As reported in the media, the Australian government will be spending about $970 million on military components with the major Israeli arms firm Elbit which has 80% of the Israeli armaments market. Elbit is also accused of sellling products to violators of human rights including Myanmar, despite an international embargo.
In 2010 the AJDS adopted a resolution which supported limited boycotts and services to hold Israel accountable for its occupation. This included selected actions designed to bring about an end to the Israeli occupation, blockade and settlement on Palestinian lands lying outside of the June 1967 Israeli borders.
In May 2021 AJDS made a submission to a DFAT Inquiry on trade with Israel. This submission detailed further actions which we regard as significant for human rights. Part of the submission was devoted to military and related matters in the context of human rights violations. The AJDS said at that time –
“AJDS submits to the inquiry that neither the Australian government nor any company or charity in Australia should be engaged in any trade or investment with Israel in the Occupied Territories. The specifics here include:
• Military, security, intelligence, and related services developed by and for the Israeli government that are used in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem. These can be services developed by the Israeli military, or private contracting companies, or universities within the Green Line or in the Occupied Territories. This range of products includes not only traditional military hardware, but any software surveillance, control, and profiling systems used to violently or covertly control the Palestinian population. ID systems, phone tapping and software systems such as face and voice recognition, and training provided to support these systems.”