Dana Petroleum and KNOC: Don’t fuel Israeli genocide!
This phone action is taking place to put pressure on the South Korean government to pull the Korean National Oil Corporation (and their subsidiary Dana Petroleum) out of the consortium seeking to illegally explore and exploit gas on behalf of Israel, in Palestinian waters off the coast of Gaza. You can read more about the Dana Petroleum, the contract with the Israeli government, and the role of the South Korean government here: https://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/campaigns/energy-apartheid-campaign/dana-petroleum-dont-fuel-israeli-genocide/statement-dana-petroleum-dont-fuel-israeli-genocide/
Additional useful context: We welcome Lee Jae Myung’s call to hold Israel responsible for its war crimes – Better late than never – 팔레스타인평화연대
Instructions
- Most importantly, please be polite and respectful throughout.
- Read this guidance document to get an idea what to do.
- Set aside 15-30 minutes during the phone action campaign days.
- On the day of the action, call the number below repeatedly.
General call guidance
- During the call, remain calm and stick to the bullet points or the script.
- Make sure your complaint is registered.
- If you can’t get through, leave a voicemail if that’s the only option available.
- Once the call ends, keep calling again until the end of your time slot.
Contacting Korean Embassy
Search online for the contact number for the Korean embassy in your country, checking opening hours.
Script
Two options – bullet points as a general guide on what to focus on if you prefer you can read out the pre-written message (further below) if that’s easier.
Bullet points
- State you’re calling to complain about Dana Petroleum’s illegal gas exploration contract awarded by the Israeli government.
- State that Dana are wholly owned by the Korean National Oil Corporation and that the Korean Government has the power to end this contract.
- Explain that most of the licensed area lies in Palestinian waters and that the contracts are in clear breach of international law.
- Explain how the President stated: “international humanitarian law must be upheld in all situations, and human dignity must be protected as a uncompromisable value” – explain that the Korean National Oil Corporation’s contract breaches the international law Korea claims to uphold.
- Highlight how Israel’s recent kidnapping of Korean nationals taking part in a peaceful flotilla initiative taking humanitarian aid to Gaza further demonstrates the need for the Korean government to distance itself from Israel.
- Highlight how Israel’s recent kidnapping of Korean nationals taking part in a peaceful flotilla initiative taking humanitarian aid to Gaza further demonstrates the need for the Korean government to distance itself from Israel.
- Highlight how Israel’s recent kidnapping of Korean nationals taking part in a peaceful flotilla initiative taking humanitarian aid to Gaza further demonstrates the need for the Korean government to distance itself from Israel.
- Emphasise that this is an ongoing campaign and further disruption will take place if the Korean National Oil Corporation fail to listen to these demands.
- Ask what steps they will now take to address the complaint.
Korean Embassy – pre-written message for calls
The reason I’m phoning today is to register a complaint about the Korean National Oil Corporation’s involvement in illegal gas exploration licensed by the Israeli government.
As you will be aware, in October 2023, amidst Israel’s horrific genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a consortium of Dana Petroleum, ENI and Ratio Energies, won the awards for six oil and gas exploration licenses from the Israeli Government. A majority of the licensed area lies within Palestinian waters. ENI has since pulled out of the contract, however Dana Petroleum, which is wholly owned by the Korean National Oil Corporation, has not, maintaining complicity with Israel’s crimes through this contract.
By moving forward with these contracts, the Korean National Oil Corporation, via its subsidiary Dana Petroleum, is committing to become a major extractor of fossil gas claimed by Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean. This will lead to Israel making billions of dollars in revenues from payments for its gas extraction licences, thereby helping to finance Israel’s regime of apartheid, settler colonialism, and illegal military occupation over the Palestinian people, including expansion of settlements and the genocide in Gaza.
While Israel continues to reap the benefits of fossil fuel resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, Palestinians are denied control of their own gas field which is only 17 miles off the coast of Gaza. The contracts are therefore in clear breach of international law, and several human rights organisations have already complained to the Korean National Oil Corporation warning that legal action will follow if they do not end their involvement in the illegal extraction of gas from Palestinian occupied territory.
A straightforward way for the Republic of South Korea, to adhere to international law, and universal human rights, would be for the Korean National Oil Corporation to immediately, end its contract with Israel. If it does not it will be breaching international law, and the president’s words will become hollow rhetoric rather than an attempt to hold Israel accountable for war crimes.
I am one member of a large network that will continue this campaign until Korean National Oil Corporation steps back from these contracts that violate international law, in contradiction of the President’s recent statements affirming the same.
Please tell me what steps you will now take to address these concerns.
Let us know how get on
We’re keen to hear how these interactions are going and to learn from experiences in different locations. If you can, please complete the short form here.