General Dynamics has “no comment” on Canadian House of Commons vote to cease arms exports to Israel
Photo: A protest outside the General Dynamics arms factory in Hastings, United Kingdom; March 13, 2024.
Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on January 26th that Israel’s acts in Gaza could amount to genocide, General Dynamics in Canada has “no comment to provide” on the motion passed in the House of Commons to “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel”.
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Action Center on Corporate Accountability has documented: “General Dynamics is the only company in the U.S. that makes the metal bodies of the MK-80 bomb series, the primary weapon type Israel uses to bomb Gaza. …It is also the only company in the U.S. that makes 155mm caliber artillery shells, which have been used extensively to attack Gaza.”
While the company has “no comment” on the House of Commons vote on March 18th, Jason Aiken, chief financial officer and executive vice president at General Dynamics, did comment in late-October 2023 on “the incremental demand potential” on “the artillery side” after Israel launched its attack on Gaza.
While noting General Dynamics has increased its production of artillery rounds for Ukraine, Aiken added: “I think the Israel situation is only going to put upward pressure on that demand.” This past January, General Dynamics reported its highest quarterly earnings per share (EPS) in company history with “fourth-quarter net earnings of $1 billion”.
Photo: General Dynamics vice-president Jason Aiken.
Photo: XM133 155mm artillery shell produced by General Dynamics. Photo by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.
Furthermore, despite the ICJ ruling and the staggering loss of life in Gaza, the Canadian Association of Defence and Securities Industries (CADSI) is only seeking clarification from the Canadian government on the ability of its members, including General Dynamics, to continue to export weapons to Israel.
Defense News reports: “The association representing Canadian defense firms says it is in the dark about the status of equipment exports to Israel after the House of Commons voted to end military sales to that nation.”
That article then quotes Christyn Cianfarani, the president of CADSI.
She says: “For companies to be able to comply with changes to those rules, they need to know what the changes are. The government has a responsibility to quickly publish the exact details of any changes to its policy surrounding exports, and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Photo: CADSI president Christyn Cianfarani.
CADSI’s “code of ethics” says that CADSI members will: “Ensure compliance with relevant Government of Canada legislation, regulations and policies when contemplating and completing any Canadian or international sale.”
It says: “This includes but is not limited to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, the Export and Import Permits Act, the Automatic Firearms Country Control List, the Controlled Goods Program, as well as Government of Canada established anti-boycott, sanctions, special economic measures, and embargo requirements.”
Weapons companies also have responsibilities under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Government of Canada says it has adopted these internationally respected guidelines and that it expects Canadian companies operating abroad to abide by them.
On February 23, UN Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and working group members highlighted: “Arms companies contributing to the production and transfer of arms to Israel and businesses investing in those companies bear their own responsibility to respect human rights, international humanitarian law and international criminal law. They have not publicly demonstrated the heightened human rights due diligence required of them and accordingly risk complicity in violations.”
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights also notes: “The responsibility to respect human rights is a global standard of expected conduct for all business enterprises wherever they operate. It exists independently of States’ abilities and/or willingness to fulfil their own human rights obligations, and does not diminish those obligations. And it exists over and above compliance with national laws and regulations protecting human rights.”
Amnesty International has previously commented: “In relation to the defence sector, this means companies must assess and address human rights risks and abuses arising in all aspects of their business, including how clients such as national armies and police forces use their weaponry and related services.”
It adds: “Major industry players including Airbus, BAE Systems and Raytheon [all CADSI members] are not undertaking adequate human rights due diligence which could prevent their products from being used in potential human rights violations and war crimes.”
Numerous CADSI members, including General Dynamics, are listed in the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Action Center for Corporate Responsibility article The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023-2024 Attacks on Gaza. These companies will also be present at the CANSEC arms show this coming May 29-30 at the EY Centre in Ottawa.
Peace Brigades International has called on the international community to suspend the supply of arms to Israel and to show its strong support for institutions of global justice, including the International Court of Justice.
We continue to follow this.
Amnesty Canada’s 2023 Human Rights Agenda (April 8, 2024) includes this recommendation:
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