We hereby demand that Kawasaki Heavy Industries immediately cancel its import agency contract with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and stop importing and selling attack drones. 

In negotiations with the Ministry of Defense held by civic groups in late February 2024, it became known that the Ministry had selected candidate aircraft in preparation for the introduction of Israeli-made attack drones in the FY2023 budget, and that Israel had conducted demonstration tests toward this end. 

Later, the import agents for the five Israeli attack drones that the Ministry of Defense is considering introducing were also identified, and one of them was revealed to be Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Having learned that Kawasaki Heavy Industries has entered into an import agency contract with IAI, a major Israeli military company, we strongly protest the plan to import and sell Heron MKII attack drones to the Ministry of Defense, and demand that this agreement be terminated. 

Currently, at least 34,654 people have been killed and more than 77,908 injured in the Palestinian Gaza Strip due to Israeli air strikes since October 7 last year, with 72% of the dead reportedly being women and children. (Figures as of May 4, Ministry of Health in Gaza) In addition to genocide, Israel has been occupying Palestinian territory and practicing apartheid policies for many years, imposing blockades and committing war crimes in violation of international law. 

In view of these circumstances, South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ (International Court of Justice) and on January 26, an interim order was issued requiring Israel to take all possible measures to prevent acts of genocide. This statement is based on the possibility that “genocide has already taken place.'' In response to this, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa stated, “The ICJ's provisional order is legally binding on the countries concerned and must be implemented in good faith.'' The Foreign Minister further stated in a Diet session on March 13, “Israel's attack on Gaza is a violation of international humanitarian law.'' 

The Japanese government's attempt to purchase lethal attack drones from an Israeli military company contradicts this officially stated position, and we strongly condemn the import agency companies that are complicit in genocide through such public-private partnerships. We believe that the ICJ's order for action should be heeded not only by the state but also by the private sector. In fact, Itochu Aviation, which had previously signed a memorandum of cooperation with Israeli military company Elbit Systems, terminated the memorandum at the end of February in response to the ICJ decision. 

Furthermore, on the international front, the United Nations Human Rights Council (47 countries) adopted a UN resolution imposing an arms embargo on Israel with a majority vote (28 countries in favor, 6 countries including the United States and Germany opposed, and 13 countries including Japan abstaining). Canada and Spain have announced freezes on new arms exports to Israel, and similar moves are being made in parliaments and judiciaries in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In addition, Nicaragua in Central America has filed a lawsuit with the ICJ against Germany, which continues to supply weapons to Israel, for violating the Genocide Convention, and there is even more momentum around the world to seriously question countries that are complicit in Israel's genocide. In the midst of this genocide, importing and selling murderous attack-type drones from Israeli military companies that massacre Palestinians and conducting demonstration tests that directly benefit Israeli military companies is tantamount to complicity in genocide against Palestinians. We strongly oppose Japan's direct or indirect complicity in genocide. 

Transactions with Israeli military companies seriously undermine the "trust" in the slogan of Kawasaki's Group Vision 2030, "Trustworthy solutions for the future." They also seriously undermine the Kawasaki Group Management Principles. Such business practices are utterly incompatible with the philosophy of "coexistence with the environment, society as a whole, local communities and individuals." Does Kawasaki Heavy Industries prioritize corporate profits over human lives? 

Based on the above, we request the following.

1. Immediately cancel all import agency contracts with Israeli military companies and never do business with them directly or indirectly again. 

2. Do not import or sell weapons such as attack drones from any military companies. 

Kawasaki Heavy Industries must comply with the above and promptly announce that it will cancel its import agency contract with IAI. Until such an announcement is made, the network of citizens for peace in Palestine will continue its boycott and protest campaign against your company. With irreplaceable lives being taken away every day in Palestine, we sincerely hope that Kawasaki Heavy Industries will provide a prompt and honest response. 

Contact: Citizens in Unity with Palestine (sujya25@yahoo.co.jp)

Endorsing Organizations:
Network Against Arms Trade (NAJAT)