Israeli national flags flutter near office towers at a business park also housing high tech companies, at Ofer Park in Petah Tikva, Israel August 27, 2020. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A senior Microsoft Israel official expressed concern for the future of Israel's high tech sector due to the country's war with Islamist group Hamas, warning multinational companies may close research and development activities. Tomer Simon, chief scientist at Microsoft Israel's R&D Center, said he expressed his concerns in a letter to Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's head of the National Security Council, but never received a reply. "The country must create a positive horizon so that multinational companies continue to grow," Simon said, noting that for every tech job, there were five more created that drive Israel's economy. Simon did not cite figures but the government has estimated as much as 15% of tech workers were called to military service.

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Persons: Ronen, Tomer Simon, Tzachi, Simon, Israel, Steven Scheer, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Microsoft Israel, Hamas, Microsoft, D Center, National Security Council, Thomson Locations: Petah Tikva, Israel