Israel is only at the preliminary stages of implementing an arms exports control program, and still has a long way to go, says US Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security David H. McCormick, who is visiting Israel. He said proper arms exports controls were an important national interest of both Israel and the US, and were also an important Israeli economic interest, in order to reduce the vulnerability of high-tech companies that export dual-use products.
McCormick met senior Israeli defense officials, SIBAT - Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization director general Gen. (Ret.) Yosi Ben-Hanan, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor director general Raanan Dinur, and the heads of high-tech and arms exporters.
This is McCormick’s first visit to Israel since taking up his post in October, after an Israeli arms exports control agreement was arranged, which was intended to settle a bitter dispute between the US and Israel that erupted over Israel’s deal to upgrade Harpy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for China.
As the senior partner on US supervision of Israeli defense exports, McCormick said openly for the first time, “Israel is only at the preliminary stages of implementing controls. At present, it has a well-defined plan and strong commitment, which it is starting to implement.”
In response to a question whether the arms control crisis was over, McCormick replied, “This was a difficult and significant subject for both countries. The challenge now is implementing the plan, and success will be measured on the basis of implementation. There is unquestionably a lot of willingness and goodwill on the Israeli side, and we’ll want to help. But there is also no doubt that implementing such a regime is no easy challenge.”
McCormick called his talks in Israel, “an ongoing process for developing export controls that not only focuses on defense products, but also on dual use products.” He said that, as the products were advanced technologically, the more the US feared that dangerous products would reach the hands of “bad guys” - Iran or terrorist groups.
McCormick said the US was offering aid for implementing arms exports controls included American experts who “will shows Israelis how to develop control regulations”, as well as additional aspects of its experience with other countries.
McCormick said defense exports controls were also important economically, by limiting the vulnerability of Israeli industry. “Israel has developed an advanced high-tech industry, and the more progress it makes, discussion on exports will move ahead. The more confidence we have that these technologies will be used for civilian needs and reach the right users, we can move ahead on bilateral economic cooperation.” He said this was the main message he was carrying from the US administration on this visit.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 12, 2006
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