Stop Elbit Systems ­ Updates

Eight year after the campaigning efforts against the Israelimilitary corporation Elbit Systems started, the struggle toStop Elbit on the rise again. This document presents:• Updated information about Elbit's complicity with Israeli

violations of international law and human rights• The latest actions to Stop Elbit• Current divestment campaigns, institutional investors

and tips to think of when starting a divestment campaign• A timeline of successes• Useful links

Elbit Systems ­ a symbol for Israeli apartheidFounded in 1967, the Israeli company has become one of the world’spremiere “security and defence,” firms, specializing in military electronics,surveillance systems, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs or “drones”), andsecurity systems. It is a symbol for the Israeli economy, which essentiallythrives on and fuels war, repression and control in Palestine and aroundthe globe. Elbit Systems is built on the expertise of the Israeli Ministry ofDefense Research Institute and has profited greatly from supplying theIsraeli military with a variety of equipment used to sustain Israelioccupation of the Palestinian people.

“My mainrecommendation isthat the businesseshighlighted in thereport [includingElbit Systems] – aswell as the manyother businessesthat are profitingfrom the Israelisettlemententerprise – shouldbe boycotted, untilthey bring theiroperations into linewith internationalhuman rights andhumanitarian lawand standards,”The SpecialRapporteur on thesituation of humanrights in theoccupiedPalestinianterritories, RichardFalk, said in a newsrelease issued ashe presented areport on his work tothe Assembly. (25thoof October 2012)

Palestinian grassroots Anti­Apartheid Wall Campaign ­ www.stopthewall.org, global@stopthewall.org, twitter: StoptheWall

The campaign ispart of the widerBDS efforts whichseek to hold Israeland its supportersaccountable bypressuring Israel onall fronts –politically, culturally,and economically.

Newsletter

Elbit fuels Israeli aggressionElbit Systems has once againbenefitted from Israeli militaryaggression during the latestonslaught on Gaza. Elbit's shareshave risen 6.6% even though it'snet income is still expected to call7.7.% this year1. The companysupplies the Israeli army sinceyears with weapons, knowing thatthese are used for and facilitateinternationally illicit acts. It benefitsfrom this developing, testing andpublicly presenting their productsduring Israeli military attacks and inthe context of war crimes.

­ 2014 (Protective Edge): Duringthis military aggression on Gaza,Elbit weaponry has again beenused. Elbit CEO Bezhalel Machlisconfirmed during the conferencecall on the company’s results of thesecond quarter of 2014 that “'oursystems are being used by the IDF”in the military aggression in Gaza2.While Elbit’s Skylark mini­UAV hasbeen operational in Gaza since2008, Protective Edge marked thefirst time it was used in quantitiesfor high­tempo support of groundforces and was essential for aseries of military operations thatlead to killings of a still unknown

number of civilians. The Hermes900 (Kochav) was tested for the firsttime by the IAF during theoperation. Based on this experiencethe drone will be further developed3.­ 2008/9 (Cast Lead): Drones fromthe larger Hermes models can beoutfitted with two missiles, and inaddition to scouting and trackingtargets, they were used in some ofthe more horrific incidents in the2006 war on Lebanon and the2008­2009 war on Gaza4. In the 23­day assault on Gaza, missiles firedfrom drones were directly attributedto the killing of 78 Palestinians,including 29 children, and wounding73 others5. The Hermes infraredsensors enable a drone operator toread a license plate numberdetermine whether a person on theground is armed6.­ Up to 2006: The Hermes 450drones are described Elbit as “the‘backbone’ of Israeli army and airforce ISTAR [Intelligence,Surveillance, Target Acquisition AndReconnaissance] missions”. Theyhave reportedly been deployed forsurveillance and targeting missionsin Gaza prior to 2006, and werereportedly central to IDF operationsin Gaza and Lebanon during 2006,according to Elbit Systems7.Elbit, the Wall and settlementsThe Israeli Apartheid Wall, which iscrippling Palestinian communitiesby isolating them in walled­inghettos and has been confirmedillegal by the International Court ofJustice in 2004, has provided amassive source of revenue for Elbit.­ Elbit Systems provides “intrusiondetection systems” for the Wall, inparticular around Jerusalem.­ Subsidiaries Elbit Electro­Optics(El­Op) and Elbit Security Systemssupplied and incorporated LORROSsurveillance cameras in the Arielsettlement section as well as

around Ar Ram.­ One product made by ElbitSystems, “Torch”, is manufacturedspecifically for use on the Wall.­ An armed UGV (UnmannedGround Vehicle) was developed forpatroling the Wall's buffer zone8.

Elbit offers its experience torepress other peopleIn February 2014, Elbit won acontract with the US of $145 millionto provide security equipment to theUS­Mexico border wall. In 2006 itsAmerican subsidiary Kollsman Inc.won already a contract toparticipate in the creation of the US– Mexico border ‘Wall of Death'9.

Elbit, the Gaza massacres and the Wall

"Israel’s ability to launchsuch devastating attackswith impunity largely stemsfrom the vast internationalmilitary cooperation andtrade that it maintains withcomplicit governmentsacross the world."(Call for a military embargoon Israel signed by sixPeace Nobel prize winners,dozens of well knownfigures and tens ofthousands more)

1) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014­07­27/elbit­gains­as­gaza­conflict­seen­fueling­defense­tech.html2)http://ir.elbitsystems.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61849&p=irol­newsArticle&ID=1955718&highlight=3)http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140812/DEFREG04/308120026/Israeli­Forces­Praise­Elbit­UAVs­Gaza­Op_4)http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/iopt0609webwcover_0.pdf5) http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/Elbit­fc.pdf6)http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/iopt0609webwcover_0.pdf7) On winged heels: Hermes flies highas UAVs play a bigger part inoperations’, Jane’s InternationalDefence Review, 1 Nov 2007; ElbitSystems Press Release, 12/11/ 20078)http://www.whoprofits.org/company/elbit­systems9)http://electronicintifada.net/content/how­israels­war­industry­profits­violent­us­immigration­reform/13283

"All States are under anobligation [...] not to renderaid or assistance inmaintaining the situationcreated by such [the Wall's]construction." InternationalCourt of Justice, 2004

Palestinian grassroots Anti­Apartheid Wall Campaign ­ www.stopthewall.org, global@stopthewall.org, twitter: StoptheWall

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Elbit worldwideUnited States­ Kollsman: 220 DanielWebster Highway,Merrimack, NH 03054,Phone: 603­889­2500­ Vision SystemsInternational LLC (VSI):641 River OaksParkway, San Jose, CA95134, USA, Phone:408­232­5300­ InternationalEnterprises, Inc.: 108Allen St, Talladega, AL35160, Phone: 256­362­8562­ C4I Solutions: 1721 W.Paul Dirac DriveTallahassee, FL 32310,Phone: 850­350­8444­ Innovative Concepts,Inc.: 8200 GreensboroDrive, Suite 700,McLean, VA 22102,Phone: 703­893­2007United Kingdom­ Ferranti TechnologiesLimited is a wholly­owned U.K. subsidiary:Cairo House,GreenacresRdWaterhead, OldhamOL4 3JAT. +44 161 624 0281E,­ U­TacS. UAV TacticalSystems Ltd. (U­TacS) isa 51% U.K. subsidiarylocated (49% owned byThales UK). Currentlybuilding Hermes 450drones: ScudamoreRoad, Leicester, LE31UA, U.K.+44 1162 870621Belgium­ Optronics Instruments& Products N.V. OIP is awholly­owned subsidiary:Westerring 21,9700Oudenaarde,Tel.:+32 55 33 38 11

AustriaESL AdvancedInformation TechnologyGmbH ("AIT") is awholly­owned subsidiary:Obachgasse 26, A­1220Wien, +43(1)2562453 ­ 0GermanyTelefunken RadioCommunicationsSystems GmbH(Telefunken RACOMS) isa wholly­ownedsubsidiary:Eberhard­Finckh­Straße55, D­89075 Ulm, Tel.:+49 731 15 53 ­ 0Brazil­ AEL Sistemas S.A. is a75%­owned subsidiary(25% owned by EmbraerDefesa): AvenidaSertório 4400, PortoAlegre, Fone: +55 5121011200­ Ares Aeroespacial eDefesa S.A. is a wholly­owned subsidiary:Estrada Sao Mateus,293 Jardim Primavera,Duque de Caxias, Rio deJaneiro, 25215­283India­ HALBIT AvionicsPrivate Limited is anIndian company owned26% by Elbit Systems,with the largestshareholder beingHindustan AerospaceLimited: Bengalore,Karnataka 560001South KoreaSharp Elbit SystemsAerospace, Inc. (SESA)is a Korean companyowned 19% by ElbitSystems, with an optionto increase ownership to50%. Located in Ansan,Korea.

August 5 2014, London: activists occupy for 3 days theShenstone in Staffordshire that is owned by Elbit

Systems and manufactures engines for drones that havebeen exported to Israel.

May 15 2014: Trade unionists and movements block theentrance of the Elbit subsidiary AEL Sistemas in Porto

Alegre, Brazil.

August 15 2014: activists occupy the roof of Elbit Systemsof Australia in Melbourne.

Latest actions

Palestinian grassroots Anti­Apartheid Wall Campaign ­ www.stopthewall.org, global@stopthewall.org, twitter: StoptheWall

Divest Elbit

Divestment successesSeveral pension funds and

financial institutions have pulledtheir investments from Elbit. Theworld is becoming increasinglyunwilling to bankroll Israeli warcrimes.

* September 2009: NorwegianState Pension Fund divests.

* September 2009: Kommunal

Landspensjonkasse (KLP), one ofthe largest life insurance companiesin Norway divests from Elbit

* January 2010: Danske Bank,the largest bank in Denmark and aleading player in the Scandinavianfinancial markets, divests, making itone of only 24 companies fromwhich the Danish bank hasdivested. Thomas H. Kjaergaard,the staff member responsible forsocially responsible investment atDanske Bank states: “We handleclients’ interests, and we do notwant to put customers’ money incompanies that violate internationalstandards.”

* January 2010: Danwatch, theDanish financial watchdog addsElbit to its blacklist of 35 companiesthat are disqualified frominvestments due to ethicalconsiderations.

* January 2010: PKA Ltd., oneof the largest Danish pension funds,sells shares in Elbit worth 1 milliondollars. The PKA’s investmentdirector, Michael Nelleman tells theStop the Wall campaign that “theInternational Court of Justice statedthat the barrier only serves militarypurposes and violates Palestinianhuman rights.”

* February 2010: Folksam,Sweden’s largest asset managerannounces that it has noinvestments in either Elbit or Africa­Israel. Folksam’s Head of CorporateGovernance, Carina LundbergMarkow, writes to The ElectronicIntifada: “We have a strict policyregarding activity on occupied land.”She notes that KPA Pension, aleading Swedish pension companyin the public sector, also did nothave holdings with either Elbit orAfrica­Israel.

* February 2010: ABP sells Elbitshares worth 2.7 million dollars.

* March 2010: The First,Second, Third and Fourth SwedishNational Pension Fund (AP1, AP2,AP3, AP4) decide to exclude ElbitSystems from their investments.

* May 2010: Deutsche Bankannounces Elbit does not meet itsethics standards. Yet, it remainsone of Elbit's biggest partners.

* April 2014: graduate studentsat the University of New Mexico inAlbuqeurque, USA, passed aresolution calling for divestmentfrom companies profiting fromhuman rights violations in occupiedPalestine and at the US­Mexicoborder. The resolution targeted ElbitSystems following the companysecuring a contract for the US­Mexico border wall.

Because of Elbit Systems'conscious complicity withIsraeli illegal policies,investors in and partners ofthe firm are accessories toIsrael’s violations of internationallaw and human rights. Someof the current divestmentcampaigns include:Barclays' invests in Elbit!Write and post messages onsocial media calling onBarclays to withdrawimmediately:Via Banktrack:http://www.banktrack.org/show/actionletters/stop_barclays_investing_in_bombing_of_gaza#tab_actionletters_mainVia Avaaz:https://secure.avaaz.org/en/israel_palestine_this_is_how_it_ends_rb/?bkVEGhb&v=4273Other ongoing campaigns:* RMIT University (Melbourne,Australia) launched in 2013 acampaign against both BAEand Elbit Systems. Theuniversity receives fundingfor postgraduate research.* Grassroots Internationallaunched in 2013 a campaignagainst TIAA­CREF to divestfrom Elbit Systems, as part ofa broader effort regarding thepension fund.

Institutional investors in ElbitThey can be found at:http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/holdings.asp?symbol=ESLT&selected=ESLT: As of August 2014investors outside the US were:• Allianz Asset ManagementAG, Seidlstrasse 24­24A,Munich• Deutsche Bank AG,Taunusanlage 12, Frankfurt amMain• AMP Capital Investors LTD,50 Bridge Street, Sydney• Barclays Global InvestorsUK Holdings Ltd, 1 ChurchillPlace, London• Royal Bank of Canada,Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto• Bank of Montreal, 1 FirstCanadian Place, Toronto• Canada Pension PlanInvestment Board, OneQueen Street East, Toronto• AXA, 25 AVE Matignon, Paris• Swiss National Bank,Boerenstrasse 15, Zurich• Credit Suisse AG, Po Box900, Zurich• UBS AG, Bahnhofstrasse 45,ZurichBanks and public funds,universities, unions andchurches have often anobligation to disclose theirinvestments. It is up to you tocheck their investments.

Palestinian grassroots Anti­Apartheid Wall Campaign ­ www.stopthewall.org, global@stopthewall.org, twitter: StoptheWall

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Some useful tips to developa campaign strategya) Discover the importance of theinvestmentBoth large and small investmentshave their benefits and drawbacks ascampaign targets. While the loss of alarge investment makes a moretangible effect on a corporate policy, itmay be more difficult to win the case.The loss of smaller investments maybe easier to effect and are stilleffective in raising awareness andbuild precedents for futurecampaigns.b) Likelihood of success based onethical guidelines of a fundMany banks and funds have ethicalguidelines or commitments to ethicalstandards (i.e. the UN GlobalCompact). Activists may choose tocampaign for the adoption of bindingethical guidelines as a first step andas a way to build alliances with othercampaign groups.c) Likelihood of success based afund’s record of divestmentSome investment funds and banksare more conscious of their image asethically responsible investors. Thehistory of a financial institution can beuseful in gauging the likely success ofa campaign and can provide usefulprecedents.d) Gain support from stakeholdersIf a financial institution manages

funds for a public or third sector bodysuch as churches, trade unions oruniversities, these stakeholders maybe sympathetic to the campaign andbe able to provide additional pressure.e) Use legal argumentsInternational and human rights lawcan be a useful tool. Elbit is in clearviolation of international norms andactivists can use legal arguments toconvince or in special cases to enterinto court.

Palestinian grassroots Anti­Apartheid Wall Campaign ­ www.stopthewall.org, global@stopthewall.org, twitter: StoptheWall

Parliamentary actionagainst Elbit* Philippines: Civil society andAkbayan party work to cancelan Elbit deal during the comingbudget briefing of theDepartment of NationalDefense.1* Brazil: The Defense Ministryis questioned about a recentarms contract with Elbitsubsidiary Ares and asked todisclose details about themilitary relations with Israel. 21) http://www.stopthewall.org/2014/09/03/cancel­arms­deal­israeli­defense­corporation­elbit­systems­02) http://www.camara.gov.br/proposicoesWeb/prop_mostrarintegra;jsessionid=15B1DBDC81B21BBB49E500BD0ED4203A.proposicoesWeb2?codteor=1270823&filename=Tramitacao­RIC+4444/2014

More information:* Factsheet on Elbit:http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/Elbit­fc.pdf* Factsheet on companiesbuilding the Wall:http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/companiesbuildingwall.pdf* Photo Story: Palestiniangrassroots activists: Boycott Elbit,CRH and Magal!http://www.flickr.com/photos/stopthewall/sets/72157623643733905/show/with/4489575603/* List of current investors in Elbit:http://www.nasdaq.com/asp/holdings.asp?symbol=ESLT&selected=ESLT* Recommendation to theNorwegian Ministry of Finance bythe Council on Ethics of theGovernment Pension Fund –Global, May 15 2009,http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Selected­topics/The­Government­Pension­Fund/Ethical­Guidelines­for­the­Government­Pension­Fund—Global­/Recommendations­and­Letters­from­the­Advisory­Council­on­Ethics/the­council­on­ethics­recommends­that­th.html?id=575451More links:* http://icj10.stopthewall.org/* TIAA­CREF: Divest from theoccupation,http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/campaigns/tiaa­cref­divest­occupation (see ihe JVP Elbitfactsheet, https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/images/Profiles­Elbit.pdf)* Elbit Systems – WanderingRaven* War Profiteer of the Month: ElbitSystems, February 2010,http://www.wri­irg.org/node/9663* Scandinavian financialinstitutions drop Elbit due to BDSpressure Adri Nieuwhof, 19February 2010 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11084.shtml* A big thank you, Ilan Pappe, 4September 2009,http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10752.shtml