Sweden rewards Israeli company with billion dollar deal

Leader 

Chalmers

Sweden rewards Israeli company with billion dollar deal  

Chalmers will be a safe space for the arms lobby  

 

Zina Al-Dewany 

 

Published 4:00 p.m  

 

Aftonbladet's editorial page is independent social democratic. 

 

Photo: Bo Carsing/TT  

 

When Russia's war against Ukraine began, many raised their voices to stop trade and boycott all goods. The government urged Swedish universities to end all research and educational collaborations with Russia.  

 

But when Israel mass kills Palestinian civilians, Sweden enters into a major defense agreement with the country. Those who protest are silenced.  

 

The company Elbit Systems works closely with the Israeli military. They provide everything needed to maintain the occupation of Palestinian territories. The wall around Gaza and the high-tech fence around the West Bank are two examples. 

 

Elbit has produced drones that have killed thousands of Palestinians, one example being four Palestinian children who were hit and died in 2014. Their crime? They played on the beach.

 

Already in 2010, the Swedish AP funds considered that Elbit should be excluded from their investments. Their ethics board felt that they could not be associated with such a company. The government has now entered into an agreement with Elbit for SEK 1.7 billion. That makes Sweden's defense more dependent on Israel.  

 

When the subsidiary of Elbit was to exhibit at Chalmers University of Technology, protests were heard. There was also a silent candlelight vigil for Palestine, which university representatives say was peaceful. But that made Chalmers nervous. Now political demonstrations, even posters, are prohibited on campus. 

 

Education Minister Mats Persson (L) has had a high profile when it comes to freedom of expression. He is starting an investigation into a "possible culture of silence" at the country's universities. His response to Chalmers' attempt to silence students? "Welcome".  

 

The same hypocrisy applies to the politicians who defended the Koran burnings. If someone points out that it can be perceived as hateful or Islamophobic, they reply in unison: It's freedom of expression!  

 

When people say they feel insecure about this book burning, the right laughs derisively. When it comes to a candlelight vigil for all the Palestinians who are killed daily in Israeli attacks, the line is drawn for freedom of expression.

 

The subsidiary for Elbit Systems never came to Chalmers. It was to protect the company from possible protests. No one should feel unsafe. 

 

There is much to say about the university's cowardly decision, Mats Persson's statement and the way they treat demonstrations for Palestine. It has become clear that values such as freedom of expression and security are relative.  

 

When the war in Ukraine started, I wondered if they would even stop producing one of my lipsticks in the color "Russian red". But there are neither embargoes nor sanctions against Israel.  

 

On the contrary, we are happy to depend on companies that maintain the occupation of Palestine.

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