VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHTV #1589/01 1521235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011235Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1386
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC
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