Advocates say Canada is flouting international obligations by allowing arms shipments to Israel via the United States.
Montreal, Canada – The United States has faced widespread condemnation this week for authorising the sale of more than $20bn in additional weapons to Israel as the top US ally wages war in the Gaza Strip.
But while the newly approved arms transfer has renewed global scrutiny of Washington’s unwavering support for Israel, in Canada, the announcement on Tuesday drew attention for a different reason.That’s because more than $60m worth of munitions will be manufactured by a weapons company in Canada as part of that sale.Canadian lawyers, rights advocates and other experts say this raises serious questions about the opaque nature of the country’s arms export regime.
They also say Canada’s participation in the arms deal makes clear that the country is failing to ensure that Canadian-made weapons are not used in suspected human rights violations abroad, as required by law.
“The news is appalling,” said Kelsey Gallagher, a researcher at the Canadian peace research group Project Ploughshares. “Given Israel’s appalling track record of violating international humanitarian law through its operation in Gaza, including in some cases which may constitute war crimes, in no way is it appropriate for Canada to supply this ammunition,” Gallagher told Al Jazeera.“Moreover, as per Canada’s obligations under the UN Arms Trade Treaty, it’s illegal.”
US-Canada defence partnership
How is it that Canadian-made munitions will be making their way to Israel? A special US-Canada trade relationship is at the heart of the issue, experts say. Since the 1950s, the North American neighbours have enjoyed “mutually beneficial terms and conditions” on the trade of military weapons and related components via a bilateral deal called the Defence Production Sharing Agreement.