Billions in Israel defence contracts put Australia at risk

The Australian government has a risk of leaping billions of public money to Israeli arms agreements. Stephanie Tran Analyzes public information.

In the last twenty years, the Australian government has carried out a $ 2.5 billion taxpayer funds to Israeli weapons producers through government agreements.

Analysis of Austnder data shows that since 2004, the Australian government has signed dozens of agreements with Israel’s largest defense companies and has made some of the country’s most important foreign weapons suppliers.

But this is just the visible part of the iceberg. Since the government does not have to disclose sub -contract regulations, the real amount is absolutely much higher. 900 million dollar agreement Elbit Systems and South Korean company Hanwha to supply armored vehicles to the Australian Army.

The breakdown of the funds is as follows:

• Elistra Electronic System Ltd, Universal Avionics Systems, Geospectrum Technologies and Ferranti Technologies
• 307 million dollars for the Israel Aerospace Industries and its subsidiaries Elda Systems and Elta Electronic Industry
• Australian Company Varley Group “Varley Rafael ile with its subsidiary Pearson Engineering and Joint Venture Rafael Advanced Defense Systems $ 180 million dollars
• Israeli military industries, also known as IMI systems, $ 10 million. (Note: IMI Systems purchased by Elbit Systems in 2018)
• 870,000 dollars for Plassan
• $ 210,00 to Rada Electronic Industries

Australian International Justice Center Senior Lawyer Lara Khider, Contracts carry a risk of violating Australia’s international legal obligations.

International law breaking

“States, Israel, the military and other operations in Gaza, and the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territory, he pointed out that the international action,” he said. decisions inside South Africa V Israel genocide case and its consultation view Israel’s invasion of Palestinian territory.

“On this basis, states have the obligation to help and stop the aid in relation to the commission of these actions.

He said that ICJ is certain that all states should avoid trade or economic relations involving the illegal existence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian region, and avoid assisting or helping care. Within the scope of Australia’s weapon trade agreement, governments are required to block arms transfers if there is the risk that they will be used to make serious violations of Geneva contracts.

The Australian International Center for Justice called for a two -way weapon embargo to the two -way arms embargo to ensure that it does not directly or indirectly contribute to violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian regions of Australia.

The Ministry of Defense did not answer – at all?

The Ministry of Defense did not respond to whether or not to cancel the current contracts and to avoid entering new contracts from Israeli defense companies in the light of genocide in Gaza.

Australian Lawyers Alliance Spokesperson Greg Barns SC said that the continuation of contracts weakens Australia’s moral and legal reliability.

“Australia is obliged to comply with all the international agreements, treaties and treaties that sign. It is moral to allow any Australian government to allow the supply of defense equipment to a country that makes war crimes and genocide, and it is clearly a violation of international law. ”

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