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Israel and the Czech Republic keep close economic, diplomatic and security relations. Israel exported to the Czech Republic between 2009-2019 missiles, drones, and reconnaissance systems including upgrades of missile protection systems and combat jets[1]. In 2017 the Czech Republic announced they plan to spend some $7.1 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the country’s armed forces.[2] In 2019 Israel and the Czech Republic made a $125m-deal for the supply of eight “Iron Dome” radars.
Diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Israel were renewed after the Velvet Revolution of 1989.[3] The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 3 honorary consulates (Haifa, Jerusalem, Ramat Gan). Israel has an embassy in Prague. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.[4]
Israel is the Czech Republic’s sixth largest export market outside of the EU, and since 1993 trade between the two countries has risen almost consistently crossing the $1 billion mark in imports to Israel in 2017.[5] [6] In 2010 the Israel-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce was established.[7]
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Czech Republic in 2011 and 2013. Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka visited Israel in 2014. Netanyahu and Sobotka signed joint declerations in fields of international affairs, defense, bilateral trade investment, finance, economic cooperation, research & development, cybersecurity and technological research. [8] In 2016 another meeting of the two prime ministers was held while Sobotka attended Czech-Israeli Intergovernmental Consultations on Trade, Security and Research & Development in Jerusalem. [9] [10]
Israel-Czech government summits took place in Prague and Jerusalem in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2017 during a meeting with leaders of central European countries in Budapest, Netanyahu urged the leaders of Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland to close their borders to refugees from Africa and the Arab world and to renew the EU-Israel Association Agreement and expand European connection with Israeli Innovation. [11] Netanyahu also expressed clear backing for the support of border fences to guard the four countries from the entrance of refugees from the Middle East.[12]
In 2009, Czech and Israeli defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim to strengthen the cooperation of defense forces. The document has created a framework for sharing security information, cooperation in research projects in armament and training of both militaries in the other country’s territory.[13]
Israel exported to the Czech Republic between 2009-2019 missiles, drones, and Reconnaissance systems including upgrades of missile protection systems and combat jets.[14]
In 2014 ELTA, a subsidiary of IAI, signed an agreement for joint development and production of radar and other systems with the Czech company RETIA.[15]
In 2016 Czech and Israeli ministries of defense established joint working groups aimed at discussing and preparing joint projects in areas of defense industry and the teaming of scientists, arms companies and militaries in joint collaborations. A Memorandum of Understanding between National Security Authority of the Czech Republic and the Israeli National Cyber Security Authority was signed.[16]
In 2017 Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said that Prague would spend some $7.1 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the country’s armed forces.[17]
In 2019 Israel and the Czech Republic made a $125m-deal for the supply of eight “Iron Dome” radars by IAI over the course of three years between 2021-2023.[18] In 2020 the Czech Republic inked a deal to buy four SPYDER air defense systems from Rafael. A sale worth around $430 million.[19]
Joint exercises
In late 2008, Israel was the only country that agreed to help train Czech helicopter pilots and crews in desert conditions for their upcoming mission in Afghanistan. The training was conducted in the Negev Desert.[20] [21]
In 2013 Czech and Israeli special forces held a joint exercise together.[22] In 2017 Israeli and Czech military units conducted a joint drill in Israel. The Israeli military unit ‘Duvdevan’ and Czech 601st Special Forces Group participated in a two-week-long military exercise in the Negev Desert in Israel, training urban warfare, including techniques for breaking into structures.[23] In 2019 another joint exercise of the Czech 601st and Israeli military forces was conducted in Israel. The exercise was in the infantry training school (Bislach) in the south of Israel and included individual fire training, closed structure training and CQB and underground tunnel training.[24] [25]
Cyber Security
In 2015 Israeli company Cybergym announced the first European Cybergym arena for counter cyber attack training to be established in the Czech Republic.[26]
In 2019 a Czech cyber security delegation, that was consisted of representatives of Czech universities and of experts from the Czech Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Cyber and Security Information Agency, visited Israel. They met with researchers from cyber security research centers of Israeli universities, the Cyberbit company, and Israeli National CERT.[27]
In 2020 Israeli media reported that the Israel national Cyber Security Authority helped the Czech Republic do defend themselves against hacker attacks on the Czech health system. [28]
The Czech 601st Special Forces Group – Soldiers in the 601st Special Forces unit have been deployed on several foreign missions, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm in 1990, and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.[29]
BIRD’s AMPS – are installed on Mi-17 helicopters, have been deployed in a number of dangerous and complicated conflict zones including Afghanistan.[30]
Litening-4I Systems – installed on Gripen combat aircrafts, that are part of the NATO Integrated Air Defence System. Gripens flew close to 30,000 flight hours, and successfully participated in several NATO air policing missions and international exercises including a four-month long mission to protect the Baltic airspace of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in 2019. [31]
Aero L-159 – attacking combat aircraft and training jet in use by Czech Air Force
Spike MR/LR – installed on Pandur-2 IFVs, used by the Army of the Czech Republic
Migrants and Refugees
In 2015 the UN Human Rights chief criticized Czech Republic’s systematic practice of detaining migrants for up to 90 days under harsh conditions such as poor sanitary conditions and lack of medical and legal assistance.[32] Amnesty reports that asylum seekers, including children continued to be detained by the Czech Republic also in 2019. The government was resistant to meaningfully participate in the EU’s policy of resettlement and relocation of refugees against the backdrop of anti-migrant and anti-refugee protests and rhetoric by politicians in 2015-2016.[33]
Discrimination of the Roma Community
In 2019 Romani children were still over-represented in schools and classes for pupils with mild mental disabilities and segregated in Roma-only schools. In 2019, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) criticized the discrimination of Roma in access to economic, social and cultural rights, as well as racist rhetoric of politicians, including mayors and members of Parliament and the government. The Committee also highlighted the prevalence of racially motived attacks targeting Roma, Jews, migrants and minority rights activists. [34] [35]
Arms Trade
The Czech Republic transfers arms to the Saudi Arabia/United Arab Emirate-led coalition. There is a substantial risk of them being used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Yemen conflict.[36]
Download as XLS or PDF or view the Google-Doc
Product | Company | Year | Deal Size | Comments | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 EL/M-2084 air search radars
| IAI (ELTA)
| 2019 (2021-2023)
| $125m
| the radar sensor of the “Iron Dome”
| Sipri
|
500 Spike MR/LR anti-tank missiles
| 2009 (2012-2013)
| for Pandur-2 IFVs, from German EuroSpike production line
| Sipri
| ||
4 Litening-4I Aircraft EO systems
| Rafael
| 2017 (2018)
| $12.1m
| for Gripen combat aircraft
| Sipri
|
upgrade of combat L-159 aircrafts
| IAI
| 2018
| includes integration of IAI’s virtual training solutions as part of the overall L-39NG training system
| Link | |
2 Skylark II UAVs
| 2009
| $3m
| Link | ||
4 SPYDER (
(Surface-to-Air Python & Derby) systems
| Rafael
| 2020
| $430
| not yet delivered
| Link |
Upgrade of Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS)
| BIRD Aerosystems
| 2020
| are installed on Mi-17 helicopters
| Link | |
Cybergym Arena
| Cybergym
| 2015
| Center for cyber-security training
| Link |
1. ^ Sipri
2. ^ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-czech-special-forces-complete-joint-urban-warfare-exercise-502772
3. ^ https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/systemfiles/adkan18_3ENG%20(4)_Kalhousova.pdf
4. ^ http://ufmsecretariat.org/who-we-are/member-states/
5. ^ https://www.inss.org.il/wp-content/uploads/systemfiles/adkan18_3ENG%20(4)_Kalhousova.pdf
6. ^ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840431,00.html
7. ^ http://ileucc.co.il/members.asp?id=7
8. ^ https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2014/Pages/Israel-and-Czech-Republic-hold-inter-government-meeting-in-Jerusalem-25-November-2014.aspx
9. ^ https://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/joint-statement-czech-israeli-intergovernmental-consultations-144411/
10. ^ https://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/prime-minister-sobotka-attended-czech-israeli-intergovernmental-consultations-on-trade–security–and-research-and-development-144483/
11. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-overheard-comments-netanyahu-lashes-eus-crazy-policy-on-israel/
12. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-overheard-comments-netanyahu-lashes-eus-crazy-policy-on-israel/
13. ^ https://apa.az/en/europe/news_czech_republic_discusses_joint_military__-193008
14. ^ Sipri
15. ^ https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/elta-cooperate-czech-company
16. ^ https://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/joint-statement-czech-israeli-intergovernmental-consultations-144411/
17. ^ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-czech-special-forces-complete-joint-urban-warfare-exercise-502772
18. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-sell-iron-dome-radars-to-czech-republic/
19. ^ https://www.timesofisrael.com/czech-republic-inks-deal-with-israel-to-buy-air-defense-system/
20. ^ https://jcpa.org/mission-impossible-repairing-the-ties-between-europe-and-israel/the-czech-republic-and-israel-a-unique-friendship/
21. ^ https://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=12559 (in Czech)
22. ^ https://apa.az/en/europe/news_czech_republic_discusses_joint_military__-193008
23. ^ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-czech-special-forces-complete-joint-urban-warfare-exercise-502772
24. ^ https://www.israelifirepower.com/2019/04/14/israeli-army-idf-czech-republic-army-joint-training/
25. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWcNV7lxjVE
26. ^ https://english.radio.cz/prague-picked-first-expansion-site-israeli-anti-hacking-experts-8246801
27. ^ https://www.mzv.cz/telaviv/en/science_and_research/czech_cyber_security_delegation_to_1$1325.html?action=setMonth&year=2019&month=4&day=1
28. ^ https://www.israeldefense.co.il/he/node/43062
29. ^ https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-czech-special-forces-complete-joint-urban-warfare-exercise-502772
30. ^ https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/45271
31. ^ https://www.saab.com/newsroom/stories/2020/april/the-czech-air-force-marks-15-years-of-gripen-operations
32. ^ https://www.dw.com/en/un-accuses-czech-republic-of-human-rights-abuses-against-migrants/a-18799454
33. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/czech-republic/report-czech-republic/
34. ^ https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24904&LangID=E
35. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/czech-republic/report-czech-republic/
36. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/czech-republic/report-czech-republic/
Israel and the Czech Republic keep close economic, diplomatic and security relations. Israel exported to the Czech Republic between 2009-2019 missiles, drones, and reconnaissance systems including upgrades of missile protection systems and combat jets.[1] In 2017 the Czech Republic announced they plan to spend some $7.1 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the country’s armed forces.[2] In 2019 Israel and the Czech Republic made a $125m-deal for the supply of eight “Iron Dome” radars.
Diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and Israel were renewed after the Velvet Revolution of 1989.[3] The Czech Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv and 3 honorary consulates (Haifa, Jerusalem, Ramat Gan). Israel has an embassy in Prague. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.[4]
Israel is the Czech Republic’s sixth largest export market outside of the EU, and since 1993 trade between the two countries has risen almost consistently crossing the $1 billion mark in imports to Israel in 2017.[5] [6] In 2010 the Israel-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce was established.[7]
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Czech Republic in 2011 and 2013. Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka visited Israel in 2014. Netanyahu and Sobotka signed joint declerations in fields of international affairs, defense, bilateral trade investment, finance, economic cooperation, research & development, cybersecurity and technological research. [8] In 2016 another meeting of the two prime ministers was held while Sobotka attended Czech-Israeli Intergovernmental Consultations on Trade, Security and Research & Development in Jerusalem. [9] [10] Israel-Czech government summits took place in Prague and Jerusalem in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2017 during a meeting with leaders of central European countries in Budapest, Netanyahu urged the leaders of Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland to close their borders to refugees from Africa and the Arab world and to renew the EU-Israel Association Agreement and expand European connection with Israeli Innovation. [11] Netanyahu also expressed clear backing for the support of border fences to guard the four countries from the entrance of refugees from the Middle East.[12]
In 2009, Czech and Israeli defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim to strengthen the cooperation of defense forces. The document has created a framework for sharing security information, cooperation in research projects in armament and training of both militaries in the other country’s territory.[13]
Israel exported to the Czech Republic between 2009-2019 missiles, drones, and Reconnaissance systems including upgrades of missile protection systems and combat jets.[14]
In 2014 ELTA, a subsidiary of IAI, signed an agreement for joint development and production of radar and other systems with the Czech company RETIA.[15]
In 2016 Czech and Israeli ministries of defense established joint working groups aimed at discussing and preparing joint projects in areas of defense industry and the teaming of scientists, arms companies and militaries in joint collaborations. A Memorandum of Understanding between National Security Authority of the Czech Republic and the Israeli National Cyber Security Authority was signed.[16]
In 2017 Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said that Prague would spend some $7.1 billion over the next 10 years to upgrade the country’s armed forces.[17]
In 2019 Israel and the Czech Republic made a $125m-deal for the supply of eight “Iron Dome” radars by IAI over the course of three years between 2021-2023.[18] In 2020 the Czech Republic inked a deal to buy four SPYDER air defense systems from Rafael. A sale worth around $430 million.[19]
Joint exercises
In late 2008, Israel was the only country that agreed to help train Czech helicopter pilots and crews in desert conditions for their upcoming mission in Afghanistan. The training was conducted in the Negev Desert.[20] [21]
In 2013 Czech and Israeli special forces held a joint exercise together.[22] In 2017 Israeli and Czech military units conducted a joint drill in Israel. The Israeli military unit ‘Duvdevan’ and Czech 601st Special Forces Group participated in a two-week-long military exercise in the Negev Desert in Israel, training urban warfare, including techniques for breaking into structures.[23] In 2019 another joint exercise of the Czech 601st and Israeli military forces was conducted in Israel. The exercise was in the infantry training school (Bislach) in the south of Israel and included individual fire training, closed structure training and CQB and underground tunnel training.[24] [25]
Cyber Security
In 2015 Israeli company Cybergym announced the first European Cybergym arena for counter cyber attack training to be established in the Czech Republic.[26]
In 2019 a Czech cyber security delegation, that was consisted of representatives of Czech universities and of experts from the Czech Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Cyber and Security Information Agency, visited Israel. They met with researchers from cyber security research centers of Israeli universities, the Cyberbit company, and Israeli National CERT.[27]
In 2020 Israeli media reported that the Israel national Cyber Security Authority helped the Czech Republic do defend themselves against hacker attacks on the Czech health system. [28]
The Czech 601st Special Forces Group – Soldiers in the 601st Special Forces unit have been deployed on several foreign missions, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm in 1990, and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2004.[29]
BIRD’s AMPS – are installed on Mi-17 helicopters, have been deployed in a number of dangerous and complicated conflict zones including Afghanistan.[30]
Litening-4I Systems – installed on Gripen combat aircrafts, that are part of the NATO Integrated Air Defence System. Gripens flew close to 30,000 flight hours, and successfully participated in several NATO air policing missions and international exercises including a four-month long mission to protect the Baltic airspace of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania in 2019. [31]
Aero L-159 – attacking combat aircraft and training jet in use by Czech Air Force
Spike MR/LR – installed on Pandur-2 IFVs, used by the Army of the Czech Republic
Migrants and Refugees
In 2015 the UN Human Rights chief criticized Czech Republic’s systematic practice of detaining migrants for up to 90 days under harsh conditions such as poor sanitary conditions and lack of medical and legal assistance.[32] Amnesty reports that asylum seekers, including children continued to be detained by the Czech Republic also in 2019. The government was resistant to meaningfully participate in the EU’s policy of resettlement and relocation of refugees against the backdrop of anti-migrant and anti-refugee protests and rhetoric by politicians in 2015-2016.[33]
Discrimination of the Roma Community
In 2019 Romani children were still over-represented in schools and classes for pupils with mild mental disabilities and segregated in Roma-only schools. In 2019, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) criticized the discrimination of Roma in access to economic, social and cultural rights, as well as racist rhetoric of politicians, including mayors and members of Parliament and the government. The Committee also highlighted the prevalence of racially motived attacks targeting Roma, Jews, migrants and minority rights activists. [34] [35]
Arms Trade
The Czech Republic transfers arms to the Saudi Arabia/United Arab Emirate-led coalition. There is a substantial risk of them being used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Yemen conflict.[36]
Download as XLS or PDF or view the Google-Doc
Product | Company | Year | Deal Size | Comments | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 EL/M-2084 air search radars
| IAI (ELTA)
| 2019 (2021-2023)
| $125m
| the radar sensor of the “Iron Dome”
| Sipri
|
500 Spike MR/LR anti-tank missiles
| Rafael
| 2009 (2012-2013)
| for Pandur-2 IFVs, from German EuroSpike production line
| Sipri
| |
4 Litening-4I Aircraft EO systems
| Rafael
| 2017 (2018)
| $12.1m
| for Gripen combat aircraft
| Sipri
|
upgrade of combat L-159 aircrafts
| IAI
| 2018
| includes integration of IAI’s virtual training solutions as part of the overall L-39NG training system
| Link | |
2 Skylark II UAVs
| Elbit
| 2009
| $3m
| Link | |
4 SPYDER (
(Surface-to-Air Python & Derby) systems
| Rafael
| 2020
| $430
| not yet delivered
| Link |
Upgrade of Airborne Missile Protection Systems (AMPS)
| BIRD Aerosystems
| 2020
| are installed on Mi-17 helicopters
| Link | |
Cybergym Arena
| Cybergym
| 2015
| Center for cyber-security training
| Link |