{"id":254434,"date":"2024-02-12T12:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=254434"},"modified":"2024-02-11T04:51:35","modified_gmt":"2024-02-11T04:51:35","slug":"citing-world-court-japan-firm-cuts-ties-with-israel-arms-maker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/02\/citing-world-court-japan-firm-cuts-ties-with-israel-arms-maker\/","title":{"rendered":"Citing World Court, Japan Firm Cuts Ties with Israel Arms Maker"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Palestinian children examine an unexploded Israeli bomb in Deir al-Balah, southern Gaza, on 1 January. Tel Aviv\u2019s genocide depends on weapons supplied by other countries.\u00a0 Naaman Omar APA images<\/p><\/div>\n

7 Feb 2024<\/em> – A major Japanese industrial conglomerate is cutting ties with Israeli arms maker Elbit, citing the International Court of Justice ruling<\/a> that Israel may be committing genocide in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Itochu Corporation said its aviation division would terminate its partnership with Elbit by the end of February.<\/p>\n

Tsuyoshi Hachimura, Itochu\u2019s chief financial officer, said<\/a> that his company\u2019s partnership with Elbit was \u201cbased on a request from the Japan\u2019s defense ministry for the purpose of importing defense equipment for the Self-Defense Forces necessary for Japan\u2019s security, and is not in any way related to the current conflict between Israel and Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the decision to end the relationship clearly is.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking into consideration the International Court of Justice\u2019s order on 26 January, and that the Japanese government supports the role of the Court, we have already suspended new activities related to the MOU [memorandum of understanding], and plan to end the MOU by the end of February,\u201d Hachimura added.<\/p>\n

The deal signed less than a year ago<\/a> was hailed at the time by Israel\u2019s ambassador in Tokyo as evidence of the \u201cdeepening relations between Israel and Japan, relations that are based on mutual interests and shared values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Action against Israel in Belgium, Spain and Switzerland<\/h2>\n

This is one of the first signs that the ICJ decision is already prompting companies and governments to cut ties with Israel \u2013 perhaps fearing that they too could become legally implicated in genocide.<\/p>\n

This week the government of Wallonia, one of Belgium\u2019s three federal regions, suspended arms export licenses<\/a> to Israel, also citing the ICJ decision.<\/p>\n

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BREAKING: Logistics giant, Kuehne + Nagel, confirm they've cut their contract with Elbit Systems and will not work with the Israeli weapons maker again.<\/p>\n

This victory comes after Palestine Action targeted the firm over their transportation of Israeli weaponry.#ShutElbitDown<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VWc15vHp2A<\/a><\/p>\n

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) February 2, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n