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<font size="1"><a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/app-makes-killing-palestinians-easy-ordering-pizzas">https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/app-makes-killing-palestinians-easy-ordering-pizzas</a>
</font><h1 class="gmail-reader-title">App makes killing Palestinians as easy as ordering pizzas</h1>
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<span class="gmail-field gmail-field-author"><a href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/david-cronin">David Cronin</a></span> <span class="gmail-field gmail-field-blog">-</span>
<span class="gmail-field gmail-field-publication-date"><span class="gmail-date-display-single">2 December 2020</span></span> </p>
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<img src="https://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/styles/original_800w/public/2020-12/120539578_132463651897013_2649429679794786094_o_0.jpg?itok=tr7W0GN6×tamp=1606848233" alt="" title="" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="440" height="290"><p>The group Palestine Action has protested continuously at sites in Britain run by the Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems. (Via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/palacti0n/photos/a.100153191794726/132463648563680">Facebook</a>)</p><p>Killing a Palestinian will soon be as easy as ordering a pizza.</p>
<p>That repugnant message – albeit couched in less explicit terms – was delivered through a recent <a href="https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/46485">article</a> published by the website <em>IsraelDefense</em>.</p>
<p>It quotes Oren Matzliach, a colonel who is overseeing the use of a
new app by the Israeli military. The app would allow a commander to type
details about a target on a small electronic device and then troops
would open fire on that target swiftly.</p>
<p>Ordering an attack will be “like ordering a book on Amazon or a pizza in a pizzeria using your smartphone,” Matzliach said.</p>
<p>The causal way in which the colonel speaks about remote-control slaughter should outrage everyone.</p>
<p>The Israeli authorities – or high-ranking figures within them – view every Palestinian as a legitimate target.</p>
<p>That much became clear – if it wasn’t already – during the Great
March of Return protests in Gaza over the past few years. Civilians who
demanded their basic rights were officially <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/icc-warns-israeli-leaders-over-gaza-killings">declared</a> as “terrorists” by the Israeli government.</p>
<p>The app has been developed through the Digital Land Army program,
developed by the Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems in conjunction with
the Israeli military.</p>
<h2>Disruption is vital</h2>
<p>Such “innovations” prove why it is vital to disrupt the weapons trade.</p>
<p>For several months, Elbit has been the focus of protests organized by the group Palestine Action in Britain.</p>
<p>The protests – which have included temporary <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-israel-drone-elbit-factory-palestine-occupation">shutdowns</a> of an Elbit-owned plant near Birmingham and invasions of the firm’s London offices – have evidently <a href="https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/lets-talk-about-vandalism/">irritated</a> Israel and its lobbyists. An Israeli minister is <a href="https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/repeated-anti-israel-vandalism-in-uk-by-bds/">reported</a> to have asked that the British government suppress them.</p>
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<p>Protesters can take heart from how previous actions of this nature have made a significant impact.</p>
<p>When Israel attacked Lebanon during 2006, nine activists <a href="https://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2017/1108/918514-the-occupation/">occupied</a>
a software plant that Raytheon, a US weapons giant, had opened in the
northern Irish city of Derry. Raytheon decided to withdraw from Derry as
a result of that protest.</p>
<h2>Priority market</h2>
<p>It is a safe bet that conversations are taking place among Elbit’s managers about the future of their investments in Britain.</p>
<p>Elbit regards Britain as a <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/failed-british-politician-hired-leading-israel-lobbyist">priority market</a> and has developed a network of factories and offices across the country.</p>
<p>The British government has become an important client for Elbit. Between 2018 and this year, the British defense ministry <a href="https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-10-08-ties-that-bind-britain-buys-46m-of-israeli-military-equipment-and-stations-troops-in-israel/">ordered</a> around $61 million worth of Elbit’s products or services.</p>
<p>During October, Elbit was an active participant in an annual exercise
held by the British military. The exercise bears the not-so-subtle name
of the <a href="https://twitter.com/BritishAWE">Army Warfighting Experiment</a>.</p>
<p>Elbit took advantage of the experiment to showcase new radio
equipment and a satellite communications system intended for soldiers.</p>
<p>Elbit also displayed a portable shelter that can, if a <a href="https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/esuk-website/MJktnitiRbyy0rbRKIcg-rhino-tactical-command-shelter-pdf">promotional brochure</a>
is accurate, be set up “close to enemy lines” during a military
operation. The shelters – which look compact and relatively comfortable –
are “field proven,” according to the brochure.</p>
<p>The weapons industry trots out <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/has-israels-weapons-industry-really-declared-war-virus">euphemisms</a> like “field proven” or “battle proven” to alert potential clients how the items being marketed have been tested in wars.</p>
<p>Elbit’s most lucrative “battle proven” products are probably the
drones it has supplied to Israel’s military. They have proven lethal
when used for firing missiles at civilians.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, Elbit does not openly gloat about how it abets Israel’s crimes against humanity.</p>
<p>Sometimes it even conceals the fact that it is an Israeli company.
Promoting its British investments on Twitter, Elbit favors the deceptive
hashtag “made in Britain.”</p>
<p>For people across the globe who experienced colonization, the British
Army has long been regarded as one of the most violent organizations in
history.</p>
<p>Elbit, however, proclaims itself proud to support that army.
Britain’s troops look “cool” with Elbit’s wearable computers strapped to
their backs, the company brags.</p>
<p>When the weapons industry makes killing as easy as ordering a pizza,
there is a risk we will no longer be shocked by how it profits from
suffering. Activists who are determined to keep us shocked must be
applauded.</p><br>
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