German peace groups are taking action against the plans for defense systems production at the Volkswagen factory in Osnabrück, which is being carried out in collaboration with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Mobilizing civil society to oppose weapons production
Marie de Minuim Guiard, spokesperson for the Osnabrück Peace Initiative, stated: "We see an opportunity to direct resistance towards civil society against weapons production in this city. Our project and main focus is mobilizing civil society on this issue." She added that the group's goal is to increase pressure on political parties and city officials.
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Political criticisms and support
The Osnabrück Peace Initiative has been at the forefront of protests in recent months, calling on Volkswagen to halt its defense production plans at this site. This group has also received support from the German Left Party, which deems Volkswagen's planned collaboration with Rafael as "unacceptable."
Under this controversial plan, Volkswagen has agreed to sell the Osnabrück factory to the private equity firm Aurelius and the state of Lower Saxony, and it is expected that this site will become a weapons production center. Air defense systems and components will be produced at this factory for Germany and other European countries.
Peace groups and some opposing politicians have repeatedly criticized this plan, arguing that this factory should remain focused on civilian production.
Guiard, continuing her criticisms of the planned collaboration with Rafael, said: "This is a kind of direct (German) assistance to an Israeli arms company. It effectively represents direct support for the war policy of the Israeli government, which we consider to be wrong."
Expanding civil resistance
These peace activists noted that resistance against weapons production at the Osnabrück factory is gradually increasing. Guiard said: "Resistance means shaping a broad coalition that currently exists. The problem is that so-called left parties like the Social Democratic Party and the Greens fully support weapons production."
Among the groups involved in the local campaign is the newly established Zukunftswerk Osnabrueck, which is recognized as an open coalition of individuals, political groups, and initiatives. This network emphasizes on its website that it has an anti-militarism approach and calls for a future based on solidarity, democracy, and environmental sustainability.
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