I learned with shock and dismay about the recent departure of Microsoft Israel’s general manager, Alon Haimovich. Apparently, he resigned due to an investigation of its business dealings with the Israeli military.

Let me introduce myself. I have been a software consultant for over 40 years and have worked exclusively with, and recommended to my clients, only Microsoft tools; like compilers, Office products, Dynamics, and Azure. I am a Microsoft partner. A few years ago, I recommended to one of my clients to avoid Amazon Web Services and to use Microsoft Azure because of the Amazon employees’ history of encouraging boycotts of Israel.

I attended almost every PDC, Build and TechEd from 1993 until COVID. I always looked forward to hearing Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and then you do deliver the keynote addresses. I always admired you for your empathy and inspiration.

I am also a victim of Arab terror. In 1970 I was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and held hostage for a week in the Jordanian desert. That makes me very sensitive and wary of terrorism and those who support and encourage it.

The investigation that Microsoft triggered was apparently because the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) used Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Services to store a trove of security related data in Azure Cloud. This is allegedly a violation of Microsoft’s code of ethics. It was also reported that the results of this investigation were inconclusive.

I asked Microsoft’ AI tool, CoPilot, to summarize the Microsoft Code of Ethics. This is the reply:

Microsoft’s Code of Ethics, known as the Standards of Business Conduct, requires employees to act with integrity, honesty, and accountability while following all laws and company policies. It emphasizes building trust with customers, partners, and........

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