Athens: Just a week after Athens agreed to buy an air and missile defense system from Israel, revelations that Greece will not have access to the Achilles Shield's source code have drawn criticism from opposition parties and the Greek media.

According to Anadolu Agency, the controversy intensified after Moshe Patel, director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization, told Greek daily Kathimerini that Greece would not be granted access to the source code. The opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) called on the government to clarify the issue.

Mihalis Katrinis, PASOK's lawmaker responsible for defense affairs, said Defense Minister Nikos Dendias stated in a July 23 speech that the procurement of systems for the Greek Armed Forces would not proceed unless Greece secures access to the source code. Katrinis noted, however, that the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Aug. 31 that the new national command-and-control infrastructure would be developed by Israeli company Rafael. 'Will the source code of the Achilles Shield ultimately belong to Greece?' he asked.

He said PASOK had brought the issue before parliament on Sept. 1 and is awaiting a written response from the Defense Ministry. Katrinis called for the agreement's technical and legal provisions to be made public, stressing that access to the source code is crucial for safeguarding Greece's national interests in a deal worth billions of euros.

The Greek Left Alliance, founded by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, said the lack of access raised serious questions about the management of the system and 'the protection of national interests.' The party said the government had been 'left exposed' and warned that Greece could become dependent on another country unless it secures full control of the system.

Greek daily Efimerida ton Syntakton reported that Israel's latest statements referred to technology transfer and the joint use of software and technology with the Greek Armed Forces, but did not explicitly say the source code would be handed over. Asked by Kathimerini whether Greece would have access to the source code linked to the system's command-and-control capabilities, Patel replied: 'No, because the source code was not included in the agreement's user license.'

Efimerida ton Syntakton alleged that the question-and-answer section was removed from Kathimerini's website before the report was updated with references to 'technology transfer' and the 'joint use of software and technology.' To Vima said Patel's statement had raised serious questions in Athens and appeared to contradict previous statements by Greek officials.

Israel and Greece signed the approximately pound 3 billion ($3.5 billion) Achilles Shield agreement in Tel Aviv on Aug. 31. Under the deal, Israel will establish a multilayered air-defense network in Greece made up of Rafael's David's Sling and Spyder systems, Israel Aerospace Industries' Barak MX system, and MMR multimission radars. The agreement also includes a new national command-and-control system to be developed under Rafael's leadership.

Opposition parties have argued that the deal would increase Greece's defense dependence on Israel, burden taxpayers, and tie Athens' regional policy more closely to Israel. Former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis called the agreement 'shameful.' 'Although the vast majority of Greeks oppose the genocidal apartheid state, we have allowed our ruling class to stain Greece with this disgraceful agreement,' he said.