Netanyahu Lawyer Serves as Director for Serbian Drone Plant
A new report reveals that Zion Amir, who represents the Israeli prime minister in court, is a director of a company producing drones in Serbia.
Key points
- Zion Amir, representing Netanyahu in court, is a director of SDS Technologies, a new drone manufacturer in Serbia.
- The company is owned by a UK entity, contradicting claims of equal Serbian-Israeli state ownership.
- Elbit Systems denies direct ownership but confirms collaboration with local firms for drone localization.
Zion Amir, an Israeli lawyer currently representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in domestic legal disputes, has been appointed as a director of a company now manufacturing drones in Serbia. According to a report by Balkan Insight, this development connects high-level Israeli political counsel with a new industrial venture in Belgrade, raising questions about the overlapping roles of legal representation and industrial management.
The company in question, known as SDS Technologies, was established through the renaming of an existing entity shortly after the factory’s opening. While Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that the project would be a joint venture between Serbia and Israel, the formal ownership structure appears to involve private entities rather than a direct state partnership, complicating the narrative of bilateral cooperation.
Ownership structure deviates from official claims
Business registry data indicates that SDS Technologies is owned by a London-registered entity, CUPA Limited, which was subsequently renamed Blue Liberty International Ltd. This parent company is majority-owned by a Greek national, a detail that contrasts with previous statements by Serbian officials regarding equal state ownership. Elbit Systems, the designer of the drones, has denied any direct ownership or partnership with SDS, stating it only collaborates with local firms to tailor offerings to customer needs.
The appointment of Amir as a director occurred on September 17, the same day the factory opened and the company name changed. This timing suggests a coordinated effort to integrate new management into the venture immediately following its launch, despite the lack of public transparency regarding the specific contributions or roles of the individual directors in the production process.
Legal ties to Israeli political disputes
Amir’s involvement in the drone project coincides with his role in five petitions filed before the Israeli Supreme Court regarding the dismissal of Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet. These legal challenges relate to conflicts of interest involving the investigation of associates of Netanyahu, a matter that has generated significant political controversy. The presence of a lawyer deeply embedded in these sensitive legal battles as a director of a defense industry firm adds a layer of complexity to the venture’s governance.
Lack of transparency in corporate communications
Efforts to obtain clarification from SDS Technologies have yielded limited results. The company’s website offers minimal information, and inquiries sent to official email addresses or phone numbers listed on the site have not been answered. Historical domain data reveals that the web address was previously used by an IT firm based in India, a detail that may raise further questions about the corporate history and intent behind the digital presence of the new Serbian entity.
As the drone factory begins operations, observers will likely monitor whether the stated goal of localization and joint production is reflected in the actual supply chain and management practices. The intersection of legal advocacy, private ownership, and state-sponsored industrial projects in the Balkans remains a focal point for geopolitical analysts, particularly as regional security dynamics continue to shift.
