Israeli Defense Minister Denies Pegasus Spyware Used on Macron’s Phone

Benny Gantz went to Paris on Wednesday to make a few clarifications. The Israeli Defense Minister refuted the allegations that French President Emmanuel Macron had been the target of surveillance software marketed by the Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group.

During the working session he had with Florence Parly, Benny Gantz was categorical about the fact that NSO technology had not been used for a potential hacking of Macron’s or other French officials’ phones, according to Channel 13.

In a statement, the French Ministry of Defense said that "Benny Gantz noted that the State of Israel approves the export of cyber products exclusively to government entities, for lawful use and solely for the purpose of preventing and investigating crime and fighting terrorism."

Since the scandal broke out, Rabat has constantly contested its involvement in this espionage affair. For the Moroccan authorities, these allegations are "likely to destabilize the deep diplomatic relationship between Morocco and France." A few days ago, Me Olivier was commissioned by Rabat to attack Amnesty and Forbidden Stories for defamation before the Paris Criminal Court.

For its part, the NSO Group has rejected the conclusions of the controversial investigation published last week by a number of media that Morocco has also sued in Paris for defamation. For the Israeli group, these accusations are "intended to tarnish the entire Israeli cyber industry."

During their exchanges, the French Minister of the Armed Forces explained to her counterpart that there are "clarifications expected today by France and on which the trust and mutual respect between the two countries depend." On a list of 50,000 numbers considered potential targets of the Pegasus software, the phone numbers of the French president and the main members of his government appear.

A committee has been set up in Israel to examine NSO’s activities, including the process by which export licenses are granted. During his visit to Paris, Benny Gantz also exchanged with Bernard Emie, head of the French foreign intelligence service DGSE.