Eden Springs Denies it’s Israeli – Still Protected by Thatcher’s pro-apartheid Law
- Thatcher’s law designed to protect South African apartheid used to protect apartheid
- Israeli company denies it is Israeli
- Royal Bank of Scotland finances Eden Springs’ Israeli parent company
On Thursday next (20 December), Edinburgh City Council will hear the report they commissioned to look into the feasibility of cancelling their contract with Israeli water company Eden Springs. The report refers explicitly to Eden Springs being protected by legislation Margaret Thatcher put in place to protect apartheid era South Africa: Thatcher’s legislation prohibits local authorities from taking a country’s violations of human rights into account in allocating purchasing contracts.
Significantly, in their letter to Edinburgh City Council, Eden Springs UK Ltd suggests it is not Israeli owned, saying"we cannot confirm exactly what the new ownership structure will be". This is dishonest: Eden Springs UK is a part of Eden Springs Europe, which is 100% Israeli-owned.
For details: read our FAQs for details of Eden Springs UK Ltd - Read Scottish PSC report to Edinburgh City Councillors.
Israeli business reports further reveal that Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden has raised credit from European banks in order to pay Groupe Danone for the buy-out of all their shares in Eden Springs Europe. Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden has had to pay Groupe Danone compensation for their delay in paying for the shares purchased. Despite the delay 100% ownership of Eden Springs Europe transferred to Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden in July 2007.
Read our FAQs - Read Scottish PSC report to Edinburgh City Councillors.
Over the past few days Israeli press reports confirm that the Royal Bank of Scotland is providing Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden with most of the credit they require, while a Dutch company will contribute the rest in exchange for a 28% share of Eden Springs Europe. Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden will remain majority owner, will continue to control and manage Eden Springs in Europe, and will be able to divert profits to Israel to finance the Israeli war machine and occupation forces.
Lobby your councillor - ask them not hide behind legislation set up in support of South African apartheid to protect apartheid Israel today and an Israeli company which itself actively violates international law by pillaging the water resources of the occupied Golan Heights, legally a part of Syria. Insist that Edinburgh City Council ceases to reward human rights violators, in the process aligning the people of Edinburgh with Israel’s violations of human rights and international law.
View list of all councillors with contact details and surgery times.
Royal Bank of Scotland account-holders: email the Royal Bank of Scotland to protest its financing of Eden Springs Ltd/Mayanot Eden and, therefore, its financing of violations of international law. Threaten to close any RBS accounts you have and bank elsewhere.
Royal Bank of Scotland details:
Chairman - Sir Tom McKillop
Sir Fred Goodwin - Group Chief Executive
Guy Whittaker - Group Finance Director
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
36 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh EH2 2YB
Read Scottish PSC report to Edinburgh City Councillors