Is Google distancing itself from the Israeli occupation forces?
4 Min Read
Google's absence from an IOF conference it previously supported could be part of a broader trend of companies trying to distance themselves from "Israel's" ongoing aggression in Gaza
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Google employees protest in front of the company’s New York office on April 17 [No Tech for Apartheid via Anadolu]
The "IT FOR IDF" conference in the occupied territories in Rishon LeZion, held on July 10, featured tech firms from around the world supporting the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). Notable multinational companies like Nokia, Dell, and Canon attended, while Google, previously a key sponsor due to its role in Project Nimbus, was unexpectedly absent. Despite its past involvement, Google's logo was removed from the event's website shortly before the conference began, and no explanation was given for its absence.
Conference organizers told news outlets they were unaware Google was on their website, citing an error.
Google's own business calendar, as revealed by The Intercept, appears to contradict this stance. The brochure lists forthcoming Google events in "Israel," including IT For IDF 2024. According to this internal schedule, Google is a co-sponsor of the conference in collaboration with CloudEx, an Israeli cloud computing company.
According to his LinkedIn page, CloudEx CEO Ariel Munafo also works as an adviser to the IOF's Center of Computers and Information Systems, or Mamram, where he assists other IOF units in developing their cloud computing operations.
Google's recent decision reflects a broader trend of companies trying to distance themselves from "Israel's" ongoing aggression in Gaza, which has resulted in the death of over 39,175 Palestinians and injured 90,403 others since October 7. Palestinians. While most business operations remain unchanged, some corporations have adjusted their business strategies in "Israel."
Google continues its collaboration with the Israeli occupation through the Nimbus contract, despite recent PR issues. The company's sudden withdrawal from a conference tied to this lucrative deal highlights its struggle with public relations. Google has faced internal and external criticism over Nimbus, with employee protests leading to over 50 firings in April. While the Israeli government emphasizes the military aspects of Nimbus, Google has attempted to downplay or deny these elements of the contract.
The Intercept published Nimbus training materials in 2022, citing the Israeli security ministry as a customer.
Wired recently reported on the project's relationship to the IOF from its start. When Project Nimbus was unveiled in 2021, the Israeli Finance Ministry hailed it as benefiting the "defense establishment."
The Intercept revealed in May that Nimbus requires two prominent Israeli weapons manufacturers, 'Israel' Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to use Google and Amazon cloud computing services in their work.
In April, Alphabet Inc.'s Google recently terminated 28 employees who participated in protests against Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion collaboration with Amazon.com Inc. This joint venture aimed to supply the Israeli occupation with AI and cloud services amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Demonstrations organized by the No Tech for Apartheid group occurred at Google offices in New York City, Seattle, and Sunnyvale, California.
In New York and California, protesters held a sit-in lasting nearly 10 hours, while some recorded the events, including through a Twitch livestream. Nine individuals were arrested that evening on alleged trespassing.
The incident was also confirmed via footage taken by one of the protesters and sent to The Washington Post, showing officers from the New York Police Department walking into the company premises and telling protesters they would be arrested if they didn’t stop.
When the employees refused, the police began to arrest them one by one.
Google has traditionally upheld a culture of fostering open discussions, yet in recent years, employee activism has challenged this stance. Organizers of a 2018 walkout protesting Google's handling of sexual assault allegations claimed the company retaliated against them for their activism. Additionally, four other employees alleged they were terminated for leading opposition against Google's collaboration with federal Customs and Border Protection, along with other workplace advocacy efforts.
