Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine) 02.09.2026
Because of the pressure of the masses in Europe who are demanding real sanctions on Israel, and even the demand for a Palestinian state from the river to the sea, Europe intensifies its criticism of Israel, but continues to purchase Israel’s weapons systems and technology:
The gap between Israel’s political relations with several European countries and the military ties it continues to maintain with Israel is widening. Even countries that escalate their rhetoric, impose sanctions, and restrict ties with Israel do not give up Israeli weapons, technology, and defense equipment.
The Spanish case is the most prominent of all. In September 2025, Spain adopted a law designed plan for a broad embargo on weapons and defense equipment on Israel, including restrictions on exports to and from Israel. Israel says that in practice, the embargo does not interfere with the Zionist arms industry, in part because the law itself allows the government to approve exceptions when it determines that the national interest requires it. ” even after the law came into effect, security deals with Spain continued to take place, including activity that is possible under the exclusion mechanism.
Spain canceled deals with Israel, and Israel is not saying that the embargo remains only on paper. Spain has halted certain procurement and projects and is working to reduce its security dependence on Israel. However, the exceptions set out in the law leave the Spanish government with the possibility of continuing security activity with Israel.
Spain is not the only one. Netherlands that is working against trade with the settlements, at the same time its Ministry of Defense continues to purchase Israeli systems.
In Finland, at a time when the public and political debate over Israel has intensifying, Helsinki quietly extended the security cooperation agreement with Israel until 2034. The agreement includes research and development and defense procurement, and it was renewed in 2024, after the war in Gaza had already begun, at the initiative of Finland and for a period of ten years – compared to five years in the previous arrangements. The Finnish Ministry of Defense did not publish the decision in real time.
In Germany, security cooperation with Israel continues to deepen at a time when Berlin is critical of its policies on issues such as E1 and the settlements. The Arrow 3 deal and its expansion have made Germany one of the main customers of the Israeli defense industry.
Greece made a huge deal with Israel on Monday, at a time when Athens is also criticizing the war in Gaza: The two countries signed the “Achilles Shield” deal worth about €3 billion – the largest defense export deal in the history of Israel-with Greece and one of the largest in Israel’s history.
In the Baltic states, there is a demand for Israeli military systems due to the growing fear of Russia.
Thus, the war in Ukraine and the Russian threat have changed the security priorities on the continent. European countries are rapidly increasing defense budgets and looking for systems that have already proven operational capability, and in some areas, there is no available European substitute for Israeli technology, since the murder of Palestinians is the laboratory for Zionist weapons.
In 2025, Israel’s defense exports reached a record $19.2 billion – a jump of almost 30% within a year and more than doubling in five years.
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