- American supporters of Israel were delighted to learn
that an Israeli company, Magal Security Systems-owned in part by the
government of Israel-is in charge of security for the most sensitive nuclear
power and weapons storage facilities in the United States.
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- The largest perimeter security company in the world,
Magal started out as a division of Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI)-which
was owned in part by the government of Israel. In recent years, however,
Magal evolved into a publicly-traded company, although IAI (and thus the
government of Israel) still holds a substantial share in the highly successful
firm.
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- What all of this means is that the government of Israel
will actually have control over the security of America's nuclear weapons.
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- Supporters of Israel say that this is a splendid idea,
since Israel is said to be perhaps America's closest ally on the face
of the planet. However, there are some critics who question the propriety
of America's super-sensitive nuclear security being in the hands of any
foreign nation, particularly Israel which, even today, officially denies
that it is engaged in the production of nuclear arms.
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- Be that as it may, however, Magal's global interests
are quite broad-ranging. Having secured 90 percent of Israel's borders
through a wide-ranging array of super-modern "space age" technology,
Magal has now branched out internationally.
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- Not only does Magal provide security for American nuclear
facilities, but it also does likewise for most major nuclear facilities
in Western Europe and Asia. In addition, the Israeli firm also provides
security for Chicago's O'Hare Airport and, for the last fifteen years,
has kept watch on the Queen of England's famedBuckingham Palace in London.
What's more, Magal provides security for 90% of the American prisons that
utilize electronic systems. Magal brags that its other clients around
the globe include: borders, airports, industrial sites, communication
centers, military installations, correctional facilities, government
agencies, VIP estates and residences, commercial buildings and storage
yards.
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- There is hardly a major country or major enterprise that
does not have Magal's security specialists keeping a close watch on their
activities.
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- Clearly, Magal is no small enterprise. While 27% of its
total sales are in the Israeli market, its largest market is in North
America, which currently accounts for 35% of its sales.
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- However, Magal's American outreach is expected to increase
substantially, especially now that firm has set up a Washington, D.C.
office which will promote its products to federal agencies and to the
members of Congress who provide funding for federally- supervise d security
projects across the country at all levels: local, state and national.
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- And with current U.S. Homeland Security Chief, Michael
Chertoff, not only a strong supporter of Israel but also the son of a
woman who has strong Israeli ties-even including service with El Al, the
national airline of Israel-Magal, owned in party by Israeli Aircraft
Industries-will be a clear-cut favorite in the eyes of the power brokers
in official Washington who have the power to grant lucrative security
contracts.
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- At the moment, Magal has four U.S.-based subsidiaries:
two in California, Stellar Security Products, Inc. and Perimeter Products
Inc., as well as the New York-based Smart Interactive Systems, Inc.,
and the Virginia-based Dominion Wireless, Inc.
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- All told, the Israeli company holds a 40% share in the
worldwide market in perimeter intrusion detection systems and is working
to expand its business in the protection of oil pipelines.
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- Magal is also said to be quite interested in guarding
water lines around the globe, particularly in the United States. In fact,
Magal may have an inside shot at getting a monopoly in guarding America's
water supplies.
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- On July 19, the Bush administration' s Environmental
Protection Agency announced a "partnership" with the Israeli
Ministry of National Infrastructures to improve what they called "water
supply system security in the United States and Israel." Since Magal
is so highly respected in Israel, it's an even bet that Magal will soon
be guarding the U.S. water supply.
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