Defense, Security and Occupation as a Business: new report on arms trade between Spain, Israel

Defense, Security and Occupation as a Business: Military, Armaments and Security Trade Relations between Spain and Israel

The Catalan Civil Society Coalition "No More Complicity with Israel" is composed of the most active civil society campaigns in solidarity with the Palestinian people and against Israeli apartheid. Our campaign is part of the international efforts to control private military and security companies 

During the last five years we have denounced the arms trade relations between Spain and Israel, which is fuelling the occupation and the Israeli apartheid system in the Palestinian territory. With this aim, the following research has been conducted:

"DEFENCE, SECURITY AND OCCUPATION AS A BUSINESS. Military, armaments and security trade relations between Spain and Israel".  

The research, recently elaborated by Alejandro Pozo and his team, shows the (military, political, commercial) links between Spain and Israel and the relevance for the Israeli economy of testing combat weapons and security systems on the Palestinian people. But also how Israel is exporting a "model of repression" which includes mass control tactics, security systems, remote control mechanisms, amongst others. In this new sector, Israeli private military and security companies are providing services to Spanish public institutions, national police forces, universities and other companies. The privatization of security and war is also emerging in Spain and Catalonia.

To spread the research at international level means for us a) to show facts and elements to denounce the Israeli occupation and the complicity with it of governments and institutions, b) to stimulate other organisations/institutions to find the complicities in their country and c) to find international synergies to advocate and lobby with national and international organisations/institutions in order to make pressure on Israel and produce a change.
 
We deem is essential to translate these findings into raising awareness, social mobilization and political advocacy work at national and international. We ask you to make the best possible use of the research we share with you.

Executive Summary

1/ Military and security relations between Spain and Israel are significant and on the rise. They are facilitated, promoted and protected by a series of formal agreements that stand out for their secrecy and lack of transparency, and are characterized by access to privileged information and conditions.

Considering Europe and the NATO, to which Spain belongs: Israel obtains privileged access to funds and military and security research findings, it benefits from conditions of a de facto member of NATO, without being part of this organization, and has access to its interoperability standards, as well as

benefiting from the Euro Space Program.

2/ Israel exports about three-quarters of its military production to more than one hundred countries. The defense and security apparatus is highly dependent on these exports, which significantly reduce the costs of procurement for the Israeli security forces, allowing to export surplus production and thus reduce the costs of production per unit. The exported military equipment and weapons are advertised as representing “combat-tested” cutting-edge technology, as they have been previously used in the frequent Israeli military operations. Indeed, certain military products have increased in sales after military campaigns in the region or in the Gaza Strip, which is viewed as a laboratory for the testing of weapons.

3/ By exporting defense equipment to Israel Spain is violating its own legislation. These exports flagrantly violate four of the eight criteria established by the Common Position of the European Union and the Spanish law that regulates them. In addition, they could also be in breach of three

additional criteria set out in those provisions. Although the member countries of the EU have denied licenses to export defense equipment to Israel on at least 325 occasions between 2001 and 2011, it is known that none of these denials have come from Spain. Moreover, Spain has not exported defense

equipment to the Palestinian Authority, but it did export riot material.

4/ The economic size of Spanish imports of Israeli defense equipment is far superior to that of Spanish exports to Israel. Imported products include Spike missiles from the Israeli company Rafael, RCWS Samson remote control weapons platforms, also produced by Rafael, Cardom mortar systemsby Elbit Systems, and unmanned aircraft (drones) Searcher by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The four companies are among the most lucrative for the occupation of the Palestinian territories and the tensions in the region, while the four products have been tested extensively in the Gaza Strip. After 2007, the volume of imports soared, exceeding 400 million euros.

5/ Spain and its defense and security industry not only represent a business opportunity for their Israeli counterpart, but are also a gateway to the markets of Europe, North Africa, and especially Latin America. Israeli companies are taking advantage of partnerships and contacts with Spanish firms to access those third markets where Spain has a brand value. Spanish companies are also benefiting from these agreements, offering products which include cutting-edge Israeli technology and its proven experience in combat. The companies which are most are more favoured in this respect are Indra Systems Santa Barbara, Tecnobit and EADS-CASA, although Navantia also deserves to be mentioned.

6/ Part of the defense and security relations take place through the introduction of direct Israeli subsidiaries in Spain. To be highlighted among the defense companies are Pap Tecnos (subsidiary of Rafael) and Aeronautics. Regarding security firms, there are many companies that claim to work in or for the Spanish sector. Trade relations are promoted by various lobbies in Spain, as well as contacts established during defense and security trade fairs.

7/ An added value is provided by the Israeli security products and services due to their proven experience in combat, for the superior training conditions and facilities on Israeli territory, and for the made in Israel brand, the result of decades of expansion and promotion of its products. Among the clients of the Israeli security firms who advertise their experience as “battle tested” are: the Catalan police, the Guardia Civil, the GEO and the National Police, the Ertzaintza, local police in various cities, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Family.

8/ Spain is a growing business opportunity for the Israeli security and defense industry. The increasing trend towards the privatization of security services (especially in prisons) and expectations of greater facilities point to a golden era for those who are investing in security as a business. Several Israeli companies have benefited from contracts of Spanish public institutions and private companies.

9/ The Israeli defense and security industry conveys its expertise and knowledge through different courses in Spain and Israel, which are also promoted by Spanish public institutions. Customers are mainly Spanish security and police forces, as well as private security guards. There are several schools that offer such training (including university graduate programs), such as the Camilo Jos Cela University.

10/ Public and private universities, public institutions and Spanish military and technological companies develop research projects in the field of security with their Israeli counterparts. At least 31 projects of the European Union have the joint participation of the two countries. For example, contributing to the CAPER project, dedicated to the fight against organized crime through the massive extraction of data from the Internet, is the Catalan police, the Guardia Civil, the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Israeli Ministry of Public Security, among others.

Original Article
Source: alternativenews.org/
Author: Written by No More Complicity with Israel