Hidden in Plain Sight: Uncovering the Canada-Israel Weapons & Surveillance Trade

A few months ago it was announced that the Canadian military would buy new drone surveillance technology manufactured in Israel and ‘battle-tested during Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza when 164 children were killed by drone strikes. While the subsequent public outcry was well-warranted, this announcement was simply rare peek into a massive—and very secretive— an ongoing collaboration between Canada and Israel on their weapons and surveillance systems. This includes extensive investments by the Canadian Pension Fund in Israel’s weapons, Canadian companies manufacturing parts for Israel’s weapons systems, Canada and Israel conducting joint police and military exercises, and the two countries’ regular sharing of security information. The good news for antiwar and Palestinian human rights activists is that a new searchable database has just been developed — the Database of Israeli Military and Security Export (DIMSE). This interactive webinar will provide an introduction to the Israel-Canada arms and surveillance trade, as well as hands-on training on how to use DIMSE as a valuable tool to dig into the trade and use of Israeli military, security, police weapons and surveillance systems and their suppliers.

***Speakers include:—Mark Ayyash: professor of sociology at Mount Royal University. His research includes the study of violence, post-colonial theory and history, culture and politics in Palestine-Israel.
—Jonathan Hemple: researcher for the American Friends Service Committee and the co-founder of the Database of Israeli Military and Security Export
—Sahar Vardi: an Israeli anti-militarist activist and one of the founders of Hamushim, a project challenging Israel’s military industry and arms trade.