Israel Approves National Critical Minerals Program to Bolster Economy and Defense

Israel's government has unanimously backed a national program to secure critical mineral supplies, seeking to turn resource dependence into economic opportunity and stronger global partnerships.

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The Israeli government has unanimously approved a proposal by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to establish a national critical minerals program, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, Sa'ar launched the initiative after taking part in the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, where he attended at the invitation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ministerial is a major American-led diplomatic effort aimed at restructuring global supply chains for critical minerals and reducing international dependence on China.

The ministry said the program is designed to reinforce Israel's security of supply for essential raw materials, while converting the country's reliance on those resources into an opening for economic growth and deeper international partnerships.

Sa'ar called the matter "a strategic issue of the first order and a matter of national security," and said the government's decision marked an important step forward in advancing the national initiative.

The approved initiative centers on two main goals: guaranteeing the supply of essential minerals to the Israeli economy and defense establishment, and building Israeli assets in the field by drawing on the country's technological and innovation strengths.

The Foreign Ministry said the program will also work to expand international cooperation and deepen Israel's role in global critical mineral supply chains.

"Critical minerals are essential to advanced technologies, from electric vehicle batteries and semiconductors to stealth aircraft," the ministry's statement noted.

The recommendations were drafted by an interministerial team headed by Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar-Tal. The effort brought together several government ministries and national agencies, among them the Prime Minister's Office, the Defense Ministry, and the Israel Innovation Authority.

The ministry added that Israel has already begun moving forward on international cooperation in the critical minerals field, including holding discussions with Kazakhstan.

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