Indian Party Demands Cancellation of Defense Deal with Israel

Allegations of kickbacks have prompted the Indian Communist Party to demand that a massive arms deal with Israel be voided and a full investigation ensue. The demand followed media reports alleging that the $1.5 billion price tag for the sale of 2,000 Barak Mark VIII missiles was inflated by commissions, which are illegal in India. A New Delhi newspaper goes further and suggests that the “commissions” are actually bribes. The parties to the deal are the Indian Ministry of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries. It was crafted in a way that requires a significant portion of the funds to be spent in India.