Recipients:

• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
• António Costa, President of the European Council
• Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission
• Ekaterina Zahrieva, Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation

Subject:
We call for the immediate suspension of funding from the European Union to Israeli startups that develop technologies for military and defense purposes as part of the Horizon Europe program.

Premise:
In recent years, the European Union has funded numerous Israeli startups through the EIC Accelerator program, allocating significant resources to innovative projects. However, it has come to light that many of these companies are using European funds to develop technologies that, while marketed as “dual use” (i.e., applicable in both civilian and military contexts), are closely tied to defense and warfare objectives. In particular, some of these technologies have already been adopted by the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IDF) to enhance military capabilities, including combat drones, encryption for securing sensitive data, and quantum computing technologies applied to defense.

While these technologies can also be used in civilian contexts, they are developed with the knowledge that they may be employed in armed conflicts, further exacerbating violence and destabilization in the Middle East. Furthermore, EU funding for these technologies raises ethical concerns, as it indirectly fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other geopolitical tensions.

Reasons:

1. Use of Technologies for Military Purposes:
   Several Israeli startups that have received European funds, such as Xtend, LightSolver, CyberRidge, and Spacepharma R&D, have explicitly stated that their technologies can also be used for military purposes. Some of these companies have already become direct suppliers to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, contributing to the modernization of its war capabilities.
2. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Human Rights Violations:
   European funds directed to technologies with military purposes indirectly support the Israeli war machine, which has been at the center of severe human rights violations in Palestine for years. The use of drones for targeted attacks and the provision of advanced surveillance technologies help perpetuate the conflict and the suffering of innocent civilians.
3. Contradiction with the EU’s Peace and Security Objectives:
   The European Union has repeatedly declared its commitment to promoting peace, security, and human rights. Continuing to fund Israeli startups developing military technologies directly contradicts these core principles, making Europe complicit in the conflict.
4. Opportunity for Peaceful Technologies:
   Europe has the opportunity to direct its funds towards technologies that promote peace, sustainability, and global well-being. It is crucial that public funding be used responsibly, for projects that can truly make a difference in terms of social, economic, and environmental progress—not for fueling military conflicts.

Request:
We call for the immediate suspension of funding to Israeli startups involved in the development of military technologies through the EIC Accelerator program and other Horizon Europe initiatives. Additionally, we ask for the establishment of stricter policies to ensure that public funds are not used to finance technologies that may be exploited for war purposes or to strengthen the offensive capabilities of nations in conflict.

Conclusions:
Peace and justice are universal values that should guide the foreign policies of the European Union. Continuing to fund technologies with military applications goes against these principles and risks compromising the EU’s reputation as a promoter of human rights and sustainable development. For this reason, we call on all relevant European institutions to act promptly and put an end to this unacceptable practice.

Sources:

• European Commission, Funding Israel, https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/association-horizon-europe/israel_en
• European Defence Fund millions benefiting Israeli state-owned drone manufacturer, https://www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/european-defence-fund-millions-benefiting-israeli-state-owned-drone-manufacturer
• EU funding for Israeli tech raises fresh concerns of complicity in genocide, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/eu-funding-for-israeli-tech-raises-fresh-concerns-of-complicity-in-genocide/3444314
• Germany and other EU states stall scientific sanctions against Israel, https://sciencebusiness.net/news/international-news/germany-and-other-eu-states-stall-scientific-sanctions-against-israel
• EU AND ISRAEL, The case of conplicity, https://www.eccpalestine.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ECCP-2019.pdf
• Technologies at war: The role of tech companies and the EU in facilitating war crimes and genocide in Gaza, https://www.cpdpconferences.org/panels/technologies-at-war-the-role-of-tech-companies-and-the-eu-in-facilitating-war-crimes-and-genocide-in-gaza