Source Code Discussion in the 'Achilles Shield' Agreement Between Greece and Israel

Criticism intensified after Israeli Missile Defense Agency Director Moshe Patel said in an interview with Kathimerini newspaper that Greece could not access the source code.

The opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) asked the government to clarify whether Greece can access the source code of the system.

In his written statement, PASOK's deputy responsible for the field of defense, Mihalis Katrinis, reminded that Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias, in his speech on July 23, said that the procurement would not progress unless access to the source code of the systems to be purchased for the Greek Armed Forces was provided.

Katrinis, on the other hand, pointed out that in the statement published by the Israeli Ministry of Defense on August 31, it was stated that the new national command and control infrastructure would be developed by the Israeli company Rafael.

Reminding that Moshe Patel, Director of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization, made a statement in his interview with the Kathimerini newspaper that Greece could not access the source code, Katrinis stated that for this reason, questions arose regarding the ownership and access authority of the source code.

Katrinis: "Will the source code of the Achilles Shield ultimately belong to Greece?" Asking the question, he stated that they brought the issue to the parliament on September 1 and that they were waiting for a written response from the Ministry of Defense.

Emphasizing that the source code issue is important for protecting national interests in billions of euros of defense procurement, Katrinis called for the technical and legal provisions of the agreement to be made public.

The Greek Left Alliance (ELAS), founded by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, emphasized that Israeli official Moshe Patel's statement that he cannot access the source code related to Greece's command and control system raises serious questions about the management of the system and the "protection of national interests". The party pointed out that the government was "left in the open" on this issue and that if Greece did not have full control over the system, the country could become dependent on foreign sources.

Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper wrote that in the last information provided by Israel, technology transfer and joint use of software and technology with the Greek Armed Forces were mentioned, but it was not clearly stated that the source code would be delivered.

The newspaper reported that in Patel's interview with Kathimerini, when asked whether Greece could access the source code related to the command and control capabilities of the "Achilles Shield", he said: "No, because the source code was not included in the use license of the agreement." He stated that he answered.

Efimerida ton Syntakton also claimed that this question-answer section was removed from Kathimerini's website at one stage, and that the text was later updated again and the expressions "technology transfer" and "joint use of software and technology" were added, based on new information from the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

To Vima newspaper, in its analysis titled "A blurry picture regarding the source code in the Shield of Achilles", wrote that Patel's words "the source code was not included in the license agreement" raised serious question marks in Athens and contradicted the Greek side's previous statements.

3 billion euro agreement between Israel and Greece

The "Achilles Shield" air defense agreement worth approximately 3 billion euros was signed between Israel and Greece in Tel Aviv on August 31.

It was noted that within the scope of the "Achilles Shield" agreement, Israel would establish a multi-layered air defense network, including David's Sling systems in Greece and the Barak MX system by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

It was stated that the agreement included Rafael company's David Sling and IAI's Barak MX systems, as well as Rafael's Spyder system and IAI's MMR type multi-mission radars for air control.

In addition, a new national command and control system to be developed under the leadership of Rafael was also included in the agreement.

Opposition parties in Greece, on the other hand, emphasized that the agreement would increase dependence on Israel in the field of defense, impose a financial burden on Greek taxpayers and tie the country's regional policy more to Israel.

Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis stated that the "Achilles Shield" agreement signed with Israel was "shameful" and said, "Although the majority of Greeks are against the genocidal Apartheid state, we allowed our ruling class to stain Greece with this disgraceful agreement." made his assessment.

In the evaluations published in the press, the cost of the agreement, its technological and strategic dependence on Israel, and its effects on Athens' position in the Middle East were criticized.