HP, Motorola, and Veolia: 3 Companies Profiteering in Israel-Palestine

Impact

Sometimes, when there’s seemingly no solution in sight, we need to step back and look at the facts. The American discourse on the Israeli occupation of Palestine necessitates this approach. 

So, let’s get a couple things perfectly clear: 1) The Israeli government no longer profits financially from their occupation of Palestine; and 2) There are a bunch of companies from all over the world that do profit. You should know who these companies are. Here are three:

Veolia is a French multinational company that runs transportation and waste management services. They profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine because they run Israeli-only buses throughout the West Bank. In 2004, the International Court of Justice found that the Israeli settlements on Palestinian land were illegal per Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states an Occupying Power cannot transfer its own civilians into the Occupied territories. It is Veolia’s Israeli-only buses that transfer Israeli civilians from the illegal settlements back and forth to Israel. So, Veolia profits from activity that breaks international law. Also, Veolia plans to operate a light rail connecting the illegal settlements to Israel, which would be a financial boon for Veolia, but a devastating breach of international law for the region.

Motorola Solutions is an American company that produces data and telecommunications equipment. They, too, profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. They make motion detector equipment to protect the illegal Israeli settlements. This has two consequences: 1) It makes Motorola a very profitable company; and 2) It restricts Palestinians freedom of movement. This system is installed in over 20 illegal Israeli settlements and is also used to defend the Separation Wall in the West Bank. In 2004, the International Court of Justice also ruled that the Separation Wall was illegal because it prevented Palestinians from their human right to self-determination, which is detailed in Resolution 2625 of the UN General Assembly. Like Veolia, Motorola Solutions profits from these flagrant breaches of international law.

Photo Credit: No Lands Too Foreign