Germany’s democratic socialist political party, the Left Party, has expressed its strong objection to Volkswagen’s planned military deal with the Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael.
It came after the German automotive giant revised plans to transform production at its plant in the northwestern city of Osnabruck into military equipment in collaboration with Rafael.
Thomas Gross, the mayoral candidate for the party in Osnabruck for the upcoming election next month, has condemned Volkswagen’s management regarding the contentious proposal and for leaving thousands of workers in the dark about their future.
Gross said in a statement that collaboration with an Israeli enterprise contradicts Osnabruck’s heritage as a “City of Peace,” citing the city’s historical significance as the origin of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which was instrumental in forming the basis of contemporary international law.
He noted that the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bears responsibility for multiple war crimes in Gaza, and that international human rights organizations believe these actions equate to genocide.
Gross highlighted that there are feasible alternatives to maintain civilian manufacturing in Osnabruck without transforming the site into a military installation.
“The Left Party supports the proposal to produce minibuses at the plant, which are urgently needed for public transportation in rural areas,” he said.
Gross added, “In our view, it is far more urgent to improve climate protection and climate adaptation than to pour billions into military buildup.”
In July, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, which is Volkswagen’s third-largest shareholder, rejected a draft version of the military partnership.
According to media reports, the updated arrangement circumvents direct collaboration between Volkswagen and Rafael to alleviate concerns from Qatar.
The supervisory board of Volkswagen is set to convene on September 4, when a decision could be made.
According to the Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, Lower Saxony is considering an investment of at least €200 million ($232 million) in the project.
Volkswagen has previously confirmed that it is engaged in discussions with various defense contractors regarding the Osnabruck facility, where automobile production is scheduled to cease after 2027.
Chief Executive Oliver Blume stated that any collaboration with companies would be restricted to military transport vehicles, excluding weapons.
Local media reports suggest that negotiations with the Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael are primarily aimed at the manufacturing of support components for the so-called Iron Dome missile system, including heavy transport trucks, launch units, and power generators.
IMAGE CREDIT: The logo of the German auto giant Volkswagen (Photo via social media)
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV ]
