In October of last year, both countries had already threatened to suspend any type of purchase or sale of weapons.
Photo: Private Archive
Through his They were looking for humanitarian aid. In addition to the announcement to stop these businesses, the Colombian head of state assured that his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, is committing “genocide” against the Palestinian community.
(In context: Israel condemns Gustavo Petro’s “hostile and anti-Semitic” statements)
The announcement generated noise among retired military personnel and experts on the subject, since for decades Israel has been key to the purchase, maintenance and development of various war elements, such as Kfir planes, Galil rifles and communications tools. However, at least since October of last year, both countries had already announced the suspension of this type of business, amid the political tension that the heads of state have had since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The first announcement was made known on October 15, by the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, through a message published by the Israeli ambassador to Colombia, Gali Dagan. In addition to condemning Gustavo Petro’s statements for fueling anti-Semitism and putting the Jewish community at risk, Cohen announced that he had already stopped exports of security elements to Colombia. President Petro’s words that generated this reaction from Israel were also known through his X account.
(Also read: “If we have to suspend foreign relations with Israel, we will suspend them”: Petro)
The Colombian president claimed to be “on the right side of history”, showing his solidarity with the civilians in Gaza who have been impacted by Israel’s retaliation after the Hamas attack: “The systematic attack on civilians is prohibited. “Genocides are prohibited,” the president said on social networks. Furthermore, Petro compared the situation of the Palestinians to the Auschwitz concentration camps of World War II.
In response, President Petro indicated that, if foreign relations with Israel had to be suspended, he would do so. The president added that he does not support what he considers a genocide in Gaza. “Someday the army and government of Israel will ask us for forgiveness for what their men did in our land, unleashing genocide. I will hug them and cry for the murder of Auschwitz and Gaza, and for the Colombian Auschwitz. Hitler will be defeated for the good of humanity, his democracy, the Peace and freedom of the world,” the president wrote in his X account.
(Also read: Kfir planes, Galil rifles and other items that Colombia has bought from Israel)
From that moment, experts in the field explained the possible effects of the suspension of business on war material. The same ones that resurfaced now, four months after the first announcement. Although there has been a relationship for military cooperation between Colombia and Israel for decades, the first thing they have specified is that that country is neither a strategic partner nor the most important in this matter, since there are other businesses with European countries, Canada and the United States. Joined.
On the other hand, those who know the details of what Israel sells to Colombia have explained that there are several issues that could be affected. According to data from the Center for Military Education and the Colombian Military Industry (Indumil), the Army, the Police and the CTI of the Prosecutor’s Office use several weapons produced by the Israel Arms Industry (IWI), among them which include the Jericho semi-automatic pistol, the X95 rifle and the Galil rifles.
(We recommend you read: Petro will ask to recognize Palestine and would suspend the purchase of weapons: what does it imply?)
For this last weapon, Indumil has, since 2002, the exclusive license for its production, so any change in bilateral relations between the countries would have no effect. Regarding vehicles and helicopters, the Colombian Army uses Nimrod and Spike anti-tank missiles, of Israeli origin, as well as M-462 type artillery vehicles and Eagle Eye anti-aircraft batteries.
Only last year, Colombia agreed to purchase several units of the Atmos self-propelled gun system. Among other changes that the Colombian public force has proposed is the one that has to do with the Kfir combat aircraft, which had traditionally been purchased from Israel. Last year it was learned that Colombia had 24 aircraft of this type and that it was in the process of acquiring another 90, but that it wanted to change that model of its fleet, since neither Israel nor the United States uses those aircraft.
Of course, until now, for the maintenance of the Kfir that Colombia does have, the country continues to depend on Israel, so a change in the relations of both countries could involve looking for new suppliers and reviewing the contracts that are currently still in force. . Finally, Indumil pointed out that the Colombian Aerospace Force also uses the AH-60 helicopter, manufactured together with the company Elbit Systems, and Hermes unmanned aircraft.
Thus, since October of last year, tension over war material deals between Colombia and Israel has continued.
To learn more about justice, security and human rights, visit the Judicial section of El Espectador.