Introduction
The tight relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are based around oil, arms and intelligence[1]Gur Megido, This is how the strategic relations with Azerbaijan became the Liberman family’s business, 5.4.24. Israel buys oil from Azerbaijan and sells arms to Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan was Israel’s second largest arms buyer in 2015-2019[2]Israel’s arms exports over past four years at highest ever with sales of $789 million.[3]SIPRI Arms Transfers Database), and Azerbaijan provides Israel with access to the Azeri-Iranian land and maritime borders.
Weapons sold by Israel to Azerbaijan – which ignore the E.U. arms embargo on Azerbaijan since 1991, and the U.S.’s de facto policy not to sell arms to Azerbaijan – are used both in Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenia and for domestic repression within the country itself.[4]Good Relations between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia?
Israeli sales to Azerbaijan mainly include drones, missiles and land vehicles; Israeli drones have been used by Azerbaijan against Armenian forces since 2016, including in the 2020 war (when Azerbaijan captured large parts of Artsakh)[5]Barak Ravid, Azerbaijan using Israeli “kamikaze drones” in Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, 30.9.2020, and in the 2023 attack (when, following a 9-month-long blockade on Artsakh, Azerbaijan captured the remaining parts of Artsakh and committed ethnic cleansing of its indigenous Armenian population).[6]Isabel Debre, Israeli arms, drones quietly helped Azerbaijan retake Nagorno-Karabakh, 5.10.2023.
Israel – Azerbaijan Relations
Israel recognized Azerbaijan soon after it declared independence in August 1991. An Israeli embassy was set up in Baku in 1993, and Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Israel in 2023. The two countries have been fostering a long standing arms trade, diplomatic support, and intelligence sharing.[7]Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace A 2009 memo released by Wikileaks quotes Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev describing the countries’ relationship as “nine-tenths […] below the surface.”[8]Israel’s Secret Staging Ground
Israel has supported Azerbaijan in its attacks on the Artsakh region and its Armenian population[9]Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace. Israeli representatives including Avigdor Lieberman have stated that Israel would not recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915-17.[10]Israel Won’t Recognize Armenian Genocide, Says Ambassador
1997: Netanyahu visits Azerbaijan as Prime Minister.
2009: President of Israel Shimon Peres visits Azerbaijan along with defense company CEOs[11]Azerbaijan: Peres Baku Visit Highlights Possibilities of Israeli-Azerbaijani Cooperation and declares “we show you ability and technology, you will bring us oil.”[12]Azerbaijan: Aeronautics on the way to big contract
2010: Azerbaijan announced a visa-exemption exclusively for Turkish and Israeli travelers.
2013: Azerbaijan is selling Israel 40% of its oil, making Israel its largest buyer.
2014: Defense Minister of Israel Moshe Ya’alon visits Azerbaijan.
2016:
- During Netanyahu’s visit, President Aliyev announces that the arms contracts between the two countries have so far added up to the total of $4.85 billion.[13]Hamushim Azerbaijan Report [14]PM Netanyahu Meets with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev [15]Azerbaijan President : Deals between Azerbaijan and Israel in Defense [16]Azerbaijan President to Netanyahu- happy with amount of arms deals with Israel
- Israel and Azerbaijan sign a deal on air communication.[17]Rashid Shirinov, Azerbaijan, Israel agree on air communication, 29.12.2016
2017: Double taxation between the countries is abolished.
Military Relations
Azerbaijan and Israel share a mutual distrust of Russia and Iran[18]Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace and have stated their joint fight against terrorism. Israel has consistently sold arms to Azerbaijan in spite of embargoes declared by both the European Security and Cooperation Organization (OSCE) in 1992[19]Sipri : OSCE arms embargo on Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan), and the UN in 1993.[19] These embargoes were announced in response to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) region.[20]Sipri : Non-mandatory UN arms embargo on Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)
2012: Israel is reportedly allowed to use four abandoned airbases in Azerbaijan on the Iranian border.[21]Israeli Airbases in Azerbaijan It has been suggested that Israel would use these bases to facilitate airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites[22]Israel’s Secret Staging Ground, although this prospect has been disputed.[23]Azerbaijan Will Be a Platform for Israel – if Not for F-15s, Then Punk Rock
2015-2019: Azerbaijan is the second largest Israeli weapons customer, buying 17% of all Israeli weapons.[24]Israel’s arms exports over past four years at highest ever
2015: In a parade marking World War II Victory Day in Moscow in May, Azerbaijani soldiers march in the Red Square carrying Israeli-made Tavor rifles.[25]HD Russian Army Parade, Victory Day 2015 Парад Победы
2016:
- President Aliyev pays a televised visit to a government-owned Azerbaijani factory which produces Israeli models of kamikaze drones.[26]“AZAD Systems Co” production branch of the DIM presents “Zarba” UAVs
- During Netanyahu’s visit, President Aliyev announces that the arms contracts between the two countries have so far added up to the total of $4.85 billion.[27]Hamushim Azerbaijan Report [28]PM Netanyahu Meets with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev [29]Azerbaijan President : Deals between Azerbaijan and Israel in Defense [30]Azerbaijan President to Netanyahu- happy with amount of arms deals with Israel
2017: The Israeli arms company Aeronautics has its export licenses suspended by the Defense Ministry, after a report by the newspaper Maariv reveals that representatives from the company who were in Azerbaijan to finalize a contract for the sale of its Orbiter 1K UAV, told the UAV operators (upon a request from their Azeri hosts) to strike an Armenian military position.[31]Yossi Melman, Israeli drone operators refused their superiors’ demands and avoided harming Armenia’s military, 13.8.17 According to the report, the two Israeli UAV operators refused to hit the position, and senior representatives of the company took control and operated the craft themselves, ultimately missing their targets. Following the surfacing of the report, the Defense Ministry suspends the company’s marketing and export permit for the company’s Orbiter 1K model UAV, but reinstated it in 2019.[32]Shir Reiter and Hezi Sternlicht, Back to business: The Ministry of Defense reinstated Aeronautics’ suspended export permit, 4.2.19 Israel Police’s Unit of International Crime Investigations, the Defense Ministry’s investigation unit and the State Attorney’s Office also launch an investigation into the incident.[33]I’ve Been Covering Israeli Intelligence and Security for 38 Years. The Legal System Exhausts Me
2019: Two weeks after its export licenses are reinstated, Aeronautics announces that it has won a 13-million dollar drone-contract with Azerbaijan.[34]Israeli defense company Aeronautics seals $13m. drone deal with Azerbaijan
2020:
- April: Azerbaijan publishes footage of Israeli models of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including offensive and kamikaze UAVs.[35]Youtube of Azərbaycan Respublikası Müdafiə Nazirliyi : PUA heyətləri təlim-məşq uçuşları yerinə yetirir
- October: Israeli press reports that two Azerbaijani cargo planes landed at the Uvda airbase in the Negev, days before the escalation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).[36]As tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh rise, Israel must halt arms sales to Azerbaijan
Joint ventures
2011: Aeronautics and the Azeri Defense Ministry begin co-producing Aerostar, Orbiter, and Dominator UAVs. [37]Production in Azerbaijan Begins in a Factory Set Up by the Israeli Company – “Aeronautics”
Arms Fairs
2014: 16 Israeli companies attend ADEX-2014 (Azerbaijani Defense Exhibition).[38]16 Israeli Companies to Attend Defense Exhibition in Azerbaijan
2016: Orbiter 4 released at ADEX-2016.[39]Aeronautics reveals its Orbiter 4 UAS
2018: Elbit’s Hermes 900 UAVs used in Azerbaijan military exercise around Caspian sea.[40]Azerbaijan holds Naval Drill with Elbit made drones
Use of Israeli Arms
Drones
2016: Harop suicide drones destroy a bus of Armenian soldiers, killing seven[41]Armenia Protests Azerbaijan’s Use of Israeli-made Suicide Drone [42]Azerbaijan Used IAI’s Harop UCAV
2017: Aeronautics Defense Systems sales to Azerbaijan are frozen after the company allegedly conducted an illegal live demonstration of the Orbiter 1k UAV against Armenian troops at the request of the Azeri government, wounding two.[43]Israeli dronemaker said to have bombed Armenians for Azerbaijan faces charges
2020:
- Armenia demonstrates Israeli-made military drones of Azerbaijan shot down by its anti-aircraft units. Among those identified were Hermes and Skystriker drones built by Elbit Systems. Other confirmed Israeli-origin drones used by Azerbaijan are IAI Harop loitering munitions, Thunder B small tactical UAV designed by BlueBird Aero Systems, and Aeronautics Defense Systems’ Orbiter 2 and 3.[44]Armenian Military Reveals Downed Israel-Built Azerbaijani Drones [45]Armenia Demonstrates $150 Million Worth Azeri Drones Shot Down in Border Clashes
- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has released a video showing what could possibly be an Israeli UAV flying for a split second past the Turkish attack UAV, which was probably photographed by chance.[46]Düşmənin artilleriya qurğularının məhv edilməsinin videogörüntüləri
Several videos have also shown attacks by kamikaze UAVs which may be Israeli, but it is difficult to confirm this without further evidence. A political advisor to the Azerbaijani dictator said in an interview that Israeli attack drones are being used in combat, but this official has been known to lie and disseminate false propaganda.[47]Düşmənin bu gün saat 17:30-dək məhv edilən döyüş texnikası It is also unclear to what extent he is informed about current military affairs. No other official in Azerbaijan has confirmed the claim.
Others weapons & cyber
Tavor guns: Azerbaijani troops seen carrying IWI Tavor X95 assault rifles.[48]Watch: Azeri Armed Forces Carrying Israeli Weapons
Spike missiles: Used to destroy six Armenian tanks in 2020.[49]Report : Spike Missiles of Rafael used in Azerbaijan against Armenian Tanks
- According to a 2021 investigation, more than 40 Azerbaijani journalists were selected as targets of the malicious spyware, including reporters from Azadliq.info and Mehdar TV, two of the only remaining independent media outlets in the country.[50]PEGASUS: THE NEW GLOBAL WEAPON FOR SILENCING JOURNALISTS
- According to reports from 2023, Armenian officials – including the Armenian Foreign Minister’s spokesperson, an investigator of Azeri war crimes, journalists, academics and a UN employee – were infected by NSO’s Pegasus during fighting in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) – researchers suspect that Azerbaijan is behind the hacking.[51]Armenian Officials Hacked With Israeli Spyware. The Suspect: Azerbaijan
Human Rights Violations
Freedom of expression & assembly in Azerbaijan
Human rights violations inside Azerbaijan predominantly concern freedom of expression. NGOs critical of the government are refused registration, and activists face travel bans and having their bank accounts frozen. Journalists such as Khadija Ismayilova have faced prosecution for “anti-Azerbaijani” activity and apparently exaggerated or falsified charges, as have opposition politicians.[52]The hidden partner of Israel distancing itself from the west and gets closer to Russia The government has also sought the forcible return of Azerbaijani critics from abroad. Spyware has been levelled against dissidents including through covert access of computer webcams.[53]Mapping Hacking Team’s “Untraceable” Spyware/ [54]Azerbaijan: Activists targeted by ‘government-sponsored’ cyber attack [55]Azerbaijan dissidents warn the west not to fall for Baku’s flashy facade
Azerbaijan has restrictive freedom of assembly. Peaceful protests have been met with excessive force, and there have been reports of police brutality in custody. Lawyers have faced intimidation as well reprimand for anti-government findings, for example – in the case of Yalchin Imanov, who was disbarred after complaining of two clients’ alleged torture.[56]Amnesty 2021 Report – Azerbaijan [57]YALCHIN IMANOV SUSPENDED FROM PRACTISING PENDING TRIAL
During the Covid-19 pandemic, social media users, medical professionals, and journalists have faced prosecution for criticizing the government’s approach. The health crisis has been used by the government as an excuse for political attacks on the opposition, with activists facing arrest.[58]Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Human rights must be protected during COVID-19 pandemic/ [59]HRW : Azerbaijan: Crackdown on Critics Amid Pandemic
Anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination
Although homosexuality has been legal in Azerbaijan since 2000, so is discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In 2017 there were allegations of a crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community including mass detention and torture.[60]Azerbaijan: Anti-Gay Crackdown In 2019 Azeri police detained fourteen gay men and transgender women on falsified charges, and some of them were then subject to forced STI tests.[61]HRW Azerbaijan Events of 2019
Violations against Armenian civilians and soldiers
In 2022, Azerbaijan imposed a blockade on Artsakh, which caused acute shortages of food, medication, hygiene products, and other essential supplies, causing regular blackouts, and preventing residents of Artsakh from traveling for medical treatment. Starting mid-June 2023, Azerbaijan blocked all humanitarian goods transport and periodically blocked International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) patient transports. Subsequently, in September 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control over Artsakh by military means, which led to the ethnic cleansing of most of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh.[62]HRW 2023 report on Azerbaijan
In addition, Azerbaijani forces abused and tortured Armenian POWs from the 2020 war[63]Azerbaijan: Armenian POWs abused in custody.