As reported by Globes, Microsoft has ousted Alon Haimovich, the general manager of its Israeli subsidiary, as well as other managers from the division, following an internal investigation. The decision is further fallout from a 2025 report from The Guardian and +972 Magazine on Israel's use of Microsoft Azure cloud services to store data intercepted in the illegally occupied West Bank.
According to Globes, a Microsoft investigative team began work last month over concerns that the Israeli subsidiary was exposing the company to legal liability in Europe. The Azure servers used by the Israeli government to store surveillance data were based in Europe, potentially putting Microsoft at risk from scrutiny by EU regulators.
After investigating Haimovich and his team, Microsoft ousted the GM and other, unnamed senior staff at the subsidiary. While the company searches for a new GM, Microsoft Israel has been placed under the management of Microsoft France.
According to Globes, Microsoft's exclusion from the Israeli government's "Nimbus" deal with Google and Amazon in 2021 has limited its relationship with the state, though it is allegedly looking to renew its contract with Israel's Ministry of Defense when it expires this year.
The center of the controversy is the use of Azure Cloud storage by Israeli intelligence units in their surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft's business relationship with the Israeli government has come under increased public scrutiny since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza in 2023:
Lonely_Noyaaa on May 12nd, 2026 at 01:40 UTC »
It is telling that it took a potential multi billion dollar fine from European regulators to get Microsoft to act on something employees and human rights groups have been screaming about for years. The financial risk to the bottom line, not just ethics, is what likely sealed the deal here.
NewsCards on May 12nd, 2026 at 01:28 UTC »
This should be obvious to most people, but Microsoft is only doing this because the surveillance put them under scrutiny of EU regulators.
Very obviously not taking a moral stand or anything, no reasonable person should expect a corporation to do that.
Luka77GOATic on May 12nd, 2026 at 01:21 UTC »
“According to Globes, a Microsoft investigative team began work last month over concerns that the Israeli subsidiary was exposing the company to legal liability in Europe. The Azure servers used by the Israeli government to store surveillance data were based in Europe, potentially putting Microsoft at risk from scrutiny by EU regulators.
After investigating Haimovich and his team, Microsoft ousted the GM and other, unnamed senior staff at the subsidiary. While the company searches for a new GM, Microsoft Israel has been placed under the management of Microsoft France.”