In 2007, with major operations already established in Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, South Africa and elsewhere, Evraz bought Oregon Steel Mills (OSM) for US$2.3 billion. The acquisition of OSM’s facilities in Oregon, Colorado and Alberta, made Evraz USA "the largest producer of armor plate" in the US. In fact, OSM is one of "only two steel mills in the United States…qualified to produce armored steel for the Defense Department." The US Army purchased US$46 million worth of Evraz products in 2008 alone.

The US is not the only country using OSM steel for military vehicles. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise says firms "that received contracts with Israel through the [Foreign Military Financing] FMF program include …Evraz Oregon Steel Mills."

The FMF program "provides grants for the acquisition of U.S. defense equipment" that is sold to select US allies, almost exclusively in the Middle East. While FMF grants in 2011 totalled US$5.47 billion, US$3 billion of that was used to pay for US military transfers to one country, Israel.

Unfortunately, the JVL report does not mention the year, or years, during which Evraz OSM received FMF funding for its sales to Israel. Nor does the JVL note what products the company exported. However, we do know that the export was military-related and that it must have occurred after Evraz acquired OSM in 2007. We can reasonably assume that the FMF grant covered the sale of Evraz armour destined for Israeli military vehicles because this is the main military application of the company’s products.

When it bought OSM in 2007, over 40% of Evraz was owned by Roman Abramovich, who was the richest of Russia’s 52 billionaires at that time. An Israeli newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, noted in 2010 that Abramovich was the wealthiest Jewish businessman "in the oil and commodities" sector. This "one-time confidant of the Yeltsin family" made his riches by acquiring highly-profitable, publicly-owned Soviet assets when the country’s wealth was sold off in the privatization programs of the 1990s. With a net worth of $13.4 billion, the Russian tycoon is now the world’s 53rd richest man. He is alleged by countless sources to have been involved in crimes including blackmail, bribery, share-dilution, theft, loan-fraud and antitrust law violations.

Abramovich is not likely to oppose future Evraz exports to Israel’s military. Israel’s Haaretz newspaper has pointed out that Abramovich was a "guest of honor" at a major event of the Elad Association. Haaretz, which calls Elad a "rightist" or "right-wing"

Israeli group, has frequently reported on its illegal efforts to acquire Palestinian properties and to build on Arab land. The paper has also suggested that Abramovich is one of Elad’s top donors. Among Elad’s critics are Rabbis for Human Rights-Israel which calls itself as "the rabbinic voice of conscience in Israel." It "champion[s] the cause of the poor in Israel," "support[s] the rights of Israel’s minorities and Palestinians," opposes Israel’s separation wall and joined protests against Elad.

Key Financial Data
www.evraz.com/investor/results/

Evraz at a glance
www.evraz.com/business/steel/?factory=1138#url=/about/

Meron Rapoport, "Group ‘Judaizing’ East Jerusalem accused of withholding donation sources," November 27, 2007.
www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/group-judaizing-east-jerusalem-accused-of-withholding-donation-sources-1.233668

Nir Hasson, "Police evict Arab family who sold home to apparent Elad front 5 years ago," November 24, 2010.
www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/police-evict-arab-family-who-sold-home-to-apparent-elad-front-5-years-ago-1.326461