Israeli drone purchase sparks heated debate
A motion condemning a decision by minister Paul Kehoe’s department to purchase drones from a Israeli company was deferred.
Cllr Tom Forde brought a motion calling on the council to write to the Minister of State for Defence to express disappointment and frustration regarding the purchase and upgrade of UVA drones from an Israeli company.
He called on the body to request the Department of Defence to stop purchasing these weapons systems and all forms of military equipment from Israeli companies
‘as they are live tested on civilians by a state that has killed many unarmed protestors, including children, journalists and doctors.’
Cllr Forde said: ‘We all know what is going on there. Children, journalists and doctors are being killed. I think it’s a horrible situation and for our own minister to be sanctioning the purchase of drones. We need to write to him and express that Israeli companies be precluded from tender programmes.’
‘How many people in this chamber were elected by Israelis?’ Cllr Robbie Ireton said.
‘Will it be oranges next month?’ Cllr Paddy Kavanagh said.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne suggested that Cllr Forde amend his motion to state that the purchase of military equipment should be from ethical companies. He said: ‘I certainly don’t approve of some of the Israeli Government’s policies. If you send a text message today you are using Israeli technology. If we are going to start to get into a discussion on international issues, while the Israeli government has to be condemned, equal balance has to be taken when we approach Hamas and Palestinian authorities.’
Cllr Forde said the company which is selling the drones is owned by a former general in the Israeli army. Equating the murder of civilians in Palestine to the deaths of Republicans by British armed forces in Bloody Sunday, Cllr Forde said he would defer the motion after Cllr Tony Dempsey suggested that more discussion on the topic was needed.
Cllr David Hynes said women and children are being killed.
‘It might be a laughing matter for some people but it’s an awful blot on civilisation,’ he said.
Cllr Ireton said: ‘We cannot make one iota of difference. Live in the real world.’