Defense Ministry names new export control branch chief

The export control branch monitors Israeli companies to ensure they comply with Israel's arms sales rules.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Arrow III interceptor. (photo credit: Defense Ministry)
Arrow III interceptor.
(photo credit: Defense Ministry)
The Defense Ministry announced on Thursday the appointment of a new head for the Export Control Branch, which monitors Israeli companies to ensure they comply with Israel's arms sales rules, and do not allow dangerous weapons to fall into the wrong hands.
Col. (res.) Dubi Lavi was officially appointed by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Dan Harel, Director-General of the Defense Ministry, in a ceremony held at the ministry in Tel Aviv. Previously, Lavi served for almost a decade as the head of the ministry's Drones Administration, one of the most sensitive and important organizations in the ministry's Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure.
Previously, he was active in development in the Israel Air Force.
Lavi replaced Meir Schalit, who headed the Export Control Branch for the past three and a half years. In December, Schalit decided to leave his post after discovering that an Israeli company received a marketing license to China, in violation of firm agreements with the US.
Upon learning of the error, Schalit travelled to Washington to report it to the Pentagon personally, and then chose to end his term.