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2024 March 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

JCP Yamazoe: Stop introducing Israeli-made drones, benefiting Israeli war industry

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Yamazoe Taku at a meeting of the House of Councilors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense on March 12 revealed that the government plans to introduce Israeli-made small attack drones.

Yamazoe said, “Amid criticism of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, Japan must not support Israel’s military industry.”

According to the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, five of the seven aircraft the Agency recently contracted for actual equipment for the demonstration are made in Israel.

Yamazoe pointed out that an Israeli military company is reportedly expected to report the demonstration results to the Defense Ministry by the end of March. He said, “They could be used to try out in actual warfare conditions in Gaza.”

An Agency official in response said, “We have not confirmed that such a demonstration will take place.”

Yamazoe noted that Itochu Corporation had announced that it would terminate its contract with Elbit Systems, a drone manufacturer that has been supplying weapons to the Israeli military, at the end of February. Itochu’s decision to terminate the contract is based on an order for provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice.

Yamazoe stated, “That was the judgement Itochu made. In the first place, Japan having attack drones itself is a big problem. Japan must stop benefiting Israel’s military industry by introducing Israeli drones.”