London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2026

0:00
0:00

The huge offer submitted by UAE to fund the Pegasus spyware - and the Israel's refusal for fearing the Americans reaction

During Biden's visit to the Middle East, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Jordan made it clear to the Americans that Israeli offensive cyber is now in danger of closing, which poses a danger to regional stability and the operations against Iran.
Almost simultaneously, representatives of the United Arab Emirates came to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and officially suggested that the UAE will fund the Israeli offensive cyber industry.

Under the proposal, the UAE will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a dedicated fund each year in order to fund the cyber companies, arguing that this is a very important move for the stability of the region.

Surprisingly, the director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense refused the generous offer - claiming that Israel "is afraid of America's reaction to the deal."

USA is interested in purchasing the Pegasus software, for a much lower amount than the amount offered by UAE. As part of the American pressure to force Israel to sell the software to the United States at a cheap price, the United States blacklisted the software maker that they want to buy.

Pegasus software is being widely criticized around the world for the misuse that some governments make for human rights violations.

But in fact, many governments around the world are taking life-saving benefits from the Pegasus and few other similar Israeli anti-terrorism Spyware tools, which enables law enforcement to effectively fight terrorists, drug dealers and serious crime.

Offensive cyber software is a weapon that is an inevitable important tool in the hands of law enforcement and the security forces of many countries. Like any other weapon in the hands of the police and the army, it can of course also be misused. But the reality is that the sale of guns to police officers is not banned just because every year American police officers shooting to death an average of five hundred innocent civilians.

Mechanisms should be developed to prevent the misuse and abuse of offensive cyber software, but not to ban its use for the benefit of law enforcement's war on serious crime and terrorism.

The sanctions against offensive cyber companies that provide law enforcement with effective weapons to fight terrorism and serious crime will not bring journalist Jamal Khashoggi back to life, unfortunately. Just as the arrest of the journalist and publisher Julian Assange will not bring back to life the many journalists whose the United States assassinated in Iraq, as revealed in WikiLeaks.

The one who loses the most from restricting the sale of offensive cyber software to law enforcement agencies is the law-abiding citizens. The ones who will benefit from this are the terrorist and criminal organizations, which are equipped with self-made offensive cyber software, which provides them with a huge advantage against law enforcement agencies and against their victims.

You do not punish the thief by cutting off your own hands.

This is the lesson that Biden missed to learn in his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Western Allies Urge Restraint as Israel Weighs Expanded Ground Operation in Lebanon
Trump Warns NATO Faces ‘Very Bad’ Future Without Stronger Allied Support in Iran Conflict
UK Minister Says Britain Not Bound to Support Every Demand From U.S. President
Starmer Tells Trump Britain Will Not Be Drawn Into Wider Iran War
Starmer Tells Trump Britain Will Not Be Drawn Into Wider Iran War
UK Set to Introduce Steel Tariffs of Up to 50 Percent in New Industrial Strategy
European Governments Decline Trump’s Call to Send Warships to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Fears Over Iran Conflict Weigh on UK Consumer Confidence
Starmer Says UK Working With Allies on Hormuz Shipping Plan After Trump Raises Pressure
Iran War and Energy Shock Shake Britain’s Economy and Political Debate
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak at UK University Leaves Two Dead and Several Seriously Ill
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak at UK University Leaves Two Dead and Several Seriously Ill
King Charles and Queen Camilla Share Personal Tributes to Their Mothers on UK Mother’s Day
Prince William Honors Princess Diana with Mother’s Day Tribute
UK Economy Stalls in January as Households Cut Back on Eating Out
AI-Generated Singer Becomes Viral Voice for Iranians With New Anthem
London Private Club Founder Plans Exclusive Palm Beach Venue Near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
Ed Davey Urges Britain to Build Fully Independent Nuclear Missile Capability
What the UK Covid Inquiry Is and How It Investigates Britain’s Pandemic Response
What the UK Covid Inquiry Is and How It Investigates Britain’s Pandemic Response
US Treasury Links British Polo Patrons to Alleged Venezuelan Oil Proceeds Laundering Scheme
Hundreds Gather in London Despite Ban on Annual Pro-Palestinian March
Two Dead and Multiple Students Seriously Ill After Invasive Meningitis Outbreak at UK University
UK Considers Deploying Ships and Mine-Hunting Drones to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Starmer and Trump Discuss Urgent Need to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Visit Draws Mixed Reaction From Local Communities
Trump Calls on France and UK to Help Safeguard Strait of Hormuz Shipping Route
Boris Johnson Labels Bitcoin a ‘Ponzi Scheme’, Sparking Debate in Crypto World
UK Considers Targeted Aid for Vulnerable Households as Energy Costs Rise
Stellantis Urges Immediate Review of UK Electric Vehicle Sales Targets
Home Office Reverses Course to Allow Some Dual Nationals to Enter UK Using EU Passports
Reform UK Proposes Replacing Top Civil Servants With Officials Aligned to Government Agenda
Netflix Adds Critically Acclaimed ‘Best Film of 2025’ With Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
‘The Sums Don’t Add Up’: UK Farmers Hit by Soaring Costs as Iran War Disrupts Global Supplies
Confidential UK Biobank Health Records Found Online After Researchers Accidentally Expose Data
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
×