INDEX / DIRECTORY / AMERICAN EXPRESS / V-MIL

American Express V-MIL

MILITARY AUDIT UPDATED 2026-06-11
V-MIL Score 0.00 /10 D American Express — BDS-1000 251
V-MIL 0.00

Evidence-only forensic audit. Scoring happens downstream — see the main dossier for the composite assessment.

V-MIL Audit: American Express

Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement

American Express maintains no identified direct defence contracts with Israeli state security bodies. No public evidence identified of the company holding contracts, tender awards, framework agreements, or memoranda of understanding with the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Israel Defence Forces, Israel Prison Service, Israel Border Police, or other Israeli security agencies 1.

American Express Israel Ltd. was registered in 2000 and operated from 10 HaMey-Madrikh Street, Herzliya, focusing on B2B payments automation (Procure-to-Pay) 1. The subsidiary status changed to “Ceased” as of February 2024 when it was sold to Top Group (Ramdor Systems) 1.

In January 2023, American Express acquired Israeli company Nipendo to strengthen its B2B payments capabilities 23. Nipendo was headquartered in Netanya, Israel, founded in 2008, and this acquisition established an R&D center in Israel. The Israeli operations were sold to Top Group in February 2024 for $2M 13.

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has operated in Israel since 1996, with an office in Tel Aviv 4. Amex GBT is now a separate public company (NYSE: GBTG) 56.

Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants

No public evidence identified of American Express manufacturing or marketing ruggedised, tactical, mil-spec, or defence-grade variants of its products. American Express is a financial services company and does not produce physical goods 1.

Regarding dual-use technology considerations, Amex Ventures invested in Israeli cybersecurity company Zafran Security in February 2026 7. Zafran is described as an AI-native threat exposure management company. No evidence links Zafran Security to contracts with Israeli defence ministries or operations in occupied territories 7.

Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure

No public evidence identified of American Express equipment, vehicles, or machinery being used in construction, maintenance, or demolition activity within Israeli settlements, the separation barrier, military installations, or occupied territories. American Express is a financial services company and does not supply heavy machinery or construction equipment 1.

Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes

No public evidence identified of American Express providing components, sub-systems, raw materials, or specialist manufacturing services to Israeli defence prime contractors including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, or Israel Military Industries 1.

The PAX June 2024 report “Companies Arming Israel and Their Financiers” identifies major European financiers (BNP Paribas, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, UBS) to arms companies selling to Israel. American Express is not among the identified financiers 8.

BankTrack documentation on financial institution involvement in Israeli-Palestinian context does not specifically document American Express 9.

Logistical Sustainment & Base Services

No public evidence identified of American Express providing catering, transport, fuel supply, waste management, facilities maintenance, telecommunications, or other support services to IDF bases, military training facilities, detention centres, or security installations 1.

Amex GBT provides corporate travel management services operating in 140+ countries 5. No public evidence specifies whether Amex GBT serves government or military clients in Israel 5.

Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms

No public evidence identified of American Express serving as a prime contractor or licensed manufacturer of small arms, artillery systems, armoured vehicles, tactical drones, naval vessels, or other lethal platforms supplied to Israeli forces 1.

No public evidence identified of American Express supplying ammunition, explosive ordnance, chemical propellants, warhead components, or munitions precursor materials to Israeli defence end-users 1.

Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History

American Express National Bank paid $430,500 in July 2022 to settle OFAC allegations of 214 sanctions violations under the Kingpin Act 1011. This settlement related to Kingpin Act violations; no evidence connects this settlement to Israeli defence transactions 1011.

American Express has published a Human Rights Statement committing to UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 12.

No public evidence identified of court proceedings, judicial reviews, or legal challenges brought against American Express specifically regarding defence supply relationships with Israel 1.

The UN OHCHR maintains a business database related to Israeli settlement activity (97 companies as of 2023 update) 13. No public evidence identified confirming whether American Express appears in this database; attempts to access the direct PDF file were unsuccessful 13.

Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations

American Express Foundation (EIN: 136123529) made charitable contributions to organizations with ties to Israeli settlements and military: over $15,000 collectively to One Israel Fund (which funds West Bank settlements), over $48,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), and over $6,300 to Central Fund of Israel (which funds settlements) 14.

The BDS Movement targeted American Express in 2018 for sponsoring the “Round Tables” culinary event in Tel Aviv. American Express did not respond to BDS inquiries 15.

In 2016, American Express ended its affiliation with Roger Waters due to his BDS activism, citing his “anti-Israel bias” 16.

The PAX June 2024 report on financiers to arms companies does not identify American Express as a financier to Israeli defence companies 8.

BankTrack does not specifically document American Express in its coverage of financial institutions and Israeli-Palestinian context 9.

Historical note: American Express closed its Israel office in 1956, citing unprofitability. Israel accused the company of yielding to the Arab boycott 1718.

No public evidence identified of American Express appearing in the UN Human Rights Council database of business enterprises involved in settlement activity (HRC resolutions 31/36/53/25) 13.

No public evidence identified linking American Express executives (Stephen Squeri, CEO/Chair; Michael Angelakis; Randal Quarles; Noel Wallace) to defence-industry board positions, Israeli military-intelligence affiliations, or FIDF/reservist-fund donations 1.

No public evidence identified of American Express providing payment card services, merchant acquiring, or procurement payment processing directly to Israeli Defence Ministry or IDF 1.

No public evidence identified of American Express serving as payment processor or merchant acquirer for Israeli defence prime contractors 1.

No public evidence identified of Amex GBT serving Israeli government or military clients. Corporate filings do not disclose country-specific customer details 5.

End Notes

Footnotes

  1. No public evidence identified — comprehensive search of defence trade directories, SIBAT listings, IMOD tender records, corporate filings, press releases, NGO investigations, UN documentation, procurement databases, court databases, legal filings, ICC/ICJ submissions, and corporate governance databases yielded no matching evidence. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  2. https://amex2020ir.q4web.com/news/investor-relations-news/investor-relations-news-details/2023/American-Express-to-Acquire-B2B-Payments-Automation-Company-Nipendo/default.aspx ↩

  3. https://www.fintechfutures.com/b2b-b2c-payments/american-express-buys-israeli-b2b-payments-automation-start-up-nipendo ↩ ↩2

  4. https://www.lusha.com/business/a6e5aba975df5263 ↩

  5. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1820872/000162828025011370/gbtg-20241231.htm ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. https://investors.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com/investors/news/news-details/2026/Long-Lake-Agrees-to-Acquire-American-Express-Global-Business-Travel-the-Worlds-Largest-Corporate-Travel-Platform-for-6-3-Billion-With-Support-From-General-Catalyst-and-Alpha-Wave/default.aspx ↩

  7. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/tg4phxk5v ↩ ↩2

  8. https://paxforpeace.nl/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/The-Companies-Arming-Israel-and-Their-Financiers-June-2024.pdf ↩ ↩2

  9. https://www.banktrack.org/article/israelhamas_conflict_banks_must_avoid_complicity_in_human_rights_violations ↩ ↩2

  10. https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20220715 ↩ ↩2

  11. https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/924406/download?inline= ↩ ↩2

  12. https://s26.q4cdn.com/747928648/files/doc_downloads/governance/2025/02/American-Express-Human-Rights-Statement.pdf ↩

  13. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=30590 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. https://inthesetimes.com/article/israel-settlements-palestine-verizon-pfizer-bank-of-america-jpmorgan-chase ↩

  15. https://bdsmovement.net/news/top-chef-withdraws-support-for-tel-aviv-event ↩

  16. https://observer.com/2016/11/hurrah-to-american-express-for-dumping-roger-waters-for-anti-israel-bias ↩

  17. https://www.jta.org/archive/american-express-says-it-does-not-boycott-israel-explains-position ↩

  18. https://www.jta.org/archive/israel-charges-american-express-with-yielding-to-anti-israel-boycott ↩