Israeli state radio reported that the Defense Ministry nixed an
opportunity to sign a major arms deal with a former republic of the Soviet
Union, Middle East Newsline reported. The radio said the ministry sought to maintain
relations with Russia and persuade Moscow not to sell weapons to Iran and
Syria.
The country that sought the Israeli weapons was not identified. But
industry sources said the country was believed to be Kazakhstan, and that
the negotiations took place in 2006.
Former Israeli minister Roni Milo drafted the proposed arms deal with
the former Soviet republic. The radio said Milo was assisted by a former
Israeli general, who served as an adviser to the defense minister of that
former Soviet republic.
The radio said the Israeli Defense Ministry decided against the arms
deal, described as being worth "a large amount of money." The decision was
said to have been taken before Russia learned of the negotiations.
Kazakhstan has been a growing market for Israeli companies. Israeli
firms have conducted a range of infrastructure and security projects in the
Central Asian energy state.
At one point, the report said, leaders of the former Soviet republic
traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli military and defense officials. Milo
helped arrange the meetings in Israel and lobbied for the sale.
A senior Israeli source said the Defense Ministry assessed that any
weapons deal with the former Soviet republic would anger Moscow. The source
said the Israeli sale could harm relations with Russia as well as annul its
pledge not to sell offensive weapons to Iran and Syria.
