The Spanish government assures that the Ministry of Defense no longer uses Pegasus.

MadridThe Ministry of Defense is prepared for the decree on the total arms embargo against Israel that will be published this Wednesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), or at least that's what Spanish government sources indicate, stating that in July, the ministry headed by Margarita Robles achieved "zero dependence" on Israeli technology. "The Ministry of Defense does not use Israeli technology today," they reiterate. This technological "disconnection" goes hand in hand with the termination of large arms contracts that include material that includes elements manufactured in Israel.

Although these sources do not comment on any specific company and, therefore, avoid naming names for security reasons—there are issues that affect the State's intelligence services—this would include a break with Pegasus, the world's best-known spyware created by the Israeli company. Government sources assure that the Ministry of Defense "has already canceled all contractual commitments, of any kind, that involve Israeli technology." "The [arms] embargo on Israel includes all technologies of Israeli origin, all of them, absolutely all of them," they reiterate.

In the State, Pegasus captured all the media spotlights, but also political ones, when Citizen Lab revealed that dozens of Catalan politicians and activists involved in the Process,Among them, former President Pere Aragonès, had been infected with this software in order to be spied on by the Spanish government. In fact, what was dubbed Catalangate is still an open case in court: this spring, the Barcelona Court charged three executives of the company NSO as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of discovering and revealing secrets. Furthermore, Paz Esteban, former director of the CNI until 2022, is expected to testify as a defendant in the same case in the coming days.

In parallel to this process of "technological disconnection [with Israel]," the Ministry of Defense has begun to look for alternatives, some of which are already being "implemented," according to the Spanish government, to replace this Israeli-branded technology. "We have reached a phase that we have called the reconversion of [technological] programs," indicate sources from the Moncloa.

This reconversion has been carried out in conjunction with Spanish companies directly, but also indirectly, linked to the defense sector, and will "guarantee" that the State's security forces "do not have any supply problems [of material]." "We are working with the industry," the same sources reiterate. In this sense, the defense industry sees the decree as an "opportunity" for these companies in the State, especially at a time when the Spanish government has opened the tap on defense spending, business sources tell ARA.

Protection against claims

An example of this disconnection is the Spike missile launchers. These incorporated Israeli technology, so the State has canceled their acquisition and is now seeking a new system. According to the Spanish government, the intention is for it to be developed in Spain, Europe, or an allied country. "For the Ministry of Defense, with the approved decree, [this contract] is no longer possible, and that is why the program has been canceled." Regarding possible claims for these disruptions, the Spanish government assures that they have not received any from the affected companies. "This disconnection plan includes reaching alternative agreements that are already being negotiated," indicate Spanish government sources, who in any case assure that "they have been legally protected."

All in all, the decree not only affects the public sphere and, therefore, any contracts that the Ministry of Defense may have, but the embargo also includes the private sector: Spanish companies, but also companies with foreign capital. For example, subsidiaries of a multinational. "The decree is very clear: any material [weapons or dual-use material] or technology originating in Israel or destined for Israel is prohibited. Therefore, it is not possible in any way for a Spanish company, or one owned by a foreign company, to use Israeli technology," Spanish government sources reiterate.