RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001106 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC IS SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050098194 REF: STATE 28636 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, ODC Chief and MCPO conducted a site survey on May 14 to verify the continued possession by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of 35 Night Vision Goggles (PVS-7D - Nivisys). ODC offs confirmed that all reftel night vision devices (NVDs) were accounted for with the exception of serial number 08100024. According to Kobi Fogler from the MOD's Directorate of Security, Defense Establishment (MALMAB),this particular NVD was issued to the Southern Command on January 10, 2009. According to an IDF investigation conducted on February 8, the soldier who had been issued the NVD was injured during Operation Cast Lead on January 14 after a suicide bomber detonated near the soldier's vehicle. The soldier was evacuated to a nearby hospital where it was determined that he no longer had the NVD in his possession. An IDF search at the detonation site following the attack was unable to locate the NVD. The brigade commander did not see any reason to resort to disciplinary measures, and requested that "operational destruction" for the device be approved. The NVD was officially reported as a "war time loss" on March 24, 2009, and was included as part of the IDF's monthly NVD shortage/loss report to ODC. All other reftel devices are currently stored at the IDF base in Gefen, and are reportedly being used for the purposes stated on the license. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv ********************************************* ******************** MORENO