New Delhi: Asserting the Pegasus spyware issue is India’s internal matter, Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon on Thursday said his country does not allow companies like NSO to sell their products to non-governmental actors.
“I will not go into more details...NSA (Group) is a private Israeli company. Every export of NSO or such companies needs an export licence of the Israeli government,” Gilon said, PTI reported.
“We grant this export licence only for exporting to governments,” he added replying to questions over allegations of unauthorised surveillance using NSO Group's spyware Pegasus and whether the Indian government contacted Israel over the issue.
Stating “this is the only main requirement”, the Israeli envoy said: “Under the requirements, they cannot sell it to non-governmental actors. What's happening here in India is an internal thing for India and I would rather not go into your internal matters.”
The Israeli envoy’s remarks came a day after the Supreme Court appointed a three-member committee to investigate the alleged use of Pegasus software to snoop on the Indian citizens, including journalists, activists and politicians.
Earlier on Wednesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said the three-member committee will be headed by former apex court judge R.V. Raveendran.
Meanwhile, the envoy while responding to a poser about the new quadrilateral grouping comprising India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it is focused on cooperation in areas of the economy, trade, infrastructure and technology among others.
He categorically stated there is “no military element” to it.
Asserting Israel is keen to expand its cooperation with India in areas of economy and trade, the envoy said the proposed free trade agreement between the two sides is expected to increase the volume of economic engagement and added the FTA is expected to be finalised by June next year.
Gilon further said his country’s cooperation with New Delhi in areas of agriculture, water and irrigation sharing is on an upswing.