Capricorn: Stop powering Israeli apartheid

An Edinburgh-based company is set to merge with an Israeli energy company, NewMed Energy (formerly Delek Drilling).  Capricorn Energy shareholders are being asked to accept the deal that would see the emergence of an Egypt-Israel gas-focused business, at a time when Europe and the US are looking for energy sources from ‘friendly’ countries.  The hypocrisy of our governments is revealed when they consider apartheid Israel a friend.

We understand that a number of Capricorn Energy shareholders have spoken out against the NewMed deal arguing the deal undervalues the company's assets.  They should be concerned about reputational damage.  As a business Capricorn claims to respect human rights, yet they are prepared to be complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights.

We believe that if the company completes the deal with NewMed it will forever be tarnished by Israeli apartheid.  We call on the Scottish Government and elected MPs and MSPs to send a clear signal that they oppose this, and any deal, that bolsters Israel’s system of oppression of the Palestinian people.

Scottish PSC previously successfully campaigned for Aberdeen-headquartered Wood Group (now Wood Plc) to stop powering Israeli apartheid.  In 2013 the company completed work on a huge 800-megawatt power station in Ashkelon, within sight of Palestinians under siege in Gaza, facing hours of electricity cuts per day.  The power station was the first in Israel to sell off energy to private buyers, including the Israeli Ministry of Defence, companies working directly in illegal settlements (like Keter) and the Israeli national water company, Mekerot, heavily involved in the theft of Palestinian water resources.  When significant gas fields were discussed in Israel’s offshore area, Wood Group’s Israel manager stated, “The company considers this project as a cornerstone for extensive operations in Israel”. 

However, SPSC held significant protests outside Wood Group’s City Centre AGM.  Concerned shareholders attended the AGM and raised a range of difficult questions to the company’s board.  The company moved their AGMs to an isolated industrial estate of Aberdeen, and since 2014 Wood Group appears to have cut their ties with apartheid Israel and dropped plans for their “extensive operations”. 

Scottish PSC will continue the call for Scottish businesses to Stop Powering Israeli Apartheid!