The recent rise in tensions with Iraq and concern of a missile attack on Israel have made procurement of the kits necessary.
Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” reports that a serious diplomatic crisis has erupted between Israel and Finland. Finland adamantly refuses to sell Israel chemical warfare detection kits that are considered the best in the world.
The computerized kits can accurately identify chemical warfare materials. The Ministry of Defense wanted to equip IDF Homefront Command units with the kits, in light of the rising tensions with Iraq and concern of a missile attack on Israel. While Israeli companies manufacture similar detection kits, the Finnish ones are considered the best in the world.
The Finnish government forbade the manufacturer to sell the kits to Israel, claiming EU instructions forbidding the export of dual-use equipment to countries in conflict. As a result of the Finnish refusal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Helsinki officially contacted senior Finnish government officials to reverse the decision. Minister of Foreign Affairs Shimon Peres recently raised the issue with the Finnish prime minister.
Israel told Finland that it takes a serious view of the decision, and it considers the decision to be a political decision that will affect the fabric of bilateral relations. Foreign Ministry officials said the Finnish decision was disgraceful.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 28, 2002