Latest news with #Israeligovernment
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Critics wary of Israel's pause in fighting to allow food into Gaza
Israel has announced a daily pause in the fighting in three areas of Gaza to allow more food to get into the strip. The move has been welcomed by aid groups and Palestinians. Israel is also allowing limited airdrops in Gaza. But critics ask if it will make any real difference to the more than 2 million people suffering from severe shortages of food.
The National
13-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Arms firms are buying exclusive access to MPs for as little as £1499
It comes as the new UK Labour Government has ushered in the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in February that the UK would increase spending on defence up to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, raiding the international development budget. The 144-page-long Strategic Defence Review released last month details how the UK is moving to a position of 'war-fighting' readiness, including committing to procuring up to 7000 domestically built long-range weapons. Look no further than the newly created All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Defence Technology. READ MORE: Scotland's NHS ready to treat injured Gaza children, First Minister says This informal cross-party group at Westminster was only created in January 2025 but has hit the ground running with a swish website where it says it is looking to 'partner' with defence firms who can then buy exclusive access to Westminster MPs and policy makers. Demand has certainly been high. At least 37 arms firms – including industry titans Leonardo and Lockheed Martin – have already sponsored the group according to its website. Leonardo, which has a factory in Edinburgh, is known to have produced targeting systems for Israel's F-35 fighter jets, which have been used to bombard Gaza. Lockheed Martin – the world's largest arms company – also contributes parts to F-35 fighter jets. Membership comes with its perks. So-called 'Tier 1 Partners' – which the APPG recommends to start-ups – can get access to 'all organised meetings' and 'opportunities to network with MPs and policymakers' for just £1499 (below). (Image: Defence Technology APPG) At the higher price point of £5000, meanwhile, 'Tier 2 Partners' can also get 'enhanced access to exclusive APPG meetings and key discussions' as well as 'priority invitations to high-profile parliamentary engagements' (below). (Image: Defence Technology APPG) The APPG register claims the group has already received between £60,001-£61,500 for a group 'secretary' from these firms. Declassified UK reported earlier this month that RUK Advanced Systems Ltd, a weapons firm which is owned by the Israeli government, also donated at least £1499 to the group. Of the 30 MPs involved in the APPG, five are from Scottish Labour, including Gordon McKee (Glasgow South), Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar), Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudon), Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) and Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan). Other MPs on the group include Neil Shastri-Hurst (co-chair), Fred Thomas (co-chair), Sarah Bool (officer), Anna Gelderd (officer), Luke Akehurst and Iain Duncan Smith. READ MORE: Scotland's NHS ready to treat injured Gaza children, First Minister says Meanwhile, another new Westminster group this year – the Defence and Security Sectors Supporting Local Communities APPG – is also funded by the arms industry, with the ADS group – the industry body for the arms industry – funding its secretary to the tune of £16,501- 18,000, according to the register. The ADS group also contributes funding to the APPG for Aviation, Travel and Aerospace. (Image: Danny Lawson) Meanwhile, arms firms BAE Systems and Babcock International – alongside other organisations – pay for the secretary for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships to the tune of £54,001-£55,500. This type of lobbying and private firms sponsoring Westminster APPGs isn't new. For years, concerns have been raised that they can operate as a 'back door' for lobbyists. In 2021, the parliament's standards watchdog warned that a new Westminster lobbying scandal could be sparked by the actions of MPs sitting on these informal committees. Labour's Chris Bryant – who chaired the committee at the time and is now a minister in Starmer's government – said he feared some APPGs were being used as a "backdoor" for commercial interests. Anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International has also expressed concerns. Rose Whiffen, a senior research officer at Transparency International UK, told the Sunday National: "All-Party Parliamentary Groups serve an important function in bringing expertise to Parliament, and encouraging cross-party work. When defence companies can buy access to MPs and policymakers, it raises serious questions about whether APPGS are being exploited by private interests seeking to influence decision-makers. "To avoid the next major lobbying scandal, we need much greater openness and accountability in how APPGs operate, with clear rules preventing them from being used as backdoors for commercial influence." Meanwhile, Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said: 'That Westminster has allowed an official group to form where multinational arms dealers and foreign governments like Israel are paying to access a large group of MPs and peers through the backdoor is frankly astonishing. 'If this represents the level of lobbying and ethics regulation in London, then it's no surprise the UK consistently ends up supplying weapons to tyrants and war criminals around the world. It shames Scotland to be associated with it.' The APPG for Defence Technology didn't respond to a request for comment.
The Spinoff
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
The New Zealand cyclist, the Israeli team and a geopolitical storm
A New Zealand Olympian is racing under Israel's banner at the Tour de France – and critics say it's time to choose sides. A Palestinian paracyclist who lost his leg in an Israeli air strike over a decade ago was killed in Gaza last month. Ahmed al-Dali, 33, a father of four, spent his life defying disability on a bicycle. Initially declared dead in a 2014 strike, he was later found alive in a morgue. Since October 7 2023 his team, the Palestinian Sunbirds, have distributed NZ$760,000 in aid across Gaza amid ongoing Israeli attacks. While conflict continues to expand in the region, on the other side of the West Bank, Israel's most elite cycling team, Israel–Premier Tech, is currently training for the Tour de France. The team, which takes part in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia – the biggest male cycling races in the world – receives partial funding from the Israeli government. Two of those riders, including one of Israel Premier-Tech's stars, Corbin Strong, are New Zealanders. Strong represented New Zealand at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, and earned a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Despite repeated requests, both the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and Cycling New Zealand (NZC) declined to comment on Strong's dual affiliation with Team New Zealand and the, in part, Israeli government-funded Israel–Premier Tech. Israel-Premier Tech is founded and owned by Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams. Adams refers to himself as 'the self appointed ambassador at large for the State of Israel'. Friendly with both Benjamin Netenyahu and Donald Trump, Adams frequently promotes Israeli propaganda, referring to the conflict between Israel and Palestine as 'good vs. evil' and 'civilisation against barbarism'. At this year's Giro Italia, protests from sports and cycling associations, Palestine solidarity groups, and human rights groups including Amnesty International disturbed the race at numerous points. The disruptions were so frequent that the live television coverage was forced to repeatedly acknowledge the protests and the calls to ban Israel-Premier Tech. At each race, 'ISRAEL' is emblazoned across every Israel–Premier Tech rider's chest, a moving billboard for a government accused by the UN of war crimes and potential genocide. A former team member, Guy Niv, has said riders understand that 'being on an Israeli team, they are ambassadors for the country'. No ban has been handed down by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), prompting allegations of double standards. 'UCI excluded Russian and Belarussian cycling teams and prohibited UCI sporting events in the two countries, among many other sanctions,' says Stephanie Adam of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, a founding member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. 'It did so because it fully understood that cycling could be used to sportswash Russia's illegal occupation. Yet UCI, demonstrating staggering levels of hypocrisy, has failed to take any action against Israel's cycling team as Israel's genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza has raged on.' The UCI has said it remains focused on sport and not politics, according to comments made to Cycling Weekly. Historically, the UCI has followed the guidelines of the IOC. Despite repeated ceasefire attempts, attacks on Gaza have entered their 20th month, with over 53,000 Palestinians confirmed dead, according to Al Jazeera. The New Zealand government has repeatedly condemned several actions of the Israeli government and recently joined 23 other countries and the United Nations in calling for humanitarian aid to resume. The 2025 Tour de France is just weeks away. Invercargill-born Strong is a shoe-in for selection to ride for Israel-Premier Tech, having earned a podium place at the Giro d'Italia in May. Fellow New Zealander George Bennett's spot is less certain due to stiff competition. What is certain, however, is the prospect of protests. In April, the BDS movement called for peaceful actions at this year's Grand Tours, to demonstrate against Israel-Premier Tech's participation. Is Israel-Premier Tech sportswashing for Israel? Sportswashing is a relatively new term, first used in 2015 by human rights advocates to describe how Azerbaijan used major sporting events, including Formula One, to deflect from human rights violations. But according to Steve Jackson, an academic at the University of Otago, the practice can be dated back to ancient Rome and is depicted in films like Gladiator. Sportswashing happens when 'political entities use sport as a vehicle to deflect political issues via entertainment,' says Jackson. 'It is the deliberate and strategic use of sport, events, athletes, teams to enhance the reputation of a nation-state or a corporation. And conversely, to hide or camouflage their ethical violations, including those associated with human rights.' Cycling, a sport without a strong tradition of political activism, has often attracted sponsors with deep pockets – and not always spotless morals – due to the high cost of running elite teams. The British team Ineos Grenadiers, for example, is sponsored by Ineos, one of the world's largest petrochemical companies. New Zealand Rugby also signed with Ineos in 2021, prompting sharp criticism, including by Greenpeace who said it went against our country's clean, green values. Sylvan Adams has explicitly described the Israel–Premier Tech team as apolitical, despite being deeply political himself. The Times of Israel describes it as 'a private initiative meant to boost Israel's image worldwide'. Sport and politics have always mixed for Adams. He led Israel's $18m bid to host the start of the Giro d'Italia in 2018, the first in a series of international sporting investments. Additionally, he 'has worked to change Israel's image among non-Jews through high-profile sports and cultural activities,' according to an interview with Jewish News Syndicate. Today, Israel–Premier Tech's presence in the Tour de France presents Israel as open, peaceful and globally connected, defined by elite sport and international recognition. This image contrasts sharply with the actions of Israeli politicians and the IDF, who 'have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights', according to foreign minister Winston Peters. The Springbok Tour, politics and sport in NZ New Zealand has its own turbulent history with sport and politics. The 1981 Springbok Tour sparked widespread civil unrest in Aotearoa. For 56 days, 150,000 people protested South Africa's apartheid regime. The NZ Rugby Football Union 'should have joined the sports boycott of apartheid South Africa,' says former All Black Robert Burgess, who turned down an invitation to trial for the All Blacks' 1970 South Africa tour. Burgess refused the trial 'as a protest against apartheid and the way sport in South Africa was segregated on race'. Five years earlier, he also turned down the 1976 tour of South Africa, where five Māori players were granted 'white status' for the trip. That same tour prompted 25 African nations to boycott the Montreal Olympics in protest against New Zealand. Today, there is widespread agreement that Burgess was on the right side of history – and the NZRFU was not. In 1964, the IOC banned South Africa from the Olympics due to its refusal to denounce the ongoing apartheid; this ban was only lifted in 1992. Many would consider what Burgess did to be above and beyond the call of duty as an international rugby player. So, what can we expect of today's elite athletes? Israel–Premier Tech and two-time NZ Olympian Corbin Strong receives part of his pay cheque from the Israeli government and frequently wears Israeli-branded clothing. He and teammate George Bennett represent both New Zealand and Israel. While representing Team New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Strong announced a two-year contract extension with Israel-Premier Tech. Strong is not the only non-Israeli rider on the team. Australian Simon Clarke was protested against during the Australian National Championships in 2024 for representing an Israeli team. In response, Israel-Premier Tech released a statement, saying, 'We are the only professional sports team in the world that includes Israel as part of its name, and we will continue to do so and proudly represent the country'. NZOC and NZC were contacted for comment on Strong's joint relationship with both NZC and Israel. Both declined interviews. It remains unclear whether Strong will continue to be allowed to ride for both New Zealand and Israel-Premier Tech. Strong did not respond to a request for comment for this story, and will begin racing with an ISRAEL jersey at the start of Tour de France on Saturday.
The Guardian
23-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australian Defence Force officer stripped of security clearance over loyalty to Israel
An officer in the Australian Army has been stripped of his security clearance because Asio believes he is more loyal to Israel than Australia, and at risk of being exploited by the Mossad. The man told Asio interviewers he did not view Israel as a foreign government and that he would share classified information with the Israel Defense Forces if they asked for it. Asio said the officer, who is Jewish and served 19 years in the Australian military, withheld information from Australian officials about training courses he had undertaken in Israel – where he is not a citizen – which included self-defence, security and firearms training. In a decision published by the administrative review tribunal last week, Asio said the officer, anonymised as HWMW in tribunal documents, was not of 'appropriate character and trustworthiness to hold any security clearance'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'HWMW is vulnerable to influence or coercion to enable acts of espionage or foreign interference by Israeli Intelligence Services due to his loyalty to Israel,' the tribunal found. 'By virtue of HWMW's demonstrated poor judgement, poor security practices, failure to comply with the obligations of a security clearance holder, his vulnerability to influence or coercion by the Israeli Intelligence Services, and HWMW's demonstrated loyalty to Israel above the Australian government, ASIO assesses if HWMW were to continue to hold any level of security clearance, he would pose an unacceptable and avoidable risk to security.' Asio said it considered lowering the man's security clearance level, to restrict his access to sensitive information, but said 'due to HWMW's demonstrated loyalty to Israel and poor judgement by withholding security-relevant information during the security clearance process, no such conditions could adequately mitigate the risk of Mossad exploitation to enable acts of espionage or foreign influence'. HWMW joined the Australian defence forces in 2004. In 2008, he obtained a negative vetting 1 security clearance – allowing access up to classified resources up to Secret. This was upgraded to negative vetting 2 – Top Secret access – in 2010. He joined a Sydney community security group (CSG) as a volunteer between 2014 and 2023. The CSG is a community organisation that provides security and intelligence services to the Jewish community. HWMW travelled to Israel in 2016 and in 2019, to participate in CSG training courses, which included tactical planning, self-defence and firearms training. The courses run by an organisation called Ami-AD, an association promoting volunteerism in Jewish communities, and financed by the Israeli government. The trainers on the course were former members of the Israel Security Agency, he said. He said he believed the training courses were a 'natural recruiting pool' for the Mossad. HWMW was interrogated by Asio officers in security assessment interviews in 2020 and 2022. In 2023, the director-general of security issued an Asio 'Adverse Security Assessment' on the officer recommending the revocation of his security clearance. HWMW appealed against the decision to the tribunal. HWMW told Asio: 'Zionism is an essential theme within Judaism. Judaism mandates the loyalty of a Jew to his people and to the Land of Israel.' He said most Australian Jews do not volunteer to serve in the Australian Defence Force, but rather the Israel Defense Forces. He said he volunteered to serve in the ADF 'as I felt a strong sense of belonging to Australia and I wanted to give back to the country and demonstrate the importance of serving here in Australia as opposed to the IDF'. 'It seems that events have now turned on me.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion In his interviews, HWMW said the purpose of his travel to Israel was for 'community leadership' courses. Under cross examination, HWMW maintained 'there was no lie in that' but conceded 'it wasn't a complete disclosure'. He later said, 'I provided a truth, it's not the full truth … it was only to save myself from interrogation and questioning.' He said his failure to disclose his participation in CSG training courses 'was an error on my part … and if I had my time again I would provide the full information'. In a written statement to the tribunal HWMW said the ADF was a multicultural organisation that accepted 'all peoples regardless of their race, religion, or sex'. 'Allowing Jews to serve within the ADF must come with an understanding that the Jew will have a level of loyalty for the Jewish Nation and for [the] State of Israel.' He said if the ADF preferred not to enlist or commission Jews, 'it would then be argued that this policy may be discriminatory to the Jewish People'. He told the tribunal he only ever joined the Community Security Group 'to play a role safeguarding the local community from attacks, so that my children, my family and the broader Jewish community can continue to be a thriving proud Jewish community in Australia, and a community loyal to Australia'. The tribunal supported Asio's decision to revoke the officer's security clearance, saying the adverse security assessment was affirmed.
