The U.N. human rights office on Wednesday released a list of more than 100 companies it said are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank -- a first-ever international attempt to name and shame businesses that has drawn fierce Israeli condemnation
The list’s publication after repeated delays escalated a looming showdown between Israel and the international community over its more than half-century policy of building settlements in the West Bank. Emboldened by a new U.S. Mideast initiative, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annex Israel’s more than 100 settlements, while the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague has indicated she will soon launch a war-crimes investigation into settlement policies.
The list included well known global companies, among them consumer food maker General Mills and supermarkets, tech and communications giants Motorola Solutions and Altice Europe, and infrastructure companies like France’s Egis and Alstom, and British company JC Bamford Excavators. 112 firms involved in practices that raised human rights concerns, such as settlement construction, security services, banking and equipment that was used to demolish Palestinian property.
In a statement, Netanyahu called the rights council “unimportant.”
But there are other international companies, including travel firms like Airbnb, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Opodo. Many offer vacation rentals in the settlements.
Associated Press
Although General Mills may be known as a food company, I suspect that few people know of their specific products. Here are some:
ReplyDeleteCherios, Häagen-Dazs, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Green Giant, Liberté, etc.
Is it not conceivable that if those companies had not been there the people would not have the goods, services, even food they now enjoy. In addition, if western firms had not ben there Russian or Chinese companies would have stepped in to the detriment of Israel.
ReplyDeleteThe Israeli/Palestinian situation is a political/religious mess that has been resolved over time immemorial and will not be resolved in our lifetimes.
A boycott of these companies will have little affect in the West Bank where few people can afford such items, but the affect on Israelis should be noticeable, hence the fierce Israeli condemnation.
ReplyDeleteIf Russia and/or China stepped in to the detriment of Israel -- so be it !
You seem to be saying that the world's police forces should all be demobilized because there is nothing that can be done to resolve the world's wrongs in our lifetimes.
With respect, at your age, the phrase, "In our lifetimes" has little effect.
We might as well demobilize the police in Canada for all the good they do in the face of mobs that disrupt peoples lives, the economy and social structure. The rule of law is being subverted into the rule of the mob, verbal minorities, powerful groups like unions, foreign agencies etc that disrespect the country and it's people.
ReplyDeleteBTW I support Israel over the Palestinians even as one of my dearest friends is from Palestine.
I understand and agree with your illustration of lawlessness, and the Trump immigration policies are a worthwhile beginning ... but I can't understand his policy towards Israel, and find it suspicious. I can't think of any reason why he (we) needs Israel.
ReplyDelete