I've read about the Simca engines on the AROC pages about Autocars/Rom Carmel.
I still think it could be a Rootes Avenger fitted on the 1301 and perhaps some 1300, as bore and stroke according to a few yearbook (Auto Journal, Revue Automobile Suisse...) are exactly the same.
But everything is quite confusing about this curious adventure. I've even read about a short-lived assembly of Hino Contesse in Haifa...
If someone here can read hebrew, there is an article about it on wikipedia. And an israelite car website, but their articles are available in english.
I'm sure Africa is the very last unknown continent for car culture !