Written by: Nick G. on 27 May 2021
Less than a week after Israel was forced to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas following its vicious attacks on the people of the Gaza Strip, a leading Israeli military company has announced that it will open an office in Australia, and promote its wares at a weapons fair that is only a week away.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
• Provides surveillance technology for Israel's illegal wall that cuts deep into the occupied West Bank territory, expanding Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and resources.
• Produces the armor for the Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, largely used to demolish Palestinian homes and farms.
• Produces technology for fighter jets and the Heron TP, Israel's biggest drone that includes strike capacity and was used repeatedly in the attacks on Gaza.
It is is Israel’s major aerospace and defense manufacturer.
According to an announcement released today on the Australia-Pacific Defence Reporter website, “IAI looks forward to participating in the Land Forces Exhibition 2021 (June 1-3, Queensland, Australia). During the Land Forces exhibition, IAI will present a variety of land solutions such as end-to-end and cutting-edge sensors for force protection. Furthermore, IAI will present awareness solutions including information gathering reconnaissance, surveillance, communication as well as a selection of loitering munitions capabilities.”
A loitering munition (also known as a suicide drone or kamikaze drone) is a weapon system category in which the munition “loiters” around the target area for some time, searches for targets, and attacks once a target is located. The image above is of IAI’s Harop loitering munition.
AIA already has a partnership with Australian-based company BIS (formerly Brambles and now privately-owned by US private equity companies Carlyle and Varde) to produce equipment and systems for autonomous mining operations (that is, operations that don’t require workers).
There is little time to organise against IAI or the arms fair, but Australian friends of Palestine must find ways to oppose IAI’s presence in Australia, and any cooperation between it and the Australian military.
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