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Source: http://www.inss.org.il/publication/europes-challenges-open-market-israels-arms-industry/
Europe's Challenges Open the Market for Israel's Arms Industry
(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Elai Rettig and Yotam Rosner - In 2015, Europe became the second largest destination for Israeli arms exports as the scope of European defense deals more than doubled from 2014. The surge in Israeli arms procurement is linked to a general growth in the defense budgets of European countries and comes in the wake of the rise in terrorist incidents and the problems created by the flood of refugees. A significant increase in defense expenditures has also occurred in Eastern Europe, against a backdrop of fears of Russian aggression. Broad-scale armament is currently underway in Poland, Romania, Estonia, Finland, and Hungary. Still, Israel must follow a cautious policy in authorizing defense exports, since they could have an impact on Israel's relations with Moscow. The writers are research associates at INSS.