Israel's role in the global arms trade: MEMO in Conversation with Antony Loewenstein

Israel has transformed its occupation of Palestine into a lucrative global enterprise, exporting methods of control and surveillance worldwide. Joining MEMO in Conversation to discuss Israel’s role in the global arms and surveillance technology trade is Antony Loewenstein, author of groundbreaking new book ‘The Palestine Laboratory’.

Loewenstein, an investigative journalist, examines Israel’s deep historical ties with oppressive regimes, from its support of South African apartheid to its current relationships with far-right governments. Loewenstein shares insights from his 17-year journey investigating Israel’s arms industry, drawing parallels between his earlier work on disaster capitalism and the commodification of Palestinian suffering. He explores Israel’s willingness to arm regimes accused of genocide, from Rwanda to Myanmar, and its cultivation of relationships with openly anti-Semitic far-right leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban.

Loewenstein argues that Israel’s military actions in Gaza reflect long-established patterns of weaponising its expertise in occupation for profit.

Loewenstein is an independent journalist, best-selling author, filmmaker and co-founder of Declassified Australia. He’s written for the Guardian, the New York Times, the New York Review of Books and many others. His books include ‘Pills, Powder and Smoke’, ‘Disaster Capitalism’, ‘The Palestine Laboratory’ and ‘My Israel Question’. His documentary films include ‘Disaster Capitalism’ and Al Jazeera English films ‘West Africa’s Opioid Crisis’ and ‘Under the Cover of Covid’.

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