UAE is buying out notorious Israel arms firm Elbit Systems for $2.3 billion

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will buy Israel’s notorious arms firm Elbit Systems. The $2.3bn deal will be the second largest in Israeli history. Israel and UAE are accused of carrying out genocide in Gaza and Sudan respectively. The new deal draws them closer together than ever.

The New Arab said that French outlet Intelligence Online first confirmed UAE as the mystery buyer whose identity has been kept quiet:

Elbit, whose facilities in the UK and Europe are frequently targeted by pro-Palestinian protesters, manufactures some of Israel’s most advanced military equipment, including unmanned systems and airborne sensors.

They already have various deals in place. The buy-out is just the latest move. For instance, the UAE has also bought Elbit’s “advanced aircraft protection systems”:

These systems rely on advanced laser technology to disable the sensors of surface-to-air missiles launched at aircraft. They will be manufactured inside the UAE as part of a joint project that has received approval from the Israeli government.

It is a long-term plan. The new deal will:

be implemented over eight years and is considered the second-largest arms deal in Israeli history.

UAE and Israel are key US allies. They get a long leash and political cover from Washington. The Abraham Accords are at the centre of it all.

UAE and Elbit aligned in slaughter

The UAE signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, normalising relations with Israel. The agreement pledges the pair will:

chart together a new path to unlock the vast potential of their countries and of the region.

But there’s more.

UAE and Israeli arms industries are already intertwined. As New Arab said:

Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries both have representative offices in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has also invested in Third Eye, an Israeli company which develops anti-drone technology.

UAE backs the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. RSF atrocities have filled massed graves across the country. Yet the UK has sold UAE equipment that is now in the hands of RSF.

Israel is already on trial for genocide. In fact, Israel just lost an ICC appeal to stop its own leaders being investigated for crimes against humanity.

Israel and UAE are very alike in principle: amoral, Western-funded and backed genocidaires. Ultimately, these violent regimes seem made for each other. And it comes as no surprise that UAE would look at a firm like Elbit, a global leader in arms and repressive technologies, and think they wouldn’t mind a bit of that for themselves. Israel and the UAE are playing high-power politics.

For them, Sudanese and Gazan civilians are grist to the mill of regional and global ambition.

Featured image via the Canary