Haaretz: Israeli Defense Systems Reached Saudi Arabia and Qatar; Riyadh Denies Report

Published on:

Author: Nicole Jeffrey

In Brief

Haaretz reported that documents and images show advanced Israeli defense systems were sold to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through indirect arrangements despite the absence of formal relations, involving Israeli defense firms including Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. The report said the systems included aircraft protection equipment, F-15-related components, advanced JHMCS combat helmets, night-vision goggles, spare parts and aviation electronics, and that some equipment was supplied through subcontracting with Western companies such as Boeing. Haaretz said three Qatari royal aircraft were fitted with Elbit’s C-MUSIC anti-missile system during maintenance in Basel from 2020 to 2022, and that one was later used by Qatar’s emir during a trip to Iran. The newspaper also reported a Saudi order tied to advanced combat helmets was worth about $100 million, and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved deals worth more than $100 million. It further claimed intermediaries linked to Netanyahu’s circle collected commissions from some deals. A Qatari official declined to comment, while a Saudi official called the report “baseless” and said the images did not prove the claims. Haaretz said it may publish additional documents, and questions remain about clarification from the defense firms and Western companies involved.

Full Article

Details

  • Haaretz published a report saying documents and images show advanced Israeli defense systems were sold to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through indirect arrangements, despite the lack of formal relations between the two countries and Israel.
  • According to the newspaper, the deals involved Israeli defense firms including Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries.
  • Haaretz said the systems included aircraft protection equipment, F-15-related components, advanced JHMCS combat helmets, night-vision goggles, spare parts and advanced aviation electronics.
  • The report said some of the equipment was supplied through subcontracting arrangements with Western companies, including Boeing, rather than through direct publicly acknowledged ties with Israel.
  • According to Haaretz, three Qatari royal aircraft were fitted with Elbit’s C-MUSIC anti-missile system during maintenance work in Basel between 2020 and 2022.
  • The newspaper said one of those aircraft was used by Qatar’s emir during a trip to Iran last year.
  • Haaretz also reported that a Saudi order linked to advanced combat helmets alone was worth around $100 million.
  • The report said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally approved deals worth more than $100 million.
  • Haaretz also claimed that intermediaries connected to circles close to Netanyahu collected commissions from some of the deals.
  • A Qatari official declined to comment on the report.
  • A Saudi official said the report was “baseless” and argued that the images published by the newspaper do not prove the claims.
  • The Saudi official also described the report as part of internal Israeli political disputes, pointing to Haaretz’s well-known critical stance toward Netanyahu’s right-wing government.
  • For now, the central claims remain attributed to Haaretz, while Saudi Arabia has issued a clear denial and Qatar has declined to comment.

What’s next?

The key question is whether Haaretz will publish additional documents to support its reporting, and whether Israeli defense firms or Western companies linked to the contracts will provide clarification.

Saudi Arabia’s denial keeps the report in a contested space, particularly because Haaretz is relying on documents, images and technical indicators, while Riyadh says those materials do not establish the existence of defense deals or arrangements with Israel.

Knowledge Base