Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Antiwar Committee – Chicago.

No Weapons Sales to Israel! Stop Boeing from Selling Smart Bombs to the IDF!

In November 2014, Boeing was awarded an $83 million contract by the Israel Air Force for providing 3000 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). JDAMs are kits that convert unguided bombs into “smart” guided weapons. Just months earlier, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, killing over 2000 Palestinians, including 513 children. By producing these JDAMs and other weapons for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Boeing is fortifying Israel’s actions and contributing to the occupation of Palestine. Therefore, we charge that Boeing has the blood of thousands of Palestinians on its hands.

Furthermore, Boeing’s Defense, Space, and Security department, which made the deal with Israel, is located in St. Louis, MO, about 15 miles away from Ferguson, MO. When Ferguson community members were under siege by police terror in the wake of the murder of 18 year-old Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson, the people in Gaza expressed solidarity and support. Boeing’s new deal violates this special bond and puts money towards war that could be going toward education and eliminating the school to prison pipeline that disproportionately impacts Black and other oppressed nationality youth.

We condemn Boeing’s business dealings with the IDF, from selling weapons to collaborating with Israeli armament companies. There is a growing movement calling for an arms embargo on Israel, echoing the call from civil society organizations in Palestine. We are adding our voices and demanding the US government implement a military embargo on Israel and force Boeing to sever its ties.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #Israel #BoeingCorporation #ChicagoAntiWar