Sources close to Volvo, the world's second largest truck manufacturer, said the company can meet its commitment to supply 150 military trucks to Israel only if the trucks are manufactured outside Sweden.
Protests have been made in Sweden against supply military equipment to Israel, due to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in the territories.
It was predicted today in Sweden that the Swedish National Inspectorate for Strategic Products would prevent the supply of trucks to Israel, claiming they constitute military equipment.
National Inspectorate for Strategic Products chairman Lars Hjalmar Wide said today that one possibility was to supply the IDF with trucks manufactured in Volvo's US plants. "If they are supplied from the US, US regulations will apply to them," Wide said.
In view of the IDF operations, calls for a Volvo boycott of Israel were voiced in Sweden. Company employees called on the company not to supply the IDF with the armored trucks included in a deal signed four years ago. Volvo president and CEO Leif Johansson responded by saying the company would not break off business ties with Israel.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on April 10, 2002