Antony Loewenstein, expert on Israel's use of Gaza and the West Bank for weapons testing, joins Krystal and Saagar to discuss how Israel develops and sells weapons, the profit motive behind war, and the impact of Israeli drones in conflicts like Azerbaijan.
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Quick takeaways
Israel uses Gaza and the West Bank as a testing ground for advanced weapons and surveillance technologies, which are then sold globally.
Israeli defense startups profit from conflicts like the ongoing Gaza war by developing and selling advanced weapons and surveillance technologies, attracting investors from around the world.
Deep dives
Israel's Occupation Tools and Technologies
The podcast discusses how Israel has developed and marketed tools and technologies used to maintain its occupation of Palestine. These tools include drones, spyware, and biometric tools that are tested on Palestinians and then sold to other countries. The book "The Palestine Laboratory" examines this issue in detail, highlighting the global impact of Israel's occupation and the profit motive behind the arms industry.
Israeli Defense Startups and Global Market Opportunities
The podcast explores how Israeli defense startups are flourishing, selling their technologies during conflicts like the ongoing Gaza war. The profit motive incentivizes the development and sale of advanced weapons and surveillance technologies. Investors from Silicon Valley and other places are looking to Israel for investment opportunities, seeing the potential for growth amid rising military budgets and geopolitical tensions. The dominance of major defense firms, along with the live testing of weapons on Palestinians, contributes to the export of Israel's occupation tools globally.
Emerging Surveillance Technologies
The podcast mentions the use of surveillance technology, surveillance drones, suicide drones, and advanced night goggles in conflicts. Israel's occupation of Palestine serves as a testing ground for these technologies, which are then marketed to other countries around the world. The surveillance tech includes phone hacking tools like Pegasus, known for its extensive use and sale globally. These technologies offer a glimpse into the future of warfare, where both high-tech and low-tech methods are employed by armed forces and insurgent groups alike.
Hubris in Israeli Defense Sector and Military
The podcast notes that while the general Israeli public may have lost confidence in the security provided by the occupation, the defense sector and military exhibit hubris. Instead of conducting introspection and accountability after the failures of the occupation, these entities are driven to regain their perceived superiority. The defense companies are bolstered by increased arm sales, as conflict experiences like 9/11 and the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that failures can lead to an expansion of the defense industry. It remains to be seen if there will be any real consequences or changes within the Israeli defense sector.
Krystal and Saagar discuss Bibi saying Gaza war until 2025, Biden failure as Houthi attacks increase, and Antony Loewenstein joins to discuss how Israel uses Gaza and the West Bank as a weapons testing ground.