The Financial Crimes Department at the State Attorney's Office announced Monday that it plans to press charges against 10 Israelis for illegally selling weapons to China.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
According to an official statement from the department, it has informed three companies and 10 individuals that they would be criminal charges over serious security offenses linked to the illegal sale of missiles to the Asian superpower.
The charges reportedly include security offenses, illegal sale of weapons, violating the Defense Export Control Law, money laundering, and more.
Details made available by the State Attorney's Office said that Ephraim Menashe, the owner of the Solar Sky company, which manufactures among other things cruise missiles, is believed to have brokered a deal with Chinese entities competing for a tender to provide cruise missiles to the Chinese military.
The deal was mediated by Zion Gazit and Uri Shachar, who own a security consulting firm that brings together foreign investors and Israeli tech companies.Menashe also reportedly hired Zvika and Ziv Naveh, who own Innocon, which produces UAVs for intelligence purposes.
He also enlisted several other people who worked to produce cruise missiles and all their parts to facilitate the deal, the statement said.
The Police International Crimes Unit is said to have gathered evidence supporting the assertion that the suspects produced and tested dozens of cruise missiles in Israeli territory, near residential areas, thus endangering human life, the State Attorney's Office said.
The missiles were transferred to China in a concealed transport and Menashe was paid millions of dollars, which he recorded as payments received from a foreign company.
The statement stressed that the Chinese military ended up not using the weapons.
Israeli authorities treat any violation of its defense exports law very seriously.
Defense contractors are any other company seeking to export military technology, equipment or products must apply for a special permit from the Defense Export Controls Agency at the Defense Ministry, as well as adhere to a strict list of foreign entities that constituted the potential client pool.
Agency data show that there are currently 1,600 licensed defense exporters.
The investigation first came to light in February 2020, when the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, said it was investigating 20 individuals for alleged illegal weapon exports to an unnamed Asian country.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
