Six Dutch parties condemn local arms company’s deal with Israeli gunmaker

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Six Dutch parties condemn local arms company’s deal with Israeli gunmaker Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Thu, 11/12/2026 - 12:08 The dispute comes after Dutch MPs called for an end…

Six political parties in the Dutch city of Tilburg have condemned a local arms company’s deal with Israeli gunmaker Israel Weapon Industries (IWI).

The parties have asked the municipal authorities whether they can prevent weapons produced under the agreement from reaching Israel’s military and whether they can block local production.

Tilburg-based AIA bought designs and technical know-how from IWI and plans to make rifles and light machine guns at an industrial park in the city.

The agreement covers the Arad 5 infantry rifle and the Negev UX light machine gun. Production will initially take place in Tilburg before moving to a larger site in Overijssel, according to Dutch broadcaster Omroep Brabant.

AIA says that it intends to supply European countries and other Nato partners. It remains unclear whether the company could also sell the weapons to Israel.

D66, PRO, Denk, the Party for the Animals, the Socialist Party and VoorTilburg013 submitted questions to the municipal administration.

In a statement, D66 councillor Sofia Schampers said: “We refuse to stand tacitly by while Tilburg potentially contributes to the genocide of the Palestinian people.”

D66 said its concerns stemmed partly from Israel’s participation in Nato’s Mediterranean Dialogue, which makes it a partner of the alliance.

The party wants the municipality to do everything within its powers to prevent local production if the weapons could be exported to Israel.

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