Israeli media revealed on 28 March that the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco had expressed an interest in acquiring Israel’s Iron Dome, Green Pine, and Arrow missile defense systems.

The three countries, all of whom are signatories of the so-called Abraham Accords, reportedly made the request during the controversial Negev Summit.

However, this is not the first time that a country that normalized relations with Tel Aviv has looked into acquiring the defense technology of occupation forces.

On 1 February, Israeli media reported that the UAE was considering acquiring the Iron Dome missile defense system to bolster its security capabilities in the face of retaliatory missile and drone attacks by the Yemeni Armed Forces.

According to the reports, Tel Aviv was willing to provide the missile system to Abu Dhabi as part of what they called a “regional defense system against Iran.”

The reports added, however, that some Israeli intelligence agencies were opposed to the deal over fears that the technology could land in the hands of “third parties.”

In January, the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the UAE with drone and missile strikes on three occasions in retaliation for Abu Dhabi’s participation in the Saudi-led military coalition that has been waging war against Yemen since March 2015.

One of the attacks took place during the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Emirates.

Sanaa has promised to continue with the attacks for as long as the UAE takes part in the aggression against Yemen.

The attacks have caused panic in the UAE and forced authorities to go on a global hunt for new anti-missile systems. A few hours after the first attack, the country signed a $3.5 billion deal with South Korea to purchase the M-SAM medium-range air defense system.

The Gulf state has also requested the United States to upgrade its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot missile defense systems.