Is There A Link Between Rishi Sunak And Israel Which Is Not Bilateral?
Infosys, an Indian multinational information technology company is often called as “global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting”. Apart from the business consulting and information technology services, the company also provides outsourcing services.
The relation between Infosys and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not something the world is not aware of. The founder of the multinational information technology company, N. R. Narayana Murthy, is Mr. Sunak’s father-in-law.
Mr. Sunak’s strong diplomatic relation with Israel is also a well-known factor, as the UK Prime Minister never wavered from speaking about “Israel’s right to defend themselves” during the deadly war between Israel and Hamas.
But what is lesser known is the alleged involvement of Infosys in cementing Mr. Sunak’s support for Israel. In June 2012, Infosys had signed an agreement with Israel for cooperation in industrial research and development. According to a company statement, the agreement was signed to create a framework for industrial cooperation between Infosys and Israeli companies in emerging technology areas of cloud computing, information security, sensors, analytics, and sustainability.
Israel boasts about having the most advanced surveillance system and defence system. Based on the 2012 agreement, reports say that the Bengaluru based company allegedly supplies tech support to Israel, aiding the country’s surveillance which have its branches stretched to “everywhere”.
There is more. Uri Levine, an Israeli serial entrepreneur and disruptor, was appointed an independent director of Infosys in April 2020. Levine, who had co-founded Waze, the world”s largest community-based driving traffic and navigation app with more than 500M drivers around the globe which was acquired by Google on June 2013 for more than $1.1 billion, had done his own military service in Unit 8200, Israel’s cyber spy agency, according to Financial Times.
Unit 8200, according to Financial Times, is a high-tech incubator, that trains some of Israel’s smartest young people. The British business daily has also quoted a whistle-blowing leak that created a stir in 2014 to say that Unit 8200 also snoops on Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank or naval and air blockade in the Gaza Strip.
According to reports, Levine had stepped down from the independent director’s post after the Infosys board of directors took note of his retirement effective April 19, 2023 upon completion of his term.
It is pertinent to note that Infosys and British Petroleum has struck a deal which is estimated to be about $1.5 billion. With this Infosys has become the global energy company’s primary application partners, said Times of India.
Earlier this month, Israel has given 12 licenses to six companies green flagging the companies to explore natural gas off from Israel’s Mediterranean coast. The move is said to be part of Israel’s bud to diversify their energy suppliers as Tel Aviv runs to become an energy hub for exporting gas to Europe, as reported by Middle East Monitor.
