16 mar 2015
The Britain-based Palestinian Return Center (PRC) has slammed Switzerland’s excuses for a projected arms deal with Israel aimed at purchasing Israeli drones.
PRC’s executive manager, Tareq Hamoud, lashed out, in press statements, at the response delivered by the Swiss foreign ministry to justify the grounds for the deal as one that does not breach human rights and is only allotted for Swiss military drilling.
The underway drone deal to be struck by Switzerland is another blow dealt to the human rights situation in Palestine and the region. It is quite paradoxical that it comes from Switzerland, the country that has always stood in the vanguard-seats of human rights’ backers, Hamoud said.
The purchase will only serve to boost up Israel’s war industry which, as time has passed by, resulted in flagrant violations of Palestinians’ rights, he added.
“The deal comes at a time when the boycott-of-Israel-campaigns have been proliferating across all possible fields, be them academic, cultural, or economic.
“It is just unthinkable to have more arms deals struck with the Israeli occupation at a time when its ill-famed war machine has been committing the most flagrant infringements of human rights in Gaza,” the anti-Israeli activist maintained.
Hamoud said neither Palestinians nor the world’s pro-Palestine parties will tolerate the Swiss biased position vis-à-vis the affair.
A large-scale campaign has recently been launched against Switzerland’s intention to buy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles.
The arms deal in favor of the Swiss army has been worth more than a third of a billion dollars. Funds from the 2015 budget have been allocated to that very end.
The deal aims at procuring the Hermes 900 drone manufactured by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been murdered and/or wounded during Israeli drone raids along the past few years.
The anti-Israel campaign includes staging popular and media activities, signing e-petitions, and mobilizing the pro-Palestine masses to step up pressure on Swiss stakeholders to rescind the arms transaction.
PRC’s executive manager, Tareq Hamoud, lashed out, in press statements, at the response delivered by the Swiss foreign ministry to justify the grounds for the deal as one that does not breach human rights and is only allotted for Swiss military drilling.
The underway drone deal to be struck by Switzerland is another blow dealt to the human rights situation in Palestine and the region. It is quite paradoxical that it comes from Switzerland, the country that has always stood in the vanguard-seats of human rights’ backers, Hamoud said.
The purchase will only serve to boost up Israel’s war industry which, as time has passed by, resulted in flagrant violations of Palestinians’ rights, he added.
“The deal comes at a time when the boycott-of-Israel-campaigns have been proliferating across all possible fields, be them academic, cultural, or economic.
“It is just unthinkable to have more arms deals struck with the Israeli occupation at a time when its ill-famed war machine has been committing the most flagrant infringements of human rights in Gaza,” the anti-Israeli activist maintained.
Hamoud said neither Palestinians nor the world’s pro-Palestine parties will tolerate the Swiss biased position vis-à-vis the affair.
A large-scale campaign has recently been launched against Switzerland’s intention to buy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles.
The arms deal in favor of the Swiss army has been worth more than a third of a billion dollars. Funds from the 2015 budget have been allocated to that very end.
The deal aims at procuring the Hermes 900 drone manufactured by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been murdered and/or wounded during Israeli drone raids along the past few years.
The anti-Israel campaign includes staging popular and media activities, signing e-petitions, and mobilizing the pro-Palestine masses to step up pressure on Swiss stakeholders to rescind the arms transaction.
4 mar 2015
If mandatory limits not eased, Congress will have to reshuffle research priorities to comply with Jerusalem ask of additional $317 million for Iron Dome, Arrow shields.
Mandatory caps due to resume this year for the US defense budget could complicate Congress' ability to honor Israel's request for $317 million in extra funding for missile defense programs on top of $158 million already requested by the White House.
American lawmakers continue to strongly support Israel, but congressional aides said Israel's push for more than $475 million in funding for missile defense programs in fiscal 2016 could run into trouble if Congress does not ease or rescind budget caps on the overall level of the US defense budget.
"We've been very generous with the Israelis... but the first step is to see where we are on the budget resolution. Anything else is putting the cart before the horse," said one aide on the US House Armed Services Committee.
Two other aides cited "frustration" about the size of the Israeli request given the current budget uncertainty. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other US officials have warned that cutting the Pentagon's proposed 2016 budget by $38 billion to stick to the caps would harm the US military's ability to respond to crises around the world.
It remains unclear if deficit hawks in the Republican-controlled Congress will agree to lift the budget caps. Israeli officials last week asked lawmakers for $41.2 million for the short-range Iron Dome rocket interceptor, which has already received more than $1.2 billion in US funding, and $268 million for further development of the longer-range David's Sling and Arrow 3 missile defense programs. They also requested $165 million for initial procurement of both systems, said two aides familiar with the request.
A senior Democratic aide said Israel had shifted its focus from Iron Dome, now a mature system, to completing development of David's Sling, which defends against cruise missiles. Depending on what was included, Israel's request was potentially as high as $488 million, the aide said. The House committee aide said the procurement request would require a new US-Israeli bilateral agreement allowing co-production of the new weapons systems by US and Israeli firms.
"This can't just be a blank check to the Israelis," the aide said. Raytheon Co is working with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd on the Iron Dome and David's Sling programs. The Arrow program is jointly developed by Boeing Co and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Riki Ellison, founder of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said Congress was likely to approve the request, if the budget caps are lifted, but the funds would be taken from other programs, including Lockheed Martin Corp's Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program.
John Isaacs, senior fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said one possibility would be for Congress to include the Israeli programs in a supplemental request for war funding, or "overseas contingency operations."
Mandatory caps due to resume this year for the US defense budget could complicate Congress' ability to honor Israel's request for $317 million in extra funding for missile defense programs on top of $158 million already requested by the White House.
American lawmakers continue to strongly support Israel, but congressional aides said Israel's push for more than $475 million in funding for missile defense programs in fiscal 2016 could run into trouble if Congress does not ease or rescind budget caps on the overall level of the US defense budget.
"We've been very generous with the Israelis... but the first step is to see where we are on the budget resolution. Anything else is putting the cart before the horse," said one aide on the US House Armed Services Committee.
Two other aides cited "frustration" about the size of the Israeli request given the current budget uncertainty. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and other US officials have warned that cutting the Pentagon's proposed 2016 budget by $38 billion to stick to the caps would harm the US military's ability to respond to crises around the world.
It remains unclear if deficit hawks in the Republican-controlled Congress will agree to lift the budget caps. Israeli officials last week asked lawmakers for $41.2 million for the short-range Iron Dome rocket interceptor, which has already received more than $1.2 billion in US funding, and $268 million for further development of the longer-range David's Sling and Arrow 3 missile defense programs. They also requested $165 million for initial procurement of both systems, said two aides familiar with the request.
A senior Democratic aide said Israel had shifted its focus from Iron Dome, now a mature system, to completing development of David's Sling, which defends against cruise missiles. Depending on what was included, Israel's request was potentially as high as $488 million, the aide said. The House committee aide said the procurement request would require a new US-Israeli bilateral agreement allowing co-production of the new weapons systems by US and Israeli firms.
"This can't just be a blank check to the Israelis," the aide said. Raytheon Co is working with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd on the Iron Dome and David's Sling programs. The Arrow program is jointly developed by Boeing Co and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Riki Ellison, founder of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said Congress was likely to approve the request, if the budget caps are lifted, but the funds would be taken from other programs, including Lockheed Martin Corp's Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program.
John Isaacs, senior fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said one possibility would be for Congress to include the Israeli programs in a supplemental request for war funding, or "overseas contingency operations."
3 mar 2015
Model of the interceptor missile used by the David's Sling system
Will business continue as usual?
Despite current tensions with the American president over today's speech to Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his administration are requesting an additional $317 for Israel's missile-defence programmes.
Seeking to lower tensions with the American administration, Netanyahu is casting the dispute over his controversial invitation to Washington as a family squabble. However, the Israeli leader claimed President Obama was not in a position to understand the depth of his concerns.
"American leaders worry about the security of their country," Netanyahu said, addressing the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference on Monday. "Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country," he stressed.
Netanyahu's address to the AIPAC conference was the first of two major speeches during this visit to the US. The second, and more controversial, is his speech on Tuesday to Congress, in which he will decry the agreement currently being negotiated between the Obama administration and other world powers with Iran.
Talking to the AIPAC conference, it was important for the prime minister to stress that "despite occasional disagreements, the friendship between the US and Israel grows stronger and stronger.” After all, despite the ongoing tensions, Israel has asked the U.S. Congress to add U.S.$317 million to President Barack Obama’s budget request for their nation’s missile-defence programs. This amount is in addition to the $158 million the Pentagon proposed for the fiscal year that starts October 1. The Israeli request would provide first-time production funds for two programmes - David’s Sling and Arrow-3.
Nonetheless, these tensions led Israel to lobby on Capitol Hill instead of through the White House and Pentagon, as is customary.
Bloomberg Business reports that Yair Ramati, the director of Israel’s missile defence organization, visited lawmakers and aides to the congressional defence committees to outline the case for more money and to thank them for past assistance.
The U.S. provides funds for Israel’s missile defenses separately from the U.S. $3.1 billion a year given to Israel in “foreign military financing” to buy weapons. If Israel's current request for additional funds will be accepted, total known military aid to Israel will reach almost U.S.$ 3.6 billion this year.
On February 22, Israel confirmed it would buy 14 additional F-35s from the United States, a deal financed by the United States and costed at some $3 billion.
US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday that the current tensions between the U.S. and Israel could last until the end of the Obama administration in 2016.
Talking to the French radio station Europe 1, Blinken said that the Israeli prime minister's speech could have "a bit of a corrosive effect" on ties.
"It does not create trust," said the diplomat, stressing nevertheless that "the U.S. commitment to Israel's security will not change."
Also from AIC: 02/23/15 Who is Netanyahu? Why Should Congress Boycott his Speech?
Will business continue as usual?
Despite current tensions with the American president over today's speech to Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his administration are requesting an additional $317 for Israel's missile-defence programmes.
Seeking to lower tensions with the American administration, Netanyahu is casting the dispute over his controversial invitation to Washington as a family squabble. However, the Israeli leader claimed President Obama was not in a position to understand the depth of his concerns.
"American leaders worry about the security of their country," Netanyahu said, addressing the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference on Monday. "Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country," he stressed.
Netanyahu's address to the AIPAC conference was the first of two major speeches during this visit to the US. The second, and more controversial, is his speech on Tuesday to Congress, in which he will decry the agreement currently being negotiated between the Obama administration and other world powers with Iran.
Talking to the AIPAC conference, it was important for the prime minister to stress that "despite occasional disagreements, the friendship between the US and Israel grows stronger and stronger.” After all, despite the ongoing tensions, Israel has asked the U.S. Congress to add U.S.$317 million to President Barack Obama’s budget request for their nation’s missile-defence programs. This amount is in addition to the $158 million the Pentagon proposed for the fiscal year that starts October 1. The Israeli request would provide first-time production funds for two programmes - David’s Sling and Arrow-3.
Nonetheless, these tensions led Israel to lobby on Capitol Hill instead of through the White House and Pentagon, as is customary.
Bloomberg Business reports that Yair Ramati, the director of Israel’s missile defence organization, visited lawmakers and aides to the congressional defence committees to outline the case for more money and to thank them for past assistance.
The U.S. provides funds for Israel’s missile defenses separately from the U.S. $3.1 billion a year given to Israel in “foreign military financing” to buy weapons. If Israel's current request for additional funds will be accepted, total known military aid to Israel will reach almost U.S.$ 3.6 billion this year.
On February 22, Israel confirmed it would buy 14 additional F-35s from the United States, a deal financed by the United States and costed at some $3 billion.
US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday that the current tensions between the U.S. and Israel could last until the end of the Obama administration in 2016.
Talking to the French radio station Europe 1, Blinken said that the Israeli prime minister's speech could have "a bit of a corrosive effect" on ties.
"It does not create trust," said the diplomat, stressing nevertheless that "the U.S. commitment to Israel's security will not change."
Also from AIC: 02/23/15 Who is Netanyahu? Why Should Congress Boycott his Speech?
28 feb 2015
Israeli officials said lobbying congress for over $300m for missile defense programs, as Obama, Netanyahu tensions reach record high ahead of PM's controversial visit, Jewish Democrats find themselves in political bind.
Israeli officials have reportedly asked the US Congress for $300 million for two missile-defense programs, in addition to over $3 billion the US gives Israel annually.
The request, first reported by Bloomberg, comes at a time of heightened political tensions between Washington and Jerusalem ahead of a controversial visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu which will see him address Congress on a looming nuclear deal with Iran, despite anger by Democrats and the White House for failure to coordinate the event, orchestrated by the Republican leadership.
The tensions could explain why the fund's request was aimed at the Congress and not the administration itself. According to Bloomberg, the request for an additional $317 million is in addition to the $158 million the Pentagon proposed for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
The request would provide funds for producing David’s Sling and Arrow-3 – two anti-missile defense programs. Just days ago, the Defense Ministry announced that trials conducted over the past five months for the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missile interceptors were a failure.
Yair Ramati, head of Israel's missile defense organization in the Defense Minister, reportedly met with members of the congressional defense committees to lobby for the funds. According to Bloomberg, the US provides funds for Israel’s missile defenses - including Iron Dome - separately from the annual $3.1 billion in military aid, which allows Israel to buy arms through the State Department budget, and predominantly from US arms manufacturers.
Jewish Democrat's dillema
Jewish House Democrats personally offered Netanyahu a chance to lower the political temperature after he accepted a Republican invitation to speak to Congress next week on Iran - a less provocative, closed-door session.
Netanyahu turned them down, frustrating members of President Barack Obama's party who are caught between the White House and the Israeli leader. Democrats face an unenviable choice on Tuesday: Attend the speech and listen to the Israeli leader criticize the president over his effort to negotiate a deal with Iran on its nuclear capability. Or skip it and face complaints that they failed to show solidarity with Netanyahu. Democrats are largely resigned to the situation although still bitter about being caught in between. They're directing their wrath at House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who invited Netanyahu without consulting with the White House and State Department. And they're publicly disagreeing with the Israeli leader, too.
Rep. Sander Levin, R-Mich., called Boehner's invitation to Netanyahu "a strictly political ploy by the speaker to try to reinforce the Republicans' position on Israel and divide Democrats." Netanyahu was "mistaken to agree to it," he said. "Speaker Boehner is playing politics with the critical issue of Israel's security. That's beyond pardon as far as I'm concerned." The prime minister is speaking to Congress at the request of Republicans. His visit was coordinated without the Obama administration's knowledge, deepening tensions between two leaders who have never shown much affection for each other.
Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the liberal Jewish advocacy group J Street, said Netanyahu was "crossing some lines that haven't been crossed before and is putting Israel into the partisan crossfire in a way it has not been before." But the largest pro-Israel lobby in the US, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has tried to play down the partisanship.
"AIPAC welcomes the prime minister's speech to Congress and we believe that this is a very important address," spokesman Marshall Wittmann said. "We have been actively encouraging senators and representatives to attend and we have received an overwhelmingly positive response from both sides of the aisle." Nearly a dozen Democratic lawmakers plan to sit out Netanyahu's speech, calling it an affront to the president. Stopping Iran from building a nuclear bomb has become a defining challenge for both Obama and Netanyahu, yet one they have approached far differently.
For Obama, getting Iran to verifiably prove it is not pursuing nuclear weapons would be a bright spot in a foreign policy arena in which numerous outcomes are uncertain and would validate his early political promise to negotiate with Iran without conditions. Netanyahu considers unacceptable any deal with Iran that doesn't end its nuclear program entirely and opposes the diplomatic pursuit as one that minimizes what he considers an existential threat to Israel.
Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful and exists only to produce energy for civilian use. US and Iranian officials reported progress in the latest talks on a deal that would freeze Tehran's nuclear program for 10 years, but allow it to slowly ramp up in the final years of the accord.
Obama has refused to meet Netanyahu during his visit, with the White House citing its policy of not meeting with foreign leaders soon before their elections. Vice President Joe Biden and Kerry will both be out of the country on trips announced only after Netanyahu accepted the GOP offer to speak on Capitol Hill.
The prime minister is scheduled to speak Monday at AIPAC's annual policy conference. The Obama administration will be represented at the event by UN Ambassador Samantha Power and national security adviser Susan Rice, who criticized Netanyahu's plans to address Congress as "destructive" to the US-Israeli relationship.
Israeli officials have reportedly asked the US Congress for $300 million for two missile-defense programs, in addition to over $3 billion the US gives Israel annually.
The request, first reported by Bloomberg, comes at a time of heightened political tensions between Washington and Jerusalem ahead of a controversial visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu which will see him address Congress on a looming nuclear deal with Iran, despite anger by Democrats and the White House for failure to coordinate the event, orchestrated by the Republican leadership.
The tensions could explain why the fund's request was aimed at the Congress and not the administration itself. According to Bloomberg, the request for an additional $317 million is in addition to the $158 million the Pentagon proposed for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
The request would provide funds for producing David’s Sling and Arrow-3 – two anti-missile defense programs. Just days ago, the Defense Ministry announced that trials conducted over the past five months for the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missile interceptors were a failure.
Yair Ramati, head of Israel's missile defense organization in the Defense Minister, reportedly met with members of the congressional defense committees to lobby for the funds. According to Bloomberg, the US provides funds for Israel’s missile defenses - including Iron Dome - separately from the annual $3.1 billion in military aid, which allows Israel to buy arms through the State Department budget, and predominantly from US arms manufacturers.
Jewish Democrat's dillema
Jewish House Democrats personally offered Netanyahu a chance to lower the political temperature after he accepted a Republican invitation to speak to Congress next week on Iran - a less provocative, closed-door session.
Netanyahu turned them down, frustrating members of President Barack Obama's party who are caught between the White House and the Israeli leader. Democrats face an unenviable choice on Tuesday: Attend the speech and listen to the Israeli leader criticize the president over his effort to negotiate a deal with Iran on its nuclear capability. Or skip it and face complaints that they failed to show solidarity with Netanyahu. Democrats are largely resigned to the situation although still bitter about being caught in between. They're directing their wrath at House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who invited Netanyahu without consulting with the White House and State Department. And they're publicly disagreeing with the Israeli leader, too.
Rep. Sander Levin, R-Mich., called Boehner's invitation to Netanyahu "a strictly political ploy by the speaker to try to reinforce the Republicans' position on Israel and divide Democrats." Netanyahu was "mistaken to agree to it," he said. "Speaker Boehner is playing politics with the critical issue of Israel's security. That's beyond pardon as far as I'm concerned." The prime minister is speaking to Congress at the request of Republicans. His visit was coordinated without the Obama administration's knowledge, deepening tensions between two leaders who have never shown much affection for each other.
Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of the liberal Jewish advocacy group J Street, said Netanyahu was "crossing some lines that haven't been crossed before and is putting Israel into the partisan crossfire in a way it has not been before." But the largest pro-Israel lobby in the US, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has tried to play down the partisanship.
"AIPAC welcomes the prime minister's speech to Congress and we believe that this is a very important address," spokesman Marshall Wittmann said. "We have been actively encouraging senators and representatives to attend and we have received an overwhelmingly positive response from both sides of the aisle." Nearly a dozen Democratic lawmakers plan to sit out Netanyahu's speech, calling it an affront to the president. Stopping Iran from building a nuclear bomb has become a defining challenge for both Obama and Netanyahu, yet one they have approached far differently.
For Obama, getting Iran to verifiably prove it is not pursuing nuclear weapons would be a bright spot in a foreign policy arena in which numerous outcomes are uncertain and would validate his early political promise to negotiate with Iran without conditions. Netanyahu considers unacceptable any deal with Iran that doesn't end its nuclear program entirely and opposes the diplomatic pursuit as one that minimizes what he considers an existential threat to Israel.
Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful and exists only to produce energy for civilian use. US and Iranian officials reported progress in the latest talks on a deal that would freeze Tehran's nuclear program for 10 years, but allow it to slowly ramp up in the final years of the accord.
Obama has refused to meet Netanyahu during his visit, with the White House citing its policy of not meeting with foreign leaders soon before their elections. Vice President Joe Biden and Kerry will both be out of the country on trips announced only after Netanyahu accepted the GOP offer to speak on Capitol Hill.
The prime minister is scheduled to speak Monday at AIPAC's annual policy conference. The Obama administration will be represented at the event by UN Ambassador Samantha Power and national security adviser Susan Rice, who criticized Netanyahu's plans to address Congress as "destructive" to the US-Israeli relationship.
23 feb 2015
Israeli occupation Defense Ministry announced, Sunday, that it signed a deal with the United States to purchase more F-35 fighter planes for the Israeli air force, at $110 million dollars each.
The transaction, according to the Palestinian News Network (PNN), adds another 14 F-35 warplanes, with the option for an additional 17 aircraft, on top of the 19 placed on order in 2010.
The whole deal is worth $2.82 billion, and supports high-tech aircraft, therefore will boost the US air industry. The first F-35 aircraft is due for delivery at the end of 2016 and the rest by 2021.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli Air Force will receive a total of 33 F-35 planes.
One of the acquisitions will serve as an experimental aircraft. The first two planes are scheduled to be delivered in about a year and a half, by the end of 2016. The rest of the aircraft are expected to arrive by 2021.
The deal requires Israeli weapons to be integrated into the aircraft, in addition to the F-35 wings developed by the Aerospace Industry and the pilot helmets developed by Elbit.
The transaction, according to the Palestinian News Network (PNN), adds another 14 F-35 warplanes, with the option for an additional 17 aircraft, on top of the 19 placed on order in 2010.
The whole deal is worth $2.82 billion, and supports high-tech aircraft, therefore will boost the US air industry. The first F-35 aircraft is due for delivery at the end of 2016 and the rest by 2021.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli Air Force will receive a total of 33 F-35 planes.
One of the acquisitions will serve as an experimental aircraft. The first two planes are scheduled to be delivered in about a year and a half, by the end of 2016. The rest of the aircraft are expected to arrive by 2021.
The deal requires Israeli weapons to be integrated into the aircraft, in addition to the F-35 wings developed by the Aerospace Industry and the pilot helmets developed by Elbit.
15 feb 2015
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According to a declassified report belonging to 1987, the US government had given sensitive technology to Israel in order to help Tel Aviv develop a hydrogen bomb.
In this edition of The Debate, Press TV has conducted an interview with Ken O'Keefe, a peace activist and former US marine from London, and Richard Hellman, the president of the Middle East Research Center from Washington, to look into the US move to help Israel make a Hydrogen bomb.
In this edition of The Debate, Press TV has conducted an interview with Ken O'Keefe, a peace activist and former US marine from London, and Richard Hellman, the president of the Middle East Research Center from Washington, to look into the US move to help Israel make a Hydrogen bomb.
12 feb 2015
Pro-Palestinian activists in Europe have launched an on-line hashtag to dissuade Switzerland from buying Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, as it violates its commitments and pledges to advance human rights around the world.
The boycott campaign’s hashtag has been widely spread on social media networks aiming to exert more pressures on Swiss decision-makers to cancel the arms deal.
The arms deal in favor of Swiss department of defense is worth more than a third of a billion dollars.
Between three hundred million and four hundred million Swiss francs has been allocated in the Swiss annual budget to purchase the Israeli drones.
The Swiss military chose to buy the Hermes 900 drone made by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and injured during Israeli drone attacks along the past few years.
Israel Aircraft Industries mainly depend on unmanned aircraft exports to boost its funds.
If approved by parliament, the Swiss decision to buy the blood-stained Elbit drones will be only the latest manifestation of a history of military complicity with Israel that undermines Switzerland’s self-serving propaganda that it is a country that promotes peace and respect for human rights around the world, a popular campaign against the deal said.
The boycott campaign’s hashtag has been widely spread on social media networks aiming to exert more pressures on Swiss decision-makers to cancel the arms deal.
The arms deal in favor of Swiss department of defense is worth more than a third of a billion dollars.
Between three hundred million and four hundred million Swiss francs has been allocated in the Swiss annual budget to purchase the Israeli drones.
The Swiss military chose to buy the Hermes 900 drone made by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and injured during Israeli drone attacks along the past few years.
Israel Aircraft Industries mainly depend on unmanned aircraft exports to boost its funds.
If approved by parliament, the Swiss decision to buy the blood-stained Elbit drones will be only the latest manifestation of a history of military complicity with Israel that undermines Switzerland’s self-serving propaganda that it is a country that promotes peace and respect for human rights around the world, a popular campaign against the deal said.
10 feb 2015
A large-scale campaign has been launched against Switzerland’s intention to buy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones, as it violates its commitments and pledges to advance human rights around the world.
The campaign includes organizing popular and media activities, signing e-petitions, and posting and sharing the issue on social media networks aiming to exert more pressures on Swiss decision-makers to cancel the arms deal.
The arms deal in favor of Swiss department of defense has potentially been worth more than a third of a billion dollars.
Between three hundred million and four hundred million Swiss francs has been allocated in the Swiss annual budget to purchase the Israeli drones.
The Swiss military chose to buy the Hermes 900 drone made by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and injured during Israeli drone attacks along the past few years.
Israel Aircraft Industries mainly depend on unmanned aircraft exports to strengthen its funds.
A popular campaign has launched a petition to urge parliament not to approve the purchase of any Israeli drones, arguing that “military collaboration with Israel contradicts the special obligations that Switzerland has as not only a state party to the Geneva Conventions but also as its depository state.”
The petition, which has been waged by dozens of civil society organizations and human rights institutions, has collected more than 28 thousand signatures to date.
If approved by parliament, the Swiss decision to buy the blood-stained Elbit drones will be only the latest manifestation of a history of military complicity with Israel that undermines Switzerland’s self-serving propaganda that it is a country that promotes peace and respect for human rights around the world, the popular campaign said.
The campaign includes organizing popular and media activities, signing e-petitions, and posting and sharing the issue on social media networks aiming to exert more pressures on Swiss decision-makers to cancel the arms deal.
The arms deal in favor of Swiss department of defense has potentially been worth more than a third of a billion dollars.
Between three hundred million and four hundred million Swiss francs has been allocated in the Swiss annual budget to purchase the Israeli drones.
The Swiss military chose to buy the Hermes 900 drone made by Elbit Systems and Heron 1 drone made by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed and injured during Israeli drone attacks along the past few years.
Israel Aircraft Industries mainly depend on unmanned aircraft exports to strengthen its funds.
A popular campaign has launched a petition to urge parliament not to approve the purchase of any Israeli drones, arguing that “military collaboration with Israel contradicts the special obligations that Switzerland has as not only a state party to the Geneva Conventions but also as its depository state.”
The petition, which has been waged by dozens of civil society organizations and human rights institutions, has collected more than 28 thousand signatures to date.
If approved by parliament, the Swiss decision to buy the blood-stained Elbit drones will be only the latest manifestation of a history of military complicity with Israel that undermines Switzerland’s self-serving propaganda that it is a country that promotes peace and respect for human rights around the world, the popular campaign said.
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