Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel is bracing for an expanded security market in Europe.

Industry sources said the Israeli government and industry were intensifying talks with European Union states in efforts to stop attacks by Al Qaida and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

The sources said the dialogue with individual EU members included sales of weapons, advanced reconnaissance and counter-insurgency training.

“The feeling in Europe is that Brussels will not provide operational help,” a senior industry source said. “So, it’s every country for itself.”

The sources have already reported sales of security equipment to such countries as Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Spain. They said the Al Qaida attack on a French magazine in Paris in January 2015 would accelerate procurement.

“I can’t elaborate here, but Israeli products have already been sold to counter-terrorism agencies abroad and to foreign police forces, in Europe too,” Itamar Graff, a senior Israeli Defense Ministry official, said.

In an interview with the Israeli news agency Ynet, Graff, who works for the Defense Ministry’s export agency, said EU states were preparing budgets for additional procurement. The official said Israel could help EU security agencies in dealing with the so-called “lone terrorist.”

“Israel has a lot of know-how when it comes to early detection and coping with a terrorist incident,” Graff said.

Israel has sought to expand its homeland security market in wake of Al Qaida’s suicide air attacks in the United States in 2001. The sources said homeland security, with such products as mini-assault rifles, door-busters, X-ray cameras, consisted of less than 10 percent of Israel’s defense exports of $6.5 billion in 2013.

The sources said the European market would require Israeli companies to work with a partner in each country. They said many Israeli companies have reached agreements for joint ventures and marketing in at least six EU states.

“There is a lot of potential in homeland security, including the defense of airports, trains and ports,” Graff said. “Over the coming years, Europe is expected to spend some $50 billion on procurement in this field. And although most of the money will remain on the continent, there are enough niches for Israeli companies to link up with.”

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