Pearls and Irritations

The Australian Government has at last grudgingly admitted that Australian-based companies are supplying parts and components to Israel for its F-35 Lightning jets which are systematically destroying human life and buildings in Gaza. But it has not yet admitted that the supply of such components contravenes the Arms Trade Treaty of 2014, which Australia has ratified.

Michelle Fahy exposed the situation in Declassified Australia on 1 July 2024. She recalls earlier denials by Richard Marles and Penny Wong, referring to the exports as non-lethal ‘parts’ and ‘components’, not to weapons themselves. Marles’s denial cynically ignored Articles 3 and 4 of the Treaty which prohibits exports of parts and components of any weapons being used to commit genocide or crimes against humanity according to the Geneva Convention of 1949. It is up to the exporter to determine the end use. Marles claimed that Australia hadn’t sent weapons to Israel for five years, while Wong said there had been none not since November 2023.

How Prime Minister Albanese, Defence Minister Marles or Foreign Minister Wong can wriggle out of such falsehoods has not yet been revealed. Meanwhile, the Department of Defence is refusing to release a copy of a deal recently struck with Israel on defence industry cooperation with Australia ‘because it could harm Australia’s international standing and reputation.’

The Green’s David Shoebridge rightly argues that the public have a right to know. Such denials and obfuscations are likely to increase public indignation at what is going on in Gaza, and Australia’s support of Israel and the United States.

Meanwhile, the slaughter in Gaza continues. Nine hundred kilogram JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) smart bombs are being dropped for the first time since Vietnam. Their effect is even more deadly among Gaza’s population, which is more tightly concentrated than among the less-dense rural hamlet targets of Vietnam. One bomb can flatten several buildings at once. Each bomb creates a crater of 12 metres, and can kill or wound anyone within its immediate radius of 360 metres. They are particularly effective against hospitals and universities where Hamas fighters are allegedly sheltering along with many other Palestinians. They are equally effective when used on ‘refuge’ areas to which Palestinians have been peremptorily sent by Israel. They are weapons of state terrorism, causing widespread fear and panic.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently complained that the United States had ‘hindered’ the supply of 900 kilo JDAMs, but this hindrance appears to have been only a temporary measure. The supply has apparently resumed without explanation.

Meanwhile, in December 2023, Lieutenant General Michael Schmidt, Head of the United States F-35 Program, confirmed that Israel was increasingly deploying its fifth generation F-35s in bombing attacks on Gaza, and that the Program was moving at ‘breakneck speed’ to increase the spare parts supply rate. Israel’s other fighter bombers – fourth generation F-15s and F-16s – are deployed in back-up roles.

What components do American or Australian defence contractors supply to keep Israeli F-35s operational? I understand that 70 Australian companies have been awarded over $A4.13 billion worth of global production and sustainment contracts associated with the F-35 program. In addition, eleven multi-national (mainly American) weapons companies have significant F-35 operations in Australia. They include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Thales and Rheinmetall RTX/Raytheon.

Australian-supplied components include rudders and vertical stabilisers, steel, lithium, nickel, and aluminium alloys, actuators for landing gear, weapons and bay doors, engine and radar components, corrosion sensors, flares and magazines. Hugh Jeffrey, a deputy secretary in the Department of Defence, recently estimated that about 66 export permits for Australian-made components of the aircraft remain unfulfilled. So there’s plenty more in the pipeline.

Marles announced the government’s response to the 2022-23 inquiry into how Australia goes to war by promising more transparency and accountability in defence matters. His record on Israel falls far short of his promises. Meanwhile Labor, up to and including the Prime Minister, are transfixed and side-tracked by a young Senator who insists on upholding ALP policy in favour of a Palestinian State. As they put all their energies into that, the death toll in Gaza approaches 40 000 with no peace in sight.

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