How Canada’s ‘off-the-record’ arms exports end up in Israel
Al Jazeera
Advocates say Canada is flouting international obligations by allowing arms shipments to Israel via the United States.
Montreal, Canada – The United States has faced widespread condemnation this week for authorising the sale of more than $20bn in additional weapons to Israel as the top US ally wages war in the Gaza Strip.
But while the newly approved arms transfer has renewed global scrutiny of Washington’s unwavering support for Israel, in Canada, the announcement on Tuesday drew attention for a different reason.
That’s because more than $60m worth of munitions will be manufactured by a weapons company in Canada as part of that sale.
Canadian lawyers, rights advocates and other experts say this raises serious questions about the opaque nature of the country’s arms export regime.
They also say Canada’s participation in the arms deal makes clear that the country is failing to ensure that Canadian-made weapons are not used in suspected human rights violations abroad, as required by law.
