For example, Japan makes it relatively easy to export dual-use technologies to the United States and Europe, and vice versa. Because Japanese law recognizes these countries as trusted countries, companies in these countries are generally free to use Japanese dual-use technology to produce weapons and, in turn, export those weapons to other states (subject to their own export controls).
This alone has raised the ire of BDS activists: They want FANUC to end its relationship with American defense contractors such as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, which sell considerable advanced weaponry to Israel. “We demand that such business relationships be terminated immediately and that the two companies never again do business with each other,” Imano said in June. But activists go further, arguing that FANUC, despite what it says publicly, is actually doing business with Israeli defense companies.
“FANUC sells its robots and provides maintenance and inspection services to Israeli military companies such as Elbit Systems,” Imano said.
FANUC has denied this accusation. “When we sell products to Israel, we carry out necessary transaction control in accordance with Japan’s Foreign Trade and Foreign Exchange Act, confirm the user’s business activities and intended use, and do not sell to Israel if the products are for military use,” the company wrote to HuffPost.
The company added that after reviewing its records for the past five years, “we have not sold any products for military use to the Israeli companies Elbit Systems, IAI, BSEL, Rosenshine Plast or AMI from our company or our European subsidiary. We have also not sold any products for military use to other Israeli companies from our company or our European subsidiary.” The company identified one case where one of its robotic arms had been sold to an Israeli company that produces military hardware “after confirming that the machine was to be used for civilian medical purposes.”
At the same time, the company admitted that when they sell through intermediaries, of which Israel has several, they are not always able to guarantee “who the end customer is.”
However, there is ample evidence to suggest that FANUC weapons have reached Israel’s defense manufacturing sector. Multiple job offers A manual published by Elbit Systems, the main national supplier to the Israel Defense Forces, lists “knowledge of FANUC controls” as a plus for job applicants or a requirement. One of those job offersThe project, which dates back to June, comes from Elbit Cyclone, the division that won a contract to produce fuselage components for the F-35 fighter jet. In January, Israel’s Defense Ministry published a video showing a FANUC robotic arm in an Elbit factory. handling of ammunition.
Another Israeli company, Bet Shemesh Engines (BSEL), created more than a decade ago marketing videos and uploaded photos to its company website showing FANUC robotic arms. A former employee’s CV suggests the company used FANUC robotics to assemble aircraft engines, which can be used for civilian rather than military purposes. Bet Shemesh counts the Israeli Air Force as a major customer.
