The Spanish government has decided to cancel the purchase of more than 15 million bullets from the Israeli manufacturer, represented in Spain by the arms, since it had committed not to sell or acquire Israeli weapons due to the war offensive in Gaza, which has already caused more than 51,350 dead.
The ‘Official State Gazette’ (BOE) published Thursday -for more than 6 million euros; After the award on October 21. , dependent on both the Ministry of Interior and the Defense, has caused an internal crisis in the government, since the investment partner adds has always been contrary to financing the Israeli war industry, something already agreed at the end of the year with the PSOE.
Hours after advertising, after a confrontation unleashed within the coalition government with adding an immediate rectification, the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has asked the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to terminate the operation.
What was the purchase agreement?
According to the announcement for the formalization of contracts published Thursday in the BOE, the object was the 9 mm ammunition supply for various Civil Guard units. Specifically, 9×19 mm PB cartridge, 9x19mm no tox cartridge and semi -librated 9×19 mm cartridge. No tox cartridges refers to ammunition cartridges that, after being triggered, do not release toxic or dangerous substances to the environment or the shooter. This means that cartridges do not contain elements such as lead, barium, mercury or antimony, or that they have been designed to minimize their release during combustion. The born cartridge is the one that meets the standards of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). These cartridges are designed to be compatible with firearms in NATO member countries and are used as a standard ammunition in many military forces around the world.
What do we know of the IMI Systems armament and its Guardian Defense & Homeland Security representative?
IMI System, until 2018 Public Israeli company, was then acquired by the Elbit Systems military technology giant: based in Israel, some 20,000 workers in tens of countries and income of about 1.7 billion dollars in 2024, according to its website. Elbit Systems is also the main supplier of land and drone teams to the Israeli army, many used in the current war offensive in Gaza. According to the adjudication sheet, IMI System is considered an SME.
Why was the contract awarded to this company?
Judging by the contest conditions, the price factor was decisive for your choice. According to the conditions that appear in the BOE, the award criteria were based on the price, since on the weighting of its 75% of the valuation corresponded to this factor and only 25% to the technical offer or differentiated quality of the products.
Could the award be legally appealed?
Yes. According to the usual contracting conditions there is a period of submission of resources in application of article 44 of Law 9/2017, of November 8.
Can the government suspend a contract already awarded according to the BOE?
Yes. A claim process is now opened by the affected Israeli company, probably in international legal organizations and long resolution deadlines. The Government can defend that the prominence of this company around Gaza’s War is sufficient cause to suspend a adjudication process.
What relationship does Imi Systems and its owner have with the Gaza War?
The Elbit Systems weapons used against Palestinians includes attack and surveillance drones Hermes 900 and Hermes 450, 120 mm ‘Iron Sting’ mortar guided by GPS, mortar ammunition, guided artillery rockets and technologies implemented to Merkava Mark 4, the main battle tank used by the Israeli army artificial. In the Catalog of Products of Guardian Defense, representative of IMI System in Spain, the light, heavy ammunition bullets, artillery rockets and spectral flares appear in drawings and designs. The catalog confirms that IMI systems systems “are continually subjected to combat evidence in the most extreme and hard conditions where the Israeli army and other NATO armies”; in allusion to the occupied Palestinian territories and other sovereign countries such as Lebanon or Syria where Israel operates. Its directors and founders, Ariel Mazouz and Ilan Arzooan, are special Israeli intelligence exagents, while the retired general Yom Tov Samia -who led the South Command in charge of military operations in the Gaza Strip until 2003 -, acts as president.
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