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Israel’s Deadly Export Industry
Context:
In the book Palestine Laboratory, Antony Loewenstein argues that Israel uses the occupied Palestinian territories to test military technologies, which are then exported worldwide. The book examines the ethical and humanitarian consequences of this practice and its role in fueling Israel’s military-industrial complex.
Instances of Misuse by U.S. and Israel’s Military-Industrial Complex
- Israeli Arms in Rwanda (1994): Israel accused of supplying weapons to Hutu forces during the Rwandan genocide, leading to the massacre of 800,000 Tutsis.
- Support for Latin American Dictatorships: Israel provided military support to oppressive regimes in countries like Guatemala and Argentina.
- Racial Profiling via Surveillance Technology: Israeli surveillance tech, like Pegasus, has been used globally for racial discrimination.
- Operation Protective Edge (2014, Israel): New drones and surveillance systems were tested, boosting sales of “battle-proven” tech from companies like Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
- Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (2001-2014): U.S. tested drones like the MQ-9 Reaper, later sold to countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE.
- U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia (Yemen Conflict): Despite civilian casualties, U.S. defence companies continued to market their weapons as “battle-proven.”
- Israeli Iron Dome: Success in Gaza led to increased sales to countries like South Korea and India.
Ethical Concerns of Military-Industrial Complex
- Profit from Conflict: Companies profit by marketing war-tested technologies, even in ongoing conflicts.
- Perpetuation of War: Arms sales to conflict zones and regimes extend violence and civilian casualties.
- Erosion of Accountability: Selling technology to regimes with poor human rights records leads to abuses without oversight.
- Militarisation of Civilian Spaces: Military tech is increasingly used by law enforcement, infringing on civil liberties.
- Targeting Vulnerable Populations: Testing military tech on occupied populations violates their rights.
Ethics of War:
- National Interest vs Human Values: Ethical conflicts arise when states prioritise national security over the protection of human rights, often leading to civilian harm.
- National Interest vs Global Interest: Wars driven by national interests undermine global peace, stability, and ethical norms.
- Just War Theory: Wars should be fought with the objective of peace and only as a last resort, as highlighted in the Bhagavad Gita.
- Civilian Protection vs Military Objectives: In conflicts like Israel’s strikes on Gaza, balancing civilian protection with military goals is a significant ethical challenge.
- Self-Defense vs Collective Punishment: Israel’s actions against Hamas, such as blockades, raise questions about collective punishment and violations of international law.
- Proportionality in Warfare: Ethical debate over whether Israel’s military responses to Hamas are proportionate, given high civilian casualties in Gaza.
- Humanitarian Crisis vs Security: The blockade of Gaza presents ethical dilemmas over balancing Israel’s security needs with the humanitarian crisis it creates.
- International Law vs Accountability: Both Israel and Hamas face war crime accusations, raising concerns about the consistent application of international law.
- Perpetuation of Conflict vs Peace: Ethical concerns over the lack of efforts toward lasting peace by both Israel and Hamas, which prolongs conflict.
Israeli Defence Exports in 2023
- Israeli defence exports reached a record $13.1 billion in 2023, with missile and air defence systems making up 36% of sales.
- Defence exports, which totalled $12.5 billion in 2022 have doubled over the past five years, driven by the global demand for “battle-proven” technologies.
Conclusion of ‘The Palestine Laboratory’ by Antony Loewenstein
- Loewenstein reveals the global implications of Israel’s arms trade, highlighting how military technologies tested in conflict zones like Gaza are sold worldwide.
- He argues that Israel’s involvement in the arms trade, often linked to human rights abuses and authoritarian regimes, raises serious ethical and humanitarian concerns.