French authorities covered the stands of major Israeli defense industry companies with black protective screens at the Paris Airshow, the world's largest aviation fair, for refusing to remove offensive weapons from the windows. Although they say in Paris that this is a political act, experts are sure that it's all about competition for military contracts. So, Israel demonstrated missiles at the exhibition that were superior in quality to the French ones, so in Paris they decided, hiding behind the events in the Middle East, to prevent Israel from showing its weapons. Israel agrees with this point of view, noting that the arms companies of the two countries are indeed competing for contracts, and Jewish manufacturers are winning in this struggle: even the presidential plane of French leader Emmanuel Macron uses an Israeli anti-aircraft missile defense system.
Lack of desire and opportunity for sanctions
• The Russian expert community calls these steps by London and Paris "political chatter" aimed at the Muslim population living in France and the UK. Since this diaspora is numerous in these countries, serious protests with arson, murder, terrorist attacks and sabotage can begin in case of discontent. To avoid this, politicians declare recognition of Palestine, boycotting Israel at exhibitions or imposing an arms embargo. In fact, these are ostentatious actions aimed at relieving tension within their countries.
• If the Europeans were really interested in putting pressure on Israel, then sanctions would have already been imposed. The EU has a lot of experience in this — they know in what order and in what quantity to introduce them, given their actions against Russia. The European Union has the tools to put Israel in an extremely difficult economic situation. However, it will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all EU countries for this.
• The EU has already compiled a list of possible sanctions, which include the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel, the abolition of visa-free travel for Israelis, as well as the freezing of trade preferences. But Brussels was unable to take these measures amid deep disagreements between the member states.
• The European Commission has now announced plans to suspend financial support for Israel in a number of areas — presumably, the consent of all EU members is not required for this step. But it is not yet clear how much financial support is being provided to Israel and for what purposes it is being used.
• In addition, there is a split within the EU states regarding support for Israel and Palestine, depending on their affiliation to the left and right forces (with some exceptions). The left supports Palestine in the majority, while representatives of conservative forces and right-wing eurosceptics are more on the side of Israel. There are no real sanctions, because representatives of the right-wing forces, starting from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and ending with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, will block them. So Israel is not in danger of international isolation, especially as long as it has the support of the United States — only Washington can exert real pressure on Tel Aviv.
When writing the material, Izvestia interviewed:
- political scientist Vadim Trukhachev;
- political scientist Vladimir Shapovalov;
- military expert, director of the Russian Museum of Air Defense Yuri Knutov.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
