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Belgium and Arms Transit to Israel
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At the Port of Antwerp, in Belgium, a shipment of tapered roller bearings, essential components for tank production, is being prepared for dispatch to Israel, despite a Flemish ban on exporting military goods that “enhance the capabilities of the Israeli armed forces, The shipment is destined for Ashot Ashkelon Industries, an Israeli firm that focuses on aerospace and defense components, with two-thirds of its revenue coming from contracts with the Israeli military (IDF).
Flemish authorities have examined the contentious container located at quay 1742 of the Deurganck dock in the port of Antwerp. According to a report from De Morgen, this container contains three pallets of tapered roller bearings produced in France by the American firm Timken. These bearings are classified as “dual use” items, meaning they can be utilised for both civilian and military purposes, and were scheduled to be transported by the shipping company MSC to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Flemish laws prohibit the export or transit of items that may directly aid the Israeli Defence Forces. The bearings are intended for Ashot Ashkelon, a significant supplier of transmission systems for Israel’s Merkava tanks and Namer armored vehicles, which are currently deployed in the Gaza conflict. Last week, we reported on the dockworkers in France at the Marseille-Fos port, who refused to load military supplies meant for Israel. The Israeli ship, Contship Era, was scheduled to secretly load 14 tons of spare parts for submachine guns, which Dockers and NGOs believe could be used in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, over 70 tons of munitions and explosives have transited through Liège (Belgium) en route to Israel. Investigation carried out by “De Morgen” indicates that a portion of this shipment is directed straight to the Israeli military. It has come to light that Belgium’s ports, along with others in Europe, have served as logistical hubs for the transportation of ammunition and defense technologies to support the Israeli military-industrial complex.
Companies in Europe continue to attempt to provide military supplies to the Israeli armed forces, notwithstanding the existing bans and restrictions. What could possibly motivate an American company based in France to utilise a port in Belgium, if not to circumvent the scrutiny of French port authorities and dock workers, who have been vigilant regarding any shipments destined for Israel? VRT has the story…
IMAGE: Port of Antwerp, Belgium
Michael Torfs reports for VRT NWS…
Container with possible military equipment for Israel pulled over in Antwerp port for inspection
In the port of Antwerp, a container suspected of containing military equipment for the Israeli army is being inspected. This is according to Flemish Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). If the contents prove problematic, he says, steps can be taken. The NGO Vredesactie (Peace Action) was able to view a copy of the transport documents and says that everything indicates that the contents of the container are intended for military purposes.
According to De Morgen, a container with three pallets of ball bearings from France is waiting at the Deurganck dock in the port of Antwerp. It will soon be boarded by a ship sailing to the port of Ashdod in Israel. The destination is reportedly Ashot Ashkelon Industries, a producer of components for space and defense.
In principle, Flanders prohibits the export or transit of military goods that are intended to strengthen the Israeli armed forces. No permit has been requested for the shipment, but according to De Morgen, that was probably not necessary because the material can be used for both military and civilian applications.
Strategic Goods Control
Opposition party Groen had asked the Flemish government to intervene and stop the transport to Israel. According to Prime Minister Diependaele, the Strategic Goods Control Service (dCSG), which falls under his authority and must monitor the export and transit of arms transports, takes “every concrete and substantiated report of a violation of the arms trade decree, certainly with regard to Israel, seriously”.
The service can also investigate these reports, and that is now happening, Diependaele confirms to Belga. “The container in question is effectively on the side, and the dCSG is currently checking whether or not the cargo has problematic goods on board and what steps need to be taken afterwards.”
If goods are actually involved that strengthen the Israeli army, the government can stop their export. In that case, a report will also be drawn up.
Peace Action: “Ball bearings for company that supplies military vehicles”
Hans Lammerant, researcher at the NGO Vredesactie (Peace Action), tells VRT NWS that everything points to military applications of the material in the container. He was able to take a look at a copy of the transport documents. “The goods are described as tapered roller bearings. These types of ball bearings are intended for transmission systems in vehicles, for example, in gearboxes.”
“But from the recipient, the Israeli company Ashot Ashkelon, we can deduce that the material is primarily intended for military applications. That company works on the Merkava tanks and the Namer armored vehicles that are deployed in the Gaza Strip.” “We are quite certain of the military application. In that case, the goods should be stopped”, said Hans Lammerant, Peace Action
Lammerant added, “At this point, we are talking about the transit of military goods and a permit is required for that. The Flemish region has for years had a policy of not issuing permits if the final destination is the Israeli army or the government.”
Lammerant hopes that the inspection service will proceed thoroughly. “We are quite certain of the military application. In that case, the goods must be stopped. We hope that the inspection service will simply block those containers and not issue a permit for them.”
Note: [On 15 May 2024, NGO coalition, including Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP), Al-Haq Europe, Broederlijk Delen, De-Colonizer, Intal, Oxfam, Vredesactie (Peace Action) and Vrede vzwtook, took the Israeli shipping company ZIM to court over illegal weapon transfer via Antwerp port during the ongoing war in Gaza – Case details]
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