The scope of the deal is estimated at approximately $3.1 billion and is expected to complete the sales contract that Israel and Germany signed about two years ago, valued at approximately $3.6 billion. The two deals together are estimated at approximately $6.7 billion (over 20 billion shekels), Israel's largest-ever defense export deal.

Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram said, "The Arrow deal expansion is another significant milestone in the deepening strategic relations between Israel and Germany, our central partner in Europe. The massive deal, valued at over $3 billion, embodies, in practical terms, the Defense Ministry's strategy to increase defense exports. The deal will strengthen Israel's position in the world as a defense superpower, will expand and accelerate Arrow production for the IDF as well, and will channel billions into strengthening the defense industries and developing the next generations of defense systems."

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is holding up the transfer of a nearly $1.7 billion budget for the procurement of ammunition and combat equipment urgently needed by the Israeli military and security forces amid the current fighting, Israel Hayom has learned.

Half of the delayed budget is earmarked for the purchase of air munitions for aircraft operating nonstop since the war began, while another half is for Iron Dome interceptor missiles and additional funds for other systems.

The procurements involve Israeli-made munitions from domestic defense industries like Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael. As commercial companies, they require payment upfront to order raw materials and begin production, as they cannot fund the military until the budget is approved.

A committee that could influence the military's structure

The $1.7 billion Smotrich is withholding comes from a $45 billion annual defense budget already passed for this year's war operations. However, despite the approval, the Finance Ministry is delaying the full appropriation to pressure the security establishment into establishing a public committee to examine the defense budget.

Citing various considerations, some of which are allegedly politically motivated, Smotrich is demanding a public committee composed of security and economic experts to review the defense budget. However, he wants the committee not only to examine the budget but to have a mandate to make decisions that would impact the military's structure.

Previously, Israel Hayom reported that Smotrich was also delaying a decision on purchasing US fighter jet squadrons, even though the funding comes from American military aid paid directly to American companies. In Smotrich's view, the security establishment failed on October 7, so it is appropriate for an external body to scrutinize matters. The security forces counter that the military and Defense Ministry have always determined their work plans, approved by elected officials, arguing the Finance Ministry cannot dictate how many brigades the military maintains or which aircraft the air force acquires.

Since the war's outbreak, and more intensely in recent months, Israel has effectively faced an arms embargo, with few countries willing to sell it combat equipment. Therefore, the security forces rely primarily on the United States and domestic production.

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Israel on Sunday declassified a sizable cache of documents and images from the 1973 Yom Kippur War, a conflict whose 50th anniversary falls later this year. Some of the revelations offer insight into intelligence failings that made the conflict one of the most painful episodes in the state's history.

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The comprehensive new site, created by the Defense Ministry, features some 15,000 photos, 6,000 documents, 215 films, 170 maps and 40 tape recordings.

The attack on the Israeli-held Golan Heights and Sinai peninsula by the Syrian and Egyptian militaries on October 6, 1973, famously came as a nasty surprise to Israel's top intelligence and military brass. The entire state apparatus was seized with a nearly fatal complacency that ended the glittering political careers of Prime Minister Golda Meir and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan. Israel neutralized the two invading forces after nearly three weeks, at great cost.

The ministry said in a statement that the site "was established to tell the story of a generation, to immortalize the bravery of the fighters, and offer an official platform for passing down the war's legacy to future generations."

One of the documents featured on the website is an infamous intelligence file marked with the serial number 433. Circulated an hour and a half before the war's outbreak, it said that intelligence had "recognized signals" that Egypt and Syria were planning "to a initiate war in the near future."

Fatally, the authors refused to credit the possibility that a decision to launch the war had already been made, writing that Egypt and Syria were "aware that there is no chance of succeeding in a war." The newly opened archives show that hours before this misleading brief was fired off military intelligence received concrete warnings that the invasion was impending.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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The Defense Ministry together with Israel Aerospace Industries on Wednesday successfully launched the Ofek 13 satellite into space, the ministry's statement said.

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Ofek 13 is an observation satellite with advanced capabilities. Once it enters the orbit, it will undergo a "series of tests to ensure its propriety and performance levels," the ministry said.

"The IMoD Space and Satellite Administration in the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) successfully launched the Ofek 13 satellite into space at 02:10 IST today [Wednesday]. The launch took place at a test site in central Israel using a Shavit launcher," the statement said.

The IMoD Space and Satellite Administration has led the development and production of the satellite and its launcher. The IDF's 9900 Intelligence Unit and the Israeli Air Force also participated in the development process. The launch engines were developed by Rafael Advanced Systems and Tomer, a government-owned company, the defense ministry statement added.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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The groundbreaking tests involved the successful interception of unmanned aerial vehicles, mortars, rockets anti-tank missiles in a variety of simulated scenarios. 

The announcement puts Israel as the leader of the pack when it comes to the development of precise laser interceptors, which are considered less costly and easier to operate. in comparison with traditional methods. The system was developed under the auspices f the Defense Ministry and by Rafael Advanced Defense System and Elbit Sytems 

"A month ago we announced a major decision when we made a massive order for the development of this system, and today this big step becomes an accomplishment that is on a global scale," Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, calling it a "victory for Israeli innovation." He said the ministry will make sure it gets deployed as soon as possible so that it could complement the other interceptors Israel has at its disposal and improve the defense against rockets and missiles. 

Brig.-Gen. Yaniv Rotem, who heads the research and development unit at the ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development said this was a "game-changing" system. "The completion of these tests in this high-capacity laser shows that we are realizing the technological vision in energy warfare. For the first time, we managed to intercept a variety of threats from mortar shells, rockets and UAVs in challenging ranges and periods."

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz has signed a seizure order for tens of thousands of shekels in cryptocurrency from 12 digital accounts in violation of terror financing laws, the Defense Ministry announced on Monday.

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According to the ministry, this is the third seizure of cryptocurrency so far this year.

Some 30 of the digital wallets seized belonged to businesses that assisted the Al Mutahadun currency-exchange company, owned by the Shamlach family from the Gaza Strip. Al Mutahadun is one of two companies designated in 2021 as terrorist organizations on the recommendation of the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) for their role in funneling funds to Hamas.

The Shamlach family's companies facilitate the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year from Iran to Hamas, the Defense Ministry said, adding that some of the seized cryptocurrency belongs to the Shamlach family.

The seizure was a joint operation of the NBCTF, the national cyber unit of the Israel Police's Lahav 433 and the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the ministry said.

"We continue to expand the tools to cope with terror and the companies that support it," said Gantz.

"We are taking all the possible measures to cut off the economic 'oxygen supply' to terror organizations," he added.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Over 3,000 Gaza residents who entered Israel with permits since 2016 failed to return to the strip, data requested by the right-wing watchdog group Im Tirtzu from the Defense Ministry for the purpose of transparency reveals.

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The defense establishment knows that 3,291 Palestinians continue to stay in Israel illegally, but authorities – the Defense Ministry's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Shin Bet security agency, or the Israel Police – have failed to monitor them and return them to the Gaza Strip.

As per the current procedure, entry permits into Israel are issued by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories following a background check by the Shin Bet, but this is where their responsibility ends.

"There are no instructions or procedures regarding the enforcement and supervision of Palestinians who violate the permit granted to them," a Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories official said in response to Im Tirtzu's request.

According to Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories data, between 2018 and 2020, 5,130,641 entry permits were approved for residents of Judea and Samaria and 105,910 for Gazans.

Of those 86,133 and 2,884 from Judea and Samaria and Gaza respectively were for the purpose of "visiting a prisoner."

No numbers were presented for 2021, however, in November, the government approved thousands of slots for Palestinian workers in Israel's high-tech field.

The pilot program will be split up into three separate phases, within the framework of which hundreds of permits will be issued: Up to 200 Palestinian workers will receive permits by 2022, followed by another 200 in 2023, and another 100 permits in 2024. In total, Israel will issue 500 such permits in the pilot stage.

Alon Schwartzer, who heads Im Tirtzu's research and policy division, said with regard to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories data, "For several years we have warned of the lack of an orderly procedure that would monitor the return of Judea and Samaria and Gaza residents with entry permits, and the fact that thousands of Gazans remained in Israel is proof that the State of Israel has failed the test.

"We will not allow the Israeli government to provide those who may be a security threat with one-way tickets to Israel. This is a complete gamble with the lives of Israeli citizens, and we call on the Israeli government to act immediately to change the existing procedure," he said.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a statement, "The number mentioned in your article refers to all Gaza residents who left from 2016 until today, and did not return to the Gaza Strip. We would like to stress that this is 1% of the total permits granted during this period to Gaza residents for various purposes – including travel abroad and to receive medical treatment in Judea and Samaria.

"The unit for coordinating government activities in the territories constantly works with other security bodies in the State of Israel, who are in charge of law enforcement in the country," it said.

The Israel Police was not available for comment.

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Right-wing lawmakers expressed outrage Tuesday after the Defense Ministry allowed the Palestinian Authority to register 1,200 undocumented Palestinians living in the West Bank as residents. The move comes after a recent meeting between PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

The 1,200 individuals will now be able to receive Palestinian passports. In addition, another 2,800 residents – who moved to the West Bank from the Gaza Strip before Hamas took over in 2007 – will be able to change their addresses.

Under the Oslo Accords, the Israeli government must approve permanent residency requests for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and any change in the Palestinian population registry, including change of residence.

The ministry stressed that all applications were approved on humanitarian grounds and that each applicant was thoroughly vetted. It further stressed that every applicant had been residing in the West Bank for an extended period of time.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak approved 35,000 such applications during his time in office. The move sparked outrage among right-wing circles, with some saying this was tantamount to granting the Palestinians a
"right of return."

The latest move drew the ire of Knesset members as well.

"Gantz's gesture to the Palestinians only confirms my claim that he is adhering to extreme left-wing voices," Likud MK Miki Zohar tweeted. "Abbas is satisfied, but what about Israelis?"

Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich said: " This government is irresponsible and puts the future of the State of Israel at risk."

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Canadian venture capital firm Awz Ventures is looking to invest in Israeli startups developing innovative security technologies. To that end, it has teamed up with the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT) and other Israeli security agencies to open an investment and accelerator hub in Tel Aviv.

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Awz X-Seed I closed last week, raising more than $75 million – oversubscribed from its target of $50 million – and has already identified 10 potential investment opportunities in cloud security, quantum, aerospace, deep tech, robotics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Every 18 months, Awz Ventures plans to raise a subsequent $75 million to invest in its next cohort of 15 companies.

The firm will invest an average of $3-5 million in each portfolio company. Additionally, the best-performing startups will be considered for follow-on investment rounds by Awz Ventures' growth-stage funds, alongside third-party investors.

"Awz Ventures' unique strategic partnership with MAFAT and Israel's other security agencies will allow our hub to have the most advanced deal flow that stems from the real recognized needs within the security industry that also have multiple applications within the commercial sector," said Founder of Awz Ventures Yaron Ashkenazi. He is also a former officer in Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper serves as the company's advisory committee president.

"I am proud to be an advisor in residence at the Awz X-Seed hub, a ground-breaking and differentiated initiative. Together, Awz and MAFAT will uniquely evaluate and develop early-stage technologies, creating a model that is unmatched anywhere," he said.

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It is the first of five cargo flights set to land in Israel over the next few days.

The first shipment contained around 12 million protective masks and medical gear purchased by Israel from Sion Medical – an Israeli manufacturer, distributor and supplier of surgical dressings, medical textiles, ointments, disposable products, and sterile solutions for hospitals. 

The manufacturer has factories in China. The medical equipment is in addition to the 10 million masks purchased last week.

This article was originally published by i24NEWS

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