Government defends Israeli defence deals amidst violent protests at maritime expo

Thirteen people were arrested after violent clashes broke out between pro-Palestinian protesters and police outside a major defence and maritime expo in Sydney.

At least two police officers and several protesters were confirmed injured, as the federal government defended its decision to buy equipment from Israeli defence companies. The demonstration took place outside the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition at the Sydney International Convention Centre, where protesters attempted to block entrances and disrupt the event. The protests were organised by Palestine Action Group as well as anti-AUKUS protestors.

NSW Police confirmed 13 people were arrested for offences including obstructing traffic, resisting arrest and failing to comply with police directions. Officers used pepper spray after several protesters refused to disperse. Two people were later released without charge.

“Police maintained a presence to ensure there were no breaches of the peace and minimal impact to the community,” a police spokesperson said. The protest caused brief traffic delays around Darling Harbour before the crowd was moved on.

Superintendent Paul Dunstan said officers had paint thrown at them and they were “set upon”. He described the actions of protesters from Palestine Action Group as “disappointing” and said the goodwill between them and police had been damaged. “We’ve been working with the Palestine Action Group for the last two years,” he said.

Inside the venue, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the government made no apology for continuing to source military technology from Israel, insisting procurement decisions were guided by national security rather than politics.

“We make decisions in the national interest and will not apologise for ensuring the ADF has the best technology available,” he said. “We have a strict export control system, and no weapons or ammunition are being exported to Israel.”

Conroy’s comments echoed previous statements in which he accused critics of spreading misinformation about Australia’s defence ties with Israel. He has repeatedly emphasised that Australia is not exporting weapons to Israel and that all contracts involving Israeli firms are subject to strict legal and ethical oversight.

Premier Chris Minns said defence industries are a “massive part of the future plan” for NSW. Speaking to ABC Radio Sydney Mr Minns said that defence exports were an important part of the state’s economy, with the industry valued at $3.4 billion last year.

The presence of Israeli companies Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems at the Sydney event drew particular attention from protesters, despite more than 700 exhibitors from over 40 countries also attending. Analysts noted that the focus on Israel highlighted a double standard, given the absence of protests against other nations with large defence industries and ongoing military operations.

Gideon Weiss, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems vice president for international business development, said the company’s presence at the expo was to engage with government, military and industry representatives.

Mr Weiss said the focus was “only on how to strengthen Australia’s security through utilising our technology, solutions and systems; most importantly through industrial collaboration.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman said the protests were misguided and revealed a hostility towards Israel rather than concern for peace. “At a time when Israel and the Arab and Islamic world have embraced a comprehensive peace plan to end the war, these protests, targeted almost exclusively at Israel, are nonsensical,” she said.

Goldman said the demonstrations showed a deeper agenda behind the campaign. “The protesters are proving what we knew all along: this has always been about the demonisation of Israel and the Jewish community,” she said.

“For activists who have spent more than two years trying to tear our society apart, it has always been driven by a deep and irrational hatred of Israel,” she added.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the latest demonstrations showed the persistence of anti-Israel activism long after the conflict in Gaza had ended.

“Since the end of the war, we have seen anti-Israel activists latch onto other protest movements in order to maintain their relevance, have something to do, and grow their numbers,” he said. “But Australians have seen through their lies and manipulations. They now claim to be anti-war, yet many cheered Hamas’s invasion and the subsequent attacks by Iran and Hezbollah.”

Mr Ryvchin also expressed solidarity with police officers managing the protests. “We offer our support to the men and women of the police who are trying to do their jobs and keep Australians safe, in the face of relentless abuse, intimidation and, in some cases, violence by protesters,” he said.

The expo continued under heightened security through the afternoon. NSW Police remained stationed around the precinct as delegates entered the venue. The government reaffirmed that Australia’s defence relationships would continue to be determined by strategic need and lawful process, not political demonstrations outside the conference gates.

The current demonstration mirrors similar violent scenes that occurred in Melbourne a year prior, where hundreds of anti-war demonstrators clashed with police and attendees at the Land Forces defence expo, and more than 100 protesters were arrested.