Global firms help Israeli illegal acts

The Russell Tribunal on Palestine has shed light on the complicity of a number of international firms with Israel in its violations of international laws.

The London-based tribunal issued a statement on Monday after two days of discussions on how the corporations help to facilitate Israeli occupation.

“The Tribunal heard compelling evidence of corporate complicity in Israeli violations of international law, relating to: the supply of arms; the construction and maintenance of the illegal separation Wall; and in establishing, maintaining and providing services, especially financial, to illegal settlements, all of which have occurred in the context of an illegal occupation of Palestinian territory,” the statement said.

The tribunal noted that Israel and the corporations that are complicit in Tel Aviv’s unlawful actions are in clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.

According to the findings, G4S, a multinational British/Danish corporation, supplies scanning equipment and full body scanners to several military checkpoints in the West Bank.

In another example, US-based Company Caterpillar supplies bulldozers to Israel, which are used in the demolition of Palestinian homes and the construction of settlements.

Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire and former Special rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories John Dugard were among the international personalities who participated in the Russell Tribunal on Palestine.