
ISRAEL - 8th Largest Weapons Exporter
Israel accounts for 1.9% of global arms imports, with the United States being its largest supplier, providing 66% of its imports. Germany follows with 33%, and Italy accounts for 1%. A report by the U.S. State Department in January highlighted an $18.8 billion deal for F-15 aircraft as part of U.S. arms exports to Israel in 2024.
On the import side, Ukraine emerged as the world’s largest arms importer during the period, with its imports increasing nearly 100-fold compared to the previous period.
The United States was Ukraine’s primary supplier, providing 45% of its imported weapons—a trend that may change in the next reporting period, depending on the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump toward Ukraine.
Germany (12%) and Poland (11%) are also key suppliers to Ukraine. Ukraine is the only European nation among the top 10 arms importers, though many other European countries have significantly increased their arms purchases. Arms imports by European NATO members more than doubled during the period. The U.S. was the largest supplier, followed by France, South Korea, Germany, and Israel.
-www.ynetnews.com, 10 March 2025
Arno's Commentary
When we analyze the fact that the Jewish population globally stands at 15.7 million—approximately 0.2% of world population—then the statement, “Israel is the eighth largest weapons exporter in the world,” is nothing short of mind-boggling. This little nation, with approximately 7+ million Jews, continues to supply fantastic statistics when it comes to weapons of war.
The reason? Since the declaration of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, Israel has had to defend itself against hostile neighbors continuously.
We recall that it was the Soviet Union who not only comprised the bulk of Jewish immigrants to Israel, but also were largely responsible for supplying Israel’s weapons.
Later, it was France who favored Israel with their military weapons, particularly their Mirage jet fighters, which won the Six-Day War.
From 1973, the overwhelming support for weapons of war came from the United States. That is still the case today.
The capital city of Israel is Jerusalem. Regarding that city, Wikipedia states: “Why is Jerusalem called the city of peace? The original name for Jerusalem was Shalem, meaning whole or complete, the root of the word shalom, which means peace. Shem, son of Noah, gave it this name. Having survived the trauma of the great Biblical flood, he had found personal peace and tranquility there.”
But today, Jerusalem is the city of controversy. There are innumerable reasons given as to why, yet Zechariah 12:2 answers: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.” Something is going on in the invisible world, which the media is incapable of identifying, but the Bible does. It is the inseparable, unalterable fact that Jerusalem, the Jews, and the land of Israel present one entity: Eretz Israel, the territory promised to Abraham by God in an unconditional covenant.
Rightly so, the Friends of Israel Ministry states, “Jerusalem is the heart of the problem. Although it has not yet been addressed in the current peace talks, it most assuredly will be in the days that lie ahead. The future of Jerusalem is the bottom-line issue between Israel and the Arab nations.” And, we add, not only the Arab nations, but also the whole world. Jerusalem is God’s chosen city. Revelation 21:2 declares the future: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”