Col. (res.) Dr. Hanan Shai in Media Line: Israel has historically benefited from past embargoes by shifting to local manufacturing and developing systems tailored precisely to its needs. This process, even when interrupted, has expanded Israel’s knowledge base and led to the development of additional systems that enhance its overall capabilities.
This was the case with the Israeli-manufactured Lavi fighter jet, developed after France’s post-1967 embargo, which blocked the delivery of Mirage 5 fighter-bombers to the Israeli Air Force. Concerns over future disruptions in weapons and military systems led to the project, which was later canceled due to high costs, though the expertise gained was invaluable.

Israel has gained from weapons embargos in the past. On the basis of the Lavi, Israel produced many systems that are used until today.

Published in The Media Line, September 4, 2024.