Israeli defense contractor taking Canada to court after military contract disqualification 

Pro-Hamas groups have been pressuring the Trudeau government to stop supplying weapons to Israel, even though Canada has spent more than quadruple the amount to fund the Hamas-linked UNRWA than it has spent on sending military parts to Israel. In March, Knesset member Dan Illouz sent a letter to Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly after an arms embargo vote in parliament, warning that Canada was “appeasing radical elements.” Joly also responded to accusations of Israeli sexual violence, saying “We believe Palestinian women”; meanwhile, she posted a photo of herself holding hands with Mahmoud Abbas. A picture was formed.

Now Israeli defense contractor Elbit Security Systems Ltd. “is taking the Canadian government to court after the company says it was taken out of the running for a multimillion-dollar military equipment contract without explanation.” Rather than come right out and admit to boycotting and sanctioning the Israeli company, one can see how it might be easier to disqualify its contract without explanation. At the moment, only Canada’s stance toward Israel has been noted, but much will come out in the court case about the real reason Elbit Security Systems was taken out of the running.

“Israeli arms firm taking Canada to court after military contract disqualification,” Canadian Press, July 10, 2024:

An Israeli defence contractor is taking the Canadian government to court after the company says it was taken out of the running for a multimillion-dollar military equipment contract without explanation.

Elbit Security Systems Ltd. says in an application filed in Federal Court last month that Public Services and Procurement Canada has refused to explain its “purported disqualification” from a contract for hand-held laser rangefinders for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Elbit says the government’s refusal to give its reasons until after the contract is awarded prevents the firm from having “a full and fair opportunity to compete.”

The company says it can’t “meaningfully participate” in the procurement process because the federal government is “improperly withholding” information about why it disqualified Elbit’s bid.

Elbit has been targeted by protesters in Canada, including at last year’s Scotiabank Giller Prize ceremony. Protesters with signs saying “Scotiabank Funds Genocide,” taking exception to the bank’s investments in Elbit, jumped on the stage at the ceremony in November….

Elbit claims the contract is potentially worth tens of millions of dollars and was supposed to have been awarded late last month, but Public Services and Procurement Canada’s statement said the procurement process “continues and a contract is expected to be awarded later this summer.”…

The company wants the Federal Court to quash the disqualification decision and to stay the contract award pending the court case’s outcome. It also wants an order for the government to disclose its reason for disqualifying Elbit….