Israeli Arms Exports Soar, but Morocco Halts Purchases Amid Gaza Conflict

The nearly nine months of war in the Gaza Strip and on the border with Lebanon have not impacted Israeli arms exports. These have set new records for the third year in a row at $13 billion last year. In 2023, Israeli defense exports represented twice what they were five years ago, rising from $12.5 billion to $13 billion in a year, reports Times of Israel. But Israeli arms exports to Arab countries, particularly Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have normalized their relations with Tel Aviv, account for only 3% of arms purchases, a drop of about a quarter compared to 2022.

Last year, Israeli arms exports to Morocco fell by 24% compared to 2022. In March, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed that Morocco ranked 29th globally in terms of arms imports for the 2019-2023 period, with a 46% drop compared to the previous 2014-2018 period. Israel is the third largest exporter of arms and defense equipment to the kingdom, accounting for 11%. The United States retained the top spot with 69%. They are followed by France (14%).