HOW TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ELBIT SYSTEMS?

Ever since the Norwegian Pension Fund divested from Elbit Systems in 2009, the ongoing global campaign to Stop Elbit Systems has made it clear that Elbit Systems is such an integral part of Israel’s system of apartheid, occupation and settler colonialism, and now also of genocide, that dealing with the company is immoral, illegal and shortsighted. 

Action against Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest military company, is one of the most direct means of depriving the Israeli armed forces of the weapons by which they massacre, maim, intimidate and forcibly displace Palestinians. 

Now is the time to step up pressure globally!

The following points may be helpful when starting a campaign to target Elbit Systems. The first step is discovering investments in, cooperation with and other support to Elbit. Several key forms of involvement with Elbit are likely to be targets of your campaign:

a) Cut Elbit Systems’ supply chain

Elbit Systems can only manufacture its weapons if it has the necessary technology and raw materials. In its 2024 annual report, Elbit Systems admits that “supply chain disruption due in part to limitations on export to Israel as well as more limited transportation by air and sea to the region”. They further state that “[s]uch restrictions have caused a material increase in recent years in the Company’s costs of procurement and shipping, leading in some cases to delays and limitations in our production and development. With respect to certain materials, our dependency on single sources of supply has increased. “ Elbit also admits that ”Some components are available from a small number of suppliers, and in a few cases a single source.“  

Stopping this supply chain is fundamental. 

• The Japanese company, FANUC, however, continues to provide Elbit Systems with industrial robots which are necessary to make precision weapons, even though FANUC claims that its policy guidelines prevent it from selling products to Israeli arms companies. 
• In 2024, activists were able to pressure governments to delay for at least 2 months the delivery of 8 containers of RDX military explosives to Elbit Systems. They blocked the MV Kathrin, which carried the explosives from Vietnam to Elbit Systems, from docking and unloading. 

Let’s step up the efforts to block the illegal transfer of all military and dual use supplies to Israel. 

Many of the contracts that Elbit is awarded are public contracts with defense, homeland security or other ministries and institutions that buy and use weapons and surveillance systems. Those will likely be awarded in public tenders and often shortlisted offers and corporations are being publicly discussed.

c) Stop contracts with Elbit Systems

Monitor these developments – the likelihood of a successful campaign is bigger if you can start the campaign before the contract is actually awarded. Be aware that often public contracts may be announced before the are actually past the final stage of ratification. A contract signed is not necessarily a contract ratified.

• In May 2024 Brazil announced that Elbit Systems had won a $210 million contract for howitzer artillery but has first frozen and then completely cancelled the contract because of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Media reports that Brazil opposes any new contracts with Israeli military companies until peace is achieved.
• It is crucial to ensure that Europe’s rush for a €800 billion rearmament will not be the lifeline for the criminal company, beleaguered by economic constraints and technical failures. This money should go to social welfare not to Israel’s warfare. 

d) End funding and cooperation in research and development (R&D) projects

Elbit Systems receives millions of dollars in research and development funding from government and academic research programs that are financed with public tax money. This funding sometimes contravenes rules prohibiting the use of such programs to fund military research. Details of such funding are usually made public, offering ample space for grassroots campaigns.

e) Stop investments, cooperation and contracts to Elbit subsidiaries

Elbit has a range of subsidiaries, including Elbit Systems of America, Vision Systems International LLC (VSI), Elop, ESLC-T, Elisra, Cyclone Ltd, Elbit Security Systems Ltd. (ELSEC), Kinetics Ltd, Semi-Conductor Devices (SCD), Optronics Industries Ltd. (Opgal), UAV Tactical Systems Ltd. (U-TacS). You can campaign against the contracts and investment in these subsidiaries.

f) Cancel joint ventures and joint project with Elbit

International companies partner up with Elbit to make joint bids for big tenders or to develop new technology. Campaigns can target international companies and pressure them to look for different partners.

g) End Elbit’s presence in arms fairs

b) Get banks or pension funds to divest from Elbit Systems

The biggest institutional investors in Elbit can be found at one glance here.

Many other smaller investors are not listed. It will be up to you to investigate whether a specific pension or investment fund holds investments in Elbit. Banks and public funds, universities, unions and churches have often an obligation to disclose their investments.

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Some useful things to think about when choosing a target and developing a campaign strategy

Discovering the size and importance of the investment

Both large and small investments have their benefits and drawbacks as campaign targets. While the loss of a large investment opens the possibility to make a more tangible effect on a corporate policy, larger investments make for more difficult targets. The loss of smaller investments, while not making a huge financial dent, may be easier to effect and are still impactful in terms of unveiling Elbit’s role in Israeli apartheid and the need for a comprehensive military embargo. They create spaces for future campaigns. Note that the size and importance of investments are always relative to the overall investments an institution holds and the availability of alternative investments.

Assessing the likelihood that a given fund will divest based on its specific guidelines

Many banks and funds have ethical guidelines or have made commitments to ethical standards. Elbit clearly violates international law, human rights and the basic principles of any ethical standard. It produces so-called ‘controversial weapons’.

Some investment funds and banks are particularly conscious of their image as ethically responsible investors. They may have a history of divesting from unethical companies. The history of a financial institution can be useful in gauging the likely success of a campaign and can provide useful precedents.

Gaining support from stakeholders

If a financial institution manages funds for a public or third sector body such as churches, trade unions or universities, these stakeholders may be sympathetic to the campaign and be able to provide additional pressure.

Last but not least: Build joint struggles!

Elbit is one of those corporations that harm people and public interest wherever they are. Not only in Palestine – in many places around the world, Elbit’s weapons and technology are used to repress and kill people. We are standing with all those affected by Elbit’s exports and demand their rights to be respected.

If nothing else, public money spent on Elbit’s weapons and surveillance is money less for healthcare, education and other social services. We gather around the call for #HealthcareNotWarfare.

On this basis, you can integrate the demands of many movements across the globe and build powerful alliances for justice, freedom and equality.