On Monday, 2 Elul, the Defense Exports Control Agency (DECA) at Israel’s Ministry of Defense marks its 10th anniversary with a celebratory conference attended by Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, Defense Ministry Director-General Major-General (res) Udi Adam, top members of the defense establishment and hundreds of defense industries.

DECA was established on July 2, 2006, in order to implement Israeli policy and security interests, and to prevent the leaking of technologies, information and defense equipment. Over the past two years, on the heels of a decade’s worth of experience, DECA formulated a comprehensive reform of its capabilities, centered on organizational changes, electronic accessibility, and a benefits package to exporters.

In his speech at the conference, DECA Director Mr. Dubi Lavi revealed the following:

· Expanded exemption for marketing permits for unclassified products to the United States

· Exemptions for temporary export licenses for participation in exhibitions

· Reforms in the field of counter-terrorism marketing licenses- at the center of which is an exemption from a marketing license for a list of products to exempted countries.

· Expanded exemptions for marketing licenses through an intermediary- an exporter with a valid license will not need to request an additional license for international intermediaries from exempted countries.

· General marketing license to 98 exempt countries- exporters requesting marketing licenses for unclassified products for an exempt country will receive a general license for all 98 countries (or some of them)

· Online submission of export license applications through the Ministry of Defense’s ECOM exporters website

· Extended validity of marketing licenses from three, to four years

· Updated Israeli munitions list

Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman told defense exporters: “Defense exports play an important part in the IDF’s strength as well as the economic strength of the State of Israel. Nationally, the defense industries provide thousands of jobs. Internationally, defense exports add value to strengthen the bilateral relationships of Israel with countries around the world. The establishment of DECA and its success are closely tied to the deep friendship between Israel and the United States since the establishment of the state until today. Despite the natural differences of opinions between friends, the friendship between the two countries is strong and stable, based on mutual trust and a strong strategic partnership. I saw and felt throughout my years in politics but especially during my years as Minister of Foreign Affairs and today, as Minister of Defense.”

Ministry of Defense Director-General Udi Adam welcomed the conference’s hundreds of participants and DECA staff, saying: “We are in a trend of relief in favor of the industry and exporter, together with increased enforcement and not compromise. The parameters that stand before our eyes at each point in time are the security of the state of Israel and protecting our relationships with our partners, the defense industries as an economic lever- as a center of excellence for research and development and a source of livelihood for tens and hundreds of thousands of Israeli households, and how the public can meet them. We will continue to facilitate the proper responsibility alongside increased enforcement. I expect from the manufacturers to find a collective responsibility and avoid destructive competition.”

DECA Director, Mr. Dubi Lavi: “In its first ten years, DECA has issued hundreds of thousands of licenses to Israeli defense exporters, helped to promote defense exports from Israel, and, perhaps primarily, prevented the leaking of technology, retained the strategic advantages of the Israeli defense establishment and the interests of our major partners. Thanks to our extensive experience over the past ten years, today, we know better where to invest monitoring efforts. The rest are significantly easy to simultaneously tighten the enforcement and penalties on violators.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)