NEWS ALERT: For Immediate Release and Distribution

Anti-War Committee – Chicago

Protest at Boeing Stockholders Meeting -

Stop Boeing from Selling Smart Bombs to Israel

Monday, April 27

Field Museum

8:00 a.m.

Friday April 24, 2015

Press Contacts:

Joe Iosbaker 773-301-0109; Kait McIntyre 815-988-8631

Members of the Anti-War Committee (AWC) – Chicago will attend the annual meeting of the Boeing stock holders at the Field Museum. Together with other area peace groups, the activists will hold a press conference to oppose the Boeing Company supplying the Israeli Defense Forces with smart bomb kits.

Kait McIntyre, Newland Smith and Joe Iosbaker will be attending, and will use the public comment section of the stock holders meeting to deliver their message. Said McIntyre, “We will tell them that we are opposed to their arming of the Israeli military in its wars on Gaza, and its occupation of Palestine.”

Smith explained, “In November 2014, Boeing was awarded an $83 million contract by the Israel Air Force for providing 3000 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).” JDAMs are kits that convert unguided bombs into “smart” guided weapons. These are to

replace the ordnance deployed during Operation Protective Edge in July and August 2014, in which over 2000 Palestinians, including 513 children, were killed.

According to McIntyre, “In Israel’s wars on Gaza, over 80% percent of bombs dropped had Boeing’s JDAM tail, with Boeing’s satellite guided software.”

Also joining the press conference will be Arny Steiber of Veterans for Peace and

Nerissa Allegretti of National Alliance for Filipino Concerns.

Flyer for protest against Boeing smart bomb sales to Israel

Protest at Boeing Stockholders Meeting

Monday, April 27

Field Museum

8:00 a.m. 

Members of the Anti-War Committee will be attending the meeting of the Boeing stock holders, where we will use the public comment section to deliver a message to the Board and many of its richest stock holders. We will tell them that we stand unequivocally opposed to their arming of the Israeli military in its wars on Gaza, and its occupation of Palestine.

The JDAM kit attached to a variety of regular bombs, making them precision guided “smart bombs.”

Stop Boeing From Selling Smart Bombs to the IDF! 

In November 2014, Boeing was awarded an $83 million contract by the Israel Air Force for providing 3000 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs). JDAMs are kits that convert unguided bombs into “smart” guided weapons. Just months earlier, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, killing over 2000 Palestinians, including 513 children. 

How important are these JDAMs for Israel’s wars? During Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09, out of all the bombs dropped, 81 percent were using Boeing’s JDAM tail, with Boeing’s satellite guided software. 

Since 2009, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) increased the percentage of guided munitions in their arsenal. Without exaggeration, we can say that Boeing contributed directly to the deaths of over 80% of the Palestinian dead. 

Therefore, we charge that Boeing is complicit in Israel's assault on Gaza and its cruel and illegal military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Boeing has the blood of thousands of Palestinians on its hands.  

Furthermore, Boeing’s Defense, Space, and Security department, which made the deal with Israel, is located in St. Louis, MO, about 15 miles away from Ferguson, MO.  When Ferguson community members were under siege by police terror in the wake of the murder of 18 year-old Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson, the people in Gaza expressed solidarity and support. Boeing’s new deal violates this special bond and puts money towards war that could be going toward education and eliminating the school to prison pipeline that disproportionately impacts Black and other oppressed nationality youth.  

We condemn Boeing’s business dealings with the IDF, from selling weapons to collaborating with Israeli armament companies. We demand that Boeing sever its ties with Israel and that Boeing prioritize production that improves the world, not destroy it.