In recent years, Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister’s son-in-law, has been making headlines for his family’s investments in Israel. While Sunak’s rise to political prominence has been widely covered, the connection between his family’s business interests and Israeli military intelligence veterans has largely gone unnoticed. In this article, we will delve into the details of these investments, exploring the involvement of Israeli entrepreneurs with military backgrounds and the potential implications for Sunak’s political career.
The Infosys Connection
At the center of this story is Infosys, a highly successful IT firm co-founded by Narayana Murthy, Rishi Sunak’s billionaire father-in-law. As one of India’s richest men, Murthy has retained a lucrative stake in Infosys, as has his daughter and Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty. However, it is the company’s links to Israeli military intelligence veterans that have raised eyebrows.
The Role of Uri Levine
One of the notable figures associated with Infosys is Uri Levine, an Israeli entrepreneur known for creating the popular Waze traffic navigation app. Levine, a veteran of Unit 8200, an elite Israeli army cyber warfare division, joined the Infosys board of directors in 2020. While some speculate that Infosys may supply technology to Israel’s security apparatus, no direct evidence of this has been found.
The Collaboration with Israel
Infosys’ ties to Israel go beyond its board appointments. In 2012, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel to collaborate on research and development (R&D). This move further fueled speculation about Infosys’ involvement with Israeli security operations, although no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims.
Panaya Acquisition and Tal Arnon
In 2015, Infosys deepened its investment in Israel by acquiring Panaya, a local tech firm, for approximately $200 million. While Narayana Murthy was critical of the deal, it marked a significant expansion of Infosys’ presence in the country. Notably, Panaya later hired Tal Arnon, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, as its vice president of R&D.
Arnon’s Military Background
Tal Arnon’s career in Israeli military intelligence adds another layer of intrigue to the story. Prior to entering the private sector, Arnon served for 12 years in a special ops unit and eventually became the chief of communication in Technological Unit 8153. Similar to Uri Levine’s Unit 8200, Technological Unit 8153 focuses on developing technology for Israeli special forces.
Sunak’s Family Profits
As Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murthy holds a 0.94% share in Infosys, which has earned her an annual dividend of approximately £13 million. Her father, Narayana Murthy, retains a 0.4% share in the company. While Sunak has not formally declared the specific shareholdings of his relatives, the arrangement has been well-publicized.
Lack of Outcry
Surprisingly, the potential implications of Sunak’s family profiting from a business that appoints Israeli military intelligence veterans to senior positions have not caused much outcry. In comparison, if Sunak’s relatives were profiting from businesses managed by former Russian or Chinese spies, the reaction might have been different. However, due to the UK’s alliance with Israel, the connections are unlikely to cause significant political problems for Sunak.
Conclusion
Rishi Sunak family investments in Israel, particularly through their connection with Infosys, raise intriguing questions about the intersection of business and military intelligence. While no direct evidence has been found to support claims of technology supply to Israeli security apparatus, the presence of Israeli military veterans in senior positions within Infosys raises eyebrows. Despite this, the lack of public outcry suggests that the UK’s alliance with Israel outweighs concerns about potential conflicts of interest. As Sunak continues his political career, it remains to be seen how these connections will impact his trajectory.