ACT NOW! Holding Israeli Corporations Accountable for Human Rights Violations
Israeli corporations are violating human rights by operating in Israeli settlements build on confiscated Palestinian land. The establishment of permanent Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) contravene international (humanitarian) law. According to that law, an occupying power is prohibited from transferring population from its territory it occupies, and from performing any act that is not intended to benefit the local population. In addition, international law prohibits creating permanent change not intended for the benefit of that population. In their settlement policy, the various Israeli governments have violated international law, in general, and international agreements to which Israel is a party, in particular. Israel continues to expropriate additional Palestinian lands, both private and public, to expand settlements, and to build bypass roads.
There is no distinction between the public and private spheres for those involved in Israel's settlement policy. In the nexus of the economic and political spheres, a profitable, symbiotic relationship for Israeli corporations operating in Israeli settlements, particularly with the Israeli military authority has been fostered. Israeli corporations operating in Israeli settlements are perpetrators of human rights violations and should be held accountable for this.
In the following we would like to ask your attention to the following and take initial steps to hold Israeli and international corporations accountable for human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). As a step this could be a start of a boycott of the Israeli companies presented in this message, but also international corporations who are also to be hold accountable, such as Burger King, which recently opened a restaurant in the Israeli Ma'ale Adumim Settlement build on confiscated Palestinian land.
- An Introduction to this ACT NOW!
- Israeli Settlements and International Law
- Exports to the European Community of Goods from Israeli Settlements
- A Case of Holding Corporations Accountable: South Africa
- A Call for Action
- List of Israeli Corporations to be held accountable
- Various Related Links
ACT NOW!
- Boycott products produced in Israeli settlements;
- Write your government:
- In the case of the European Union to implement the provisions of the EC-Israel Agreement and to take steps to verify the accuracy of the place of origin, according to the procedures that have been agreed with Israel as follow-up to the Co-operation Committee of November 1997 and to bring this to an end;
- In the case of the US to follow the steps taken by the EU and to prevent products produced by Israeli corporations operating in the Israeli settlements to enter the US market;
- Enlist international corporations who operate in the Israeli settlements and warn them of the possible consequences (boycott, for example Burger King);
- Complete the list of producers with international corporations.
With this action we could initiate and contribute to the continuing struggle to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations.
Hanthala Palestine
18 August 1999