Israel Looks to Boost Global Defense Exports by Easing Restrictions

Defense News reports: TEL AVIV – The Israeli Defense Ministry celebrated a decade since establishment of an export control agency with a spectrum of sweeteners for exporters who play by the rules.

Details of the proposed carrot and stick policy revamp, coordinated with Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Commerce and tax authorities, will be presented soon to Israel’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

But highlights of what MoD is flagging as a “comprehensive reform” were shared at a conference Sept. 5 with hundreds of industry executives, security and trade officials and visiting US Pentagon and State Department representatives, sources here said.

In an announcement based on a conference address by Dubi Lavi, MoD’s director of the Defense Exports Control Agency (DECA) that was established at US insistence, MoD outlined changes aimed at easing restrictions governing the marketing of non-classified products and services.

In exchange for tighter enforcement and tougher penalties for export licensing violations, Lavi said the proposed revamp aims to:

— Expand exemptions for marketing permits for unclassified products to the US;

— Update Israel’s controllable munitions list;