NATO suspends Israeli company from procurement over suspected corruption

BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (YPA) – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has decided to suspend ‘Elbit Systems’, one of Israel’s largest defense contractors, from all new procurement processes.

This decision comes amid ongoing investigations into suspected corruption involving the company, which includes potential illegal practices used to secure contracts.

Sources within the NATO confirmed the exclusion, which followed an earlier joint journalistic investigation by media outlets such as Follow the Money, La Lettre, Knack, and Le Soir. The investigation found that Elbit may have been involved in illicit dealings to win bids.

The decision to exclude Elbit was initially taken last summer following the uncovering of corruption suspicions and arrests made in May. At that time, Belgian prosecutors stated that employees of NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency allegedly passed confidential information to the Israeli arms manufacturer.

Furthermore, prosecutors indicated there was evidence suggesting that money from these unlawful transactions was subsequently laundered through the establishment of consulting firms.

(It should be noted that Hebrew media reported in September that the Israeli company won a $120 million contract to supply long-range maritime patrol drones to an international client, independent of the NATO context).

YPA