Oil, cyber and weapons: Inside Israel’s relationship with Kazakhstan – Haaretz
Posted By admin on January 11, 2022
Israeli leaders are likely looking at the unrest and power struggles in Kazakhstan with trepidation.
Although the Central Asian republic rarely enters the public discourse and ties seem so marginal that there are no direct flights between the two countries, Kazakhstan is an important source for imported oil and a lucrative market for Israeli arms. Both businesses are shrouded in secrecy but are strategically important, say experts.
Omicron is exploding in Israel. Is Israel tired of fighting? LISTEN
Israel doesnt release information on where it sources its imported oil, but the financial reports of Israels two big refiners cite the Black and Caspian seas, through which Kazakhstan and other Central Asian producers ship their petroleum to Mediterranean markets.
Gabriel Mitchell, a policy fellow at Mitvim the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, estimates that perhaps 10 to 20 percent of Israels imported oil comes from Kazakhstan, and there were times when it reached 25 percent.
If were talking about Israels relations with Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian republics, the entry point for bilateral relations has been through energy, says Mitchell, adding, Start with oil thats the only way to start.
With 30 billion barrels of oil reserves, the worlds 12th biggest, Kazakhstan is a major exporter to much of the world. As a result, the current unrest in the country where over 160 demonstrators were reportedly killed in a week of protests that marked the worst scenes since the former Soviet republic gained independence 30 years ago has sent world oil prices higher amid reports of temporary disruptions. But even if supplies are cut, Israel should be able to buy oil elsewhere, Mitchell says, given the world glut.
Arms sales to Kazakhstan are relatively small, but they are significant. Though it buys less weaponry than neighboring Azerbaijan, Kazakhstans energy wealth gives it money to spend. Israel and Kazakhstan signed a defense agreement in 2014, whose particulars have never been revealed but appear to deal mainly with weapons sales. Unlike Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan doesnt border on Iran and therefore has less strategic importance to Israel.
All of Israels big defense companies have sold products to Kazakhstans armed forces and police, including drones, precision rockets, radar systems and communications equipment. Last May, a factory and service center run by Kazakhstan Aviation Industry began producing unmanned aerial vehicles under license from Israels Elbit Systems.
Kazakhstan has also emerged as a market for cybersecurity tools most notoriously those of the NSO Group, the embattled maker of spyware technology. Last month, a forensic analysis by Amnesty Internationals Security Lab found that the cellphones of at least four activists critical of the government in Kazakhstan were found to be infected with NSO software.
Two other Israel companies, Verint Systems and Nice in the past at least have sold monitoring systems to Central Asian security agencies, including Kazakhstans.
Always problematic given Kazakhstans autocratic regime and poor record on human rights, the arms and cybersecurity sales may now put Israel in an especially embarrassing position as its technology is at risk of being used against protesters. Besides monitoring equipment, Beit Alfa Technologies, which belongs to the kibbutz of the same name, reportedly sold Kazakhstan 17 riot-control vehicles a decade ago.
Russian role
Faced with protests against a friendly regime and a violent crackdown by the Kazakh government, Jerusalem has chosen to lay low.
The only official response from Israel since the unrest exploded was a neutral statement from the Foreign Ministry issued last Friday, saying it was look[ing] forward to the restoration of stability and calm in Kazakhstan soon.
Israel is engaged in a difficult balancing act in Central Asia, where it is trying to square its national security and economic interests with the complicated politics of the region, Mitchell says. Russias presence adds another complication.
Kazakhstan has traditionally sought to play off Russia, China and the United States against each other. But some observers warn that Russias central role in sending in peacekeeping troops to Kazakhstan last week, under the banner of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, may begin a new era in which Kazakhstan is more tightly bound to Moscow.
Mitchell believes Israel would look askance at such a development. While Israel has a relationship with Russia, Israel doesnt see Russia as a partner. The partnership between Russia and Israel is only circumstantial, based on common interests, he says. From a geographical perspective, if Russia makes a move into a space, its not in Israels interest. That can be said about Kazakhstan as well.
But Alex Melikishvili, a principal country risk analyst for Central Asia at IHS Markit, thinks Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev aims to keep Russia at arms length. Kazakhstan has always been firmly anchored in the Russian sphere of influence, he says. But this superficial deployment of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is just that extremely superficial.
Despite the harsh crackdown he ordered against protests, Tokayev may be looking at the unrest as a wake-up call for liberalizing the regime. This is a chance for President Tokayev to introduce much-needed political reforms, Melikishvili says. If there is no liberalization of the political system, we will witness more devastating and organized political unrest with far-reaching consequences, he adds.
Kevjn Lim, IHS Markits Middle East principal country risk analyst, says that, diplomatically speaking, Kazakhstan needs Israel less than in the past. In the 1990s, Israel played an important role for the newly independent countrys efforts to establish itself in the world community due to Jerusalems strong ties with the United States and the perceived power of the Jewish lobby and business.
For Israel, on the other hand, the Abraham Accords may have eclipsed Central Asia in media prominence and salience as Israeli-friendly Muslim countries, but certainly not in intrinsic strategic importance, Kim argues. Kazakhstan and especially Azerbaijan remain the twin anchors of Israeli engagement within the former Soviet Unions Muslim space, he says.
Dashed expectations help explain why Israel has never developed broader commercial ties with Kazakhstan.
In the years after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992, many Israeli businessmen most notably Shaul Eisenberg through the Israel Corp. hunted for deals, only to meet with corruption and limited opportunities.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstans early ambitions to diversify away from oil, in which Israel could have played a part by deploying agricultural and other technologies, largely failed. According to International Monetary Fund figures, two-way trade between the countries was about $370 million last year, down from $1.6 billion in 2014, with the lions share of that presumably oil.
Daniel Tartakovski, executive director of the Kazakhstani-Israeli Business Association, estimates there are about 140 companies involving Israelis registered in Kazakhstan, engaged mainly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy and construction. He puts Israeli investment in the country at some $220 million.
Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the market was not saturated and therefore the 1990s were a good time for quick business, fast deals with good and comparatively easy high-yield earnings, Tartakovski states in an email. Today, Kazakhstan is an established competitive market that requires long-term investment, heavy local presence and hard day-to-day work for those willing to be successful.
Here is the original post:
Oil, cyber and weapons: Inside Israel's relationship with Kazakhstan - Haaretz
- RIL seeks permission to fly in Israeli experts for training and installation - Mint [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Israel's Version of Moving Fast and Breaking Things: The New Cybersecurity Bill - Lawfare [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Intel to invest $600 mln to expand chip, Mobileye R&D in Israel - Reuters [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Israel's ban on travel to 7 countries over COVID variants takes effect - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Israel may toss millions of vaccines. Why won't it give them to the PA instead? - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Most of Israel Is Getting Back to Pre-Covid-19 Life. Not This Town. - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Netanyahu Opponent, Yair Lapid, Given 4 Weeks To Form New Government In Israel - NPR [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2021]
- Opinion | For the Sake of Peace, Israel Must Rout Hamas - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- GOP resolution backs Israel's 'right to defend itself,' omits call for cease-fire - Fox News [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- In pictures: Fire and thunder fill the night sky as Israels Iron Dome is tested. - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israeli TV reporters face attacks and threats from Jewish extremists - The Guardian [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- As Hamas Rockets Rain on Israel, Iron Dome Proves It Can Withstand the Barrages - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Biden, the Democrats and Israel - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israels highly effective Iron Dome gets heavy funding by US, Biden urged to review assistance - Fox News [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Opinion | The Unshakable Bonds of Friendship With Israel Are Shaking - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israel's Iron Dome has blocked thousands of incoming rockets. Here's how it works. - CBS News [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israel and Hamas May Reach Cease-Fire Soon, Officials Say - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israel-Hamas Conflict: Live Updates - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Opinion | Bernie Sanders: The Approach the Israel-Palestine ... [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- History of Israel - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2021]
- Israel is the Jewish people's ancient home. We will always defend ourselves from Hamas. - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Muslim nations ask UN to form unprecedented permanent panel to critique Israel - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- The Indian Left selectively raged against Israel even as Turkey bombed its way into the annals of a barbaric h - Economic Times [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- IDF: Nasrallah tried to threaten Israel, looked weak and sick instead - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- First foreign tourists in more than a year land in Israel - Reuters [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- The Costly Success of Israels Iron Dome - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Israel coalition talks: Lapid and Gideon Sa'ar resume negotiations halted during Gaza fighting - Haaretz [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- More Than 30 Dead in Gaza and Israel as Fighting Quickly Escalates - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Israel spied on Mizrahi Jews, then tried to hide it - Haaretz [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Opinion | The Discrimination Palestinian Citizens of Israel Face - The New York Times [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Israeli illustrators commemorate the child victims of the Gaza war - Haaretz [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2021]
- Israel Has Become The 1st Country To Ban The Sale Of Most Fur Clothing - NPR [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2021]
- Israeli Aircraft Bomb Gaza Just Days Into New Government - The New York Times [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2021]
- Israel: Netanyahu alleges election fraud as political ... [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2021]
- Israelis march in east Jerusalem in test for new government [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2021]
- Lab-grown chicken for humans and pets in Israel - Livemint [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Release the transcripts of Israel's COVID cabinet meetings - Haaretz [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- How Israel's missing constitution deepens divisions between Jews and with Arabs - The Conversation US [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Dreams in the Rubble: An Israeli Airstrike and the 22 Lives Lost - The New York Times [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Israel Strikes Militant Targets in Gaza After More Arson ... [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Demographics of Israel - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Israel - Facts, History & Conflicts - HISTORY [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Israel | Facts, History, Population, & Map | Britannica [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- Israel - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- This Israeli dropout is on the front lines against Iran - Haaretz [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2021]
- Israel says the Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, representing as many as 50% of new cases. But they're less severe. - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2021]
- Israel Is Sending Robots With Machine Guns to the Gaza Border - Daily Beast [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2021]
- Israels new government agrees on only one thing: Booting Netanyahu - Brookings Institution [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2021]
- Israel's 'first lesbians.' It hurts when you're all alone in the world - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- What's ahead for Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya and every other UFC champion - ESPN [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- For 20 years he was one of Israel's only paparazzi. Then the iPhone was invented - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Don't Call What Israel is Doing Apartheid | Opinion - Harvard Crimson [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Inaugurating embassy in UAE, Israel tells region: 'We're here to stay' - Reuters [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Million Pfizer jabs face being dumped after Israel-UK swap deal fails - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Demolitions begin in occupied East Jerusalems Silwan - Al Jazeera English [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Three Middle East countries led the world on vaccines early. Then they went in different directions - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Protecting Israels Arabs has become a matter of coalition talks - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- Scientists have revived extinct Israeli wheat strains. Now comes the taste test - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- 19-year-old shot dead in Nazareth is 42nd Arab victim of gun violence in Israel this year - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2021]
- New Israeli GPS nano-drug busts inflammation, touted as antibody replacement - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- In Israel, its not just rabbis who dont know math and science - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- Israel's wealth fund delayed again as tax revenue still short - Reuters [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- Are Israel's new ministers trying to show they hate Arabs more than the far right? - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- Reporting on Israel: Thirty years on, we are still covering the same old enmities - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- Israel to vote on renewing law that keeps out Palestinian spouses - Al Jazeera English [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2021]
- The story of Israels first trans woman, who resorted to operating on herself - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2021]
- New national security adviser said to have seen Iran nuke deal as lesser evil - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2021]
- Boulders host Team Israel in long-awaited exhibition baseball game before Olympics - The Journal News [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2021]
- Israeli businessman charged with contacting foreign agent, passing info to Iran - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2021]
- Israel to withhold $180 million in Palestinian funds over militant stipends - Reuters [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2021]
- More than 1,000 Israelis test positive for COVID - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israeli baseball team plays exhibition game in Aberdeen before leaving for Tokyo - WBAL TV Baltimore [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israel is offering a third Pfizer shot amid spiking cases, even as the U.S. says it's not yet needed - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Where Are the Fans for Israels National Baseball Team? In New York. - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israels psychological torture of Palestinian prisoners and their families - Haaretz [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israels Surprising Consensus on the Palestinian Issue - The Wall Street Journal [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israel plans to tax disposable plastic in bid to reduce use - Associated Press [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israels PM is playing with fire on the Temple Mount - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Ben & Jerry's Says It Will Stop Ice Cream Sales In Occupied Territories - NPR [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2021]
- Israel Orders Its Diplomats to Feud With Ben & Jerry's - The Daily Beast [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2021]
Comments