What is Pegasus and how does it work?
Pegasus is the name of a spyware that can infiltrate any mobile device and access all the information it contains: messages, photos, videos, contacts, location, etc. It can also activate the microphone and camera without the user noticing and record their conversations and activities. It is a mass surveillance tool that can violate the privacy and security of the people who use it.
Pegasus was created by an Israeli company called NSO Group, which sells it to governments and intelligence agencies around the world. According to NSO Group, its product is only used to fight terrorism and organized crime, but several journalistic investigations have revealed that it has also been used to spy on journalists, activists, lawyers, politicians and others critical of authoritarian regimes that they buy it
Pegasus has different versions, ranging from the oldest, known as Pegasus 1, to the newest and most sophisticated, called premium.cat. The latter can infect devices without the user having to click on a link or open an attachment, but simply by sending a text message or a missed call. This makes it very difficult to detect and remove.
Why is Israel selling Pegasus and what are the consequences?
Israel is the only country in the world that sells spyware for profit, and it does so with the approval of its government. This responds to several factors: its economic structure, based on the military and security sector; its foreign policy, which seeks alliances with countries that share its strategic interests; and its internal situation, marked by political and social instability.
The sale of Pegasus is a major source of income for Israel, which benefits from the multibillion-dollar contracts it signs with its customers. But it also involves a serious violation of human rights, as it makes it easier for authoritarian governments to repress and persecute their opponents, without any oversight or transparency. In addition, it puts global security at risk, as it can cause conflicts, tensions and destabilization in different regions of the world.
How does the Gaza war affect the Israeli economy and society?
The Gaza war, which began last May 10, has had a negative impact on both the Israeli economy and society. On the one hand, it has caused a drop in foreign investments, a depreciation of the currency, a loss of competitiveness and a downgrade of the credit rating. On the other hand, it has generated a wave of internal violence, a social fracture, a humanitarian crisis and international condemnation.
The war in Gaza has shown the inability of the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians and to guarantee the peace and security of its people. Netanyahu, who is in a delicate political situation, has used the war as a strategy to stay in power and to avoid an election that could end his term. But its bet has failed, as it has failed to achieve any of its military or political objectives, and has pitted its population and the international community against each other.
What role does the international community play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
The international community has a historical and moral responsibility in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dating back to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967. Since then, it has attempted to mediate between the two parties and promote a peaceful and fair solution, based on the mutual recognition of the right to self-determination and coexistence.
However, the international community has also shown its ineffectiveness and inconsistency in applying international law and protecting human rights in this conflict. Many countries, especially the United States and its European allies, have maintained a position of unconditional support for Israel, despite its systematic violations of UN resolutions and international treaties. This has allowed Israel to continue its policy of colonial expansion, military repression and apartheid against the Palestinians, without consequence or sanction.
For this reason, it is necessary for the international community to act decisively and in a coordinated manner to put an end to this unsustainable and unacceptable situation. Some steps it could take are: impose an arms embargo on Israel, suspend trade and cooperation agreements with this country, recognize the State of Palestine and give it economic and political support, demand compliance with the judgments of the Court International Justice and the International Criminal Court, and promote solidarity and boycott initiatives with the Palestinian people.