Leading UK companies implicated in Israeli war crimes
Palestine-Israel-UK, Politics, 7/12/2006

Leading British companies are implicated in Israel's war crimes against the Palestinian people, according a new report on corporate complicity in the occupied territories.

The report, by the UK charity War on Want, names such firms as Tesco, Sainsbury and Waitrose supermarket chains and train operator Connex as well as Caterpillar earth-moving equipment company of the US.

"Aiding and abetting a crime is itself a crime when it comes to individuals, but corporations are free to make money out of extreme violations of international law," said Louise Richards, Chief Executive of War on Want.

The report, Profiting from the Occupation, details the extent of the humanitarian crisis currently facing Palestinians as a result of Israel's intensified operations against them, and examines the role which companies have played in supporting the Occupation.

It found that Connex is constructing a light rail system which will link illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem to the Israeli side of the city, slicing across occupied Palestinian territory and threatening any final agreement.

The three named British supermarket chains were said to stock wines, snacks and other goods which are produced in illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank and Golan Heights but sold as 'Made in Israel.' Apart from the well-known case of Caterpillar, the report also named Volvo of Sweden and Daewoo of South Korea as supplying bulldozers which are used by the Israeli army to construct the illegal separation wall and demolish thousands of Palestinian homes.

"Yet the UK has done nothing to bring Israel to account for its actions, or to stop British companies from supporting the occupation," it said.

Saying it wanted the likes of Glasgow indie-band Belle & Sebastian and others "to witness the effects of over 4 years of Intifada and 30 years of Occupation." War on Want took rock legend Roger Waters to the Occupied Territories to tell the Israeli Government "We don't need no thought control." The organization is also calling for "the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement which gives Israel trading preferences with the EU."

"Familiar high street companies are actively supporting Israel's military occupation of Palestine, despite the terrible suffering this is causing. Companies must no longer be allowed to profit from the misery of the Palestinian people," Richards warned.

Previous Stories:
  Israel withdraws from parts of Gaza   (7/10/2006)
  UN urged register Palestinian damages from Israeli wall   (7/10/2006)
  Meshaal: they talks about one prisoner, Israel holds 10,000 Palestinians   (7/10/2006)
  British Jews: Israel 'terrorizing' entire Palestinian nation   (7/8/2006)
  UK reminds Israel of UN call for complete withdrawal from West Bank   (6/7/2006)
  Israel targets Muslim charity in campaign to starve Palestinians   (5/31/2006)
  British architects back Israel boycott   (2/10/2006)
  Church of England to divest companies profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinians   (2/7/2006)
  US Church considers divesting from corporations tied to violence against Palestinians   (8/6/2005)

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