Sydney Uni You Can't Hide...
Sydney Uni You Can't Hide...
If the Governments won't embargo ... educational institutions need to
Article updated: Tue 24th April 2024 (Sleekit Scotsman ☮️🏴 articles are updated periodically to add latest information on the subject of the article for relevance)
Synopsis
Strong feelings at Sydney University over links to Israel. Campaign posters featuring the crest above have popped up all over campus ahead of O Week noting the University’s links with Israeli companies.
The accusations specifically are partnership with defence organisations and educational institutions who work with the Israeli Military - and the University does not want to be complicit in apartheid and genocide.
USYD Partnership with Thales (in turn partnering with Elbit Systems to make killer drones used in Gaza) with the outgoing USYD Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson Chairing the Board of Thales Australia for 8 years until 2023 (now Non-Executive Director)
USYD Partnering to offer a course with an Israeli University who train IDF soldiers
This article looks at the links with Israel with potential resolution and broader comment - including some concern at the new incoming Chancellor’s views on Israeli partnerships.
Contents
Introduction
Sydney University O Week. Tents everywhere, stalls, clubs, talks, music - and all over campus posters touting the University’s links to Israel.
The link is to an anonymous card site: https://usydinfo.carrd.co with a page on the University ties to Israel.
The page features a link to a petition by the organisers the cross- educational institution Students Against War.
The accusations therein are partnership with defence organisations and educational institutions who work with the Israeli Military - and the University does not want to be complicit in apartheid and genocide.
Regardless of the history in particular with the ICJ findings of 24 January that Israel is complicit in plausible genocide. Article on this below:
Looking at each of the issues in turn.
Sydney University Links to Thales
USYD Partnership with Arms Giant Thales renewed 20221 2
In addition outgoing USYD Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson sits on the board of Thales.
Chair of the Board from 2015 - 2023
2023 took Non-Executive Director position (currently held)
USYD Chancellor 2013 to July 2024
Hutchinson will be replaced by David Thodey in July 20243 who has already expressed a direct opinion on Thales (see Epilogue: New Chancellor David Thodey - background in Israeli tech and comments on Thales below.)
USYD The Faculty of Engineering takes funding from Thales for some of its projects4 and industry placements:
Thales also sponsors eight Engineering Sydney Industry placements and has directly funded research in Low Altitude Air Traffic Management for drone operations.
Thales Military Operations with Israel
Thales has a broad international relationship with Israel with multiple Israeli Defence Companies including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for anti-ship missiles5.
Thales partners with Israel's largest weapons company, Elbit Systems6.
A subsidiary of this partnership UAV Tactical Drones (U-TacS) makes the killer drone technology used in Gaza7 8.
Israeli Defence Industry
In addition to being huge importers of arms Israel has developed one of the most sophisticated weapons manufacturing industry in the world.
Israel 2022 was the world’s 10th largest arms exporter9
Israel uses “field testing in Gaza” for its weapons program as an international USP sales pitch, as noted in Anthony Lowenstein’s 2023 Book “The Palestine Laboratory”10
Israeli University Partnership - training IDF
USYD also runs a unit 'OLES2155: Experience Israel' which faced criticism from staff and students when introduced in 202311.
The University USYD partners with in Israel is alleged to have trained the Israeli Defence Force. Two Universities are partners with USYD:
Technion Israel Institute of Technology
Alonim Excellence Program and Baraket Excellence Programs Data Analytics for the IDF Academic Reserve (Atuda Program)12
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
IDF Intelligence Officer degrees - includes officer training, leadership courses, and basic combat training.13
Honorary Doctorates - notably Prof. Leon Mann AO, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Melbourne—in recognition of his groundbreaking research in the field of decision-making; of the translation of his academic findings into a curriculum that has formed part of the training for IDF officers and of other educational programs in Israel14.
The course did not run in 2024 but still remains on the books as part of the OLE series of country study offerings.
Resolution
Resolutions here would be for
USYD to sever ties with Thales
Remediation existing partnerships - conduct an audit of the supply chain of the various other defence industry partnerships they have and take similar action if required
Screening future partnerships - put in place screening process for defence companies proposing research partnerships in future
For the Israel study program, seek alternative Israeli University partners not associated with the IDF - apply similar due diligence screening to that of research corporate partners
Severing partnerships in the face of the current crisis on a matter of principal is the right thing to do for educational institutions - if the Australian Government themselves won’t.
For reference, the article below details what sanctions SHOULD be imposed on Israel by Governments, including arms embargo:
On educational institution ties - there is form in severing them.
RMIT had a direct relationship with Elbit Systems working on a Centre of Excellence with them in Victoria with agreements in 2019 and 202215.
In November 2023 RMIT issued a statement after continuous pressure noting that they no longer had any partnerships with Elbit or any of its subsidiaries16.
It remains to be seen if USYD will do the same.
Epilogue: New Chancellor David Thodey - background in Israeli tech and comments on Thales
David Thodey received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sydney May 202317 and in February 2024 it was announced he would take over as Chancellor of the University in July 2024 from current Chancellor and Thales Non-Executive Director Belinda Hutchinson.
Thodey has an extensive portfolio of technology and innovation executive roles and has had direct relationships with Israeli companies over the years.
2014 Thodey: “Israel is the epicentre of world innovation”
In 2014 Thodey then CEO of Telstra proclaimed at an Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) event that “Israel is the epicentre of world innovation” and praised Netanyahu for his articulation of Israel’s innovation entrepreneurship18. Under Thodey’s stewardship Telstra invested heavily in Israeli technologies the telco was reliant on.
2015 Joins Tel Aviv VC Firm with James Packer
In 2015 a new VC company Square Peg Capital was set up investing initially in Israeli Tech firms. It was backed by ex-Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyer and SEEK founder Paul Bassat and the Liberman Family Foundation and was seeking further capital and expertise.
Bassat took a delegation of Australian business people to Tel Aviv to review technology investment opportunities. The delegation included David Thodey and ex-Crown Casino billionaire James Packer.
Packer went on to fund Square Peg Capital with over $100M in a portfolio of over $250M investing in tech companies in Israel19 whilst Thodey himself joined Square Peg as an Advisory Board Member a position he held until at least 2022.
Packer is a staunch ally of Israel. Staunch to the point of oddity where he allegedly once kissed the feet of Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres…
He has a very close relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu whom he describes as “the most impressive man I have ever met”. Packer has a beachfront mansion in Tel Aviv next to Netanyahu’s private family compound which he lent to Netanyahu for period, showering him with gifts, paying for holidays for Netanyahu’s son Yair - part of the testimony in Netanyahu’s pending corruption investigation20.
Packer still has extensive business interests in Tel Aviv and last year after the Gaza Crisis started defended Netanyahu insisting he deserves Australia’s full support21.
2021 - Australia-Israel Innovation
Thodey continued to work with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Israeli Technology companies, assuming key technology roles in Australia.
In 2021 he was the keynote speaker at the AICC Innovation Summit in his capacities as former Chair of CSIRO, Chair of Tech Central Advisory startup group and Chair of Tyro22.
Sep 2023 - Thales and UTS - Thodey: “Great to see this partnership”
More recently in late 2023 Thodey has directly indicated his views specifically on Thales. He passed the comment below on LinkedIn23 regarding UTS signing a new strategic agreement with Thales in September 202324.
Thodey’s comment on Thales was just six months before his position as Chancellor of Sydney University was announced.
It is clear where he stands on these defence company partnerships.
Many Israeli tech companies work in the military supply chain (such as the AI targeting tech for the Lavender Drone Program25) and many partners directly (Thales via Elbit/U-Tacs - the drones themselves).
With Thodey’s view on partnerships such as Thales and his background working closely with Israeli tech companies early indications would look like potentially an even closer partnership between the University and Israeli industries under Thodey’s stewardship.
Sydney University Motto: Sidere mens eadem mutato: The stars change, the mind remains the same.
Related Articles
Anthony Lowenstein book “The Palestine Laboratory:How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World“ - https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/2684-the-palestine-laboratory
Related Substack Articles:
US University Campuses - the McCarthyite Oppression of free speech
Covert Pro-Israel Lobby on Australian Campuses: Australian Jewish Union of Students (see section “Australia/New Zealand Jewish Student Organisation”):
Sanctions - what sanctions Israel SHOULD be facing:
Plausible Genocide - ICJ Ruling 24 Jan and what it means:
Thales Australia Website 22 Dec 2022 - “THALES AUSTRALIA EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY FOR TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT“ - https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/countries-asia/australia/press-release/thales-australia-extends-partnership-university-sydney
USYD Press Release 22 December 2022 - “Research partnership extended with Thales Australia“ - https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/12/22/research-partnership-extended-with-thales-australia.html
Sydney Uni News 11 Mar 2024 “University of Sydney Senate elects David Thodey AO as new Chancellor“ - https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/03/11/university-of-sydney-senate-elects-new-chancellor.html
USYD Thales Research Scholarship - “Thales Scholarship of Energy Harvesting“ - https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/b/thales-scholarship-of-energy-harvesting.html
IAI Website April 13 2021 - “IAI and Thales in the UK Combine to Offer Next Generation Ship-Killing Solution for the Royal Navy“ - https://www.iai.co.il/iai-and-thales-uk-offer-next-generation-ship-killing-solution-for-royal-navy
Elbit Systems Website 21 June 2023 “Elbit Systems Awarded $180 Million Purchase Order Under Framework Agreement to Supply First Three Watchkeeper X Tactical UAS to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense“ - https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/elbit-systems-awarded-180-million-purchase-order-under-framework-agreement-to-supply-first-three-watchkeeper-x-tactical-uas-to-the-romanian-ministry-of-national-defense/
Boycott Divest Sanction Australia - “Stop Elbit“ 2022 - https://bdsaustralia.net.au/campaigns/stop-elbit/
The Guardian 12 Dec 2013 - “Charity condemns Israeli role in UK drone project“ - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/11/israel-uk-watchkeeper-drones-war-on-want
Globes 30 Mar 2022 “Israel ranked as world's 10th biggest arms exporter“ - https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-ranked-as-worlds-10th-biggest-arms-exporter-1001407631
The New Arab 21 June 2023 - “The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel uses Palestine as guinea-pig for industry of occupation“ - https://www.newarab.com/features/palestine-israels-laboratory-industry-occupation
USYD Weekly Student Newspaper Honi Soit 18 April 2023 - “OLES2155: Experience Israel — I have“ - https://honisoit.com/2023/04/oles2155-experience-israel-i-have/
Baram, Gil and Ben-Israel, Isaac, The Academic Reserve: Israel’s Fast Track to High-Tech Success (October 18, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3269147 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3269147
Australian Friends of the Hebrew University Apr 15 2019 - “Hebrew University Partners with IDF to Offer Prestigious Academic-Military Program for Intelligence Corps Officers“ - https://austfhu.org.au/hebrew-university-partners-with-idf-to-offer-prestigious-academic-military-program-for-intelligence-corps-officers/
Hebrew University of Jerusalem Website 13 Jun 2023 “Leaders: Honorary Doctorates“ - https://en.huji.ac.il/news/hebrew-university-board-governors-eleven-honorary-doctorates-awarded-inspirational
EX2 for Defence Innovators June 10 2022 “IN DETAIL: Elbit’s Centre of Excellence teams with RMIT University“ -https://www.ex2.com.au/news/in-detail-elbits-centre-of-excellence-teams-with-rmit-university/
RMIT Press Release 19 Oct (updated 2 Nov) “Statement: Israel-Gaza conflict“ - https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/media-releases-and-expert-comments/2023/october/israel-gaza-conflict
University of Sydney News 22 May 2023 “Degree of Doctor of Business presented to global business leader“ - https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/05/22/david-thodey-awarded-doctor-of-business.html
J-Wire Website Mar 4 2014 - “Telstra chief names Israel as epicentre of world innovation“ - https://www.jwire.com.au/telstra-chief-names-israel-as-epicentre-of-world-innovation/
Square Peg Capital companies portfolio - https://www.squarepeg.vc/companies
The Guardian 7 May 2021 “James Packer’s ties with Israeli PM and spy chief became ‘national risk’ – report“ - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/07/james-packer-ties-israeli-pm-spy-chief-national-risk-report
Australian Financial Review Oct 11 2023 - “‘Israel deserves Australia’s full support’: Packer“ - https://www.afr.com/politics/israel-deserves-australia-s-full-support-packer-20231011-p5ebgk
Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Website - 20 Oct 2021 - https://aiccnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2021-Australia-Israel-Innovation-Summit-Overview-V2.pdf
David Thodey LinkedIn Sep 2023 - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidthodey_great-to-see-this-partnership-between-a-leading-activity-7098221740157272064-nTX0
Thales Press Release 29 Aug 2023 “THALES AUSTRALIA EXTENDS ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY“ - https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/countries-asia-pacific/australia/news/thales-australia-extends-its-strategic-partnership-university
+972 Magazine Apr 3 2024 “‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza“ - https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/