Motorola Solutions
Motorola Solutions, Inc. is a communications and surveillance company that has had close relationships with the Israeli government and its security agencies for decades. Motorola Solutions Israel, established in 1964, was the company’s first subsidiary chosen to have an R&D center outside North America 1).
Motorola Solutions’ surveillance equipment has been installed in Israeli settlements deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice2), and along the separation wall in the occupied West Bank, in Gaza, and at Israeli military bases. In 2005, Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) awarded the company a contract to provide a “virtual fence system,” called the MotoEagle Wide Area Surveillance System, to dozens of illegal settlements3)4). The system includes radars and cameras that can detect movement outside settlements. It was installed as part of Israel’s “Special Security Area” plan5), under which Palestinians are prevented access to areas around certain illegal settlements, even if it is their land. In some cases, Motorola’s radar stations were erected on privately owned Palestinian land.
Motorola has also been involved in other projects in Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank. It provided Mekorot, Israel's state-owned water company that illegally takes water from the West Bank6), with wireless technology for its operations in Jerusalem7). It also provided communications systems and maintenance to several of the largest settlements, including Jordan Valley8), Modi'in Illit and the Mateh Binyamin Regional Councils9).
In 2023, the U.N. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner included Motorola Solutions in a database of companies involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise10). The U.N. identified the company as being involved in the provision of services and utilities “supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport,” and the “supply of security services, equipment and materials to enterprises operating in settlements.” The company was included in an earlier version of this database in 2020.
In addition to its business in the occupied Palestinian territory, Motorola Solutions is the sole supplier of the Israeli military’s 4G cellular network11). In 2014, Motorola signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Israeli Defense Ministry for developing an encrypted smartphone system for the Israeli military and security forces12). Based on Motorola’s Lex M20 smartphone, the system became operational in 2016 and works on a private LTE (4G) cellular network provided by Motorola. It replaced the Israeli military’s Mountain Rose communications system, which was also provided by Motorola since 200213).
Motorola communication device used by the Israeli Police during the disperse of a Palestinian demonstration | Bab Al Shams, E1 Area | Jan 2013 | Photographed by Ahmad Al-Bazz - Activestills.
Motorola Solutions is the largest service provider in Israel for two-way radio services14) used by Israeli police and the IDF.
The company has additional contracts with the Israel Prison Service and the Population and Immigration Authority. Motorola Solutions has provided communications systems for use at Ofer Prison, a prison in the occupied West Bank that holds Palestinian political prisoners15).
Due to its involvement in Israeli human rights abuses, many countries and organisations have divested from Motorola Solutions including:
- The Luxembourg state pension fund in 201416)
- The US Presbyterian Church in 201417)
- Four Swedish state pension funds divested 68 million NZD (adjusted for inflation) in 201518)
- A Danish pension fund divested 4 million NZD (adjusted for inflation) in 201819)
- The US Episcopal Church in 201920)
- Norway's largest pension fund in 202121)
- Portland City Council in 202422)
Stop Arming Israel Aotearoa have analysed the investment portfolios of the leading KiwiSaver providers using the method described in the KiwiSaver Investments in Israel article. Of the major NZ banks, ASB has the largest holding in Motorola Solutions with a total of over $14 million. This has resulted in them being targeted by the national BDS campaign Don't Bank on Apartheid23).
