2010 Sep 14: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP URGES LOCAL AUTHORITY TO BOYCOTT PALESTINE OCCUPATION FIRM
Tuesday 14th September 2010
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Media Release
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP URGES LOCAL AUTHORITY TO BOYCOTT PALESTINE OCCUPATION FIRM
A joint Israeli-Palestinian human rights group is urging Edinburgh Council to prevent a company involved in Israel’s occupation of Palestine from taking over public service contracts in the city.
The Alternative Information Centre (AIC) told Council leaders Jenny Dawe and Steve Cardownie that because of Veolia’s “illegal activities in occupied East Jerusalem”, contracting the firm “would run against the ethical values of the city of Edinburgh”.
Veolia is currently tendering for environmental services contracts such as rubbish collection and street cleaning, which Council leaders are considering outsourcing to private firms. However, the French multinational is also involved in the construction of a tramway that the United Nations Human Rights Council considers, “in clear violation of international law”. The line is set to link Israel with its illegal settlements in Occupied Palestine.
Last month, the Council’s ruling Lib Dem/SNP administration called for an investigation into the firm’s work with Israeli authorities, but expressed fears that public procurement rules might leave them open to a legal challenge from Veolia if they were excluded.
However, Shir Hever, an Israeli economist with the human rights group advised city leaders to “consider disqualifying Veolia from the bid for Edinburgh based on Reg 23/4 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006”. Based on EU directives, the Scottish law permits councils to exclude companies guilty of “grave professional misconduct”.Veolia is currently being prosecuted in French courts over its involvement in Occupied Palestine, where it already operates buses serving Israel’s illegal settlements. Although their buses are out of bounds to Palestinians, Veolia insists that non-Jews will be permitted on the tram. In addition, the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reports that Veolia has lost “major projects in Europe because of its involvement in the Jerusalem job [tramway]”.
Mick Napier of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, welcomed the AIC’s intervention: “The AIC is a highly respected human and national rights organisation that has first hand experience of Veolia’s complicity with Israel’s discriminatory policies. The Council should take their advice very seriously, and follow Dublin and Swansea Councils in boycotting Veolia.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign started in autumn 2000 in response to the Palestinian second uprising against Israeli occupation (Intifada). The SPSC has branches and groups of supporters in several Scottish cities and universities, as well as individual members across Scotland and elsewhere.
For further information, contact:
SPSC Chair, Mick Napier: 0131 620 0052; 07958002591
SPSC Chair, Mick Napier: 0131 620 0052; 07958002591
2. The Alternative Information Center (AIC) was established in 1984 by Palestinian and Israeli grassroots activists as a binational organisation to promote the human and national rights of the Palestinian people and a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis based on progressive principles and respect for international law.
Their English language can be found here: http://www.alternativenews.org/english/
3. Email from the AIC’s Shir Hever to Edinburgh Council Leader Jenny Dawe, and Deputy Council Leader Steve Cardownie (copied to SPSC):
Dear Councillor Dawe, and Councillor Cardownie,
It has come to my attention that the French company Veolia is participating in a bid by the Edinburgh city for providing environmental services.
As Veolia is a company involved in illegal activities in occupied East Jerusalem, I believe that it would run against the ethical values of the city of Edinburgh to engage the company. This is especially true now as human-rights activists and anti-war activists from around the world are protesting Veolia’s actions, its blatant disregard to the humanity and dignity of the Jerusalem population, and calling on an international boycott against the company.
The focus of international pressure on Veolia is a result of the outrage of so many people regarding Veolia’s cynical approach to such a delicate area as occupied East Jerusalem.
Please consider disqualifying Veolia from the bid for Edinburgh based on Reg 23/4 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No.1 made under EU Directive 2004/18/EC16).
Also, please feel free to contact me for more information.
Best Regards,
Shir Hever
The Alternative Information Center
4. Edinburgh Council discussed Veolia on Thursday 19th Aug 2010.
The minute of the meeting of the Full Council can be found here:
See item 1b and 3: Veolia Environnement
5. Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council: A/HRC/RES/13/7
14 April 2010
14 April 2010
Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan
“The Human Rights Council… 5. Expresses its grave concern at: … (g) The Israeli decision to establish and operate a tramway between West Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Pisgat Zeev, which is in clear violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions”.
6. Dublin City Council passed a resolution calling on the City Manager not to sign or renew any contracts with French multinational Veolia on 12th June 2010:
7. Israeli press indicates Veolia losing contracts due to involvement in the tram project:
Haaretz, 08.06.09:
Jerusalem rail operator jumps ship, Tel Aviv group isn't even responding
“According to various reports abroad, the French firm had been losing major projects in Europe because of its involvement in the Jerusalem job.”
8. Reports of Veolia being shortlisted to run Edinburgh Council services:
Edinburgh Evening News, 21 June 2010
Seafield and tram firms bid to take over city services
9. Edinburgh Councillors were each sent the following Veolia Briefing Document by the SPSC:
10. The Council is being asked by SPSC to:
a) exclude Veolia Environnement or any of its subsidiaries - Veolia Transport, Veolia Environmental Services, Veolia Water, Onyx, Cleanaway, Connex , TMM - from all Edinburgh City Council contracts.
b) cancel contracts and/or ad-hoc arrangements that are in place to use services provided by Veolia Environnement or any of its subsidiaries.
b) cancel contracts and/or ad-hoc arrangements that are in place to use services provided by Veolia Environnement or any of its subsidiaries.
11. More details of the SPSC campaign against Veolia can be found here: