Netanyahu calls for Israel to build more of its own weapons
Al Jazeera reports the Israeli prime minister wants greater arms self-sufficiency as US-Iran tensions rise and Israeli weapons exports hit a record.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel should expand its domestic weapons-production capacity, according to Al Jazeera. The call matters because Israel remains closely tied to US military support while its own arms industry is reporting record exports.
Al Jazeera said Netanyahu expressed gratitude for US military aid but argued that Israel should pursue what he called “armaments independence.” The broadcaster reported that his remarks come amid rising tensions over a US peace agreement with Iran.
The push also comes as foreign demand for Israeli weapons grows, Al Jazeera reported. The broadcaster said Israel’s arms exports reached a record $19bn last year.
According to Al Jazeera, supporters of greater weapons self-sufficiency argue that a stronger domestic arms industry would improve Israel’s ability to stand on its own. The same report said the goal carries costs, framing the issue around whether Israel can afford any loss of support from the United States, described in the programme as its greatest ally.
Arms sales and battlefield marketing
Al Jazeera linked the export boom to Israel’s military operations, saying Israel’s decades-long occupation and what the broadcaster described as the genocide in Gaza allow Israeli companies to market weapons as “combat-proven.” That phrase is commonly used in weapons sales to suggest equipment has been tested in active conflict, though Al Jazeera did not list specific products in the programme summary.
The report did not provide details on what new production capacity Netanyahu wants Israel to build, how much it would cost, or how quickly it could reduce reliance on US supplies. It also did not say whether the proposed shift would alter existing US military assistance.
Debate over dependence on Washington
Al Jazeera presented the issue in a 28-minute programme hosted by Folly Bah Thibault. The guests were Alexandre Vautravers, identified as a security and defence policy specialist; Michael Mulroy, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defence for the Middle East; and Antony Loewenstein, author of The Palestine Laboratory.
The discussion placed Netanyahu’s comments at the intersection of Israeli security policy, US relations and the commercial growth of Israel’s defence sector. Al Jazeera’s account points to a central tension: Israel is seeking more industrial autonomy while continuing to rely on the strategic value of its US relationship.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.