RESULTS OF BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3 PRE-LICENSE

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001589 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC IS SUBJECT: RESULTS OF BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3 PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON APPLICATION 050027214 REF: STATE 23822 ¶1. (SBU) Acting upon reftel, Embassy Blue Lantern Officer and commercial specialist visited the office of Fury International Consultant, Ltd. in Haifa on April 18, and met with the owner and founder of the company, Shlomo Cohen. Based on the interview, the following was learned about Fury International Consultant, Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Fury): A) Fury is only a consulting agency. It is not a consignee, and Shlomo Cohen said that he believes it was a mistake that Fury was ever designated as a consignee. Cohen said that Fury will never handle the sensitive items referred to in the proposed transaction. He clarified that, as of the date of the meeting, the proposed transaction remained in the pre-negotiation phase. Cohen said he believes that Fury was mistakenly listed as a consignee because Lockheed Martin Sippican (LMS) sent a letter to the State Department notifying it that LMS would be entering into a transaction with the Israeli MOD on the supply of the SUBMATT kits, and the letter mistakenly listed Fury as the consignee or having a middle-man role between LMS and the MOD. Cohen insisted that the only service Fury is providing is a consulting service. B) Fury is a two-person company that was founded in 2006. Shlomo Cohen -- once the Israeli Naval Attache at the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. -- is the founder and owner. His daughter works as his secretary. The company is named after his dog. His study is the company's office, and is located in Cohen's apartment in Haifa. At the time of the interview, Fury was providing consulting services to Lockheed Martin Company, LMS, General Dynamics, Fincantieri USA (part of an Italian company which produces diesel engines for IAI and Israel Shipyards, Ltd.),and Wartsila (a Finnish company that has a North American branch). In Israel, Fury provides its services to Rafael, the National Security Council and the Prime Minister's Office. Upon request, Cohen showed emboffs his records. He maintains a copy of the ITAR. Cohen stressed that he does not handle classified materials. C) Cohen was in the Israeli Navy for 32 years. As a retired senior officer, he has contacts and friends throughout the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Fury focuses mainly on business development. Cohen said he prefers providing assistance in cases that involve security or concern the navy. D) Cohen stated that, as far as he understands, LMS will deliver the SUBMATT kits to Israel's procurement mission in New York. From there, they will be delivered to the Israeli MOD, and then to the Israeli Navy. ¶2. (SBU) On May 28, Blue Lantern Officer received the following letter from Israeli MOD Blue Lantern POC, Rami Yungman: Begin text of letter: State of Israel Ministry of Defense Politico-Military Bureau Michael C. Keays First Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Political Section Embassy of the USA Dear Michael, Pursuant to your request for information regarding Fury International Consultant, Ltd., and following e-mails informing us of your discussions with Fury CEO, Mr. Cohen, we would like to update you with results of our own check with Fury. Fury was incorporated in 2006 under the name of Fury Yeutz Ve'achzakot (Hebrew for Fury Consulting and Holdings, Ltd.) -- private company number 513779165. The company's CEO and only shareholder is Mr. Shlomo Cohen. Mr. Cohen informed us that the company engages in consulting on business development. It does not engage in the sale of any products and does not currently serve as a broker. According to Mr. Cohen, the company's clients in Israel include the National Security Council, Israeli Shipyards Ltd., IAI/Ramta and Shmerling Generators. The company's clients abroad include Lockheed Martin Sippican and General Dynamics. The company states that it maintains proper records of its business activities. Mr. Cohen indicated that he is familiar with U.S. requirements with regard to defense articles and information. Sincerely, Rami Yungman End text of letter. ¶3. (SBU) Based on the above information, Embassy believes that Fury is a legitimate company, but not a consignee in the transaction that is the subject of this Blue Lantern check. The original letter from Mr. Yungman, and a 3-page company profile will be sent to PM/DTCC by FAX at 202-261-8198. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES