UNVEILED - France Palestine2.3.18 Shor Family Wineries 2.3.19 SodaStream 2.3.20 Teperberg 1870 Winery 2.3.21 Tishbi Estate Winery ... 5.3.16 Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing

U N V E I L E D : European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

2 0 1 1

An Independent Economy for an Independent State

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PROSPERPalestineAn Independent Economy for an Independent State

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COVER:

The Israe l i se t t lement of Hashmonaim, dat ing f rom the mid 1980s , in the West Bank .

Photograph: Abbas Momani/AFP/Getty Images

Taken from: www.guardian .co .uk

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This document was prepared upon the request of PROsPERPalestine, where the content is a result of a research conducted by:

PROFUNDO Economic Research

Jan Willem van GelderAnniek HerderAnna van Ojik

ProfundoRadarweg 601043 NT AmsterdamThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)20 820 8320E-mail: [email protected]: www.profundo.nl

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This document is intended as open source, to serve the use of anyone interested in raising awareness to the Palestinian struggle against the illegal Israeli Settlement enterprise in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

© July 2011, PROsPERPalestine

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI

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PROSPERPalestine “About Us”PROSPERPalestine CallSummary

Introduction: Methodology & Definitions

ChAPtER 1: thE EU & IsRAElI sEttlEMENts1.1 History and legal status of the settlements1.2 Geography and economy of the settlements1.3 Israeli settlement policy1.4 International trade of settlement products

1.4.1 Export volumes1.4.2 Exports by air1.4.3 Exports over sea

1.5 EU policies on settlements and settlement products 1.5.1 EU position on the settlements1.5.2 EU policy on settlement products1.5.3 Israeli response to the EU policy

ChAPtER 2: RElAtIONshIPs wIth BElgIUM2.1 Economic and political relationships

2.1.1 Trade and economic agreements2.1.2 Position on settlements

2.2 Trade volumes and quantities2.3 Exports by settlement companies to Belgium

2.3.1 Abadi Bakery2.3.2 Achdut2.3.3 Agrexco2.3.4 Arava Export Growers2.3.5 Barkan Mounts2.3.6 Barkan Wine Cellars2.3.7 Beigel & Beigel Food2.3.8 Carmel Carpets2.3.9 Dead Sea Laboratories2.3.10 DiSTeK2.3.11 Familia Sweet2.3.12 Fermentek2.3.13 Hadiklaim2.3.14 Keter Plastic2.3.15 Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem2.3.16 Mul-T-Lock2.3.17 Shemesh Spices2.3.18 Shor Family Wineries2.3.19 SodaStream2.3.20 Teperberg 1870 Winery2.3.21 Tishbi Estate Winery2.3.22 Yardeni Locks Holdings

2.4 Investments in settlement companies2.4.1 Dexia

2.5 Other trade links2.5.1 Bekaert

2.6 Summary

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesII P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesIII

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ChAPtER 3: RElAtIONshIPs wIth DENMARk3.1 Diplomatic and economic relationships3.2 Trade and economic agreements3.3 Position on the settlements3.4 Trade volumes and quantities3.5 Exports by settlement companies to Denmark

3.5.1 AdaFresh3.5.2 Agrexco3.5.3 Barkan Mounts3.5.4 Barkan Wine Cellars3.5.5 Dead Sea Laboratories3.5.6 Hadiklaim3.5.7 Mehadrin Group3.5.8 Mul-T-Lock3.5.9 Shamir Salads3.5.10 SodaStream3.5.11 Supergum Industries

3.6 Other trade links3.6.1 Container Centralen3.6.2 ISS3.6.3 Maersk

3.7 Summary

ChAPtER 4: RElAtIONshIPs wIth FINlAND4.1 Diplomatic and economic relations4.2 Trade and economic agreements4.3 Position on the settlements4.4 Trade volumes and quantities4.5 Exports by settlement companies to Finland

4.5.1 Barkan Mounts4.5.2 Barkan Wine Cellars4.5.3 Beigel & Beigel Food4.5.4 Dead Sea Laboratories4.5.5 Hadiklaim4.5.6 SodaStream

4.6 Summary

ChAPtER 5: RElAtIONshIPs wIth FRANCE5.1 Policies on economic relationships

5.1.1 Trade and economic relations5.1.2 French position on settlements

5.2 Trade volumes and quantities5.3 Exports by settlement companies to France

5.3.1 Abadi Bakery5.3.2 Achdut5.3.3 Adanim Tea5.3.4 Agrexco5.3.5 Barkan Mounts5.3.6 Barkan Wine Cellars5.3.7 Beigel & Beigel5.3.8 Dead Sea Laboratories5.3.9 Familia Sweet5.3.10 Fermentek5.3.11 Hadiklaim

494950505050505151515152525252525354

575858585959616161616262626263636364646464646565656666666666666767676768

5.3.12 Keter Plastic5.3.13 Mehadrin Group5.3.14 Mul-T-Lock5.3.15 Ofertex Industries5.3.16 Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing5.3.17 Shamir Salads5.3.18 SodaStream5.3.19 Supergum Industries5.3.20 Teperberg 1870 Winery5.3.21 Tip Top Toys Star5.3.22 Tishbi Estate Winery5.3.23 Twitoplast5.3.24 Yardeni Locks Holdings

5.4 Other trade links5.4.1 Alstom5.4.2 Egis Rail5.4.3 Veolia Transport

5.5 Summary

ChAPtER 6: RElAtIONshIPs wIth gERMANy6.1 Economic and diplomatic relationships

6.1.1 Diplomatic relationships6.1.2 Trade and economic agreements6.1.3 Position on the settlements

6.2 Trade volumes and quantities6.3 Exports by settlement companies to Germany

6.3.1 Achdut6.3.2 Adanim Tea6.3.3 Agrexco6.3.4 Arava Export Growers6.3.5 Barkan Mounts6.3.6 Barkan Wine Cellars6.3.7 Beigel & Beigel Food6.3.8 Dead Sea Laboratories6.3.9 Em Hachita6.3.10 Fermentek6.3.11 Hadiklaim6.3.12 Keter Plastic6.3.13 Mul-T-Lock6.3.14 Ofertex Industries6.3.15 Plasto-Polish6.3.16 Shor Family Wineries6.3.17 SodaStream6.3.18 Supergum Industries6.3.19 Teperberg 1870 Winery6.3.20 Tishbi Estate Winery6.3.21 Twitoplast6.3.22 Yardeni Locks Holdings

6.4 Investments in settlement companies6.4.1 Deutsche Bank6.4.2 HeidelbergCement

6.5 Other trade links6.5.1 Vipo Land6.5.2 Xilence Technology

6.6 Summary

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesIV P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesV

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ChAPtER 7: RElAtIONshIPs wIth ItAly7.1 Diplomatic and economic relations7.2 Trade and economic agreements7.3 Position on the settlements7.4 Trade volumes and quantities7.5 Exports by settlement companies to Italy

7.5.1 Achdut7.5.2 AdaFresh7.5.3 Agrexco7.5.4 Barkan Mounts7.5.5 Barkan Wine Cellars7.5.6 Carmel Carpets7.5.7 Dead Sea Laboratories7.5.8 Hadiklaim7.5.9 Keter Plastic7.5.10 Mul-T-Lock7.5.11 Ofertex Industries7.5.12 SodaStream7.5.13 Teperberg 1870 Winery7.5.14 Tip Top Toys Star7.5.15 Tishbi Estate Winery7.5.16 Twitoplast7.5.17 Yardeni Lock Holdings7.5.18 Zriha Hlavin Industries

7.6 Other trade links7.6.1 Pizzarotti & C. S.p.A.

7.7 Summary

ChAPtER 8: RElAtIONshIPs wIth thE NEthERlANDs8.1 Diplomatic relationships8.2 Trade and economic agreements8.3 Position on the settlements8.4 Trade volumes and quantities8.5 Exports by settlement companies to the Netherlands

8.5.1 AdaFresh8.5.2 Adanim Tea8.5.3 Agrexco8.5.4 Amnon & Tamar8.5.5 Arava Export Growers8.5.6 Barkan Mounts8.5.7 Barkan Wine Cellars8.5.8 Dead Sea Laboratories8.5.9 Hadiklaim8.5.10 Keter Plastic8.5.11 Mehadrin Group8.5.12 Mul-T-Lock8.5.13 Odeyah Industries8.5.14 Ofertex Industries8.5.15 Oppenheimer8.5.16 Shamir Salads8.5.17 SodaStream8.5.18 Teperberg 1870 Winery8.5.19 Tip Top Toys8.5.20 Tishbi Estate Winery

8.6 Investments in settlement companies

9293949494

97989898999999

101101101101102102102

103104104106106106107107107107108108108108108109109109109110110110110111111111

113114114115115

8.6.1 Heineken8.6.2 Unilever

8.7 Other trade links8.7.1 PLMA

8.8 Summary

ChAPtER 9: RElAtIONshIPs wIth NORwAy9.1 Diplomatic and economic relationships9.2 Trade and economic agreements9.3 Position on the settlements9.4 Trade volumes and quantities9.5 Exports by settlement companies to Norway

9.5.1 Agrexco9.5.2 Barkan Mounts9.5.3 Dead Sea Laboratories9.5.4 DiSTeK9.5.5 Hadiklaim9.5.6 Mul-T-Lock9.5.7 SodaStream

9.6 Summary

ChAPtER 10: RElAtIONshIPs wIth sPAIN10.1 Policies on economic relationships10.2 Trade volumes and quantities10.3 Exports by settlement companies to Spain

10.3.1 Achdut10.3.2 Adanim Tea10.3.3 Agrexco10.3.4 Barkan Mounts10.3.5 Beigel & Beigel10.3.6 Carmel Carpets10.3.7 Dead Sea Laboratories10.3.8 Dispobud10.3.9 Fermentek10.3.10 Hadiklaim10.3.11 Keter Plastic10.3.12 Mehadrin Group10.3.13 Mul-T-Lock10.3.14 Royalife10.3.15 SodaStream10.3.16 Tip Top Toys10.3.17 Tishbi Estate Winery10.3.18 Twitoplast10.3.19 Yardeni Locks Holdings

10.4 Other trade links10.4.1 Comexi Group

10.5 Summary

ChAPtER 11: RElAtIONshIPs wIth swEDEN11.1 Diplomatic and economic relationships11.2 Trade and economic agreements11.3 Position on the settlements11.4 Trade volumes and quantities

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesVI P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesVII

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C O N T E N T S

117117117118118118118118119119119119119120120120

123

124124125126127130130130130131131132132133133133133134134134134135135135136136136136136137137138138138138138

11.5 Exports by settlement companies to Sweden11.5.1 Adanim Tea11.5.2 Agrexco11.5.3 Barkan Mounts11.5.4 Barkan Wine Cellars11.5.5 Dead Sea Laboratories11.5.6 Hadiklaim11.5.7 Keter Plastic11.5.8 Mehadrin11.5.9 Mul-T-Lock11.5.10 SodaStream11.5.11 Supergum Industries11.5.12 Tishbi Estate Winery

11.6 Investments in settlement companies 11.6.1 ASSA Abloy

11.7 Summary

ChAPtER 12: RElAtIONshIPs wIth thE UNItED kINgDOM

12.1 Policies on economic relationships12.1.1 Trade and economic agreements12.1.2 Diplomatic relationships12.1.3 British position on settlements

12.2 Trade volumes and quantities12.3 Exports by settlement companies to the UK

12.3.1 Achdut12.3.2 Adanim Tea12.3.3 Agrexco12.3.4 Arava Export Growers12.3.5 Barkan Mounts12.3.6 Barkan Wine Cellars12.3.7 Beigel & Beigel12.3.8 Carmel Carpets12.3.9 Dead Sea Laboratories12.3.10 Dispobud12.3.11 DiSTeK12.3.12 Familia Sweet12.3.13 Fermentek12.3.14 Hadiklaim 12.3.15 Isratoys12.3.16 Keter Plastic12.3.17 Mehadrin Group12.3.18 Mul-T-Lock12.3.19 Ofertex Industries12.3.20 Oppenheimer Manufacture & Marketing12.3.21 Shamir Salads12.3.22 Shemesh Spices12.3.23 SodaStream12.3.24 Teperberg 1870 Winery12.3.25 Tip Top Toys12.3.26 Tishbi Estate Winery12.3.27 Twitoplast12.3.28 Yardeni Locks Holdings

12.4 Investments in settlement companies12.4.1 Apax Partners

139140140140141141142

145146146147147147150150151151152152153153154154155155155156156156157158158159159160161161161161162162163163163164166167167167168168168

12.4.2 Greenkote12.4.3 G4S12.4.4 Hanson12.4.5 Unilever

12.5 Other trade links12.5.1 Record Power

12.6 Summary

ChAPtER 13: PROFIlEs - sEttlEMENt COMPANIEs13.1 Abadi Bakery13.2 Achdut13.3 AdaFresh13.4 Adanim Tea13.5 Agrexco13.6 Amnon & Tamar13.7 Arava Export Growers13.8 Avgol13.9 Barkan Mounts13.10 Barkan Wine Cellars13.11 Beigel & Beigel Food13.12 Carmel Carpets13.13 Dead Sea Laboratories13.14 Dispobud13.15 DiSTeK13.16 D.N.M. Technical Equipment and Tools13.17 Em Hachita13.18 Familia Sweet13.19 Fermentek13.20 Golden Ryd Dyl13.21 Hadiklaim - Israel Date Growers’ Cooperative13.22 Hanson Israel13.23 Isratoys13.24 Keter Plastic13.25 Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem13.26 Mehadrin Group13.27 Mul-T-Lock13.28 Odeyah Industries13.29 Ofertex Industries13.30 Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing13.31 Plasto-Polish13.32 RonoPolydan Packaging13.33 Royalife13.34 Shamir Salads13.35 Shemesh Spices13.36 Shor Family Wineries13.37 SodaStream13.38 Supergum Industries13.39 Teperberg 1870 Winery13.40 Tip Top Toys Star13.41 Tishbi Estate Winery13.42 Twitoplast13.43 Yardeni Locks Holdings13.44 Zriha Hlavin Industries

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesVIII P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesIX

T A B L E O F

T A B L E S

T A B L E O F

F I G U R E S

T A B L E O F

F I G U R E S

6

8

9

18

1830

3040

4045

46

4660

6074

7478

78

85

85100

100105

105107

115

116

116128

128147149

150151155

FIgURE 1. Settlements Established and Evacuated 1967 - 2008

FIgURE 2. Israeli exports worldwide by region, 2000 – 2009 (US$ million)

FIgURE 3. Israeli exports to the main European countries in 2009 (value %)

FIgURE 4. Belgium & Luxembourg imports from Israel and Belgium & Luxembourg exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 5. Belgian imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 6. Denmark imports from Israel and Denmark

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 7. Danish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 8. Finland imports from Israel and Finland

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 9. Finnish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 10. President Abbas and President

Sarkozy in ParisFIgURE 11. France imports from Israel and France

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 12.French imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 13. German imports from Israel and German

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 14. German imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 15. Italy imports from Israel and Italian

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 16. Italian imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 17. The two train routes through

occupied Palestinian territoriesFIgURE 18. Pizzarotti at the portal of Tunnel 2 in

Section C, Sha’ar Hagay, October 2010.FIgURE 19. Dutch imports from Israel and Netherlands

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 20. Dutch imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 21. Norway imports from Israel and Norway

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 22. Norway imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 23. Spanish imports from Israel and Spanish

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 24. Spanish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 25. The Carmel Bio-Top in the port

of Valencia, June 2007.FIgURE 26. Former Israeli prime minister Olmert

and Swedish minister BildtFIgURE 27. Swedish imports from Israel and Sweden

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 28. Swedish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 29. UK imports from Israel and UK

exports to Israel (in US$ million)FIgURE 30. UK imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)FIgURE 31. Factory of Achdut in the Barkan Settlement. FIgURE 32. Agrexco truck carrying products from the

Jordan Valley through the West BankFIgURE 33. Tomato growing regions of AravaFIgURE 34. Barkan Mounts plant in Ariel.FIgURE 35. Jerusalem Matzy produced by Em Hachita

E

25

26

35

35

42

55

56

68

69

79

80

95

96

102

111

121

121

142

143

tABlE 1. Trade and investment links with settlement companies per country

tABlE 2. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Belgium

tABlE 3. Other Belgian business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 4. Exports from Israeli Settlements in occupied territories to Denmark

tABlE 5. Other Danish business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 6. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Finland

tABlE 7. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to France

tABlE 8. Other French business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 9. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Germany

tABlE 10. Other German business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 11. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Italy

tABlE 12. Other Italian business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 13. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to the Netherlands

tABlE 14. Other Dutch business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 15. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Norway

tABlE 16. Exports from Israeli settlements occupied territories to Spain

tABlE 17. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Sweden

tABlE 18. Other Swedish business links with Israeli settlements

tABlE 19. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to the UK

tABlE 20. Other British business links with Israeli settlements

157158

165

FIgURE 36. Plants of Hanson IsraelFIgURE 37. A collection of trademarks and

brands of the Keter GroupFIgURE 38. The structure of SodaStream.

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesA

“This is not disputed territory. It is occupied

Palestinian territory and on-going settlement

expansion is i l legal under international law,

an obstacle to peace and a threat to a two

state solution.”

william hague

UK foreign secretary

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n ea b O U t U S

PROSPERPalestine is an international call to support Palestinians in building a state by moving away from economic relationships with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

We seek to build a viable and independent Palestinian state where Palestinians will live in peace and security with their neighbours. In order to do this we must call for an end to Israeli settlement building on Palestinian land. A viable, independent Palestinian state can only come into being without settlements and the occupation that goes hand in hand with them. What you can do towards that end is simply reject settlement products entering your country.

Important efforts are being carried out around the world. Many groups looking for an end to the conflict understand the challenge that settlements pose to the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Many politicians, business owners, and influential figures have also contributed tremendous efforts. A number of excellent achievements over the past year have been made as a result of these efforts. Among them:

On July 9 2010, Presbyterian leaders •strongly backed a proposal calling for the U.S. government to end aid to Israel unless the country stops settlement expansions in disputed Palestinian territories.

On Wednesday 30 June 2010, the •Methodist Church in the United Kingdom voted to reject all products from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

On February 25 2010, The European •Court of Justice ruled that settlement products are not eligible to enjoy the preferential treatment Israeli products do as part of the EC-Israel Association Agreement.

In December 2009, the UK Department •for the Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs (Defra) issued voluntary guidance to UK supermarkets stating labels should differentiate between “Israeli settlement produce” and “Palestinian produce”. Up until then, foods were labeled “Produce of the West Bank”.

In September 2009, the UK Trade Union •Congress, representing 58 British unions and about 6.5 million workers, voted to support rejection of all settlement produce entering the UK.

There is a growing international sense of urgency to bring an end to settlements and the obstacle they pose to peace and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. A growing demand to end third party states’ support to settlement economy is becoming more vocal. This demand is currently being translated at all levels; from grassroots activists, to civil society organizations, to business owners and politicians.

With unprecedented international pressure to roll back settlements, it is however vital that efforts to reject settlement products are united. PROSPERPalestine seeks to build on previous success while amplifying the common demand of all organizations, individuals, and groups working for Palestine and peace; ending support to settlements by abandoning all settlement products and economic relationships with them.

PROSPERPalestine is a collective initiative that simply provides information and tools for all those uniting for a viable Palestinian state, without settlements and without occupation. PROSPERPalestine is the common ground among all organizations, movements, and groups working in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Only through such unity, we will be able to amplify our voice against settlements, visa-vis occupation, and strengthen the movement against settlement products around the world.

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesB P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesC

t h E

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n eC a L L

Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip has continued for over 43 years. Ever since then, the international community has taken a strong political stance against this occupation and has repeatedly called upon Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. While Israel’s occupation is identified as illegal in over 25 scripts in international law, Israel has consistently intensified its occupation through building illegal settlements and imposing measures that go hand in hand with sustaining them; maintaining control over internationally recognised Palestinian land and resources. Examples of where settlements are mentioned as a clear violation to international law include:

Article 49 of the Geneva Convention•Article 8(2) (B)(viii) of the Rome Statute of the •International Criminal CourtUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 446•United Nations Security Council Resolution 452•United Nations Security Council Resolution 465•United Nations Security Council Resolution 471•United Nations Security Council Resolution 476•Article 3 of the International Convention •on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination

Israeli settlements today control over 40% of the West Bank, utilizing its land, water, and other resources for its own economy rather than that of the Palestinians. It is the international community’s responsibility as a third party to reject this illegal enterprise and move away economic relationships with it. Settlements are economic pillars that sustain the occupation of the West Bank. The majority of settlement exports are currently being marketed in countries all over the world, mostly, in the US and EU. Likewise, inward investment into settlements can be traced back to many states across the European Union and the wider international community. we call upon the international community to reject economic relationships with settlements. Instead, we urge the international community to support the Palestinian people in building an independent, viable, and prosperous state.

S U M M A R Y

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesD

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P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesE

S U M M A R Y

This report explores the trade and investment relationships between companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories on the one hand, and the main European countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - on the other hand. Trade and investment relationships researched include the supply of products produced by companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories (settlement products) to European customers; the supply of products or services by European companies to settlement companies; the financing of settlement companies by European companies or financial institutions via loans, share ownership or otherwise; and investments by settlement companies in the main European countries.

This report is based on desk research. Inevitably, the overview will not be complete as many economic relationships are not documented in the sources available. The uncertainty of some trade and investment links also highlights one of the features of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, which is that the economy of the settlements is so closely integrated into that of Israel itself that distinguishing between the two is very difficult.

Reliable figures on the trade between the settlements and Europe are not available. Data on the exports of settlement products are amalgamated into the trade statistics of Israel itself. These trade statistics show that the EU is a very important trading partner for Israel, with Israeli exports to the EU reaching a value of US$ 15.4 billion in 2009.

Although this report is not concerned with trade between Europe and Israel itself, the trade patterns between Israel and Europe could give an indication on the trade in settlement products. The most important European destinations for Israeli exports are Belgium and Luxembourg, together accounting for 23% of Israeli export to Europe; the Netherlands (15%), Germany

and the United Kingdom (14% each). Italy and France follow with 11% each.

Estimates on which share of the Israeli exports to Europe consists of settlement products vary considerably. In statements published in 2002 and 2004, the Israeli government estimated this share to be around 1-2 per cent of total Israeli exports to Europe. However, independent observers think that when the total settlement exports to Europe are adjusted to include exports wholly or partially produced in occupied territories, the percentage is more likely to amount to 20-30 per cent.

Furthermore, the share of settlement products in Israeli exports to a specific European country can differ from these overall percentages. It is likely, however, that the main European export destinations for settlement products are the countries mentioned above. But the exact ranking might be different: most of the Israeli export (66%) to Belgium and Luxembourg for instance consists of diamonds and we have found no evidence that diamonds originate from the settlements. As diamond exports to other European countries are much smaller, it is likely that Belgium is not the most important export destination for settlement products in Europe.

While not quantitative in terms of the volumes and values of exports of settlement products to Europe, this study does provides a broad inventory of trade and investment links between companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories on the one hand and the main European countries on the other hand. We found settlement products to be sold in all European countries by various channels - ranging from small groceries to well-known webshops and large supermarket chains and department stores. Furthermore, we found European companies supplying products and services to settlements, and some companies and financial institutions investing in settlement companies through shareholdings or loans. table 1 provides an overview of the trade and investment links per country and per settlement company.

tABlE 1. Trade and investment links with settlement companies per country

Settlement company

Bel

giu

m

Den

mar

k

Fin

lan

d

Fra

nce

ger

man

y

Ital

y

Net

her

lan

ds

Norw

ay

spai

n

swed

en

Un

ited

k

ingd

om

No. o

f co

un

trie

s p

er

com

pan

y

Abadi Bakery 2

Achdut 6

AdaFresh 3

Adanim Tea 6

Agrexco 10

Amnon & Tamar 1

Arava Export Growers 4

Avgol 1

Barkan Mounts 11

Barkan Wine Cellars 9

Beigel & Beigel Food 7

Carmel Carpets 4

Dead Sea Laboratories 11

Dispobud 3

DiSTeK 3

D.N.M. Technical Equipment 1

Em Hachita 1

Familia Sweet 3

Fermentek 5

Golden Ryd Dyl 2

Hadiklaim 11

Hanson Israel 2

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P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesG

Conclusions

As Table 1 shows, the main European countries researched in this report have trade and investment links with at least 44 settlement companies. We found five European countries to have trade and investment links with more than 20 settlement companies: the United Kingdom (31), Germany (25), France and the Netherlands (24 each) and Belgium (23). They are followed by Spain (20), Italy (18), Sweden (12) and Denmark (11), which all have trade and investment links with more than ten settlement companies. Norway (7) and Finland (6) have trade and investment links with only a small number of settlement companies.

The settlement companies which have most trade and investment links with the main European countries are Barkan Mounts, Dead Sea Laboratories, Hadiklaim and SodaStream. These four companies export to all 11 countries researched. Agrexco and Mul-T-Lock have links with 10 countries.

The number of trade and investment links found to exist between the settlements and the main European countries, and the large number of European companies involved, do suggest that the share of settlement products in Israeli exports to Europe is higher than the 1-2% estimate of the Israeli government. This can most probably be explained by the fact that many settlement companies have their headquarters within the legal borders of Israel while - some or all of - their production facilities are located in settlements. When these companies export settlements products, these products are often labelled with the address of their headquarters. Trade documents will then not register these products as settlement products.

This also highlights the main flaw in the present EU policy towards imports of settlement products. As the settlements are not recognised as part of Israel by the EU, the EU policy aims to prevent settlement products from claiming preferential tariff treatment to which exports from Israel are eligible under the EU-Israel Association Agreement of 1995. According to the technical arrangement between Israel and the European Union, which came into force in July 2008, Israeli exporters to the EU should indicate their postal code in trade documents. The customs authorities of

the different EU countries can then use these postal codes to determine which import tariff needs to be applied. But in the case that trade documents show the postal code of the Israeli headquarters rather than the postal code of the production facility in the settlements, no further screening seems to be undertaken. How often this is the case, could not be assessed within the scope of this desk research project.

Recommendations

The results of our research into the trade and investment relationships between companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories on the one hand, and the main European countries - Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - on the other hand, we make the following recommendations:

European companies mentioned in this •report should verify if their indeed have a trade and/or investment relationship with a company located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. As the Israeli settlement policy conflicts international law and is strongly denounced by the European Union and the governments of EU member states, European companies are recommended to end their trade and investment relationships with companies in the settlements;

The European Commission and •the governments of the European countries researched are recommended to complement their political and diplomatic denouncing of the Israeli settlement policy with concrete trade and investment policies which prevent trade and investment relationships with companies located in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories or at least follow the UK example and require proper labelling or settlement products as such;

Customs authorities in the European •countries researched are recommended to investigate the (probable) imports from Israeli settlements identified in this report, to assess if the exporting settlement companies are not violating the technical arrangement between

Settlement company

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Isratoys 2

Keter Plastic 8

Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem 1

Mehadrin Group 6

Mul-T-Lock 10

Odeyah Industries 1

Ofertex Industries 5

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing

3

Plasto-Polish 2

RonoPolydan Packaging 1

Royalife 1

Shamir Salads 4

Shemesh Spices 2

Shor Family Wineries 2

SodaStream 11

Supergum Industries 4

Teperberg 1870 Winery 6

Tip Top Toys Star 5

Tishbi Estate Winery 8

Twitoplast 5

Yardeni Locks Holdings 6

Zriha Hlavin Industries 2

No.of companies per country 23 11 6 24 25 18 24 7 20 12 31

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“… [Israeli settlements] run counter to

achieving a peaceful solution that will preserve

Israel’s security and realize the Palestinians’

right to statehood.”

Catherine Ashton

High Representative for

Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

of the European Union (EU)

Israel and the European Union, in order to claim a preferential tariff treatment to which they are not entitled;

Citizens and non-governmental •organisations in the European countries researched are recommended to question the European companies mentioned in this report, as well as their governments, about the trade and investment relationships identified with companies located in Israeli settlements.

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories1

“Not only are continued Israeli settlements

il legitimate, Israel’s actions run counter to

efforts to resume direct negotiations.”

Us state Department

I N T R O D U C T I O NMethodology & Definitions

This report analyses the present trade and investment relationships between companies and financial institutions in the main European countries on the one hand and companies located in Israeli settlements established in occupied Palestinian territories on the other hand.

Based upon the research objective formulated above, the following specific research questions were researched:

How have policies on economic •relationships with settlement companies developed in the EU as a whole and in the main European countries individually: agreements concluded, political statements made and policy papers issued?

What is the volume of products of •settlement companies exported to the main European countries, in physical quantities and in value, split by country of destination?

How do the products of settlement •companies in practice find their way into Israel and onto the markets of the main European countries, what checks must be done, what taxes and regulations - both Israeli and EU- they are subject to and which Israeli and EU organisations oversee this process?

Which European companies and •financial institutions have present trade and/or investment relationships with settlement companies?

The following definitions apply to these research questions:

The main European countries are:•Belgium1. Denmark2. Finland3. France4. Germany5. Italy6. the Netherlands7. Norway8. Spain9. Sweden10. United Kingdom11.

European companies and financial •institutions include all companies and financial institutions located in one of the main European countries, either domestically or foreign owned.

Settlement companies include:•Production companies located in 1. Israeli settlements, either Israeli or foreign owned;Israeli agricultural trading companies 2. which source a substantial part of their exports of agricultural products from settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley;The parent or holding companies 3. owning a production company located in an Israeli settlement, but only when this subsidiary is one of their few production facilities worldwide.

Settlement companies do • not include:Parent or holding companies which 1. are not located in a settlement and which own many production subsidiaries (either in or outside Israel), including only one settlement company;Companies providing services to 2. consumers or companies in the settlements, as long they are not located in a settlement themselves;Companies and financial institutions 3. which have trade and/or investment links with settlement companies are not considered settlement companies themselves.

European companies are considered •to have trade and/or investment relationships with settlement companies when they:

Import, distribute or sell products 1. produced by a settlement company;Export products or services to a 2. settlement company;Finance a settlement company by 3. providing a loan, investing in its shares or underwriting a share issuance;Are owned by a settlement 4. company.

P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories3P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories2

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C h a p t e r 1

The EU & ISRAELI S E T T L E M E N T S

The findings of this research project are based on desk research. Governmental websites and statistical data were used to describe country policies and trade volumes. Company websites, media and reports of NGO’s were used to identify trade relationships.

It should be borne in mind that the findings of this report only represent a snapshot of economic links at one moment in time; these are dynamic relationships which are constantly changing. The uncertainty of certain links also highlights one of the features of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, which is that the economy of the settlements is so closely integrated into that of Israel itself that distinguishing between the two is very difficult. Trade statistics from the settlements tend to be amalgamated into those for the whole of Israel.

Chapter 1 describes the current situation around the settlements and both Israeli and European policies regarding settlements and trade. It also presents a summary of the information which is available in public sources on export volume and transport routes of the products manufactured in the settlements.

Chapters 2 to 12 present the identified trade relationships between European companies and settlement companies for each of the main European countries researched. Each chapter describes the policies on economic relationships and trade volumes of that specific country with Israel. Then the exports by settlement companies to European countries are described, including address information of European subsidiaries, distributors and selling points. Furthermore, we describe investments in settlement companies and other trade links with European countries. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.


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1.1

History and legal status

of the settlements

Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. The West Bank and Gaza Strip are known as the occupied Palestinian territories (OPTs), while the Golan Heights are part of Syria. These territories are beyond the Green Line1, which is accepted as the provisional, de facto border of the State of Israel until the successful conclusion of the Middle East Peace Process settles permanent frontiers.

Israel has established civilian settlements in these territories. Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem estimates that in 1967 Israel annexed 7,050 hectares from East Jerusalem and the West Bank and incorporated them in Jerusalem’s borders. From this annexed territory, Israel has expropriated about one-third of the annexed territory - 2,400 hectares - most of it privately owned Arab property and used this for residential construction”.2

According to international law, these settlements are illegal. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention 3 (Part 1) states:

1 The 1949 General Armistice Agreements set out the Green Line. They comprise the 24 February 1949 Egypt-Israel General Armistice Agreement, 42 United Nations Treaty Series 654; 23 March 1949 Lebanon-Israel General Armistice Agreement, ibid 655; 3 April 1949 Jordan-Israel General Armistice Agreement, ibid 656; and 20 July 1949 Syria-Israel General Armistice Agreement, ibid 657, available online at treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%2042/v42.pdf.2 RVN, “Jordan: Next step regarding Jerusalem”, Right Vision News, 11 December 2009.3 See Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Israel is a State Party, available online at www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/genevaconventions. See also the International Court of Justice’s advisory Opinion of 9th July 2004 on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, available online at www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/131/1671.pdf at para. 120. UN General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, which the UK voted to adopt, called on all States to fulfil their legal obligations as mentioned in the advisory opinion, and also to find ways to “ensure respect by Israel for the [Fourth Geneva] Convention”. See www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressR&id=2003705. (all urls last checked May 2011)

1T H E E U & I S R A E L I

S E T T L E M E N T S

“The occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” 4

An occupying power is entitled under international law to make use of the economy and resources of the territory it occupies, but only in order to fulfil the needs of its army and to meet the costs of administering the occupied territory. An occupant is not permitted to exploit the economy and resources of the occupied territory to fulfil either its own domestic needs, or to benefit its own domestic economy. In essence it is required to keep the occupied territory separate, politically as well as economically. To permit otherwise would be to go against the logic of international law which prohibits an occupier from annexing territory it occupies.5

Israel’s settlements in the Gaza Strip were dismantled in August 2005, although the effective occupation of the Gaza Strip has not ceased, with Israeli control of all borders, airspace and seaports. In the West Bank and the Golan Heights, however, settlements are expanding and new ones continue to be established 6, contrary to numerous UN General Assembly and Security Council Resolutions, the “Road Map” 7 and the Fourth Geneva Convention. These settlements constitute

4 UN, “Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War”, United Nations, Geneva, 12 August 1949.5 See the commentary to Article 47 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, para. 2, Pictet J (Ed), Commentary to Geneva Convention IV relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war (ICRC: Geneva: 1958), Commentary to Article 47, 273, para. 2.6 A recent article in the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reveals details of a database of settlements (not including so-called ‘outposts’) in the West Bank, compiled by the Israeli defence establishment. It also cites Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics estimates that in 2008 the settlement population in the West Bank was approximately 290,000: Secret Israeli database reveals full extent of illegal settlement, Haaretz, 29 January 2009, available online at www.israeli-occupation.org/2009-01-30/secret-israeli-database-reveals-full-extent-of-illegal-settlement/. The database (in Hebrew only) is available at www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/images/printed/P300109/uriib.mht (last accessed May 2011)7 Available online at www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sc7924.doc.htmhtm (last checked May 2011)

a grave and systematic human rights violation, harming the daily lives of over 3.7 million Palestinians and 21,000 Syrians living under Israeli occupation.8

1.2

Geography and economy

of the settlements

As of mid-2010, there were 121 Israeli settlements in the West Bank (not including East Jerusalem). Additionally, around 100 settlements, commonly referred to as outposts, are dotted throughout the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. These are typically smaller and although established with governmental assistance, not officially recognized.9 In East Jerusalem there are 12 large Israeli neighbourhoods and settlements built in Palestinian neighbourhoods. A map of the settlements is presented in Figure 1.Mid 2009 there were more than 300,000 residents living in Israeli settlements on the West Bank, according to a Israel Defense Forces Civil Administration report.10 According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, the growth rate for the settler population was almost three times higher than that of the general population in Israel.11

In the settlements and their associated industrial zones, Israeli companies operate in various industrial sectors. Agricultural production is very important in the settlements in the Jordan Valley, while in the industrial zones industries producing food products, metal products, plastic products, cosmetics, and many other products are active. Collectively, these products are referred to as “settlement products”.

8 See for instance , Falk, R, Situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, UN Doc. A/63/326 (25 August 2008), available online at www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,UNGA,,PSE,,48e5e2be2,0.html (last accessed May 2011). For population and other statistics in the occupied Palestinian territories see for www.ochaopt.org/documents/OCHA_oPt_SocioEconomics_Fact_Sheet_April_2008_English.pdf. 9 Palestine Monitor, “Factsheet Israeli Settlements”, Palestine Monitor, Last updated March 2010.10 Levinson, C., “IDF: More than 300,000 settlers live in West Bank”, Haaretz, 27 July 2009.11 B’Tselem, “Land Expropriation & Settlements”, Website B’Tselem, Viewed in March 2011.

Despite these activities, the overall economic cost-benefit balance of the settlements for the Israeli economy appears to be negative. A precise estimate is difficult to make, as it is difficult to distinguish the costs of the settlements from the costs of the occupation itself. In 2005, Shir Hever, a preeminent Israeli author on settlement economy and author of a book on the political economy of the occupation, estimated that since 1967 the total costs of the occupation amounted to US$ 97 billion.12 In 2008, Shir Hever estimated the Israeli government spends approximately US$ 9.3 billion every year to maintain the occupation. This equals about 13% of the government’s total annual budget. Updating the 2005 estimate, the total costs of occupation at the end of 2007 would be at US$ 115 billion.13

In May 2011, the Israeli Macro Center for Political Economics released a report assessing the monetary worth of Jewish homes in the West Bank. The report found a significant increase in the settlements’ monetary worth due to the expansion of settlements. The report claims that in 2004 settlements were worth US$12.6 billion, and that this sum had increased to US$18.8 billion by May 2011. This figure provides an estimation of the amount the Israeli state may have to pay settlers in the event they are evacuated as part of a peace accord with the Palestinians.14

In 2010 the Palestinian Authority announced a boycott of products and services from the settlements, including the Jewish communities in the West Bank, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. In 2010 the Palestinian Authority also banned Palestinians from working on settlements.15

12 Hever, S., “The Settlements - Economic Cost to Israel”, The Alternative Information Center, Jerusalem / Beit Sahour, July 2005.13 Hever, S., “Privatization of Israel’s Refineries. Economy of the Occupation”, The Alternative Information Center, Socioeconomic Bulletin - No. 16, Jerusalem / Beit Sahour, January 2008.14 Mula, S., “Study: Settlements worth $18.8 billion”, Y Net News, 27 May 2011.15 The American Task Force on Palestine, “Palestinians count cost of settlement work ban”, The American Task Force on Palestine, 6 January 2011.


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1.3

Israeli settlement policy

The Israeli government actively encourages its Jewish citizens to migrate to the settlements by funnelling large amounts of resources to the settlements through a variety of incentives. This includes government subsidies for housing construction in settlements, subsidized loans and grants for settlers to buy houses, and extended investments in education, health care and security. Funds are also allocated to buy armed vehicles, to arm and train settler militias, and to “protect” the settlers. On top of this, the Israeli government heavily subsidizes the construction of by-pass roads connecting the illegal settlements.16 Industrial and agricultural businesses are encouraged to operate in the settlements by providing grants and subsidies, such as compensation for EU produce tariffs and significantly lower taxes than inside the Green Line. All Israeli commercial banks provide business loans for companies that are directly involved in the settlements.17

At the other hand, Israel actively discourages investments and economic development in the Palestine Territories, for example by not issuing permits for new roads and water lines.18

Settlement construction is only possible with a permit from the Israeli government. After strong international pressure, Israel in May 2010 announced a freeze on settlement construction. In March 2011, after ten months, the government of Israel approved construction of several hundred units across Gush Etzion, Maale Adumim, Ariel and Kiryat Sefer, already the biggest settlements in the West Bank. 19

16 Coalition for Peace with Justice, “The Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”, Website Coalition for Peace with Justice (www.peace-with-justice.org), Viewed in May 2011.17 Lendman, S., “Israeli Banks Profiteering From Occupation”, 11 August 2010, Rense.com (available at www.rense.com/general92/bnk.htm).18 The Marker, “Israeli suppliers to new PA city vow to snub settlements”, The Marker, 29 December 2010.19 AFP, “Israel okays wave of new settlements after attack”, Agence France Press, 13 March 2011; Lazaroff, T., “Peace Now claims 295 homes begun in W. Bank since freeze. Group launches campaign to extend moratorium beyond September 26 expiration date”, The Jerusalem Post, 3 August

1.4

International trade of

settlement products

1.4.1 Export volumes

Settlement products find their way to international markets via Israel. They are transported by truck from the settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories to Israel. From there, they are exported by truck, boat or plane. As Israel considers the settlements to be part of Israel, the exports of settlement products are registered as Israeli exports and included in Israeli export statistics. While this report is not interested in Israeli exports by companies inside the Green Line, we will analyse total Israeli export statistics as these provide an indication of the destinations of the exports of settlement products.

The EU and Israel maintain a strong trading partnership. Israel ranks 25th on the list of major EU import partners, and 23rd on its list of export partners. For Israel, the EU is its most important trading partner, with a total trade volume amounting to approximately € 20.2 billion in 2009. The EU is Israel’s major source of imports and is the second largest market for exports after the United States (covering 29.3% and 32.9% of total Israeli exports respectively).20

Israeli exports to the EU had a total value of US$ 15.4 billion in 2009.21 Figure 2 provides an overview of Israeli exports by region and also shows that total Israeli exports have doubled in the past decade. These figures include exports of settlement products.

In Figure 2 we divided exports to Europe in exports to the main European countries - which are further explored in this report - and exports to other European countries. In 2009, the exports to the main European

2010; Salomon, G., “Roundup: Israel approves new West Bank construction following deadly attack”, Zinhua General News Service, 13 March 2011.20 European Commission, “Trade - Israel”, Website European Commission (www.ec.europa.eu), Viewed in May 201121 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

1 THE EU & ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

FIgURE 1. Settlements Established and Evacuated 1967 - 2008

SOURCE FMEP, “Maps”, Website Foundation of Middle East Peace (www.fmep.org), Viewed in May 2011.


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countries represented 22% of Israel’s total exports with a total value of US$ 10.4 billion.

Figure 3 provides a further break-down within this group of main European countries, showing that Belgium & Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany are the leading export destinations, followed by the UK, France and Italy.

The trade data summarized in Figure 2 and Figure 3 do include exports of settlement products, but the share of settlement products in export data is unclear. The ranking of main European export destinations of settlement products can therefore differ considerably from Figure 3. Israeli exports to Belgium for instance consist for 66% of diamonds, which do not originate in the settlements. As diamond exports to other European countries are much smaller, it is likely that Belgium is not the most important export destination for settlement products in Europe.

Exact figures on exports of settlement products are not available. The Israeli government estimated the total value of the settlements’ annual exports to Europe at about US$ 200 million in 2002, comprising mostly agricultural produce, cut flowers, textiles, cosmetics and wine. 22 With a total Israeli export to the EU of US$ 9.0 billion in 2002, this would equal about 2.2% of total Israeli exports to Europe that year.

In November 2004, the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor estimated that US$ 150 million worth of exports to the EU originated from the settlements in the occupied territories.23 According to this estimate, with a total Israeli export to the EU of US$ 13.0 billion in 2004, settlement products would account for about 1.1% of total Israeli exports to the EU.

22 Quakers in Britain, “Help end trade with Israeli settlements”, Website Quakers in Britain (www.quaker.org.uk), Viewed in May 2011.23 Manor, H., “EU approves Israeli proposal for exports from territories”, Globes (Available at www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=852851), 10 November 2004.

These estimates of the government however seem low. The website of Jordan Valley settlements for instance states that the value of agricultural production in the Jordan Valley is about NIS 500 million (US$ 130 million). The website also indicates that most of this production is exported.24 Considering that besides agricultural produce many other settlement products are exported, the total export value of settlement products would be much higher.

Other sources state that when the total settlement exports to Europe are adjusted to include exports wholly or partially produced in occupied territories, in 2002 they had a value of no less than US$ 2 billion, or 20 per cent of total Israeli exports to the EU.25 More recently, in 2009, the German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that one

24 Jordan Valley Settlements, “English”, Website Jordan Valley Settlements (www.jordanvalley.org.il/?categoryId=38842), Viewed in May 2011.25 Lagerquist, P., “On settlement trade, Europe doesn't stand tall”, MERIP, 8 April 2003.

third of Israeli exports to Europe are made in part or in full in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.26

The difference in the estimates of the Israeli government on the one side and other sources on the other, can most probably be explained by the fact that many Israeli companies have their headquarters within the legal borders of Israel while - some or all of - their production facilities are located in settlements. When these companies export settlements products, these products are labelled with the address of their headquarters. It has also been reported that some Israeli businesses falsify the production address on documentation or that they use the postal code of one of their sites located inside Israel as opposed to the actual production location code. A major Israeli business magazine has

26 Coren, O., “EU court: No customs breaks for Israeli goods from settlements” , Haaretz.com, 1 November 2009; Bloomberg BusinessWeek, “EU Eyes Exports from Israeli Settlements”, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 14 July 2009.


FIgURE 2. Israeli exports worldwide by region, 2000 – 2009 (US$ million)

FIgURE 3. Israeli exports to the main European countries in 2009 (value %)

SOURCE Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

SOURCE Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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published features advising companies how to do this in order to circumvent customs regulations.27

Because of these issues, it remains very difficult to estimate the real volume of settlement products exported to Europe.

1.4.2 Exports by air

Exports from Israel, including settlement products, are partially transported to Europe by cargo planes. Cargo Air Lines (C.A.L.) is one of the largest Israeli cargo air services, headquartered at the Ben Gurion Airport of Tel Aviv. C.A.L., founded in 1976, carries approximately 100,000 tons of cargo annually, exporting Israel fresh agricultural produce and industrial materials, and importing heavy machinery, automobiles, sensitive and sophisticated industrial equipment, livestock and hazardous materials from all over the world.28

C.A.L. is the owner and the main client of LACHS, the Liège Air Cargo Handling Service. LACHS was established in 1996 as an airfreight terminal which provides high quality ramp and cargo handling services to a variety of airlines carrying agricultural produce and general cargo. LACHS is located at the Liege Bierset Airport in Belgium. This strategic location enables LACHS’s customers to take advantage of the motorway and railway network that connects all of Europe’s major cities. LACHS has a fleet of refrigerated trucks and general cargo trucking transportation services at its disposal.29 For the company Agrexco, that imports flowers into Europe among others from the settlements, it is known that it uses LACHS and the airport of Liege (see paragraph 13.5).

The other large cargo service exporting from Israel is El Al Cargo, a subsidiary of El Al Israel Airlines. El Al Cargo is specialized in transporting dangerous materials, cargo of unusual dimensions, agricultural products and perishable goods and transport of animals. The airline has 40 direct destinations and over 200 continuation

27 Quakers in Britain, “Help end trade with Israeli settlements”, Website Quakers in Britain (www.quaker.org.uk), Viewed in May 2011.28 C.A.L., “About Cargo Air Lines”, Website C.A.L. (www.cal.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.29 C.A.L., “About Cargo Air Lines - LACHS Profile”, (www.cal.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.

destinations. In Europe it flies directly to, among others, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Zurich, Liège, London and Paris.30

1.4.3 Exports over sea

Transport over sea is the most important way to export goods, including settlement products, from Israel to Europe. The most important harbours in Israel from where goods are transported internationally are Haifa and Ashdod.31

One of the few companies that provides detailed information about its transportation process, Agrexco, for example transports its vegetables and fruits mainly by boat to Europe. In 2004 Agrexco and the Danish freight transport company Maersk Sealand established a regular freight service across the Mediterranean Sea, for containers and refrigerated goods. Two ships, the Carmel Ecofresh and the Carmel Biotop, maintain a weekly service, following the route Ashdod - Marseille (France) - Valencia (Spain) - Genua (Italy) - Haifa - Ashdod. Agrexco carries its own produce on the ships, including settlement products. Maersk transport products from other Israeli exporters on the ships, possibly including settlement products as well.32

Based on shipping information on exports of settlement products to the United States, the following shipping companies are most likely also involved in shipping of these goods from Israel to Europe, next to Maersk:33

Hapag-Lloyd Germany•K Line South Korea•MSC Switzerland•ZIM Israel•

The Israeli company Associated Maritime Agencies (AMA) is the commercial and operational manager of the shipping service of Agrexco in all ports of call.34 In

30 El Al Cargo, “Profile”, Website El Al Cargo (www.elal.co.il)31 Panjiva, “Exports from settlements to the US”, Website Panjiva, Downloaded in April 2011.32 Veintepies, “Agrexco y Maersk establecen servicio conjunto desde Valencia a Israel”, Veintepies.com, 2 March 2004.33 Panjiva, “Exports from settlements to the US”, Website Panjiva, Downloaded in April 2011.34 AMA, “Representation”, Website AMA (www.ama.co.il/aassociates/

Marseille (France) Agrexco has a “state-of-the-art terminal”, where products are stored and then distributed throughout the European continent and the U.K.35 Since October 2010, Agrexco also ships produce to the port of Sète in the south of France once a week.36

European ports are also used for transhipment of settlement products going to the United States. Mainly the ports of Valencia in Spain; Gioia Tauro, Taranto and Cagliari in Italy; and Le Havre in France are used.37

1.5

EU policies on settlements

and settlement products

1.5.1 EU position on the settlements

In December 2008 the EU confirmed its deep concern about the accelerated settlement expansion. According to the EU, this expansion prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and threatens the viability of an agreed two-state solution. The EU considers that settlement building anywhere in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law.38 The European Union urges the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities and calls for the urgent resumption of negotiations that will lead, within an agreed time-frame, to a two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.39

c1608.php), Viewed in March 2011.35 Agrexco, “Logistics”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.36 Coalition contre Agrexco, “Une procédure judiciaire révèle les violations du droit et la fraude commises par la société Agrexco-Carmel”, Press release of the Coalition contre Agrexco, 18 February 2011.37 Panjiva, “Exports from settlements to the US”, Website Panjiva, Downloaded in April 2011.38 European Union, “EU positions on the Middle East peace process”, Website European Union (www.eeas.europa.eu), Viewed in May 2011.39 Council of the European Union, “Declaration by the Presidency on

Resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict with a two-state solution is a strategic priority for Europe. To that end, the EU undertakes a range of activities – both political and practical – and is the largest donor to Palestinian state-building efforts. In June 2010 the Foreign Affairs Council called for an urgent and fundamental change of Israeli policy and repeated an earlier call for the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings so as to allow a flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons.40

1.5.2 EU policy on settlement products

The legal basis for the EU’s relations with Israel is the EU-Israel Association Agreement which was signed in 1995 and came into force in June 2000. The main features of the EU-Israel Association Agreement include provisions on a regular political dialogue, on freedom of establishment and liberalisation of services, the free movement of capital and competition rules, the strengthening of economic cooperation and cooperation on social matters. It also reinforces the arrangements for free trade in industrial products which had been in force since the late 1970s.41

As part of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the European Union has a preferential trade agreement with Israel. This means that Israeli products enjoy a reduced import tarriff when they are imported into the EU.42 Import tarriffs for EU imports from other countries differ per product category, making it difficult to assess the exact advantages of the preferential trade agreement for Israeli exporters.

behalf of the European Union on Israeli decision regarding settlements”, Council of the European Union, 18 December 2009.40 European Union, “The EU and the Middle East Peace Process”, Website European Union (www.eeas.europa.eu), Viewed in May 2011.41 Delegation of the European Union to Israel, “Israel & the EU”, Website Delegation of the European Union to Israel (www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/israel/index_en.htm), Viewed in May 2011.42 European Union, “Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the State of Israel, of the other part”, Official Journal of the European Communities , 21 June 2000 (available at: eeas.europa.eu/delegations/israel/documents/eu_israel/asso_agree_en.pdf)..



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As explained in paragraph 1.5.1, the European Union urges the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities. The consequence the EU has drawn from this policy stance is not that products produced in the settlements are banned from being imported into the EU. Rather, the EU has taken the position thatthe trade agreement between the EU and Israel, including the preferential treatment of imports, should not apply to products produced in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. Products originating from the Israeli settlements in the West-Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.43

However, in practice it is likely that some settlement products are breaking these rules by being declared as of Israeli, rather than settlement, origin. It appears that it is difficult to identify whether products marked as Israeli had been produced in Israel proper, or whether they originated in settlements. Therefore, in 2005 the EU instigated a “technical arrangement” whereby Israeli exporters have to provide proof of the precise place of production of their goods together with its postal code, in order to claim trade benefits under the preferential trade agreement. It is the responsibility of EU member states to police this system in order to ensure that the products coming into their jurisdiction which claim to be of Israeli origin are not in fact settlement products”.44

A problem arose regarding the implementation of this arrangement because a practice developed, particularly in relation to agricultural products, where a head office address inside Israel proper was used as the proof of origin on customs declarations, while a different statement of origin appeared on the product itself. In the UK for example, packets of herbs at point of sale were labelled as originating in the West Bank while the customs declaration stated a place of origin and postal code

43 European Commission, “Trade - Occupied Palestinian Territory”, Website European Commission (www.ec.europa.eu), Viewed in May 2011.44 Quakers in Britain, “Help end trade with Israeli settlements”, Website Quakers in Britain (www.quaker.org.uk), Viewed in May 2011; Reuters, “EU, Israel resolve trade dispute over settlements”, Reuters, 5 August 2004; Fruitnet, “Brussels Israel and EU begin new goods origin policy”, Fruitnet.com, 2 February 2005.

inside Israel, namely that of the head office of the exporter. In the UK, customs authorities sought to address this problem by making the importer responsible for verifying that products meet the qualifying conditions for preferential treatment.45

In 2010, in the Netherlands, checks have been executed at border post as a result of parliamentary questions raised by a Dutch MP (van Bommel; SP) concerning imports of Ahava products. These checks showed that the ‘postal code system’ is complied with correctly. If companies exporting from Israel provided a postal code which corresponds to an Israeli settlement in the occupied territories, no preferential tariff treatment is given. If the postal code provided is correct, was not checked. According to the then Dutch state secretary of Economy, Frans Heemskerk, these results were sufficient and no further checks were necessary to account for possible mistakes.46

On 25 February 2010, the European Court of Justice confirmed the legitimacy of the EU policy regarding settlement products in a court case between the German customs authorities and the company Brita, which imports goods supplied by Soda-Club. Brita contested the decision of the German customs authority, which refused to grant the Soda-Club products preferential tariff treatment. The court ruled that the German custom authorities were right in refusing the preferential treatment and that this can be done either for products made by companies established in the settlements or products that are merely manufactured in the settlements by companies which have their headquarters elsewhere.47

Even though European custom controls have to be able to check the origin on products imported from Israel, there is no requirement for settlement products being sold in the EU to be labelled as such. Where

45 See, Customs Information Paper (08)43, available at customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_PROD1_028744 (last viewed June 2011)46 Ministerie van Economische Zaken, “Invoer van cosmeticaproducten uit Israël/Bezette Gebieden”, Ministerie van Economische Zaken, 1 February 2010.47 Court of Justice of the European Union “Press release No 14/10: Products originating in the West Bank do not qualify for preferential customs treatment under the EC-Israel Agreement”, Court of Justice of the European Union, 25 February 2010.

they knowingly sell settlement products, many European retailers now label them as being from the ‘West Bank’. However, many campaigners feel that this is insufficient to enable consumers to tell whether they are buying from settlements or from Palestinian enterprises and that settlement goods should be clearly labelled as such. 48

In the UK, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in December 2009 set a precedent by issuing guidance suggesting that fruit and vegetable imports from the West Bank should be labelled either as “Israeli settlement produce” or as “Palestinian produce”49 (see also paragraph 12.2).

1.5.3 Israeli response to the EU policy

Because of the EU technical agreement excluded settlement products from the preferential treatment regime, the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor estimated in 2004 that Israeli exporters would lose an estimated US$ 8 million in customs duties (over US$ 150 million in Israeli exports originating from the settlements). As a result, in 2004, the Ministry formulated a proposal to insure the exporters for this loss. According to the Israeli newspaper Globes the government-owned Inbal Insurance Company, which insures special risks, would manage the compensation. Inbal Insurance would absorb the cost of EU customs on Israeli goods originating in the occupied territories, while the exporters would pay only a token insurance charge.50 We could

48 Quaker Peace and Social Witness, “Settlement products – the issues and advocacy messages in relation to the European Union”, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, April 2009; DEFRA, “Technical advice: labelling of produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”, DEFRA (Available at archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/odf/labelling-palestine.pdf), 10 December 2009; Hansard, “House of Commons Written Answers. 24 May 2011: Column 548W, Origin Marking: Israel”, Website Hansard Daily (www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110524/text/110524w0002.htm#11052480009895), 24 May 2011. 49 DEFRA, “Technical advice: labelling of produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”, DEFRA (Available at archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/odf/labelling-palestine.pdf), 10 December 2009.50 Manor, H., “EU approves Israeli proposal for exports from territories”, Globes, Tel Aviv, 10 November 2004.

not find a confirmation in public sources that this insurance scheme has actually been implemented.

It seems that instead, the Israeli government has set up a compensation scheme to assist companies who have lost out as a result of more stringent application of the EU-Israel preferential trade agreement.51 This means that those companies can continue to export to the European Union more or less in the same way as if they continue to receive preferential tariff treatment. It is unclear as to whether this Israeli compensation scheme is actually permissible under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. This has not been tested at the WTO dispute resolution panel.52

51 Lendman, S., “Israeli Banks Profiteering From Occupation”, 11 August 2010, Rense.com (available at www.rense.com/general92/bnk.htm).52 Quaker Peace and Social Witness, “Settlement products – the issues and advocacy messages in relation to the European Union”, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, April 2009.



C h a p t e r 2

R E L A T I O N S H I P S WITH BELGIUM


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2R E L A T I O N S H I P S

W I T H B E L G I U M

2.1

Economic and political

relationships

Ever since the creation of the State of Israel, relations between Belgium and Israel have, in general, been good and friendly. The most illustrious Belgian friend of Israel was Queen Elizabeth, the grandmother of the present King. In February 2010 a plaque in the memory of King Albert I, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, was unveiled at the Albert Square in Tel Aviv in the presence of the mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Ron Huldai, and Ambassador Bénédicte Frankinet. King Albert I had visited Tel Aviv in 1933 and was hosted by Meir Dizengoff. These visits were followed by many others over the years, Belgian ministers coming on official visits to Israel and their Israeli counterparts being welcomed in Belgium.53

Many cultural, scientific and economic bilateral agreements have been signed over the years between the two countries. Several Belgium-Israel friendship associations organize activities in both countries to promote and strengthen bilateral relations. Each year, a certain amount of scholarships are granted to Israeli students to study in Belgian universities and Belgian students come each year to study in Israel thanks to scholarships offered by Israel. 54

Belgium is one of Israel’s most important commercial partners (due largely to the diamond sector) and a great number of Israeli companies have their European headquarters in Belgium.55

Belgian policy with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict follows that of the

53 Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv, “Diplomatic relations”, Website Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv (www.diplomatie.be/telaviv), Viewed in April 2011.54 Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv, “Diplomatic relations”, Website Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv (www.diplomatie.be/telaviv), Viewed in April 2011.55 Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv, “Diplomatic relations”, Website Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv (www.diplomatie.be/telaviv), Viewed in April 2011.

European Union. Like all other EU countries, Belgium is committed to a negotiated two-states solution agreed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority which would result in a viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent Palestinian State existing side by side with Israel living within recognized and secure borders.56

In May 2010 the Belgium minister of foreign affairs, Steven Vanackere, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. With the MoU both parties commit themselves to meet at least once a year. The Palestinian minister of foreign affairs, Riyad al-Maliki, expressed his hopes that Belgium can help Palestine to become an independent state. Palestine does not have an embassy in Belgium. Maliki expressed his hope that the MoU would have a positive effect on the representation of Palestine in Belgium.57

2.1.1 trade and economic agreements

Since 1952 Belgium and Israel have signed 12 bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:58

Agreement between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of the State of Belgium For Air Services between and beyond their Respective Territories signed in 1952;Agreement on Co-Production of Films •signed in 1971;Convention between the State of Israel •and the Kingdom of Belgium for the

56 Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv, “Diplomatic relations”, Website Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv (www.diplomatie.be/telaviv), Viewed in April 2011.57 De Morgen, “België tekent Memorandum of Understanding met Palestijnen”, De Morgen, 17 May 2010.58 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in May 2011.

Avoidance Of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital signed in 1972;Agreement between the Government •of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Government of the State Of Israel Regarding International Transportation of Goods on Roads signed in 1975;Agreement between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of Flanders on Cooperation in the Field of Research and Development in Industry signed in 2000.

2.1.2 Position on settlements

Civil society protest against the settlements is large in Belgium. In February 2011 for example, Belgium peace activists blocked gates at the airport of Liège to prevent imports from the company Agrexco as long as it cannot guarantee that the goods are not produced in the settlements.59

In the same month, the municipality of Leuven, one of the shareholders of Dexia, adopted an amendment in which it denounces the financing of the construction of illegal settlements in the occupied territories by the Belgium bank Dexia. The adopted motion is a reaction of the municipality of Leuven, to protests of the international solidarity movement Intal. Forty other Belgium municipalities did the same.60

Belgium’s prime minister, Yves Leterme, and Belgium’s minister of foreign affairs, Steven Vanackere, consider the expansion of the settlements illegal and urge the Israeli government to revise its policy. Like most European countries, Belgium sees the settlement expansion as a threat to peace in the region and to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestine Authority.61

59 De Morgen, “Vredesactivisten blokkeren toegangspoorten van Agrexco op Luikse luchthaven”, De Morgen, 11 February 2011.60 De Morgen, “Leuven tegen Dexia-financiering bouw nederzettingen in Israël”, De Morgen, 28 February 2011.61 HBVL, “Leterme hekelt nederzettingsactiviteiten Israël”, HBVL, 18 November 2009; Steven Vanackere, “Berichten - 9 november 2010 1300 nieuwe woningen in Oost-Jeruzalem´, Website Steven Vanackere (www.stevenvanackere.be), Viewed in May 2011.

2.2

Trade volumes and quantities

No reliable statistics exist on trade between Belgium and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Belgium, and Luxembourg as well, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Belgium.

The trade balance between Belgium and Israel has a slight surplus in favour of Belgium. Belgian imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 4.6 billion in 2008 and then sharply declined to US$ 2.3 billion in 2009 (see Figure 4). Together, Belgium and Luxembourg still are Israel’s largest export market within the European Union, accounting for 5.0% of its exports in 2009.62 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Belgian exports to Israel are slightly higher and peaked at US$ 4.4 billion in 2008, but dropped to US$ 2.6 billion in 2009. In 2009 Belgium was Israel’s third largest European supplier, accounting for 6.0% of Israel’s total imports. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.63 Recent data show that during 2010, the trade between Israel and Belgium (export and import) went up by approximately 50%, compared with the same period the year before. 64

Figure 5 gives an overview of Belgian imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories. The chart indicates that the most important Belgian imports from Israel are diamonds (rough and polished).

Hidden in these statistics on trading relationships between Belgium and Israel

62 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.63 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.64 Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv, “Trade and economic relations”, Website Embassy of Belgium Tel Aviv (www.diplomatie.be/telaviv), Viewed in April 2011.


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are the trading relationships between Belgian companies and companies active in Israeli settlements. How many Belgian companies have trading relationships with companies active in the Israeli settlements, and precisely how important these trading relationships are in financial terms, is difficult to assess. As we have not found companies in the diamonds sector that are located in Israeli settlements established in occupied Palestinian territories, one could argue that at least 66% of Belgian imports do not come from settlements. However, as the following paragraphs demonstrate, various trading links do exist between Belgian companies and Israeli companies active in the remaining product categories mentioned in Figure 5 above.

2.3

Exports by settlement

companies to Belgium

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Belgium. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

2.3.1 Abadi Bakery

Abadi Bakery is a producer of cookies and cakes, whose factory is located in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.1). Products of Abadi Bakery are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:65

Grosz CenterJacob Jordaensstraat 642018 AntwerpBelgiumTel: +32 (0)3 218 66 31Website: www.groszcenter.be

2.3.2 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand

65 Grosz Center, “Abadi”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=abadi), Viewed in April 2011.

(see paragraph 13.2). Achva products can be bought in Belgium at Grosz Center in Antwerp. Customers can also order their products online. The company delivers throughout Europe.66


2.3.3 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco transports flowers and some fruits by 747 airplanes to Liege (Belgium), where Agrexco has a terminal. From there they are further distributed to other European countries, including the UK. The terminal is operated by Liège Air Cargo Handling Services (LACHS), a subsidiary of Agrexco and the Israeli airline company Cargo Air Line (CAL): 67

LACHS S.A.Liège Airport Hall Fret 2 4460 Grace-Hollogne Belgium Tel: +32 (0)4 234 73 71Fax: +32 (0)4 234 45 30E-mail: [email protected]

2.3.4 Arava Export growers

Arava Export Growers sources agricultural produce, such as tomatoes and herbs, from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.7). The Belgian importer Starfruit specialises in trade of tropical fruits, including the brand Arava:68

66 Grosz Center, “Achva”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=achva), Viewed in April 2011.67 Agrexco, “Logistics”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011; LACHS, “Home”, Website LACHS (www.lachs.be), Viewed in April 2011; LIGA voor Mensenrechten, “Liga – nieuwsbrief april 2011 , Liga voor Mensenrechten, April 2011; Vredesactie, “Achtergrondinformatie – Internationaal verzet tegen Agrexco groeit”, Website Vredesactie (www.vredesactie.be), Viewed in April 2011. 68 Trends Top, “Startfruit Company”, Website Trends Top (trendstop.rnews.be), Viewed in April 2011.

2 RELATIONSHIPSWITHBELGIUM

FIgURE 4. Belgium & Luxembourg imports from Israel and Belgium & Luxembourg exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 5. Belgian imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)

SOURCE : Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

SOURCE : Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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StarfruitWerkhuizenkaai 1121000 BrusselsBelgiumTel: +32 (0)2 242 08 76E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.star-fruit.eu

If these fruits originate from the occupied Jordan Valley could not be confirmed.

2.3.5 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Belgium by: 69

KrefelTel: +32 (0)2 255 00 00Website: www.krefel.be

PardaenTel: +32 (0)2 2511385Website: www.pardaen.be

Photo Hall: www.photohall.be

TridisKoeweidestraat 46 1785 MerchtemTel: +32 52 22 52 25Website: www.tridis.be

2.3.6 Barkan wine Cellars

One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in Belgium by:70

Tresor Vestingstraat 48 2018 AntwerpBelgiumTel: +32 (0)3 226 66 27 / +31 (0)3 231 86 26E-mail: [email protected]

69 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.70 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

Barkan wines are also sold in Belgium by the following webshop:71

Kosher-wine.eu: www.kosher-wine.eu

2.3.7 Beigel & Beigel Food

Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). Beigel & Beigel pretzels are sold in Belgium by: 72


The KosherDiscount.eu Online Grocery Store delivers Beigel & Beigel pretzels and other products throughout Belgium and other European countries and is operated by:73

Kosher DiscountHoek 117B-2190 BoomBelgiumE-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kosherdiscount.eu

2.3.8 Carmel Carpets

Carmel Carpets manufactures carpets in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.12). In 2007, the Park Plaza Astrid Antwerp hotel was totally renovated. The Israeli architect Buki Zuker redecorated the rooms and public rooms. The carpets were supplied by Carmel Carpets.74

2.3.9 Dead sea laboratories

Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand

71 Kosher-wine.eu, “Barkan”, Website Kosher-wine.eu (www.kosher-wine.eu/catalogsearch/result/?q=barkan), Viewed in May 2011.72 Grosz Center, “Beigel & Beigel”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=beigel), Viewed in April 2011.73 KosherDiscount, “Terms & Conditions” and “Snack”, Kosherdiscount.eu, Viewed in April 2011.74 Author unknown, “Nieuwe wind waait doorheen Park Plaza Astrid Antwerp”, Decostyle, September 2007.

name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories has a branch office in Belgium: S.I.M. BVBA. The website of this company also shows the companies’ selling points throughout the country: 75

S.I.M. BVBAHaachtsesteenweg 378B-1910 Kampenhout BelgiumTel: +32 (0)1 665 90 82/3/4Fax: +32 (0)1 665 90 85E-mail: [email protected]: www.ahava.be

2.3.10 Distek

DiSTeK develops and manufactures zinc coating technologies for protection of metal parts in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.15). The company claims to be active in Belgium. According to the website of DiSTeK, Distek-Victocor Ltd is DiSTeK’s applicator in Belgium. 76

Distek-Victocor S.A.Kouterveldstraat 10 77

1831 Machelen BelgiumTel: +32 (0)2 556 37 40Fax:+32 (0)2 556 37 41

In the Benelux countries the technology is registered under the trademark Victocor. 78

2.3.11 Familia sweet

Familia Sweet manufactures sweets, sold under the Oneg brandname, in the Mishor Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.18). Oneg sweets produced by Familia Sweet are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:79

75 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011.76 DiSTek, “Clients”, Website DiSTek (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in March 2011.77 Cylex, “DISTEK_VICTOCOR”, Website Cylex (www.cylex-bedrijvengids.be), Viewed in July 2011; Infobel, “Distek-Victocor”, Website Infobel (www.infobel.com), Viewed in July 2011.78 DiSTeK, “Standard & Tests”, Website DiSTeK (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in July 2011.79 Grosz Center, “Oneg”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=oneg), Viewed in April 2011.


2.3.12 Fermentek

Fermentek manufactures bioactive compounds in a factory in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.19). Chemicals of the company Fermentek were used by the University of Gent and Hogeschool Gent for a research project about masked mycotoxins. A report by the research group states that large quantities of ZEN (Zearalenone) were bought for an experiment. 80 For another experiment, the University of Gent bought Mycofenolzuur (MPA) at Fermentek.81

2.3.13 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Belgium.82 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

2.3.14 keter Plastic

Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (outdoor storage) are sold in Belgium by: 83

80 Begeleidingscomité, “Verslag Begeleidingscomité MYCOMASK RT 09/3. Beoordeling van de risico’s van voedingsmiddelen die gemaskeerde Fusarium toxinen bevatten”, Project MYCOMASK RT 09/3 , 24 February 2011.81 Braeckman, B., “Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Voor De Extractie Van Patuline Uit Appelsap En Mycofenolzuur Uit Maïs”, Faculteit Farmaceutische Wetenschappen, Universiteit Gent, 21 May 2010.82 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.83 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in May 2011.



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Brico: www.brico.be Gamma: www.gamma Hubo: www.hubo.be Neckermann: www.neckerman.comPlan-It: www.plan-it.be

As Keter Plastic and the other companies within Keter Group together have many production facilities, it is not entirely clear from which Keter Plastic plants these products originate but it is possible that they come from one of the factories located in the occupied West Bank.

2.3.15 Maya spice of life - Jerusalem

Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem manufactures, packs and markets quality foods in the Mishor Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.25). Products of Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:84


2.3.16 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock’s branch in Belgium is:85

Mul-T-Lock BelgiumHeide 91780 WemmelBelgiumTel: +32 (0)2 247 79 13Website: www.mul-t-lock-be.com

2.3.17 shemesh spices

Shemesh Spices produces spices and sauces in the settlement Karnei Shomron

84 Grosz Center, “Maya”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=maya), Viewed in April 2011.85 Mul-T-Lock, “Group Companies – Mul-T-Lock Belgium”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in May 2011.

(see paragraph 13.35). Products of Shemesh Spices are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:86


2.3.18 shor Family wineries

Three wineries owned by the Israeli Shor family are located in the Mishor Adumim settlement: Arza Winery, Zion Fine Wines and Hacormim Vineyard (see paragraph 13.36). Zion wines are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp: 87


Zion wines are also sold in Belgium by the following webshop:88


2.3.19 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Belgium.89 Its subsidiary for Belgium is located in the Netherlands:90

SodaStream International BV Minervum 7334

86 Grosz Center, “Shemesh Spices”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=shemesh), Viewed in April 2011.87 Grosz Center, “Zion Wines”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=zion), Viewed in April 2011.88 Kosher-wine.eu, “Zion”, Website Kosher-wine.eu (www.kosher-wine.eu/catalogsearch/result/?q=zion), Viewed in May 2011.89 Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.90 SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.

4817 ZD BredaThe NetherlandsTel: +31(0)800 74807 / +31 (0)7 65 44 42 22Fax: +31 (0)7 65 41 19 60E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.be

2.3.20 teperberg 1870 winery

Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). The distributor of Teperberg wines in Belgium is:91

Belgo Israel HouseVan Leriusstraat 1 2018 AntwerpBelgiumTel: +32 (0)3 232 25 63

Teperberg Merlot is sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:92


Teperberg wines are also sold in Belgium by the following webshop:93


2.3.21 tishbi Estate winery

Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s distributor in Belgium is:94

Les Clos de Françoise302, rue des Closières B-6001 MarcinelleTel: +32 (0)4 95 74 33 08 Fax: +32 (0)4 71 47 08 47

91 Personal communication with Teperberg, 27 April 2011.92 Grosz Center, “Teperberg”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=teperberg), Viewed in April 2011.93 Kosher-wine.eu, “Teperberg”, Website Kosher-wine.eu (www.kosher-wine.eu/catalogsearch/result/?q=teperberg), Viewed in May 2011.94 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com ), Viewed in April 2011.

Wines of Tishbi Estate Winery are sold in Belgium by Grosz Center in Antwerp:95


2.3.22 yardeni locks holdings

Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). Stevens J. & Cie imports Yardeni locks into Belgium and exports to Africa:96

Stevens J. & Cie Sprl Quai au Foin 59-651000 BrusselsBelgium Tel: +32 (0)2 217 61 97

2.4

Investments in

settlement companies

This section describes investments in settlement companies by Belgian companies or financial institutions via loans, share ownership or otherwise.

2.4.1 Dexia

Dexia Israel Bank is a subsidiary of the Belgian bank Dexia, and has granted loans to Israeli settlements between 2003 and 2007. Subsequent to a months-long campaign of Belgian NGOs, political parties and trade unions to halt the financing of settlements being constructed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, Dexia announced in 2009 that it will no longer finance Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories through Dexia

95 Grosz Center, “Tishbi”, Website Grosz Center (www.groszcenter.be/en/browseprods.aspx?Type=Search&Term=tishbi), Viewed in April 2011.96 Kompass, “Stevens J. & Cie Sprl”, Website Kompass (available at be.kompass.com/profile_BE0036917_nl/stevens-j.-+-cie-sprl-ps.html), Viewed in April 2011.



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Israel. Dexia felt that it could continue to provide loans to the municipalities in East Jerusalem as Jerusalem “is not contested territory”, although this is an occupied area belonging to the West Bank.97 For this reason, Dutch Triodos Bank has excluded Dexia from its investment universe.98

In April 2011, Dexia Group gave a mandate to the Rothschild merchant bank to find a buyer for its Israeli subsidiary. The Global BDS movement calls on all organisations to maintain the pressure on Dexia and help them to make the right decision. The movement plans to go to the General Meeting of Dexia in May 2011 and invites other organisations to join them.99

2.5

Other trade links

2.5.1 Bekaert

Rue de Cornemont 9/11BE-4141 SprimontBelgiumTel: +32 4 360 94 65Fax: +32 4 360 94 77

The Belgian company Bekaert is a global market leader in drawn steel wire products and applications and a technological leader in its two core competences: advanced metal transformation and advanced materials and coatings. The company supplied polymer filtration elements and systems to Avgol, an Israeli producer of non-woven products.100 The factory of Avgol is located in Barkan, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.

97 Lauwens, M., “Dexia Israel stops financing Israeli settlements”, Ma’an News Agency, 10 June 2009.98 Triodos Bank, “Dexia excluded for involvement in Israel”, Triodos Bank, 8 March 2011.99 BDS, “Dexia looking for buyer for its Israeli subsidiary”, Website BDS Movement (www.bdsmovement.net), Viewed in April 2011. 100 Bekaert, “Some of our main customers around the world”, Bekaert Advanced Filtration, February 2007.

2.6

Summary

A total of 22 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Belgium were identified (see Table 2 on the following page). For four of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries.


tABlE 2.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Belgium

EXPORTER PRODUCTS BELGIAN SUBSIDIARY BELGIAN IMPORTER / RETAILER

Abadi Bakery Bakery products Grosz Center Antwerp

Achdut Sesame products Grosz Center Antwerp

Agrexco Fruit & Vegetables

Liège Air Cargo Handling Services (LACHS)

Arava Export Growers

Fruit & Vegetables Starfruit (importer)

Barkan Mounts Consumer electronics

Krefel, Pardaen, Phothall, Tridis

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Tresor, Kosher-wine.eu

Beigel & Beigel Food Bakery products Grosz Center Antwerp,

Kosher Discount

Carmel Carpets Carpets Park Plaza Astrid Antwerp (customer)

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products S.I.M.

DiSTeK Zinc coating technologies Distek-Victocor

Familia Sweet Sweets Grosz Center Antwerp

Fermentek Bioactive compounds.

University of Gent, Hogeschool Gent (customers)

Hadiklaim Dates no further details could be found

Keter Group Plastic household products

Brico, Gamma, Hubo, Neckermann, Plan-It

Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem Herbs and spices Grosz Center Antwerp

Mul-T-Lock Locks Mul-T-Lock Belgium

Shemesh Spices Spices and sauces Grosz Center Antwerp

Shor Family Wineries Wines Grosz Center Antwerp,

Kosher-wine.eu

SodaStreamCarbonating devices and syrups

SodaStream International

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines

Belgo Israel House (distributor), Grosz Center Antwerp, Kosher-wine.eu

Tishbi Estate Winery Wines

Les Clos de Françoise (distributor), Grosz Center Antwerp

Yardeni Locks Holdings Locks Stevens J. & Cie


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Apart from the Belgian companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found two other Belgian companies with trade or investment links with Israeli settlements.

C h a p t e r 3

R E L A T I O N S H I P S WITH DENMARK


tABlE 3.Other Belgian business links with Israeli settlements

BELGIAN COMPANY

TYPE OF COMPANY LINK WITH ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

Dexia Financial institution

Dexia's subsidiary Dexia Israel Bank granted loans to Israeli settlements.

Bekaert Technology company

Supply of polymer filtration elements and systems to Avgol.


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3.1

Diplomatic and economic

relationships

Relations between Denmark and Israel have always been friendly. Denmark has usually supported Israel in the United Nations and trade relations have strengthened in the past years. In Jerusalem, a monument to the rescue of Danish Jews was erected on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the operation. Also a school in Israel is named in Denmark’s honour. King Christian X hospital in Eitonim is named after Denmark’s king during World War II.101

Denmark has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Its trade matters are organized in the Regional office of the Trade Council of Denmark in South East Europe. This office is providing Danish companies with a single point of entry to business solutions to Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and Israel. It is located in Istanbul, Turkey.

Activities in Israel are concentrated on the ICT sector. Though small in size the Israeli ICT market is highly interesting for Danish ICT companies of all sizes wishing to establish strategic or technology partnerships.102

101 Jewish Virtual Library, “The virtual Jewsih history tour – Denmark”, Website Jewish Virtual Library (www. jewishvirtuallibrary.org), Viewed in May 2011.102 Embassy of Denmark Tel Aviv, “Regional Corporation”, Website Embassy of Denmark Tel Aviv (www.ambtelaviv.um.dk), Viewed in May 2011.


W I T H D E N M A R K

3.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1966 Israel and Denmark have signed eight bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:103

Convention between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect of Taxes on Income and Capital, signed in 1966;Agreement relating to Air Services + •Exchange of Letters between Israel and the Kingdom of Denmark, signed in 1977.

3.3

Position on the settlements

Denmark’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Lene Espersen, denounced Israel’s construction of additional dwellings and its blockade of Gaza in March 2010.104 She made clear several times that according to Demark the decision of Israel to allow construction of additional housing in the settlements impede the resumption of peace negotiations.105 In a press release

103 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.104 Anti-Tortur Bloggen, “Lad international ret være fundament for varig fred i Mellemøsten”, Website Anti-Tortur Bloggen (www.rctblog.dk), Viewed in May 2011.105 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, “Udenrigsminister Lene Espersen Fordømmer Drabene På Israelsk Familie”, Website Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (www.um.dk), Viewed in May 2011.

she stated in March 2010 that “Denmark’s position on settlements is clear: They are illegal under international humanitarian law and constitute an obstacle to peace”.106 In a reaction to a report of the Danish NGO Dan Watch that provided evidence that the Danish-British company G4S has supplied technology to checkpoints and Israeli prisons and has armed guards in the settlements Espersen said: “I strongly urge companies not to implement activities that risk sustaining illegal settlements”.107

The previous prime minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, also strongly criticised the settlements. When he met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem in May 2008 he stressed that “Israel must stop building new settlements and expanding old settlements on Palestinian land, thus undermining the peace process”.108 From his successor, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, no strong statements about the issue have been recorded since he took office in April 2009.

3.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Denmark and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Denmark we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Denmark.

Danish imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 167 million in 2008 and declined to US$ 136.2 million in 2009 (see Figure 6 on following page). With less than 1% of Israel’s exports in 2009, Denmark is a small export destination for Israel.109 As no distinction is made in these statistics

106 Dan Watch, “G4S tilbage i ulovlige israelske bosættelser”, Press release Dan Watch, 20 November 2010.107 Dan Watch, “Skarp reaktion fra Lene E. efter G4S afsløring”, Press release Dan Watch, 26 November 2010.108 Kristeligt Dagblad, “Fogh kritiserer israelske bosættelser”, Kristeligt Dagblad, 29 May 2008.109 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Danish exports to Israel are slightly higher and peaked at US$ 215.4 million in 2008, but dropped to US$ 200.8 million in 2009. Denmark also accounts for less than 1.0% of Israel’s total imports. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.110

Figure 7 gives an overview of Danish imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.

As Figure 7 shows, the most important Danish imports from Israel consist of telecommunication equipment (35%) and other electrical machinery (15%). Two other large categories are food and ingredients for the food industry and chemicals.

3.5


companies to Denmark

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Denmark. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

3.5.1 AdaFresh

AdaFresh is an exporter of (organic) agricultural products from settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.3). In February 2011, DanWatch reported that herbs, dates and vegetables in Danish supermarkets often come from settlements in the West Bank although packaging say it is produced in Israel. A survey in the ‘Grønttorvet’ (vegetable grocery in Copenhagen) reveals that AdaFresh marjoram and basil are marked

110 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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‘Made in Israel’, while the Yinon Rosenblum production site is located in Naáma, a settlement in the Jordan Valley.111

The importer Amager Krydderuter ApS delivers to Inco, A & C Catering and other caterers. A&C Catering supplies herbs to a range of restaurants and hotels such as Radisson hotels, restaurant Sofienholm and restaurant Rungstedgaard.112

3.5.2 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5).DanWatch found orange peppers from Carmel Agrexco in supermarket Føtex, labelled with a producer from the Tomer settlement. They were supplied through a Dutch company, which was dropped as a supplier by Danish Supermarket, the parent company of Føtex. The incident will have no implications for Agrexco itself. Agrexco products are further sold in stores of the COOP supermarkets Irma and Fakta. 113

3.5.3 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Denmark by: 114

Bauhaus: www.bauhaus.dk

Hinke 2009 A/STingbjergvej 2Bjaerskov DK-4632Tel: +45 (0)3 187 04 22E-mail: [email protected]

111 Isherwood, J., “Produced in Israel is produced in West Bank”, Forsiden, 7 February 2011.112 DanWatch, “Settlement products end up in Danish supermarkets and restaurants”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011; DanWatch, “Your dates could be grown on occupied land”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011.113 DanWatch, “Føtex chain sells settlement peppers”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011.114 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com/index.aspx?id=2939), Viewed in April 2011.


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in Denmark by:115

Duki Kosher Roerholmsgate 9CopenhagenDenmarkTel: +45 (0)3 314 00 77Fax: +45 (0)3 314 82 77

Copenhagen Kosher Lyngbyvej 87CopenhagenDenmarkTel: +45 (0)3 918 57 77Fax: +45 (0)3 918 53 90E-mail: [email protected]


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Ahava products are sold online by the following cosmetics stores based in Denmark:

EssentialMallDK: www.essetialmall.dk 116

Vivamondo: www.vivamondo.dkThis company was founded in Sweden, but has a branch in Denmark, and delivers cosmetics worldwide.117

Zymbiose: www.skincare-online.dk 118

115 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barken-wineries.com), Viewed in April 2011.116 EssentialMall, “Hair care. Ahava”, Website EssentialMall (www.essentialmall.dk/productsbybrand.aspx?id=52&brand=Ahava), Viewed in July 2011.117 Viavamondo, “Om Vivamondo” and “Home”, Website Vivamondo (www.vivamondo.dk), Viewed in April 2011. 118 Zymbiose, “Home”, Website SkincareOnline (www.skincareonline.dk), Viewed in April 2011.

3 RELATIONSHIPSWITHDENMARK

FIgURE 6. Denmark imports from Israel and Denmark exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 7. Danish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)

SOURCE: Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

SOURCE: Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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3.5.6 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Denmark.119

DanWatch research from February 2011 showed that Hadiklaim dates are sold indeed in the stores of supermarket chain COOP. COOP confirmed that it is trading with Hadiklaim via its distributor Nordenstedt Frukt (see also Chapter 11), although this would be inconsistent with its policy on settlements products. 120 How the supermarket is going to deal with this inconsistency is still unclear.

3.5.7 Mehadrin group

Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural company, exporting dates and grapes from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.26). DanWatch research also showed that supermarket chain COOP sells Medjoul dates from the company Mehadrin in the stores of Kvickly and Irma. Another supermarket, Føtex, sells Mehadrin dates but is “a 100 per cent sure that our Princip dates are not produced in settlements. I have received further confirmation from Mehadrin today that this is correct”, says purchasing manager Peter Løth of Danish Supermarket, the parent company of Føtex.121

Besides dates, DanWatch also found pomelo fruits, grapefruits and avocados of the brand Jaffa from Mehadrin in the supermarkets Netto and Føtex. 122

119 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.120 DanWatch, “Settlement products end up in Danish supermarkets and restaurants”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011; DanWatch, “Herbs: From Israeli settlements to Danish restaurants”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011121 DanWatch, “Your dates could be grown on occupied land”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011122 DanWatch, “Føtex chain sells settlement peppers”, Website DanWatch (www.danwatch.dk), Viewed in April 2011.

3.5.8 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Dealers of Mul-T-Lock products in Denmark are:

MT Lock / AVLGruppen123

Valdemarshaab 24600 KøgeDenmarkTel: +45 (0)56 66 26 72Website: www.mtlock.dk

GS Låseservice124

Frederiksborgvej 221 2860 Søborg DenmarkTel: +45 (0)70 23 42 36 Fax: +45 (0)3 871 26 60Website: www.gslaase.dk

3.5.9 shamir salads

Shamir Salads produces ready-made salads in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.34). According to the website of Shamir Salads the company is present in Denmark through a subsidiary.125 We could not find further information in public sources.

An employee of the company has sent us the following address to order products in Denmark:126

SBBCMr Salomon BareketTel: +45 (0)42 26 54 82

3.5.10 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide including Denmark.

123 MTLock, “Home”, Website MTLock / AVLGruppen (www.mtlock.dk), Viewed in May 2011.124 GS Låseservice, “About us”, Website GS Låseservice (www.gslaase.dk), Viewed in May 2011.125 Shamir Salads, “Global Presence”, Website Shamir Salads (www.shamir-salads.com), Viewed in April 2011.126 Personal communication by Deckel List, export manager, Shamir Salads 2006, 4 July 2011.

In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, SodaStream is distributed by Empire:127

Soda Stream - Empire Denmark A/S Virkeholm 3 B2730 HerlevTel: +45 43 600 609Fax: +45 43 600 605E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.dk

3.5.11 supergum Industries

Supergum Industries produces plastic and rubber products for the automotive industry in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.38). According to the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, Supergum Industries exports to Denmark..128 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

3.6

Other trade links

This section describes Danish companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

3.6.1 Container Centralen

Container Centralen A/S Egegaardsvej 20 P.O. Box 479 5260 Odense Denmark Tel: +45 (0)6 591 00 02Website: www.containter-centralen.co.uk

Container Centralen (CC) provides exporters of fresh produce and horticultural products with a pool system of returnable transport

127 Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011; SodaStream, “Office Locator, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.128 Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Supergum Industries”, Website Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in April 2011.

items (RTI’s). The company behind this lease concept started as a cooperation between Danish flower exporters in 1976. It is now owned by these exporters (50%) as well as the Dutch Association of Wholesale Trade in Horticultural Products (VGB). It has many locations throughout Europe and is headquartered in Odense, Denmark. 129

Agrexco is one of the clients of CC for distribution of its horticultural products.130

3.6.2 Iss

ISS A/S Bredgade 30DK-1260 CopenhagenDenmarkTel: +45 (0)3 817 00 00 Website: www.issworld.com

ISS is one of the world’s largest facility service providers. It employs more than 520,000 people in over 50 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, North America, and Australia.

According to the Coalition of Women for Peace, the Israeli subsidiary of the company, ISS Israel, provides man-power services, such as cleaning, catering, security and man-power, in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.131

ISS Israel currently employs 13,000 employees. Its office is located near Tel Aviv: 132

ISS Israel30 Hacharoshet StreetP.O. Box 703Or-Yehuda 60256Israel Tel.: +972 (0)3 538 22 36Fax: +972 (0)3 538 22 40Website: www.il.issworld.com / www.issisrael.co.il

129 CC, “About CC”, Website CC (www.container-centralen.co.uk), Viewed in May 2011.130 CC, “Customer cases”, Website CC (www.container-centralen.co.uk), Viewed in May 2011.131 Coalition of Women for Peace, “ISS”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 27 December 2009, Viewed in May 2011.132 ISS Israel, “Home”, Website ISS Israel (www.issisrael.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; ISS, “Offices worldwide”, Website ISS (www.issworld.com), Viewed in May 2011.



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3.6.3 Maersk

A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/SEsplanaden 501098 CopenhagenDenmark Tel: +45 (0)3 363 33 63 Fax: +45 (0)3 363 41 08Website: www.maersk.com / www.maerskline.com

The Danish A.P. Moller - Maersk Group is a worldwide conglomerate, operating in some 130 countries with a workforce of some 108,000 employees. Its main business area is container shipping, tankers and offshore activities but the company is also involved in terminal activities, oil and gas activities, retail and technology.133

In March 2004, Agrexco and the Danish freight transport company Maersk Sealand established a regular freight service across the Mediterranean Sea, for containers and refrigerated goods. The Carmel Ecofresh and the Carmel Biotop maintain a weekly service, following the route Asdhod - Marseille - Valencia (Wednesday) - Genua (Friday) - Haifa (Monday) - Asdhod (Tuesday). Agrexco carries its own produce on the ships, while Maersk will take up some of the additional capacity by buying container slots on the ships.134

133 Maersk, “About us”, Website Maersk (www.maesk.com), Viewed in May 2011.134 Tradewinds, “Ne reefers up Agrexco fruit trade”, Tradewinds, 24 October 2003; Veintepies, “Agrexco y Maersk establecen servicio conjunto desde Valencia a Israel”, Veintepies.com, 2 March 2004.

3.7

Summary

A total of 11 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Denmark were identified (see Table 4). For one of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries.

Apart from the Danish companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found three other Danish companies with trade or investment links with Israeli settlements.


tABlE 4.Exports from Israeli Settlements in occupied territories to Denmark

EXPORTER PRODUCTS DANISH SUBSIDIARY DANISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

AdaFresh Fruit & Vegetables

Amager Krydderuter ApS (importer), Inco, A & C Catering, Radisson hotels, restaurants Sofienholm and Rungstedgaard (customers)


Føtex (Danish Supermarket), Irma, Fakta (COOP)

Barkan Mounts Consumer electronics Bauhaus, Hinke 2009

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Duki Kosher,

Copenhagen KosherDead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Vivamondo, Zymbiose

Hadiklaim Dates COOP

Mehadrin Group Dates & other dried fruit

Føtex (Danish Supermarket), Irma, Kvickly (COOP)

Mul-T-Lock Locks MT Lock / AVL Gruppen, GS Låseservice

Shamir Salads Salads and ready-made meals

No further details could be found


SodaStream - Empire Denmark A/S

Supergum Industries

Plastic and rubber products


tABlE 5.Other Danish business links with Israeli settlements

DANISH COMPANY


Container Centralen (CC)

Distribution system for flower exporters

Agrexco works with the CC Pool System for distribution of its horticultural products.

ISS Facility services provider

ISS' Israeli subsidiary ISS Israel provides man-power for services such as cleaning, catering and security in the West Bank settlements.

MaerskContainer shipping and related services

Agrexco and Maersk established a regular freight service across the Mediterranean Sea for containers and refrigerated goods.


C h a p t e r 4

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H F I N L A N D


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W I T H F I N L A N D

4.1

Diplomatic and

economic relations

Finland has an embassy in Tel Aviv. There is also an Israel-Finland Friendship Association and a Finish Library, among others.

Trade between Finland and Israel has significantly grown since the mid-1990s. Commercial cooperation is increasing between Finland and Israel, and commercial collaboration seems promising in the area of innovation and high-tech. In 2008 began the Finland Israel Gateway -project, which seeks to achieve measurable growth and business success results in both Israel and Finland by creating active long-term structures to promote cooperation.135

The website of the Finish embassy in Israel states that the embassy is pleased to assist Israeli companies in finding suppliers for their products in Finland.136

In July 2010 foreign minister Lieberman of Israel met with foreign minister Stubb from Finland in Helsinki. They discussed the bilateral relations of Finland and Israel, the situation in the Middle East and, in particular, the status of the peace process in the region.137

135 Embassy of Finland Tel Aviv, “Trade relations between Finland and Israel”, Website Embassy of Finland Tel Aviv (www.finland.org.il), Viewed in May 2011.136 Embassy of Finland Tel Aviv, “Doing business in Finland”, Website Embassy of Finland Tel Aviv (www.finland.org.il), Viewed in May 2011.137 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, “Foreign Minister Liberman of Israel met with Minister Stubb in Helsinki”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland, 7 July 2010.

4.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1965 Israel and Finland have signed seven bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:138

Convention for the Avoidance of Double •Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income & Capital between the Government of the State of Israel and the Republic of Finland signed in 1965;Agreement Between the Government of •Israel and the Government of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital signed in 1997;Air Services Agreement between the •Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Finland signed in 1997;Memorandum of Understanding •between the Government of the State of Israel and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Finland on Cooperation in the field of Industrial Research and Development signed in 2001.

138 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.

4.3


Officially, Finland has a balanced policy towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. As minister Stubb puts it: “we are pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli and above all pro-peace”. While acknowledging Israel’s need for security, Stubb listed demands to Israel: “The building of settlements must stop, the 1967 borders must be restored, two states must be established, and the East Jerusalem problem must be solved.”139

In June 2010 thousands of people gathered in the streets of Helsinki in a pro-Israel protest to state that Israel has the right to defend itself.140

4.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Finland and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Finland, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Finland.

Finnish imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 169 million in 2008 and declined to US$ 121 million in 2009 (see Figure 8). Finland accounts for less than 1.0% of Israel’s exports in 2009.141 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Finnish exports to Israel are two times higher than its imports and peaked at US$ 370 million in 2008, but slightly decreased

139 Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, “The EU sent a clear message to the Middle East: Settlement building must end”, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, 23 March 2010.140 Ynet News, “Finland: Thousands hold pro-Israel rally”, Ynet News, 6 November 2010.141 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

to US$ 332.6 million in 2009. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.142

Figure 9 gives an overview of Finnish imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.

As Figure 9 shows, almost halve of Finnish imports from Israel consist of machinery and equipment for telecommunication (49%). Together with machinery and mechanical appliances (9%), other electrical machinery and equipment (12%) and measuring and medical instruments (5%), and other manufactured goods (2%), the manufacturing industry accounts for 77% of all imports from Israel.

4.5


companies to Finland

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Finland. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

4.5.1 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Finland by: 143

Bauhaus: www.bauhaus.fiOnOff: www.onoff.fiProtechnic: www.protechnic.fi

142 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.143 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.


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One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in Finland by:144

Solera Finland Oy: www.solera.fi


Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). Beigel & Beigel products are sold in Finland by: 145

Jewish Community of Helsinki: www.jchelsinki.fi


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories has a distributor for Ahava cosmetics in Finland: 146

Mikacos Oy Mekaanikonkata 3A,Helsinki 00 880, FinlandTel: +358 (0)9 75 10 44 00Fax: +358 (0)9 75 10 44 12E-mail: [email protected]: www.mikacos.fi

4.5.5 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Finland. 147 However, we could not

144 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-wineries), Viewed in April 2011.145 The Jewish Community of Helsinki, “Kosher Deli – Dry Food”, Website The Jewish Community of Helsinki (www.jchelsinki.fi/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=141&vmcchk=1&Itemid=141), Viewed in May 2011.146 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011.147 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.

find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

4.5.6 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Finland. In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, SodaStream is distributed by Empire.148

SodaStream’s office in Finland is: 149

Etacap Oy Äyritie 12 C015 10 VantaaTel: +358 (0)9 77 40 01 00Fax: + 358 (0)9 77 40 01 01E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.fi

4.6

Summary

A total of six Israeli settlement companies exporting to Finland were identified (see Table 6). For one of these companies we have found a local marketing subsidiary.

148 Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.149 SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.

4 RELATIONSHIPSWITHFINLAND

FIgURE 9.Finnish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)

Source: Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

FIgURE 8.Finland imports from Israel and Finland exports to Israel (in US$ million)



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C h a p t e r 5

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H F R A N C E

4 RELATIONSHIPSWITHFINLAND

tABlE 6.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Finland

EXPORTER PRODUCTS FINNISH SUBSIDIARY FINNISH IMPORTER / RETAILER


Bauhaus, OnOf, Protechnic

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Solera Finland

Beigel & Beigel Bakery products Jewish Community of Helsinki

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Mikacos

Hadiklaim Dates No further details could be found.


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W I T H F R A N C E

5.1

Policies on economic

relationships

5.1.1 trade and economic relations

Relationships between France and Israel have known ups and downs. After a temporal impasse during the second Intifada (2000/2002), bilateral relations between the two countries have strengthened again. The election of President Sarkozy in 2007, who is a known friend of Israel, confirmed and amplified this trend.150

Israel and France created several city ties to stimulate economic cooperation. The city of Nantes for example tied with the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona 28 years ago. In April 2011 the two cities explored new roads for economic cooperation between the university of Lorraine and the Galilee.151

Since 1952 France and Israel have signed 17 bilateral agreements on issues such as environment, social security, health, tourism, R&D, transport and cinema.152 This intensive political dialogue was confirmed by two state visits within three months in 2008. The president of Israel Shimon Pérès visited France in March 2008 and president Sarkozy visited Israel in June of the same year.153

150 L’ambassade de France en Israel, “Relations france-israeliennes”, Website L’ambassade de France en Israel (www.ambafrance-il.org), Viewed in April 2011.151 Ambassade d’Israel en France, “Nouvelle cooperation economique et universitaire entre la Lorraine en la Galilee”, Website Ambassade d’Israel en France (in cache: www.ambafrance-il.org), Viewed in April 2011.152 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.153 L’ambassade de France en Israel, “Relations france-israeliennes”, Website L’ambassade de France en Israel (www.

The following bilateral agreements between France and Israel are relevant for trade and economic cooperation:154

The Air transport agreement signed in •April 1952;The Agreement on production and •exchange of films signed in April 1970;The Agreement between the State •of Israel and the Republic of France regarding international transport of goods by road from April 1972;The Agreement on cooperation in the •field of tourism signed in April 1989;The Agreement concerning the •cooperation in the field of research and development from November 1992;The Agreement on cooperation in the •field of health, medicine and hospitals signed in November 1992;The Avoidance of Double Taxation •Treaty and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion regarding taxes on income and on capital signed in July 1995; andThe ‘Accord Cinematographique entre le •gouvernment d’Israel et le gouvernment de la Republique Francaise’ signed in October 2002.

5.1.2 French position on settlements

President Sarkozy is closely involved in the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The Donors’ Conference for the Palestinian State (Paris Conference), which was held in Paris on 17 December 2007, showed France’s political and diplomatic commitment to finding a political solution in the region.

France considers the Palestinian Authority to be the prefiguration of the Palestinian

ambafrance-il.org), Viewed in April 2011.154 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.

State and that, accordingly, it must be supported. France maintains normal and fruitful relations with its President, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, and its Prime Minister, Mr Salam Fayyad.155 In September 2009, the former French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, said a settlement freeze is a “decisive factor in resuming the peace process.” At that time, President Nicolas Sarkozy also said that “there will be no peace with the continuation of colonization.”156

When the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Paris in September 2010, the French President Sarkozy stated: “We regret that the unanimous call to extend the moratorium on Israeli settlement have not been heard. […] I say it here, in front of President Abbas, settlement must end”. 157

On 20 April 2011 the president of the Palestine authority, Mahmoud Abbas, visited France again and met with Sarkozy to seek advice and support about the perspective of creating a Palestine state later in 2011. The French minister of foreign affairs, Alain Juppe, suggested that France and the EU are working on initiatives that can lead the recognition of the state of Palestine.

In February 2011 France, the United Kingdom and Germany signed a tripartite declaration at the United Nations in which the three countries explained their vote in favour of the resolution condemning

155 France Diplomatie, “Palestinian Territories - Political relations”, Website France Diplomatie (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr), Viewed in April 2011.156 Association France Palestine Solidarité, “Construction de nouvelles colonies juives en Cisjordanie occupée ; Aucune action arabe concertée”, Association France Palestine Solidarité, 8 September 2009.157 Europe1, “Israël : Sarkozy ne veut plus de colonies”, Europe1, 27 September 2010.

the settlements. They advocated “the immediate cessation of settlements, including East Jerusalem, and a return to the negotiating table based on clear parameters, including borders based on the lines of 4 June 1967 and a just and equal solution to the Palestine refugees.158 When the Israeli minister of Defence Ehud Barak approved the development of four new settlements at the West Bank in April 2011, France warned Israel that this decision goes against international law and that it threatens the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.159

5.2


Over the last few years both imports and exports from and to Israel increased and peaked in 2008 with exports worth US$ 1,870 million and imports worth US$ 1,300 million. After 2008 both import and export declined.

Figure 11 provides an overview of import and export numbers between France and Israel from 2000 till 2009.

Figure 12 gives an overview of French imports from Israel (including imports from the occupied territories) by major product categories.

158 Association France Palestine Solidarite, “Creation d’un etat palestinien: Abbas a Paris pour demander conseil er soutien”, Association France Palestine Solidarite, 21 April 2011. 159 HLN BE, “Groen licht voor bouw van vier nederzettingen op Westelijke Jordaanoever”, HLNBE, 4 April 2011.

FIgURE 10.President Abbas and President Sarkozy in ParisSOURCE: Europe1, “Israël: Sarkozy ne veut plus de colonies”, 27 September 2010.


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As Figure 12 shows, the most important French imports from Israel consists of insecticide, disinfectants and similar products (11%),electrical machinery and equipment (10%), tools, implements and cutlery (10%), other chemicals (10%) and plastics (8%). Edible vegetables, fruits and nuts (7%) and other food products (6%) together comprise 13% of France’s import from Israel.

5.3


companies to France

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to France. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

5.3.1 Abadi Bakery

Abadi Bakery is a producer of cookies and cakes, whose factory is located in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.1). Shneider’s, a producer of kosher food in France, is the distributor for Abadi Bakery’s products in France. 160

5.3.2 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand (see paragraph 13.2). Achva halva products are sold by the following webshop:

Tova Market 161

Supermarché Cacher99 Rue Chardon Lagache75016 ParisFranceTel: +33 (0)1 45 20 04 99Website: www.tova-market.com

160 Abadi, “Distributors”, Website Abadi Bakery(www.abadibakery.com), Viewed in April 2011.161 Tova Market, “Achva”, Website Tova Market (www.tova-market.com), Viewed in April 2011.

5.3.3 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Valdena tea, is sold by the following webshops:

Trefle: www.trefle.com

Brindilles.fr (Twigs) 162

16 rue de la Chardonnière ZA de Machery 91640 Vaugrigneuse FranceTel: +33 (0)1 69 92 19 20Website: www.brindilles.fr

5.3.4 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has a subsidiary in France:163

Agrexco FranceParisTel: +33 (0)1 41 80 82 82Fax: +33 (0)1 46 86 99 59E-mail: [email protected]

Agrexco has a regular freight service across the Mediterranean Sea, for containers and refrigerated goods with its ships the Carmel Ecofresh and the Carmel Biotop. They maintain a weekly service, following the route Asdhod - Marseille - Valencia (Wednesday) - Genua (Friday) - Haifa (Monday) - Asdhod (Tuesday).164

In Marseille (France) Agrexco has a “state-of-the-art terminal”, where products are stored and then distributed throughout the European continent and the U.K. 165

162 Brindilles, “Rosemary Infusion Ginkgo BIO FOOD”, Website Brindilles (www.brindilles.fr/infusion-ginkgo-romarin-biologique.htm), Viewed in April 2011.163 Agrexo, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.com), Viewed in April 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011.164 Veintepies, “Agrexco y Maersk establecen servicio conjunto desde Valencia a Israel”, Veintepies.com, 2 March 2004.165 Agrexco, “Logistics”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

5 RELATIONSHIPSWITHFRANCE

FIgURE 11.France imports from Israel and France exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 12.French imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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Since October 2010, Agrexco also ships produce to the port of Sète in the south of France once a week. This has led to a lot of protests166

5.3.5 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in France by: 167

B.H.V.Website: www.bhv.fr

BoulangerWebsite: www.boulanger.fr

Leroy MerlinWebsite: www.leroymerlin.fr

Strauss VonderweidtRN 191 Moulin du Tan78580 MauleTel: +33 (0)1 34 75 08 40Website: www.quincailleries.net/french/structure0.html

Techni Cine PhotTel: +33 (0)1 40 10 55 55Website: www.technicinephot.com

WeldomWebsite: www.weldom.fr


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in France by:168

Cpm DiffusionJean-Jacques Zaoui13 Rue Jean Zay69800 Saint PriestFrance

166 Coalition contre Agrexco, “Une procédure judiciaire révèle les violations du droit et la fraude commises par la société Agrexco-Carmel”, Press release of the Coalition contre Agrexco, 18 February 2011.167 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com/index.aspx?id=2939), Viewed in April 2011.168 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

Tel: +33 (0)4 37 25 01 64Fax: +33 (0)4 37 25 01 63E-mail: [email protected]

Barkan wines can be bought online at the following webshop:

Cavus Vinifera: www.cavusvinifera.com.fr 169

5.3.7 Beigel & Beigel

Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). A small supermarket in Sarcelles near Paris, Birkat David, offers Beigel & Beigel pretzels: 170

Birkat David36 Boulevard Albert Camus95200 SarcellesVal d’OiseFranceTel: +33 (0)9 79 70 91 09

Products of Beigel & Beigel are also sold in France by the following webshops:

Yarden: www.yarden-shop.fr171

Birkat David, via Cacher: www.cacher.com172


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories, the producers of Ahava cosmetics, has a branch office in France. 173

169 Cavus Vinifera, “Barkan - Reserve Shiraz”, Website Cavus Vinifera (www.cavusvinifera.com/fr/235175-Barkan-Reserve-Shiraz-Judee-rouge), Viewed in July 2011170 Cacher, “Epicerie Salée. Biscuit Apreitief Chips. Beigel Pretzel”, Website Cacher (supermarche-95200.cacher.com/biscuits-aperitifs-chips-cacher/293-beigel-pretzel-cacher.html), Viewed in April 2011.171 Yarden, “Beigel & Beigel” Website Yarden (www.yarden-shop.fr/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=beigel), Viewed in April 2011.172 Cacher, “Epicerie Salée. Biscuit Apreitief Chips. Beigel Pretzel”, Website Cacher (supermarche-95200.cacher.com/biscuits-aperitifs-chips-cacher/293-beigel-pretzel-cacher.html), Viewed in April 2011.173 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Eolys 8 rue de la GrangeF-69009 LyonFranceTel: +33 (0)4 37 64 47 50Fax: +33 (0)4 37 64 47 59E-mail: [email protected]

5.3.9 Familia sweet

Familia Sweet manufactures sweets, sold under the Oneg brandname, in the Mishor Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.18). Oneg coconut bars produced by Familia Sweet are sold by the following webshop:

Yarden: www.yarden-shop.fr 174

5.3.10 Fermentek

Fermentek manufactures bioactive compounds in a factory in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.19). According to a profile of Fermentek on trade platform BioPharma, the company is active in France.175 However, we could not find further information in public sources.

In response to an e-mail Fermentek told us it has “no formal distributors working under Fermentek name. We are working with several international biochemical companies who buy our products and sell them under their name.” 176

5.3.11 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to France.177 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

174 Yarden, “Barres Coconut”, Website Yarden (www.yarden-shop.fr/barres-coconut-p-470.html), Viewed in April 2011.175 BioPharmaLink, “Companies”, Website BioPharmaLink (www.biopharmalink.com), Viewed in March 2011.176 Personal communication by Yosef Behrend, managing director, Fermentek, 5 July 2011.177 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (gardening, home organization, indoor storage, outdoor storage) are sold in France by: 178

Brico Depot: www.brico.fr•Carrefour: www.carrefour.fr•Casino:www.casino.fr•Castorama: www.castorama.com•Chalet & Jardin: www.•chalet-jardin.frCora: www.cora.fr•E.Leclerc: www.e-leclerc.com•Leroy Merlin: www.leroymerlin.fr•L’incroyable: www.lincroyable.fr•Mr Bricolage: www.mr-bricolage.fr•



Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural company, exporting dates and grapes from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.26). Mehadrin-Tnuport Export has an office in France: 179

Mehadrin InternationalC/c La BonpasieneeZ.A Du Barret696 Chemin du Barret13160 ChateaurenardFranceTel: +33 (0)4 32 60 62 90

178 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in May 2011.179 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010; MTEX, “Global location”, Website Mehadrin Tnuport Export (www.mtex.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.



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5.3.14 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). The distributor of Mul-T-Lock in France is:180

Mul-T-Lock France S.A ZI La Bonde, 2, route de la Bonde, 91300 Massy FranceE-mail: [email protected] Tel: +33 (0)1 60 13 58 51 Fax: +33 (0)1 69 53 01 85

The Mul-T-Lock brand is sold by:

Société Mes Clef181

3 Rue Beudant75017 ParisFranceTel: +33 (0)1 40 34 11 15E-mail: [email protected]

CleBrevetee182

58 Boulevard Richard Lenoir 75011 Paris France Tel: +33 (0)1 43 57 95 18 Fax: + 33 (0)1 48 06 81 21

5.3.15 Ofertex Industries

Ofertex Industries manufactures cloths in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.29). The company claims to export to France. Ofertex Industries states on its website that it has customers in France.183 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions about this issue.

5.3.16 Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing produces chocolate products

180 Mul-T-Lock, “Find Distributor”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in April 2011.181 MesClefs, “Commander une clef” and “Nous contacter”, Website MesClefs (www.mesclefs.com), Viewed in May 2011.182 CleBrevetee, “Commander une cle”, Website CleBrevetee (www.clebrevetee.com), Viewed in April 2011.183 Ofertex Industries, “Customers”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in April 2011.

in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.30). Oppenheimer chocolates are sold in France by:184

Franprix Kasher240, Boulevard Voltaire 75011 Paris

5.3.17 shamir salads

Shamir Salads produces ready-made salads in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.34). In France, glatt kosher products of the company are distributed under the brand name of Ma’ayane.185

According to the website of Shamir Salads the company is present in France through a subsidiary.186 However, we could not find further information in public sources.

The following webshops in France sell the Ma’ayane brand:

Coursengo9, rue du Colonel de Rochebrune92500 Rueil MalmaisonFranceTel: +33 (0)8 11 65 46 54Website: www.coursengo.com

Coursengo is the webshop for the French supermarkets Leader Price and Franprix.

Kaddie MalinWebsite: www.kaddiemalin.com

5.3.18 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37).

184 VG zone, “Oppenheimer”, Website VG zone (vg-zone.net/2009/04/23/pepites-de-chocolat-oppenheimer/), Viewed in April 2011.185 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Shamir Salads”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 17 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011186 Shamir Salads, “Global Presence”, Website Shamir Salads (www.shamirsalads.com), Viewed in April 2011.

SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including France.187 Its subsidiary in France is:188

Soda-Club France 33 rue du Bois Briand, BP 6163544316 Nantes cedex3Tel: +33 (0)2 40 49 64 25E-mail: [email protected]: www.soda-club-france.com

SodaStream sells its products through more than 35,000 retail stores, including Carrefour.189


Supergum Industries produces plastic and rubber products for the automotive industry in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.38). According to the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, Supergum exports to France. 190 One of Supergum’s main customers includes the French GIAT Industries. 191


Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). Teperberg exports its wines to more than 22 countries worldwide, including France. France is one of the countries in Europe where Teperberg has a distributor. This distributor is:192

187 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.188 SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.189 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.190 Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Supergum Industries”, Website Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in April 2011.191 Supergum, “Supergum Industries Ltd”, Supergum, 8 March 2011.192 Personal communication with Teperberg, 27 April 2011.

Concept DrinkParisFranceTel: +33 (0)1 55 65 17 72

The following French wine webshops sell Teperberg wine:

Cavus Vinifera: www.•cavusvinifera.com.fr 193

Vinoo: www.fr.vinoo.eu • 194

Le Guide: www.leguide.net • 195

Vin Israel: www.vin-israel.com • 196

5.3.21 tip top toys star

Tip Top Toys Star produces high quality educational toys, sold under the Interstar brandname, in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.40). The following French websites sell Interstar toys:

La Classe de Delphine: www.•laclassededelphine.jimdo.comPapeterie Camps: www.•papeterie-camps.com


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s distributor in France is: 197

Entreprise BrakhaParisFranceTel: +33 (0)6 09 70 43 00E-mail: [email protected]: www.tishbi.fr

193 Cavus Vinifera, “Teperberg Selection Meritage”, Website Cavus Vinifera (www.cavusvinifera.com/fr/243951-Teperberg-Selection-Meritage-Israel-Collines-de-Judee-Judee-rouge), Viewed in July 2011194 Vinoo, “Teperberg meritage Judean hill 2006: , Website Vinoo (fr.vinoo.eu/vin/597016/teperberg-meritage-judean-hill-2006), Viewed in April 2011.195 LeGuide, “Teperberg”, Website LeGuide (www.leguide.net/go/search/mot/Teperberg/t/1/go.htm), Viewed in April 2011. 196 Un Monde de Vins, “Teperberg”, Website Un Monde de Vins (www.unmondedevins.com/producteurs/producteurs-israeliens/teperberg/), Viewed in July 2011; Vin-Israël, “Teperberg”, Website Vin-Israël (www.vin-israel.com/lng_FR_srub_211-vin-israel-com-vente-en-ligne-de-vins-du-monde-specialiste-des-vins-d-israel-teperberg-1870.html), Viewed in April 2011. 197 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com ), Viewed in April 2011.



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5.3.23 twitoplast

Twitoplast manufactures plastic accessories for the air conditioning market in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.42). Twitoplast exports to France via its distributor Blue ICE:198

Blue ICE55 Rue Morat68000 ColmarFranceTel: +33 (0)3 89 80 06 8Fax: +33 (0)3 89 80 06 38E-mail: [email protected]


Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). The company claims to export its products to France.199

The following lock and key smiths in France sell and/or install Yardeni locks or keys:

S.O.S. Locksmith of Paris: •www.sosserrurier.com 200

Clé Service: www.cleservice.com • 201

198 Twitoplast, “Links”, Website Twitoplast (www.twitoplast.co.il/eng_links.html), Viewed in April 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org)(www.whoprofits.org), Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in March 2011199 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog. Yardeni Locks Ltd.”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in June 2011.200 S.O.S. Locksmith of Paris, “Home”, Website S.O.S. Locksmith of Paris (www.sosserrurier.com/locksmith_in_paris.html), Viewed in June 2011.201 Cle Service, “Clé Yardeni”, Website Cle Service (www.cleservice.com/yardeni_1_reproduction_cle.html),Viewed in June 2011.

5.4

Other trade links

This section describes other trade links between Israel and France, such as French companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

5.4.1 Alstom

3 avenue André Malraux92300 Levallois-PerretTel: +33 (0)1 41 49 20 00Website: www.alstom.com

Alstom is a large, French company with activities in transport infrastructure, power generation and transmission. The company employs 93,000 people, operates in over 70 countries and has annual revenues of approximately € 23 billion.202

Alstom is a shareholder in the CityPass Consortium, responsible for constructing the Jerusalem Light Rail Transit (for more details refer to paragraph 5.4.3). Together with the Ashtrom Group, Alstom will plan and implement all engineering works required for the construction. Citadis Israel is also a partner in these works, but this company is fully owned by Alstom.203

In October 2010, Alstom was reported to be in ‘advanced stages of negotiations’ to sell its shares to consortium partner Israel Infrastructure Fund. 204 However, there is yet to be a public confirmation that Alstom will sell its CityPass shares. The company did not respond to our questions about the issue.

5.4.2 Egis Rail

25, Cours Emile Zola69100 VilleurbanneTel: +33 (0)4 72 69 60 00 Website: www.egis-rail.com

Egis is an engineering and consulting group specialised in transport infrastructures and systems, urban development, water

202 Alstom, “About”, Website Alstom (www.alstom.com), Viewed in April 2011.203 CityPass, “About CityPass”, Website CityPass (www.citypass.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.204 BDS Movement, “Veolia and Alstom feel the heat – BNC calls for intensifying pressure”, BDS Movement, 25 November 2010.

and the environment. Egis is also involved in project development as well as road and airport operation. With a workforce of 8,400 people, it is active in more than 100 countries. The company is owned by the Caisse des Dépôts Group. All engineering of urban and rail systems is grouped under Egis Rail.205

Egis Rail has a contract with the city of Jerusalem for the design of several projects under the Jerusalem Transportation Master Plan. This plan includes expansions of the Jerusalem Light Rail Transit (JLRT), a series of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, and five new roads. As part of the services, Egis Rail will oversee the designs of a multitude of local and international design companies.206 The contract is worth € 11.9 million.207

5.4.3 Veolia transport

169 avenue Georges Clemenceau92735 Nanterre cedexTel: +33 (0)1 46 69 30 00Fax: +33 (0)1 46 69 30 01E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.veolia-transport.com

Veolia Environnement is a large French company listed on the NYSE Euronext in Paris, with activities in water, environmental services, energy services and passenger transportation. Its transportation division, Veolia Transport, is also known under its brand name Connex. Veolia Transport is the leading private European passenger transport operator and specialises in delegated public utility operation. Veolia Transport operates in 28 countries, employs 77,600 people and has annual revenues of approximately € 5.8 billion. The company operates 30,482 road and rail vehicles and carries over 2.7 billion passengers per year.208

Veolia Transport is a 5% shareholder in the CityPass Consortium, that in 2002

205 Egis, “Corporate”, Website Egis (www.egis-group.com), Viewed in April 2011206 Friedman, R., “Jerusalem presents new transport plan”, The Jerusalem Post, 25 May 2010; Egis Rail, “International Light Rail Transit Projects”, Egis Rail, 17 September 2009.207 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Egis Rail”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in April 2011.208 Veolia Environnement, “Transportation”, Website Veolia Environnement (www.veolia.com), Viewed in April 2011.

won the € 500 million contract209 for the construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail Transit. This consortium comprises the following partners:210

three Israeli investment companies •- Harel Insurance & Finance (20%), Polar Investments (17.5%) and Israel Infrastructure Fund (10%);two contractors - Ashtrom Group Ltd •(27.5%) and French company Alstom S.A. (20%);one operator - Veolia Transport (5%).•

The Jerusalem Light Rail Transit (JLRT) will have a length of 13.8 kilometres, running from Mount Herzl to Pisgat Ze’ev.211 The path of this light rail system incorporates a number of Jewish settlements around East Jerusalem, located on occupied Palestinian land. According to opponents, the project ensures the contiguity of these colonies into the central areas of the city and provides them with a vital transport link. The project also states that the “Ammunition Hill” station of the network will operate as the feeder station for settler traffic from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Ma’aleh Adumim and settlements in the Jordan Valley. The light rail project is therefore seen to play a key role in sustaining the settlements and ensuring they become a permanent fixture upon Palestinian land.212

Prompted by questions in the French senate, the French government in March 2006 acknowledged that the tramway project is illegal because it passes through occupied territories.213 A global campaign to boycott both Veolia and Alstom until they withdraw from the project and bring their business practices in line with international law has

209 The Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, “Stop Connex & Alstom Now!”, Website Stop the Wall (www.stopthewall.org), Viewed in April 2011.210 CityPass, “About CityPass”, Website CityPass (www.citypass.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.211 CityPass, “About CityPass”, Website CityPass (www.citypass.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.212 The Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, “Stop Connex & Alstom Now!”, Website Stop the Wall (www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/ConexEN.pdf), Viewed in April 2011. 213 CAPJPO – EuroPalestine, “Le Gouvernement Français Reconnaît L’illégalité Du Tramway De Jérusalem, Et S’en Lave Les Mains”, CAPJPO - EuroPalestine, 5 March 2006.



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put a lot of pressure on Veolia, which has lost an estimated € 5 billion in contracts due to the campaign.214

In June 2009, it became clear that Veolia wishes to withdraw from the project.215 Facing a lawsuit in France for their involvement in the rail project, the company has reportedly planned to withdraw from the project and to sell its stake in the CityPass consortium. In 2010, the Israeli transport company Egged Holdings Limited made an offer of € 9 million to buy Veolia’s shareholding, together with the shares of the company responsible for running the JLRT (Connex Jerusalem Ltd, currently for 80% owned by Veolia216). Veolia accepted this offer and in October 2010 the two companies entered into a principal agreement regarding the acquisition. Finalisation of the sale requires confirmation of various Israeli authorities and the other partners in the light rail.217

Under the terms of the agreement and in compliance with the conditions of the initial tender (which mandates that the light rail operator must have a minimum experience of five years in operations), Veolia’s shares will be gradually transferred to Egged over a five year period. During this period, Veolia will provide technical assistance until the company can assume operations on its own.218

Besides the controversial light rail project, Veolia (through its subsidiary Connex Israel) also operates regular bus services to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including Beit Horon and Givat Ze’ev along road 443, which is one of the so-called “apartheid road,” open for the use of

214 Alternative Information Center, “BDS Victory: Veolia Sells Shares in Jerusalem Light Rail”, Alternative Information Center, 15 October 2010.215 Idrissi, N., “Turning up the heat on a serial abuser; Naomi Idrissi charts rising support for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel”, Morning Star, 27 August 2009. 216 CityPass, “About CityPass”, Website CityPass (www.citypass.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.217 Veolia Environnement, “Jerusalem Light Rail Transit”, Website Veolia, Viewed in April 2011; BDS Movement, “Veolia and Alstom feel the heat – BNC calls for intensifying pressure”, BDS Movement, 25 November 2010; Alternative Information Center, “BDS Victory: Veolia Sells Shares in Jerusalem Light Rail”, Alternative Information Center, 15 October 2010.218 Veolia Environnement, “Jerusalem Light Rail Transit”, Website Veolia Environnement (www.veolia.com), Viewed in April 2011; Alternative Information Center, “BDS Victory: Veolia Sells Shares in Jerusalem Light Rail”, Alternative Information Center, 15 October 2010.

Israeli settlers traffic only. Its subsidiary Veolia Environmental Services Israel owns and operates the Tovlan Landfill in the occupied Jordan Valley, using captured Palestinian natural and land resources for the needs of Israeli settlements.219

5.5

Summary

A total of 24 Israeli settlement companies exporting to France were identified (see Table 7). Five companies have a subsidiary and three others an official distributor in France.

219 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Veolia Environnement”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 8 November 2008, Viewed in April 2011.


tABlE 7.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to France

EXPORTER PRODUCTS FRENCH SUBSIDIARY FRENCH IMPORTER / RETAILER

Abadi Bakery Bakery products Shneider's Achdut Sesame products Tova MarketAdanim Tea Tea Trefle, Brindilles

Agrexco Fruit & Vegetables Agrexco France


B.H.V., Boulanger, Leroy Merlin, Strauss Vonderweidt, Techni Cine Phot, Weldom

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Cpm Diffusion

Beigel & Beigel Bakery products Birkat David, Yarden, Birkat David via Cacher

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Eolys

Familia Sweet Sweets Yarden

Fermentek Bioactive compounds

Hadiklaim Dates

Keter Plastic Plastic household products

Brico Depot, Carrefour, Casino, Castorama, Chalet & Jardin, Cora, Leclerc, Leroy Merlin Lincroyable, Mr Bricolage, Obi

Mehadrin Group Fruit & Vegetables

Mehadrin International

Mul-T-Lock Locks Mul-T-Lock France S.A.

Assa Abloy, Société Mes Clef, CleBrevetee

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing

Chocolate products Franprix Kasher

Ofertex Industries Clothes


Coursengo for Leader Price and Franprix, Kaddie Malin


Soda-Club France Carrefour

Supergum Industries

Plastic and rubber products GIAT Industries (customer)

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines

Concept Drink (distributor), Vinoo, Le Guide, Shop Reflex, Vin Israel

Tip Top Toys Star Toys La Classe de Delphine,

Papeterie CampsTishbi Estate Winery Wines Entreprise Brakha (distributor)

TwitoplastPlastic products for air conditioning

Blue ICE-mail (distributor)

Yardeni Locks Holdings Locks SOS Locksmith of

Paris, Clé Service


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Apart from the companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found a further three French companies with a link to Israeli settlements, presented in Table 8.

C h a p t e r 6

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W ITH GERMANY


tABlE 8.Other French business links with Israeli settlements

FRENCH COMPANY


Alstom

Transport infrastructure, power generation and transmission

Shareholder in the CityPass Consortium (operator) that constructs the Jerusalem Light Rail Transit (JLRT) through OPT.

Egis Rail

Engineering and consulting group in infrastructure systems

Design of several projects in Jerusalem including the JLRT, Bus Rapid Transit routes and five new roads.

Veolia

Environmental services, energy services and passenger transport

Shareholder in the CityPass Consortium (operator) that constructs the JLRT through OPT; its subsidiary Connex Israel operates bus services in settlements on the West Bank; and its subsidiary Veolia Environmental Services Israel operates the Tovlan Landfill in occupied Jordan Valley.


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W I T H G E R M A N Y

6.1

Economic and diplomatic

relationships

6.1.1 Diplomatic relationships

Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) established diplomatic relations on 12 May 1965. Since then the relationship between the two countries has strengthened, continuing after the German reunification in 1990. According to the German embassy in Tel Aviv, relations are close and friendly.220 Germany is in favour of the existence of the State of Israel and is proactively engaged in the efforts of the EU to come to a peace agreement in the Middle East.

On 31 January 2011, the third German-Israeli government consultations took place in Jerusalem. This annual meeting between the governments of the two countries opened new ways for bilateral relations. Thematically, the last consultation focused on cooperation in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, both in transportation, industry and R&D.221


Germany is one of the most important economic partner of Israel within the EU. Overall, German direct investment in Israel remains relatively low. Israeli investment in Germany is higher with a value of over € 1 billion.222

The Israeli-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce based in Israel exists for over 40 years and is since 1995 part of the German

220 Deutsche Botschaft Tel Aviv, “Ausen und EU Politik”, Website Deutsche Botschaft Tel Aviv (www.tel-aviv.diplo.de), Viewedi May 2011.221 Auswertiges Ambt, “Israel – Beziehungen zu Deutschland”, Website Auswertiges Ambt (www.auswaertiges-amt.de), Viewed in May 2011.222 Auswertiges Ambt, “Israel – Beziehungen zu Deutschland”, Website Auswertiges Ambt (www.auswaertiges-amt.de), Viewed in May 2011.

foreign trade network. It is connected to the German-Israeli Economic Association (DIW) and in both countries equally represented.223

Since 1952 Israel and Germany have signed 22 bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for economic and trade relations:224

Convention for the Avoidance of •Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and to the Gewerbesteuer (Trade Tax) signed in 1962;Air Transport Agreement between •the Government of the State of Israel and the Government off the Federal Republic of Germany signed in 1971;Treaty between the State of Israel •and the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments signed in 1976;Protocol Amending the Convention of •July 9th, 1962 between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and to the Gewerbesteuer signed in 1977;Agreement on Reciprocal Recognition •and Enforcement of Judicial Decisions in Civil and Commercial Matters signed in 1977;Agreement between the Government of •the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the State of Israel on the International Carriage of Good by Road signed in 1979;Arrangement between the State of •Israel and the Federal Republic of

223 German-Israeli Chamber of Industry and Commerce, “Home“, “About us“ and “Representation“, Website German-Israeli Chamber of Industry and Commerce (www. israel.ahk.de), Viewed in May 2011.224 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.

Germany Concerning Taxation of Road Vehicles in Israeli-German International Transport signed in 1983;Agreement between the Government of •the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the State of Israel on Cooperation in the Area of Intellectual Property signed in 1989.

In 1957 the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) and the Israeli trade union federation Histadrut signed a formal partnership agreement. There are regular joint seminars on current and historical political issues taking place in both countries. A key focus in this is still youth exchange between the two countries.225

6.1.3 Position on the settlements

According to Germany, a freeze on the Israeli settlement expansion is an essential condition for comprehensive peace in the region. The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel has repeatedly been very critical about the settlements.226

Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Israel in February 2011. During her stay she met with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the progress in the peace negotiations. Merkel was disappointed that Netanyahu does not want to give in with regard to the settlements. Merkel stated once more that these settlements are not in line with existing international agreements. She said that a stop to the settlement expansion could not only bring a new momentum to the peace process between Israel and Palestine but that it could also “be a sign set against the instability that we see elsewhere” in the Middle East. Netanyahu however denied that the illegal settlements are the key obstacle in the peace negotiations, to the clear annoyance of Merkel. According to the Chancellor, “standing still is no reasonable option”.227

225 Auswertiges Ambt, “Israel – Beziehungen zu Deutschland”, Website Auswertiges Ambt (www.auswaertiges-amt.de), Viewed in May 2011.226 Focus, “Merkel drängt Israel zum Siedlungsstopp”, Focus, 27 August 2009; Focus, “Merkel kritisiert Siedlungspolitik”, Focus, 25 February 2011.227 Spiegel, “Israels Siedler-Starrsinn ernüchtert Merkel”, Spiegel, 1 February 2011.

6.2


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Germany and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Germany we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Germany.

German imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 1.9 billion in 2008 and then dropped to US$ 1.4 billion in 2009 (see Figure 13). Germany is Israel’s 3rd largest export market in the European Union, accounting for 3.0% of its exports in 2009.228 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

German exports to Israel are higher and peaked at US$ 3.9 billion in 2008, but dropped to US$ 3.3 billion in 2009. In 2009 Germany was Israel’s most important European supplier, accounting for 7.0% of Israel’s total imports.229 There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.

Figure 13 gives an overview of German imports from Israel (including imports from the settlements) by major product categories. The chart indicates that the most important German imports from Israel consist of various electric machinery and equipment products, in total 47%, including optical, photographic, measuring and medical instruments (11%) and electric apparatus for telecommunication (10%). Another important sector is plastics and plastic articles (10%).

Hidden in these statistics on trading relationships between Germany and Israel are the trading relationships between German companies and companies active in Israeli settlements. How many German companies have trading relationships with companies active in the Israeli settlements, and precisely how important these trading

228 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.229 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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relationships are in financial terms, is difficult to assess. However, as the following paragraphs demonstrate, various trading links do exist between German companies and Israeli companies active in the main product categories mentioned above.

6.3


companies to Germany

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Germany. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

6.3.1 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand (see paragraph 13.2). Achva halva products are sold in Germany by:

Danel Feinkost - Köshere Spezialitäten230

Pilgersheimerstrasse 4481543 MünchenGermanyTel: +49 (0)8 966 98 88Website: danel.koscher.net

Achva halva products of Achdut are also sold in Germany by the following webshops:

Adeba: www.adeba.de• 231

Amazon: www.amazon.de• 232

Koscherland: www.koscherland.de• 233

230 Danel Feinkost, “Achva Halva Vanille 100gr Bar”, Website Danel Feinkost (danel.koscher.net/shop/product_info.php?info=p1034_Achva-Halva-Vanille-100gr-Bar.html), Viewed in April 2011.231 Adeba, “Achva Halva 100gr Bar”, Website Adeba (www.adeba.de/B003TTOSE8/Achva_Halva_100g_Bar-20er_Packung.html), Viewed in April 2011.232 Amazon.de, “Achva”, Website Amazon.de (www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=achva&x=20&y=18), Viewed in April 2011.233 Koscherland, “Achva”, Website Koscherland (www.koscherland.de/catalogsearch/result/?q=achva), Viewed in May 2011.

Lebensmittel Onlineshop: www.•lebensmittel-onlineshop.de234

6.3.2 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Adanim fruit teas are sold in Germany by the following webshop:

IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de 235

6.3.3 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has two offices in Germany. Agrexco Agricultural Export Co. takes care of agricultural exports to Germany, while Dalia Blumen- und Agrarhandel is primarily focused on production, marketing and distribution of flowers:236

Dalia Blumen- und Agrarhandel GmbHOstparkstrasse 3760385 Frankfurt am MainGermany Tel: +49 (0)6 94 07 51 12Fax: +49 (0)6 94 07 52 33E-mail: [email protected]: www.agrexco.de Agrexco Agricultural Export Co Ltd237

Veilingstrasse M95047638 Straelen – HerongenGermanyTel: +49 (0)2 83 95 62 110 Fax: +49 (0)2 839 56 80 44 E-mail: [email protected]

234 Lebensmittel Onlineshop, “Achva”, Website Lebensmittel Onlineshop (www.lebensmittel-onlineshop.de/1_340847031_Achva_Brand_sr_1.html), Viewed in April 2011.235 IsraelWein, “Tee von Adanim”, Website IsraelWein (www.israelwein.de/suchen.html?q=adanim), Viewed in April 2011.236 Agrexco, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.com), Viewed in April 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011.237 Agrexco, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.com), Viewed in April 2011; BGI, “Members”, Website Der Verband des Deutschen Blumen-Groß- und Importhandels (BGI) (www.bgi-ev.info), Viewed in April 2011.

6 RELATIONSHIPSWITHGERMANY

FIgURE 13.German imports from Israel and German exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 14.German imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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Dates from the Jordan Valley, supplied by Agrexco, are sold in Germany by the following webshop:

IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de 238


Arava Export Growers sources agricultural produce, such as tomatoes and herbs, from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.7). The company’s Dutch subsidiary, Arava Holland (see paragraph 8.5.5) has been increasing its sales of vegetables to Germany in the past few years. The largest part of Arava Holland’s sales is imported from its parent company in Israel, but the imports from other countries are increasing.239

No confirmation is found that Arava’s sales in Germany include products originating from the occupied Jordan Valley.

6.3.5 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Barkan Mounts has a sales office in Germany: 240

Barkan FirmaRolshover Strasse 23351105 KölnGermanyTel: + 49 (0)2 21 98 94 49 70Fax: + 49 (0)2 212 71 10 06 E-mail: [email protected]

Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Germany by the following retail chains: 241

Bauhaus: www.bauhaus.info•Globus: www.globus-baumarkt.de•Hela Proficentrum: www.hela.de•Herkules Baumarkt: www.edeka.de•

238 IsraelWein, “Datteln am Zweig”, Website IsraelWein (www.israelwein.de/800981_02.html), Viewed in April 2011.239 Arava Holland, “Annual report 2009 for public purposes”, Arava Holland, September 2010.240 Barkan Mounts, “Barkan worldwide offices”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.241 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Maxxi Trade Europe: •www.maxxitrade.deToom BauMarkt: www.•toom-baumarkt.de


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are imported in Germany by:242

Ron Riess Import Auf dem Heidlande 71Witzhave D-22969GermanyTel: +49 (0)4 104 50 99 E-mail: [email protected]

Barkan wines, including the Reserve Chardonnay, are sold in Germany by the following webshops:


IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de• 244

Lebensmittel Onlineshop: www.•lebensmittel-onlineshop.de 245


Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). Beigel & Beigel products are offered on online websites but also at online stores with a local shop:

Koscherland246

Beethoven Strasse 3350674 CologneGermanyE-mail: [email protected]

242 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.243 Amazon.de, “Barkan”, Website Amazon.de (www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=barkan), Viewed in April 2011.244 IsraelWein, “Israelwein Barkan”, Website IsraelWein (www.israelwein.de/israelwein_barkan.html), Viewed in April 2011.245 Lebensmittel Onlineshop, “Barkan”, Website Lebensmittel Onlineshop (www.lebensmittel-onlineshop.de/shop.php?k=barkan&c=blended), Viewed in April 2011.246 Koscherland, “Beigel & Beigel – Pretzels – Sesam-Sticks”, Website Koscherland.de (www.koscherland.de/beigel-beigel-pretzels-sesam-sticks.html), Viewed in April 2011.

Website: www.koscherland.de




Lebensmittel Onlineshop: www.•lebensmittel-onlineshop.de249


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories, the producers of Ahava cosmetics, has a branch office in Germany:250

Ahava Cosmetics GmbHBorsigstrasse 36D - 65205 WiesbadenGermanyTel: +49 (0)6 122 53 68 90Fax: +49 (0)6 12 25 36 89 17E-mail: [email protected]: www.ahava.de

Ahava products are sold in the flagship store in Berlin:

Ahava Store Berlin 251

Kurfürstendamm 26a Ecke Fasanenstrasse D-10719 BerlinTel: +49 (0)3 088 72 76 96 Fax: +49 (0)3 088 72 769 80 E-mail: [email protected]

247 Danel Feinkost, “Sweet & Salty Snacks”, Website Danel Feinkost (danel.koscher.net/shop/product_info.php?info=p964_Pretzel-extra-thin-Stick-150gr.html), Viewed in April 2011.248 Amazon.de, “Beigel”, Website Amazon.de (www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=beigel), Viewed in April 2011.249 Lebensmittel Onlineshop, “Beigel”, Website Lebensmittel Onlineshop (www.lebensmittel-onlineshop.de/shop.php?k=beigel&c=blended), Viewed in April 2011.250 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011.251 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava stores”, Website Ahava Cosmetics GmbH (www.ahava.de), Viewed in April 2011.

Ahava products are also sold in Germany by the following webshops:


IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de• 253

6.3.9 Em hachita

Em Hachita produces matza products in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.17). Matza products of Em Hachita are sold in Germany by the following webshops:




6.3.10 Fermentek

Fermentek manufactures bioactive compounds in a factory in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.19). According to a profile of Fermentek on the platform Biopharma, the company is active in Germany.257 However, we could not find further information in public sources.


252 Adeba, “Ahava Cosmetics”, Website Adeba (www.adeba.de/section/HealthPersonalCare/manufacturer/AHAVA%20COSMETICS%20GMBH), Viewed in July 2011.253 IsraelWein, “Gesichtsplege”, Website IsraelWein.de (www.israelwein.de/gesichtspflege.html), Viewed in April 2011.254 Adeba, “Jerusalem Eier Matza - 1er Packung”, Website Adeba (www.adeba.de/B003TTR2KU/Jerusalem_Eier_Matza_-_1er_Packung.html), Viewed in July 2011.255 Amazon.de, “Hachita”, Website Amazon.de (www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=hachita), Viewed in April 2011.256 Lebensmittel Onlineshop, “Matza”, Website Lebensmittel Onlineshop (www.lebensmittel-onlineshop.de/shop.php?k=matza&c=blended), Viewed in April 2011.257 BioPharmaLink, “Companies”, Website BioPharmaLink (www.biopharmalink.com), Viewed in March 2011.258 Personal communication by Yosef Behrend, managing director, Fermentek, 5 July 2011.



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6.3.11 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Germany.259 The company also attended the BioFach 2011 in Nurnberg, Germany.260 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (gardening, home organization, indoor and outdoor storage) are sold in Germany by the following retail chains: 261

Aldi: www.aldi.de •Bauhaus: www.bauhaus.info•Brema: www.brema.de•Gautzsch: www.gautzsch.de •Hellweg: www.hellweg.de•Hornbach: www.hornbach.de•Kaufland: www.kaufland.de•Lidl: www.lidl.de•Max Bahr: www.maxbahr.de•Metro: www.metro24.de•Neckermann: www.neckermann.de•Obi: www.obi.de•Praktiker: www.praktiker.de•Pro-Idee: www.proidee.nl•Quelle: www.quelle.de•


259 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.260 Nurnberg, “Exhibitors & Products – Hadiklaim”, Website BioFach (www.ask-biofach.de), Viewed in April 2011.261 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in May 2011.

6.3.13 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock has a branch in Germany:

Euro-Mul-T-Lock Deutschland GmbH262

Rheinhäuser Strasse 7768165 MannheimGermanyTel: +49 (0)6 21 40 77 77

Mul-T-Lock products are sold by the following webshop:

AutoDiag: www.autodiag.de263


Ofertex Industries manufactures cloths in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.29). Ofertex Industries was present at the Ambiente Show in Frankfurt in February 2008 and 2011.264 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions about this issue.

6.3.15 Plasto-Polish

Plasto-Polish manufactures high-quality household cleaning products in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.31). In November 2008 the press agency IPS published a report on the fact that Plasto-Polish produces scouring sponges for Vileda, part of the household products division of the German Freudenberg Group. A spokesman of Vileda said he was unaware of the contract with Plasto-Polish. However, a representative of Plasto confirmed in a telephone interview with IPS that the company was a subcontractor for Vileda.265

262 FirmenDB, “Euro-Mul_T-Lock Deutschland GmbH”, Website FiermenDB (www.firmendb.de), Viewed in May 2011.263 AutoDiag, “Auto Locksmith Tool”, Website AutoDiag (www.autodiag.de/mul-t-lock-pick-tool-l-491.html), Viewed in May 2011.264 Ofertex Industries, “Exibitions”, Website Ofertex Industries, Viewed in April 2011; Ambiente, “Search”, Website Ambiente (https://ambiente.messefrankfurt.com), Viewed in April 2011.265 Karlsson, I., “UN social responsibility member company tied to settlements”, Inter Press Service (IPS), 14 November 2008.

Probably Plasto-Polish is still producing for Vileda, as Vileda is mentioned in the title of its webpage on production for private labels.266

Freudenberg & Co.D-69465 WeinheimGermany Tel: +49 (0)62 01 800 Fax: +49 (0)62 01 880Website: www.freudenberg.com

6.3.16 shor Family wineries

Three wineries owned by the Israeli Shor family are located in the Mishor Adumim settlement: Arza Winery, Zion Fine Wines and Hacormim Vineyard (see paragraph 13.36). Zion wines are sold by:



Zion and Hacormim wines are sold in Germany by the following webshops:


IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de • 269


6.3.17 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh

266 Plasto-Polish, “Private lable”, Website Plasto-Polish (www.plasto-polish.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.267 Danel Feinkost, “Wines and Spirits”, Website Danel Feinkost (danel.koscher.net/shop/product_info.php?info=p579_Carmel-Grape-Juice-1-Liter-Zion-Israel.html), Viewed in April 2011.268 Amazon.de, “Zion”, Website Amazon.de (www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=zion), Viewed in April 2011.269 IsraelWein, “Israelwein anderer Kellereien”, IsraelWein (www.israelwein.de/israelwein_anderer_kellereien.html), Viewed in April 2011.270 Lebensmittel Onlineshop, “Zion”, Website Lebensmittel Onlineshop (www.lebensmittel-onlineshop.de/shop.php?k=zion&c=blended), Viewed in April 2011.

Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Germany.271 SodaStream’s German subsidiary is:272

SodaStream GmbH Hoehenstrasse 265549 LimburgGermanyTel: +49 (0)8 001 83 10 66Fax: +49 (0)1 805 11 91 01E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.de


Supergum Industries produces plastic and rubber products for the automotive industry in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.38). According to the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, Supergum exports to Germany.273 Supergum operates front logistical facilities in Germany to support on time delivery demands of its customers. 274

German customers of Supergum Industries are:275

MANUngererstreet 6980805 MünchenGermanyTel: +49 (0)8 936 09 80Fax: +49 (0)8 936 09 82 50

Johnson Controls Inc.Am Leineufer 5130419, Hannover GermanyTel: +49 (0)5 11 97 50

271 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.272 SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream, Viewed in April 2011.273 Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Supergum Industries”, Website Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in April 2011.274 Supergum, “Supergum Industries Ltd”, Supergum, 8 March 2011.275 Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Homeland Security 2009/2010”, Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, August 2009.



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Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). Teperberg and Efrat wines are sold in Germany by the following webshops:

IsraelWein: www.israelwein.de• 276 Koscherland: www.koscherland.de• 277

Zohner-Nassi: www.•koschere-weine.com278


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s German distributors are:279

Zeitz Agrohansa GmbHHerr Ulrich Zeitz Feldbergstrasse 79 65779 KelkheimTel: +49 (0)6 195 99 77 30Fax: +49 (0)6 195 99 77 31Website: www.zeitz-agro.com

IsraelWeinVogelsbergstrasse 110 63679 SchottenTel: +49 (0)6 044 20 85Fax: +49 (0)6 044 20 37Website: www.israelwein.de

6.3.21 twitoplast

Twitoplast manufactures plastic accessories for the air conditioning market in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.42). Twitoplast exports to Germany via its distributor Tadiair:280

Tadiair Klimatechnik GmbHWaiblinger Strasse 37

276 IsraelWein, „Israelwein Teperberg / Efrat“, Website IsraelWein (www.israelwein.de/israelwein_teperberg.html), Viewed in May 2011.277 Koscherland, “Efrat”, Website Koscherland (www.koscherland.de/catalogsearch/result/?q=teperberg), Viewed in May 2011.278 Zohner-Nassi, “Winzereien”, Website Zohner-Nassi (www.koschere-weine.com/winzereien/teperberg.html), Viewed in May 2011.279 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com ), Viewed in April 2011.280 Twitoplast, “Links”, Website Twitoplast, Viewed in April, 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org)(www.whoprofits.org), Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in March 2011.

71364 WinnendenGermanyTel: +49 (0)7 195 58 86 00 Website: www.tadiair.de


Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). According to Yardeni Locks Holdings, the company has a distribution point in Germany. 281 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions..

6.4

Investments in


6.4.1 Deutsche Bank

SodaStream International made an Initial Public Offering on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York in November 2010, by issuing 6.3 million shares with a total value of US$ 125.29 million. Deutsche Bank was one of the six banks underwriting this issuance. The bank underwrote 1,634,210 shares of US$ 20 each, with a total value of US$ 32.7 million.282

In April 2011 SodaStream announced a secondary offering of 6,911,103 ordinary shares at a price of US$ 43.50 per share. The offering consisted of 1,200,000 ordinary shares sold by SodaStream and 5,711,103 ordinary shares sold by certain selling shareholders. The total proceeds of the issuance were US$ 300.63 million. Deutsche Bank, was one of the six banks participating in the syndicate, underwriting 1.8 million shares with a total value of US$ 78.4 million.283

281 Yardeni, “About us”, Website Yardeni (www.yardenilocks.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.282 Thomson One Financial Database, “Tearsheet deal number 2231119002”, Thomson One Financial Database, 2 November 2010.283 Thomson One Financial Database, “Tearsheet deal number 2296880002”, Thomson One Financial Database, 14 April 2011.

6.4.2 heidelbergCement

Berliner Strasse 6 69120 HeidelbergGermanyTel: +49 (0)6221 4810Fax: +49 (0)6221 481 554E-mail: [email protected]: www.heidelbergcement.com

HeidelbergCement is the global leader in aggregates and has leading positions in cement, concrete and heavy building products. 284 After the acquisition of the British company Hanson in August 2007, HeidelbergCement also became the owner of Hanson Israel.285

According to the Coalition of Women for Peace, Hanson Israel operates four plants in Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank: concrete plants in Modiin Illit and in Atarot, and an asphalt plant and an aggregates quarry located south of Elqana (see paragraph 13.22).286

In July 2009, HeidelbergCement announced the sale of its activities in Israel to Mashav Initiating and Development Ltd, a company owned by the IDB Group which is one of the largest public holding companies of Israel.287

The Israeli antitrust authorities, however, indicated that they would oppose to the originally intended sale and the agreement was terminated. HeidelbergCement stills plans to sell Hanson Israel, as it is a non-strategic business unit.288 But at this moment the company is still part of the HeidelbergCement Group.289

284 HeidelbergCement, “About us”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011; HeidelbergCement, “Our history”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.285 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.286 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Hanson Israel”, Website Who Profits?, Viewed in April 2011; Personal communication by Dalit Baum, Project Coordinator, "Who Profits from the Occupation?", The Coalition of Women for Peace, Tel Aviv, November 2008.287 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement sells its activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 July 2009.288 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement restarts sale of activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 December 2009.289 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.

6.5

Other trade links

This section describes other trade links between Israel and Germany, such as companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

6.5.1 Vipo land

Vipo Land Gmbh Muenchner Strasse 20Unterfoehring 85774GermanyTel: +49 (0)8 994 38 42 00Fax: +49 (0)8 99 43 84 20 29E-mail: [email protected]: www.vipoland.com

Vipo Land is a German company focussed on the development of a creative, entertaining and educational concept for children, based on the stories of “Vipo, the flying dog”.290

Vipo Land has licensed Isratoys to produce board games on Vipo the flying dog.291 Isratoys manufactures board games in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.23).

6.5.2 Xilence technology

Xilence Technology Co., Ltd.Hanno-Ring 330880 LaatzenGermanyTel: +49 (0)5 102 67 20Fax: +49 (0)5 102 67 22 49E-mail: [email protected]: www.xilence.de

Xilence Technology is a German-Chinese manufacturer of components for cooling and noise reduction in personal computers. The company has offices in Germany and Taiwan and a factory in China. The distributor of the company’s products in Israel is Zriha Hlavin Industries.292 Zriha Hlavin Industries manufactures, imports and markets technical plastic

290 Vipo Land, “Company Profile”, Website Vipo Land (www.vipoland.com), Viewed in May 2011.291 Vipo Land, “International References”, Vipo Land, April 2011.292 Xilence, “Distributor”, Website Xilence (www.xilence.net/en/where-to-buy/distribution/country/israel.html#dblist), Viewed in April 2011.



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products, office computer products and communication components in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.44).

6.6

Summary

A total of 22 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Germany were identified (see 0). For three of these companies we have found five local marketing subsidiaries and for two other companies their distributors.

Apart from the German companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found four German companies with other trade and investments links to Israeli settlements.


tABlE 9.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Germany

EXPORTER PRODUCTS GERMAN SUBSIDIARY GERMAN IMPORTER / RETAILER

Achdut Sesame products

Koscherland, Danel Feinkost, Adeba, Lebensmittel-onlineshop, Amazon

Adanim Tea Tea IsraelWein


Dalia Blumen- und Agrarhandel, Agrexco Agricultural Export Co

IsraelWein

Arava Export Growers Vegetables No details could be found

Barkan Mounts Consumer electronics Barkan Firma

Bauhaus, Globus, Hella Proficentrum, Herkulus Baumarkt, Maxxi Trade Europe, Toom BauMarkt

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines

Ron Riess Import, IsraelWein, Lebensmittel-onlineshop, Amazon

Beigel & Beigel Bakery productsKoscherland, Danel Feinkost, Lebensmittel-onlineshop, Amazon

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Ahava Cosmetics GmbH,

Ahava Store Berlin IsraelWein

Em Hachita Food products Lebensmittel-onlineshop, Amazon

Fermentek Bioactive compounds No details could be found

Hadiklaim Dates No details could be found


Aldi, Bauhaus, Brema, Gautzsch, Frank Kerstin, Hellweg, Hornbach, Kaufland, Lidl, Max Bahr, Metro, Neckermann, Obi, Pratiker, Pro-Idee, Quelle, Schaefer, and Tchibo

Mul-T-Lock Locks Euro-Mul-T-Lock Deutschland Gmbh AutoDiag

Ofertex Industries Clothes Ambiente Show

(presentation)

EXPORTER PRODUCTS GERMAN SUBSIDIARY GERMAN IMPORTER / RETAILER

Plasto Polish Plastic cleaning products Freudenberg/Vileda


SodaStream Gmbh

Shor Family Wineries Wines

Danel Feinkost, IsraelWein, Lebensmittel-onlineshop, Amazon

Supergum Industries

Plastic and rubber products

MAN, Johnson Controls Automotive System Group

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines Koscherland, IsraelWein,

Zohner-NassiTishbi Estate Winery Wines Zeitz Agrohansa,

IsraelWein


Tadiair Klimatechnik

Yardeni Locks Holdings Locks No details could be found

tABlE 10.Other German business links with Israeli settlements

GERMAN COMPANY


Deutsche Bank Financial institution

The bank assisted SodaStream in the issuance of shares in November 2010 and April 2011, with a total value of US$ 111.1 million.

Heidelberg Cement

Manufacturer of cement, concrete and heavy building products

Subsidiary Hanson Israel owns and operates four aggregate quarries, asphalt plants and concrete plants in the West Bank

Vipo Land

Develops children’s’ products around ‘Vipo the flying dog’

Licensed Isratoys to produce board games

Xilence Technology

Manufacturer of cooling and noise reduction components in PC's

Distributes its products in Israel through Zriha Hlavin Industries.


C h a p t e r 7

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H I T A L Y


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W I T H I T A L Y

7.1

Diplomatic and

economic relations

Political bilateral relations between Israel and Italy are strong which is highlighted by frequent visits at the ministerial level. Under Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, Italy has become one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe.293 In February 2010 the First Inter-Governmental Summit between Italy and Israel took place in Jerusalem. Among many Italian ministers, the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, was present at the summit. Eight agreements were signed during the summit. These agreements range from cultural and economic collaboration to the cooperation in absorption of immigrants.294

During the visit to Israel in February 2010 Berlusconi stated that Italy hopes to bring Israel into the European Union. According to him it is “my greatest desire, […..], is to bring Israel into membership of the European Union.”295 He also pledged Italy’s firm support for Israel urging “effective sanctions” against Iran and speaking out against the UN report on the Gaza war.296

Italy has an embassy in Tel Aviv. The Italian Trade Commission and the Israel-Italy Chamber of Commerce are also represented in Israel both with an office in Tel Aviv. The goal of the latter is to enhance economic relations and supply necessary services to professionals, companies and institutions to create new economic relations and develop existing ones.297 Italy does not carry out development cooperation activities in Israel.

293 CBC news, “Italy backs Israel for EU membership”, CBC News, 1 February 2010.294 Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv, “Political cooperation”, Website Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv (www.ambtelaviv.esteri.it), Viewed in May 2011.295 CBC news, “Italy backs Israel for EU membership”, CBC News, 1 February 2010.296 AFP, “Berlusconi vows Italy's firm support for Israel”, AFP, 3 February 2010297 Israel Italy Chamber of Commerce, “Home”, Website Israel Italy Chamber of Commerce (www. italia-israel.com), Viewed in May 2011.

7.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1968 Israel and Italy have signed 19 bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:298

Convention between the State of •Israel and the Italian Republic for the Prevention of Double Taxation on Estates and Inheritances, signed in 1968;Accord Concerning the Carriage of •Goods by Roads, signed in 1972;Agreement on Touristic Cooperation •between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Italian Republic, signed in 1973;Agreement between the State of Israel •and the Italian Republic on Air Services between their Respective Territories, signed in 1979;Agreement for the Co-Production of •Films between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Italy, signed in 1985;Agreement between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of the Italian Republic concerning Cooperation in Energy Research, signed in 1992;Convention between the State of •Israel and the Republic of Italy for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, signed in 1995;Agreement on Mutual Administrative •Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation and Repression of Customs Offences between the

298 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.

Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Italian Republic, signed in 1999;Agreement on Industrial, Scientific •and Technological Research and Development Cooperation between the State of Israel and the Italian Republic, signed in 2000;Agreement between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of the Italian Republic on Cooperation in the fields of Health and Medical Sciences signed in 2002;Agreement between the Government of •the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Italy on Cooperation in the field of Network Security, signed in 2004.

7.3


Italy believes that the peace process has to be founded on the principles of rejection of violence and on mutual recognition between the parties. Italy is a little more careful with its condemnation of the settlements than most other European countries. On one hand, Italy condemns all terrorist acts, including rocket launches on Israeli cities; on the other Italy deems it necessary to preserve the principles of proportionality and the protection of civil population, to loosen the restrictions to Palestinian population’s freedom of movement within the Occupied Territories and to refrain from settlement activities.299

The Italian prime minister Berlusconi did however say in 2010 that he would try to make Israel extend its moratorium on the settlement expansion. When this did not work out, he acknowledged that the expansion of the settlements impedes the peace negotiations in the region. “I understand the need to stop settlement expansion by Israel and I believe it is a necessary condition for starting the peace negotiations in a profitable way”, the Italian prime minister said at a press conference after meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem in February 2010.300

299 Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv, “Political cooperation”, Website Embassy of Italy in Tel Aviv (www.ambtelaviv.esteri.it), Viewed in May 2011.300 TG1 Online, “Medioriente. Berlusconi: "Israele prolunghi moratoria su insediamenti"”, TG1

7.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Italy and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Italy, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Italy.

Italian imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 1.6 billion in 2008 and then sharply declined to US$ 1.1 billion in 2009 (see Figure 15). Italy accounts for 2.0% of Israel’s exports in 2009.301 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Italian exports to Israel are much higher and peaked at US$ 2.5 billion in 2008, but dropped to US$ 2.1 billion in 2009. In 2009, Italy was Israel’s fourth largest European supplier, accounting for 4.0% of Israel’s total imports. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.302

Figure 15 gives an overview of Italian imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.

As Figure 16 shows, the most important Italian imports from Israel consists of fertilizers, insecticides, and other chemical products (24%) and plastics and articles thereof (17%). Machinery and mechanical appliances (8%) and other electrical machinery and equipment (11%) together comprise 18% of Italy’s import from Israel.

Online, 23 September 2010; Il Sole 24 Ore, “M.O.: Berlusconi,stop insediamenti Israele serve per avvio colloqui pace”, Il Sole 24 Ore, 3 February 2010.301 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.302 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.


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7.5


companies to Italy

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Italy. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

7.5.1 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand (see paragraph 13.2). Achva halva and other products can be bought at:

Koshermarket 303

Via dei Pilastri 7A/rosso50121 FirenzeItalyE-mail: [email protected]: www.koshermarket.it

7.5.2 AdaFresh

AdaFresh is an exporter of (organic) agricultural products from settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.3). AdaFresh has a profile at the online trade platform BusinessRadar which could mean it is active in Italy. 304 However, we could not find any selling points throughout Italy in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

7.5.3 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has an office in Italy:

Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd.305

303 Koshermarket, “Bisoctti e dolci parve”, Website Koshermarket (www.koshermarket.it/Italiano/LISTINO%20WEB/Biscotti%20e%20dolci%20parve.htm), Viewed in April 2011.304 BusinessRadar, “AdaFresh Ltd.”, BusinessRadar.it, Viewed in April 2011.305 Agrexco, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.com), Viewed in April 2011; Europages, “Agrexco”, Europages.it, Viewed in April 2011.

Via Camillo Hajech 1020129 Milano Tel: +39 (0)2 76 11 02 28 E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

While COOP Italy postponed all sales of Agrexco products in its stores in May 2010 after protest of Italian civil society organisations and consumers, it recently decided to continue to market Agrexco products.306

7.5.4 Barkan Mounts

Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Italy by: 307

Carrefour: www.carrefour.it•GS: www.carrefour.it•Mercatone Uno: www.•mercatoneuno.comMondadori: www.mondadori.it•Standa Billa: www.rewe-group.it•


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in Italy by:308

Supergal Via Enrico Fermi 3920083 Gaggiano - MITel: +39 (0)2 90 84 21 00Fax: +39 (0)2 90 84 15 33E-mail: [email protected]


Carmel Carpets manufactures carpets in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.12). The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICE) reports that Carmel Carpets has a high success rate in repeated export orders from various

306 Coalition Italia contro l’Agrexco, “Home”, Website Coalition Italia contro ‘l Agrexco (www.stopagrexcoitalia.org), Viewed in April 2011. 307 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.308 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

7 RELATIONSHIPSWITHITALY

FIgURE 15.Italy imports from Israel and Italian exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 16.Italian imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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countries including Italy.309 However, we could not find further information about exports to Italy in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories, the producer of Ahava cosmetics, has a branch office in Italy.310

Ahava SrlVia Luca Gaurico 00143 Rome ItalyTel: +39 (0)6 54 83 28 42Website: www.ahava.it

7.5.8 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Italy. 311 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

7.5.9 keter Plastic

Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (indoor and outdoor storage) are sold in Italy by the following retailers:312

Castorama: www.castorama.com•Leroy Merlin: www.leroymerlin.it•Escher: www.escher.it •

309 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.310 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011.311 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.312 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in May 2011.


7.5.10 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock has a branch in Italy:313

Mul-T-Lock Technologies Italy S.R.L.Strada Del Mescolin 62 31016 CordignanoItalyTel: +39 (0)4 39 81 22 75 Fax: +39 (0)4 39 81 22 55 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mul-t-lock.it


Ofertex Industries manufactures cloths in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.29). The company claims to export to Italy. Ofertex Industries states on its website that it has customers in Italy.314 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions about this issue.

7.5.12 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Italy.315 SodaStream’s subsidiary in Italy is:316

313 Mul-T-Lock, “Group Companies – Mul-T-Lock Italy S.R.L.”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in May 2011.314 Ofertex Industries, “Customers”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in April 2011.315 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.316 SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Eurometalnova Spa Via San Pio X 44 31020 S.Vendemiano (TV)Tel: +390-438-400-798 / +390-438-408-321E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.it


Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). In Italy, Teperberg wines can be bought via the following webshops:

Alibaba: www.italian.alibaba.com • 317

Vinogusto: www.vinogusto.com/it • 318

7.5.14 tip top toys star

Tip Top Toys Star produces high quality educational toys, sold under the Interstar brandname, in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.40). The following Italian based webshops sells Interstar products:

Nextag: www.nextag.it • 319 Borgione: www.borgione.it • 320


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s Italian distributor is:321

S&C s.r.l. Wine Branch Marco Segre:Lungotevere Prat, 20-00193 RomeTel: +39 (0)3 34 65 06 308Fax: +39 (0)6 60 30 10 34

317 Alibaba, “Vino di Teperberg”, Website Alibaba (italian.alibaba.com/product-free/teperberg-wine-216090150.html), Viewed in May 2011.318 Vinogusto, “Rosso Teperberg Meritage 2007”, Website Vinogusto (www.vinogusto.com/it/vino/324067/teperberg-meritage-2007), Viewed in May 2011. 319 Nextag, “Trovato!”, Website Nextag (www.nextag.it/Tip-Toys/cerca-html?nxtg=34d10a280d20-310AE6D78151BC5F), Viewed in April 2011. 320 Borgione, “Interstar Bricks”, Website Borgione (www.borgione.it/Materiale-ludico:-Costruzioni/Costruzioni-in-plastica/875021-Interstar-bricks/), Viewed in April 2011.321 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com ), Viewed in April 2011.

7.5.16 twitoplast

Twitoplast manufactures plastic accessories for the air conditioning market in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.42). Twitoplast exports to Italy via its distributor Deserti SRL:322

Deserti SRLVia G. Golini 61/1040024 Castel San Pietro Terme (BO) ItalyTel: +39 (0)5 194 22 14Fax: +39 (0)5 194 34 86Website: www.desertisrl.it

7.5.17 yardeni lock holdings

Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). The company claims to export its products to Italy.323 However, we could not find further information in public sources.

7.5.18 Zriha hlavin Industries

Zriha Hlavin Industries manufactures, imports and markets technical plastic products, office computer products and communication components in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.44). According to the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute (IEICI), Zriha Hlavin Industries exports to Italy.324 However, we could not find further information on orders, selling points, or clients of Zriha Hlavin Industries in Italy in public sources.

In the past Zriha Hlavin Industries exported products via distributors in Europe, but now companies can order their products directly from the office in Israel. 325

322 Twitoplast, “Links”, Website Twitoplast, Viewed in April 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in March 2011.323 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog. Yardeni Locks Ltd.”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in June 2011.324 Nave, C., “Packaging Index-2007”, The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, 2007.325 Personal communication by Mark Muskat, Zriha Hlavin, 4 July 2011.



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7.6

Other trade links

This section describes Italian companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

7.6.1 Pizzarotti & C. s.p.A.

Via A.M. Adorni 1 43121 Parma ItalyTel: +39 (0)5 21 20 21Fax: +39 (0)5 21 20 74 61E-mail: [email protected]: www.pizzarotti.it

Pizzarotti is an Italian construction firm involved in energy, water, real estate, infrastructure projects. Its parent company Mipien S.p.A. holds 92.4% of its shares. 326

The Israeli government has planned a fast train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, also called the A1 railway, which crosses the internationally recognized Israeli state borders into occupied Palestinian territories on the West Bank for 6.5 km, see Figure 16. 327

Because construction requires special expertise, various international construction firms have been involved in the project. Pizzarotti joined Shapir Engineering (Israel) as a contractor to build Section C, through a joint partnership called S.P.R. Construction, Shapir Pizzarotti Railways. Tunnel 3 of this section crosses the Green Line as it exits into Cedars Valley and its portal is near Beit Surik, on Palestinian territory. 328

Recently, the Italian Coalition “Stop That Train” met with Pizzarotti to discuss the construction of the Israeli railway. The coalition calls on Pizzarotti to withdraw from the project. During the meeting Pizzarotti declared that it “has never played and does not play a decision-making role in the planning and design of the railway” and that it will only built tunnel T3 for

326 Pizzarotti, “Company”, Website Pizzarotti (www.pizzarotti.it), Viewed in May 2011.327 Who Profits, “Crossing the Line: The Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Fast Train”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, October 2010.328 Who Profits, “Crossing the Line: The Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Fast Train”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, October 2010.

an area which is located within the Green Line boundary. According to the Coalition the company has the obligation to verify whether projects are in accordance with human rights and international law, particularly in areas of conflict such as Israel and Palestine. 329

329 Stop That Train, “The Italian Coalition “Stop That Train” Meets with Pizzarotti: Withdraw from the Israeli Project for the A1 Railway”, BDS Movement (www.bdsmovement.net), 7 April 2011.

7.7

Summary

A total of 16 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Italy were identified (see Table 11). For four of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries.


FIgURE 17.The two train routes through occupied Palestinian territories

Source: Who Profits, “Crossing the Line: The

Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Fast Train”, Who Profits

/ Coalition of Women for Peace, October 2010

FIgURE 18.Pizzarotti at the portal of Tunnel 2 in Section C, Sha’ar Hagay, October 2010.

Source: Who Profits, “Crossing the Line: The

Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Fast Train”, Who Profits

/ Coalition of Women for Peace, October 2010.

tABlE 11.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Italy

EXPORTER PRODUCTS ITALIAN SUBSIDIARY ITALIAN IMPORTER / RETAILER

Achdut Sesame products Koshermarket

AdaFresh Fruit & Vegetables



Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd. COOP supermarkets


Carrefour, GS, Mercatore Uno, Mondadori, Standa Billa

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Supergal

Carmel Carpets Carpets No further details could be found

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Ahava Srl

Hadiklaim Dates No further details could be found


Castorama, Leroy Merlin, Escher

Mul-T-Lock Locks Mul-T-Lock Technologies Italy S.R.L.

Ofertex Industries Clothes No further details

could be found


Eurometalnova S.p.A.

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines Alibaba, Vinogusto

Tip Top Toys Star Toys Nextag, Borgione

Tishbi Estate Winery Wines S&C s.r.l. Wine Branch

(distributor)


Deserti S.R.L. (distributor)

Yardeni Lock Holdings Locks No further details found

Zriha Hlavin Industries

Technical plastic products



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Apart from the Italian companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found one company with another type of trade link to Israeli settlements.

C h a p t e r 8

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H T H E N E T H E R L A N D S


tABlE 12.Other Italian business links with Israeli settlements

ITALIAN COMPANY


Pizzarotti & Co S.p.A.

Design, planning and construction of infrastructure projects

Through a joint venture called Shapir Pizzarotti Railways Construction, Pizzarotti is involved as a subcontractor to build a tunnel in Section C of the planned A1 Railway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which crosses occupied Palestinian territories.


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WITH THE NETHERLANDS

8.1

Diplomatic relationships

Traditionally, Israel and the Netherlands have strong bilateral relations. The two countries meet regularly at state level and cooperate through social society organisations or individuals at the economic, social and cultural level. No development aid relation exists between the Netherlands and Israel. An important part of the Dutch presence in Israel focuses on peaceful coexistence of Jewish and Arab Israelis.330

Relationships between the Netherlands and Israel focus around the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Netherlands is promoting a comprehensive solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Key to such a solution is, according to the Netherlands, safe and acknowledged borders for Israel and an independent Palestinian State.331

In December 2010, the then Dutch parliamentary undersecretary of state of Defence, de Vries, visited Israel to strengthen military relations between the two countries.

The Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosenthal, travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories in February 2011. In Israel he met with president Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, minister of Defence Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni. Minister Rosenthal wants to strengthen relations with Israel by increasing cooperation in the fields of economy, research, innovation and education. Rosenthal called upon Israel to increase export opportunities from Gaza and to allow imports of building material for civilian purposes into Gaza. Israel

330 Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, “Israel – Betrekkingen met Nederland”, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, February 2008.331 Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, “Israel – Betrekkingen met Nederland”, Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, February 2008.

and the Netherlands will further invest in bilateral relations and will implement an annual ministerial conference.332

During the same visit in February 2011 Rosenthal met with president Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah. Rosenthal made clear that the Netherlands executes a balanced policy in relation to Israel and Palestine.333

8.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1950 Israel and the Netherlands have signed 14 bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:334

Air Transport Agreement between •the Government of Israel and the Government of the Netherlands, signed in 1950;

Trade Agreement concerning the •Exchange of Goods between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed in 1955;

332 Rijksoverheid, “Minister wil meer samenwerking met Israël”, Rijksoverheid, 9 February 2011; Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal , “De situatie in het Midden-Oosten Nr. 322 - Brief van de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken aan de Voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, 30 March 2011.333 Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal , “De situatie in het Midden-Oosten Nr. 322 - Brief van de Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken aan de Voorzitter van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, 30 March 2011.334 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.

Exchange of Notes modifying the •Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Israel and the Government of the Netherlands, signed in 1956;

Trade and Payments Agreement •between the State of Israel and the Netherlands signed in 1957;

Agreement on International Road •Transport between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed in 1965;

Convention for the Avoidance of •Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, signed in 1973;

Convention between the State of Israel •and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Estates and Inheritances, signed in 1974;

Agreement on Mutual Administrative •Assistance in Customs Matters between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, signed in 1996;

Protocol amending the Convention •for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, signed in 1996;

Exchange of Notes constituting an •Agreement relating to the Employment of Dependants of Israeli and Dutch Governmental Employees assigned to official Duty in Israel or the Netherland, signed in 1997;

Exchange of Notes constituting an •Agreement regarding the Addition of a new Article (article 4) to the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Netherlands of 23 October 1950 signed in 1999.

8.3


The discussion about the relationship between the Netherlands and Israel and the settlement is on-going within the Dutch parliament. The current government tries to strengthen relations with Israel in terms of economy, research, innovation and education. Moreover, according to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uri Rosenthal, “the Netherlands is committed to fight Israel-bashing internationally”335 In February 2011 two political parties, the SP (socialists) and the PvdA (social democrats), submitted a motion in which they request the Dutch government to halt discussions about intensifying relations between the Netherlands and Israel as long as Israel continues the settlement expansion and the blockade of the Gaza strip.336

The Netherlands is also of the opinion that Israel has to change its settlement politics. During the same visit of Rosenthal to Israel in February 2011 he spoke with the Israeli minister of Defence, Ehud Barak. Rosenthal stated that the Netherlands is in favour of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. This means that the borders of 1967 have to be restored. Rosenthal also stated that he considers the settlements illegal and as “an obstacle to the peace process.”337

In November 2009 the then Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Verhagen, agreed to execute checks at customs concerning cosmetic products coming from Israel. Reason for this was questions asked by Van Bommel, a Dutch parliamentarian, who was concerned about the misleading labelling of Ahava products of Dead Sea Laboratories. Dead Sea Laboratories manufactures its cosmetics in a factory in the illegal Mitzpe Shalem settlement in the occupied West Bank. However, Ahava

335 Trouw, “Rosenthal wil meer export uit Gaza”, Trouw, 7 February 2011.336 Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, “21 501-02 Raad Algemene Zaken en Raad Buitenlandse Zaken Nr. 1029 - Motie van de leden van Bommel en El Fassed”, Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, 17 February 2011.337 Rijksoverheid, “Minister wil meer samenwerking met Israël”, Rijksoverheid, 9 February 2011.


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labels its skin care products imported into the EU as originating from “The Dead Sea, Israel.”338

8.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between the Netherlands and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and the Netherlands, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to the Netherlands.

Dutch imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 2.0 billion in 2008 and then sharply declined to US$ 1.5 billion in 2009 (see Figure 19). The Netherlands is Israel’s second largest export market within the European Union, accounting for 3.0% of its exports in 2009.339 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Dutch exports to Israel are slightly higher and peaked at US$ 2.4 billion in 2008, but dropped to US$ 1.8 billion in 2009. In 2009, the Netherlands accounts for 4.0% of Israel’s total imports. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.340

Figure 19 gives an overview of Dutch imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.

As Figure 19 shows, the most important Dutch imports from Israel consists of machinery, equipment and measuring instruments, together 35%. The chemical sector is also very important: pharmaceutical products (11%), organic

338 Nieuwhof, A., “Boycott of Ahava Dead Sea products makes an impact”, Website BDS Movement (www.bdsmovement.net), Posted on 3 December 2009, Viewed in April 2011.339 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.340 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

and inorganic chemicals (11%) and other chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and anti-sprouting products (10%) together comprise of 33% of total imports. Finally, plants, vegetables and other food products are 22% of Dutch import from Israel.

8.5


companies to the Netherlands

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to the Netherlands. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

8.5.1 AdaFresh

AdaFresh is an exporter of (organic) agricultural products from settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.3). AdaFresh has a subsidiary in the Netherlands with a logistics centre to serve European countries with its produce. 341 This subsidiary has a sponsorship contract with Yvonne de Ruyter, a Dutch champion single horse driver.342

AdaFresh B.V.Transportweg 23C2676 LM MaasdijkThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)174 51 34 33Fax: +31 (0)174 51 13 35E-mail: [email protected]: www.adafresh.co.il

AdaFresh peppers, Palermo pointed peppers and cherry tomatoes are also imported to the Netherlands by Anaco Greeve. In the winter of 2010, “I expect to import a larger volume as we have increased our number of growers somewhat”, a spokesman of Anaco Greeve says.343

341 AdaFresh, “Logistics” and “Subsidiaries”, Website AdaFresh (www.adafresh.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.342 AGF, “Adafresh verlengt sponsorcontract met Yvonne de Ruyter”, AGF, 14 December 2010. 343 Anaco Greeve, “Contact”, Website Anaco Greeve (www.anacogreeve.nl), Viewed in April 2011; Lindhout, G., “Photo report: working visit to Israel”, Freshplaza.com, 18 November 2010.

8 RELATIONSHIPSWITH THENETHERLANDS

FIgURE 19.Dutch imports from Israel and Netherlands exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 20.Dutch imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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Anaco GreeveABC Westland 6662585 DH PoeldijkNetherlandsTel: +31 (0)174 63 86 66E-mail: [email protected]: www.anacogreeve.nl

8.5.2 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Adanim teas are sold in the Netherlands by: 344

Israël Producten Centrum Patroonstraat 1Postbus 10463860 BA NijkerkTel: +31 (0)3 32 45 88 14E-mail: [email protected]: www.ipc-nijkerk.nl

8.5.3 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has a branch office in the Netherlands, which is responsible for the administrative handling of Agrexco’s fruit and vegetable exports to the Benelux and Scandinavian countries:345

Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd.De Brauwweg 623125 AE SchiedamThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)10 298 40 00Fax: +31 (0)10 298 40 47E-mail: [email protected]

On Agrexco’s website the company names another office in the Netherlands, Flowers Aalsmeer. This is most probably Beau Flowers Aalsmeer which is an independent flower import and export company situated in Aalsmeer:346

344 IPC, “Webwinkel – Levensmiddelen - Bio-organische thee”, Website Israel Producten Centrum (www.ipc-nijkerk.nl), Viewed in April 2011.345 Kamer van Koophandel, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd.”, Website Kamer van Koophandel (www.kvk.nl), Viewed in May 2011.346 Agrexco, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed

Beau Flowers AalsmeerLegmeerdijk 3131431 GB AalsmeerThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)2 97 32 94 23Fax: +31 (0)2 97 32 20 27E-mail: [email protected]

Agrexco’s subsidiary Carmexco markets (sub) tropical and mediterranean pot plants in Europe and has a distribution centre in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. Carmexco is a joint venture between Agrexco and Bental BV. Its supply comes from nurseries in Greece, Israel, Italy and Spain.347

CarmexcoHeermanszwet 301435 CDRijsenhout The NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)2 97 52 69 22Fax: +31 (0)2 97 52 99 72Website: www.carmexco.com

According to C. Steenhorst, Agrexco’s vegetables and fruit are transported to the Netherlands in four different ways:348

By boat to Marseille, France, and •then by truck to the Netherlands;By airplane to Liège, Belgium, and •then by truck to the Netherlands;By airplane to Schiphol airport, •near Amsterdam, the Netherlands;By boat and train via Trieste, •Italy to the Netherlands.

Transport by air is decreasing in recent years due to rising fuel prices. Agrexco announced it intends to minimize air transport in the coming years.349

In 2009 Agrexco launched the agro-train, a “green” joint venture of Agrexco, and Zim Integrated Shipping Services. The aim of this joint venture is to increase the use

in Mayl 2011; Beau Flowers Aalsmeer, “Ons Bedrijf”, Website Beau Flowers Aalsmeer (www.beauflowers.nl), Viewed in May 2011.347 Agrexco, “Produce and Horticulture – Plants & Propagation Materials - Pot Plants, Bare-Rooted Trees and Shrubs”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in April 2011; Carmexco, “The Company”, Website Carmexco (www.carmexco.com), Viewed in April 2011. 348 Personal communication by C. Steenhorst, 31 March 2006. 349 Berkel, L. van., “Algemeen directeur van Agrexco: ‘Zo min mogelijk gebruik van luchtvracht maken’ " (CEO of Agrexco: ‘Use air freight as little as possible’)”, AGF, 13 August 2008.

of railroads for commercially transporting produce and to reduce truck traffic on the roads. The agricultural train will leave Nahal Tzin in the Arava desert in the south of Israel and travel directly to the ports of Haifa or Ashdod, where the containers will be loaded from the train onto Zim vessels and make the marine voyage to the port of Trieste in Italy. From the Italian port, the containers will be loaded onto a 22-car train and depart for their final destination in the Netherlands.350

From the Netherlands, Agrexco distributes fruit and vegetables to Belgium, Luxemburg and the Scandinavian countries. In the Netherlands, Agrexco works with four importers which distribute fruit and vegetables to wholesalers, groceries and supermarkets. One of them is:351

Aartsenfruit B.V. Heilaar-Noordweg 94814 RR BredaThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)7 65 24 81 00Fax: +31 (0)7 65 22 12 47E-mail: [email protected]: www.aartsenfruit.nl

Agrexco works with a distribution system with ‘Reusable Transport Items’ for horticultural products. The company behind this lease concept started as a cooperation between Danish flower exporters. It is now owned by these exporters (50%) as well as the Dutch Association of Wholesale Trade in Horticultural Products (VGB). It has many locations throughout Europe and is headquartered in Odense, Denmark. The Dutch office is:352

Container Centralen Nederland Siriusdreef 2 2132 WT Hoofddorp Netherlands Tel: +31 (0)2 35 54 40 20Website: www.container-centralen.nl

350 Agrexco, “Agrexco on an Agro-Train to Europe”, Press release Agrexco, 4 May 2009.351 Aartsenfruit, “Assortiment – Partnership”, Website Aartsenfruit (www.aartsenfruit.nl), Viewed in April 2011.352 CC Nederland, “Klantenvoorbeelden – Agrexco”, Website CC Nederland (www.container-centralen.nl), Viewed in April 2011.

8.5.4 Amnon & tamar

Amnon & Tamar produces herbal seasonings, sold under the Pyramid brand name. Its corporate office is located in the Alfe-Menashe settlement (see paragraph 13.6). Amnon & Tamar’s product are sold in the Netherlands by: 353

Israël Producten Centrum Patroonstraat 1Postbus 10463860 BA NijkerkTel: +31 (0)3 32 45 88 14E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ipc-nijkerk.nl


Arava Export Growers sources agricultural produce, such as tomatoes and herbs, from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.7). The company has a wholly owned subsidiary in the Netherlands, Arava Holland B.V. Located 45 minutes from Schiphol, it combines office facilities with cold storage and temperature controlled repacking hall. Arava Holland serves the EU market.354

Arava Holland B.V.Klappolder 92 -962665 LP Bleiswijk Tel: +31 (0)10 5 29 94 75E-mail: [email protected]

In 2009 Arava Holland realised an annual turnover of € 23.7 million and a profit after tax of € 40,000. The company has no employees, the management of its distribution centre is subcontracted to an unknown other company.

The largest part of Arava Holland’s sales is imported from its parent company in Israel, but the imports from other countries are increasing. Turnover of Arava Holland has been falling over the past few years, because the company is selling less vegetables to the UK market and more to Eastern Europe and Germany, were prices

353 IPC, “Webwinkel – Levensmiddelen - Kruidenmix”, Website Israel Producten Centrum (www.ipc-nijkerk.nl), Viewed in April 2011.354 Arava, “Home”, Website Arava Export Growers (www.arv.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.



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are lower. Also, Arava Export Growers is exporting more to Russia and less to the EU (through Arava Holland).355

No confirmation is found that Arava Holland’s sales include products originating from the occupied Jordan Valley.

Arava Holland also has a subsidiary, located on the same address: Faran B.V.. The name ‘Faran’ is used for the Arava area in Israel as well. This company has no employees and no activities (yet).356

8.5.6 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in the Netherlands by: 357

Nedis: www.nedis.com•Praxis: www.praxis.nl•Scheer & Foppen: www.•scheerenfoppen.nlStebis: www.stebis.nl•


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in the Netherlands by:358

Israël Producten CentrumPatroonstraat 1Postbus 10463860 BA NijkerkTel: +31 (0)33 245 88 14Fax: +31 (0)33 246 04 12E-mail: [email protected]: www.ipc-nijkerk.nl

Barkan’s Domaine white wine is sold by Hema:359

355 Arava Holland, “Annual report 2009 for public purposes”, Arava Holland, September 2010.356 Faran, “Annual report 2010 for filing purposes”, Faran B.V., April 2011.357 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.358 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.359 Hema, “Wijn – Koosjere Wijn”, Website Hema (www.hema.nl/nl-nl/winkel/wijn/koosjer.aspx), Viewed in May 2011.

Hema Food & HorecaFrankemaheerd 21102 AN AmsterdamTel: +31 (0)20 311 43 92Fax: +31 (0)20 311 40 23E-mail: [email protected]: www.hema.nl


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories, the producers of Ahava cosmetics, has a distributor in the Netherlands: 360

Teva Nederland B.V.Swenseweg 5,2003 RN HaarlemNetherlandsTel: +31 (0)23 514 73 32Fax: +31 (0)23 514 76 36Website: www.iloveahava.nl

Ahava products are also sold by: 361

Kring-apotheek Albers Markt 355211 JW ’s-HertogenboschThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)73 613 74 82

Yentl Cosmetica B.V.Vredenburg 82036 HA HaarlemNederlandTel: +31 (0)23 535 21 78E-mail: [email protected]: www.ahavanederland.nl

Yoffi B.V.Kerkstraat 17Postbus 135575 ZG LuyksgestelTel: +31 (0)497 54 40 84Fax: +31(0)497 54 40 88E-mail: [email protected]: www.yoffi.nl

360 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011; Teva Nederland, “Zelfzorg & Consumentenproducten. Ahava”, Website Teva Nederland (www.tevanederland.nl), Viewed in April 2011.361 Kring-apotheek Albers, “Informatie”, Website Kring-apotheek Albers (www.mijncreme.nl), Viewed in May 2011.

It is also offered on online shops such as:

Farmashoponline.nl: www.•farmashoponline.nl 362 MijnCreme.nl: www.mijncreme.nl • 363

Cosmetix: www.cosmetix.nl • 364

8.5.9 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to the Netherlands .365

In 2010, the Dutch television channel AT5 reported that Hadiklaim dates are sold in Dutch supermarket Dirk van den Broek. The dates were also improperly labelled, stating that they were grown in South Africa. 366


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic has various operations in the Netherlands. The European subsidiaries of Keter Group are grouped within the European Plastic Group, based in Rijen:

One of Keter Plastic’s European subsidiaries is the Dutch company Jardin, which is one of the largest producers of plastic garden furniture in the Netherlands and is among the top three producers in Europe: 367

Jardin International Holding B.V. Evergembaan 2 5121DR RijenTel: +31 (0)8 84 72 22 77

362 Farmashoponline.nl, “Ahava”, Website Farmashoponline.nl (www.farmashoponline.nl/index.php?route=product/manufacturer&manufacturer_id=17), Viewed in May 2011.363 MijnCreme.nl, “Ahava”, Website MijnCreme.nl (www.mijncreme.nl/producten/ahava/p-1/), Viewed in May 2011.364 Cosmetix, “Ahava”, Website Cosmetix (www.cosmetix.nl), Viewed in May 2011.365 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.366 AT5, “Supermarkt sjoemelt met Israelische dadels”, AT5, 24 August 2010.367 Jardin, “Organisatie”, Website Jardin (www.jardin.nl), Viewed in May 2011.

Jardin’s products are sold in many Dutch shops including Blokker, Leen Bakker, Praxis, Wehkamp and Kwantum.368 Jardin International Holding has holding, production and marketing subsidiaries throughout Europe including the Dutch companies Curver Netherlands, Curver Benelux, Jardin Netherlands, Jardin Real Estate, Compound Master, Allibert Nederland, Hovac Leisure Netherlands and Keter Europe Gardening.369

Various companies import Keter Plastic products from Israel into the Netherlands, but there is no evidence that the products detailed below are produced in one of Keter’s plants in Israeli settlements on the West Bank. One of them is Keterim:370

KeterimJac. Dutilhweg 2053065 KA RotterdamTel: +31 (0)1 02 02 33 77Fax: +31 (0)1 02 02 14 10E-mail: [email protected]

Keterim is an independent, Dutch-owned importer of plastic storage buildings, sheds and storage boxes produced by Keter Plastics in Israel.371 As Keter Plastic and the other companies within Keter Group together have many production facilities, it is not entirely clear from which Keter Plastic plants these products originate but it is possible that they come from one of the factories located in the occupied West Bank.


Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural company, exporting dates and grapes from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.26). Mehadrin Group has an office in the Netherlands: 372

368 Jardin, “Verkooppunten”, Websitre Jardin ( www.jardin.nl), Viewed in May 2011.369 Jardin international Holding, “2005 Annual Report” Retrieved from www.kvk.nl370 Keterim, “Contact opnemen”, Website Keterim ( www.keterim.nl), Viewed in May 2011.371 Keterim, “Info”, Website Keterim ( www.keterim.nl), Viewed in May 2011.372 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010.



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MTEX Holland BV 373

Handelscentrum ZHZ 40-C2991 LD BarendrechtTel: +31 (0)1 80 64 25 70E-mail: [email protected]

It also distributes its products via: 374

Aartsenfruit B.V. Heilaar-Noordweg 94814 RR BredaThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)7 65 24 81 00Fax: +31 (0)7 65 22 12 47E-mail: [email protected]: www.aartsenfruit.nl

8.5.12 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock has a subsidiary in the Netherlands:375

International Mul-T-Lock B.V.Strawinskylaan 3105 1077 ZX Amsterdam

The Dutch importer of Mul-T-Lock products is: 376

Marenco B.V.Touwslagerij 124762 AT ZevenbergenThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)1 68 32 89 70Fax: +31 (0)1 68 33 53 09E-mail: [email protected]: www.mul-t-lock.nl en www.marenco.nl

8.5.13 Odeyah Industries

Odeyah Industries produces cosmetic products and skin care products, sold under the “Mineral from the Dead Sea” brandname in the Atarot settlement (see

373 MTEX, “Global location”, Website Mehadrin Tnuport Export (www.mtex.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.374 Aartsenfruit, “Assortiment – Partnership”, Website Aartsenfruit (www.aartsenfruit.nl), viewed in April 2011.375 Kamer van Koophandel, “International Mul-T-Lock B.V.”, Website Kamer van Koophandel, Viewed in May 2011.376 Mul-T-Lock, “Find distributor”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in May 2011.

paragraph 13.28). Sales agent for the Mineral from the Dead Sea products of Odeyah Industries is:377

Qt Trading B.V.Lange Amerikaweg 737332 BP ApeldoornThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)6 44 33 60 31 Fax: +31 (0)5 52 01 01 33E-mail: [email protected]: www.qt-trading.eu


Ofertex Industries manufactures cloths in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.29). The company claims to export to the Netherlands. Ofertex Industries states on its website that it has customers in the Netherlands. 378

Ofertex Industries was also present at the PLMA Show is Amsterdam in 2007 and 2008 (see paragraph 8.7.1).379

However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions about this issue.

8.5.15 Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing produces chocolate products in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.30). Oppenheimer chocolate is sold in the Netherlands by:380

Mouwes Kosher Delicatessenbedrijf B.V.Kastelenstraat 2611082 EG AmsterdamTel: +31 (0)2 06 61 01 80Fax: +31 (0)2 06 41 83 45E-mail: [email protected]: www.mouwes.nl

377 Qt Trading, “Our labels & brands”, Website Qt Trading (www.qt-trading.eu), Viewed in April 2011.378 Ofertex Industries, “Customers”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in April 2011.379 Ofertex Industries, “Exibitions”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in April 2011.380 Mouwes, “Pesach shop”, Website Mouwes (www.mouwes.nl), Viewed in April 2011.


Shamir Salads produces ready-made salads in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.34). According to the website of Shamir Salads the company is present in the Netherlands through a subsidiary.381 However, we could not find further information in public sources.

8.5.17 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including the Netherlands.382 According to the corporate website Soda-Club sells its carbonating devices and syrup mixes in the Netherlands via this subsidiary: 383

Soda-Club International B.V. Provinciënbaan 165121 DL RijenThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)7 65 44 42 22Fax: +31 (0)7 65 41 19 60E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.nl

Soda-Club International B.V. has 51 employees and is responsible for marketing, sales and distribution in the Benelux. Its carbonating devices are sold in the Netherlands by various retail chains.384

The Dutch company register lists three subsidiaries of SodaStream in the Netherlands:385

381 Shamir Salads, “Global Presence”, Website Shamir Salads (www.shamir-salads.com), Viewed in April 2011.382 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.383 SodaStream, “Office locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in May 2011. 384 Gregoor, R. (16 February 2005) “Breda werkt! - Soda Club bedient vanuit Breda half Europa” BN/DeStem, 16 February 2005.385 Kamer van Koophandel, “SodaStream”, Website Kamer van Koophandel (www.kvk.nl), Viewed in April 2011.

Soda-Club Worldwide B.V.Minervum 7334P.O. Box 56684801 EB BredaThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)7 65 44 42 22Fax: +31 (0)7 65 41 19 60E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodaclub.nl

SodaStream International B.V.Minervum 7334P.O. Box 56684801 EB BredaThe Netherlands

SodaStream International B.V. Hermelijnweg 20 4877AE Etten-Leur


Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). Teperberg is currently negotiating with a distributor in the Netherlands. 386 As the deal is not closed yet, we could not find details about this distributor in public sources.

Teperberg wines can be bought in the Netherlands through the following webshops:

Vinogusto: www.•vinogusto.com/nl 387

Vinoo: www.vinoo.eu/wijn • 388

8.5.19 tip top toys

Tip Top Toys Star produces high quality educational toys, sold under the Interstar brandname, in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.40). Interstar toys are sold in the Netherlands by:389

386 Personal communication with Teperberg, 27 April 2011.387 Vinogusto, “Teperberg Meritage 2007”, Website Vinogusto (www.vinogusto.com/nl/wijn/324067/teperberg-meritage-2007), Viewed in May 2011.388 Vinoo, “Teperberg Meritage Judean Hill 2006”, Website Vinoo (www.vinoo.eu/wijn/597016/teperberg-meritage-judean-hill-2006), Viewed in May 2011.389 Speelgoed International, “Contact” and “Voorjaar”, Website Speelgoed International (www.speelgoedinternational.nl), Viewed in April 2011.



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Speelgoed International B.V.Berenkoog 111822 BH AlkmaarTel: +31 (0)7 25 33 71 31Fax: +31 (0)7 25 34 05 06Website: www.speelgoedinternational.nl

In addition, Interstar toys can be rented at the following ‘toys rentals’ in the Netherlands:

Speel-o-Theek390

Kerkplein 32181 JC HillegomWebsite: www.speelotheekhillegom.nl

Speel-o-Theek Bambi391

Postbus 487120 AA AaltenTel: +31 (0)6 50 61 01 39Website: www.speelotheekbambi.nl


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). The official distributor of Tishbi wine in the Netherlands is:392

Wijnkoperij FloractiveFerdinand Bolweg 331181 XC Amstelveen E-mail: [email protected]: +31 (0)2 06 41 34 47 or +31 (0)6 17 90 62 55

Wijnkoperij Floractive sells many different wines of Tishbi and delivers its wines all over the Netherlands.393

Other wine dealers in the Netherlands that sell Tishbi wine include:394

390 Speel-o-Theek Hillegom, “Speelgoed voor kinderen vanaf 2 of 3 jaar”, Website Speel-o-Theek Hillegom (www.speelotheek-hillegom.nl), Viewed in April 2011.391 Speel-o-Theek Bambi, “Constructiemateriaal”, Website Speel-o-Theek Bambi (www.speelotheekbambi.nl), Viewed in April 2011.392 Tishbi, “Wine Store” and “Distributors”, Website Tishbi Estate Winery (www.tishbi.com), Viewed in March 2011.393 Wijnkoperij Floractive, “Wijnwinkel”, Website Wijnkoperij Floractive (www.floractive.nl), Viewed in April 2011.394 Tishbi European Distribution Centre, “Adressen”, Website Tishbi European Distribution Centre (www.karo-kado.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Moments4WineScheldestraat 841078 GN Amsterdam

Il DivinoBussumerstraat 6 HilversumTel: +31 (0)3 56 22 91 59

The European distribution centre of Tishbi is also located in the Netherlands:395

Karo Kado V.o.f.Maarten Lutherweg 1491185 AM AmstelveenE-mail: [email protected]: www.karo-kado.com

8.6

Investments in


This section describes investments in settlement companies by Dutch companies or financial institutions via loans, share ownership or otherwise.

8.6.1 heineken

P.O. Box 281000 AA AmsterdamThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)2 05 23 92 39Fax: +31 (0)2 06 26 35 03

Heineken is a Dutch multinational beer brewery established in 1863. Since then it grew to be among the largest breweries in the world and the largest of Europe. Now Heineken beer is sold in almost all countries in the world. Next to its own Heineken brand, the company brews and sells more than 200 international beers and ciders. The company has 140 breweries in more than 70 countries. This global coverage is achieved through a combination of wholly-owned companies, licence agreements, affiliates and strategic partnerships and alliances. Some of Heineken’s wholesalers

395 Tishbi European Distribution Centre, “Adressen”, Website Tishbi European Distribution Centre (www.karo-kado.com), Viewed in April 2011; Kamer van Koophandel, “Karo Cadeau”, Website Kamer van Koophandel (www.kvk.nl), Viewed in April 2011.

also distribute wine, spirits and soft drinks. Heineken brands are also well established in emerging market such as India, Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 2010, Heineken had an average number of employees of 65,730. Over 2010 Heineken earned revenues worth € 16,133 million. 396

In December 2004 Heineken signed a memorandum of understanding with Tempo Beer Industries (TBI) to acquire 40% of the shares of the Tempo Beverage Company, which owns 83.16% of the Israeli company Barkan Wine Cellars (see paragraph 13.10). As part of the agreement Heineken swapped its 17.8%-stake in TBI and made an additional cash payment of US$14.5 million (€ 11 million). TBI transferred all its beer, soft drink, fruit juice and water activities to the Tempo Beverage Company and still owns the remaining 60% of the shares. The agreement also included a licence for the local production and marketing of the Heineken brand by Tempo Beverage Company.397

8.6.2 Unilever

Weena 4553013 AL RotterdamThe NetherlandsTel: +31 (0)1 02 17 40 00Fax: +31 (0)1 02 17 48 43E-mail: [email protected]: www.unilever.com

The Anglo-Dutch company Unilever, is one of the largest food, personal care and detergents producers in the world. It has been active in the territory of the present state of Israel since 1938 when Dr Arnold Hildesheimer and Unilever founded the Blue-Band factory in Haifa. In 1995, Unilever expanded its business by buying a 50% stake in the ice cream business of Strauss, one of Israel’s two leading dairies. This stake was later raised to 51%. Unilever furthermore acquired the household and personal care division and the food division of the Israeli company Vitco and Bestfoods. 398

396 Heineken, “Annual Report 2010”, Heineken, February 2011. 397 Heineken, “Heineken invests in partnership with Tempo Beer Industries”, Heineken, 31 December 2004. 398 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, Dun's 100: Israel's Largest Enterprises”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (www.duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; Personal communication by

Unilever Israel, a full subsidiary of Unilever, is one of the largest manufacturer of food and cleaning products in Israel. Its annual sales amount to € 400 million and its headquarters is located in Airport City, an industry park adjacent to Ben Gurion airport. The company has 2,000 employees in various subsidiaries spread throughout Israel.399

Unilever Israel 400

Airport City P.O. Box 208 Ben Gurion Airport 70100IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 972 93 02 F: +972 (0)3 972 93 33E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.unilever.co.il

Through its subsidiaries Unilever Israel Foods and Unilever Israel Home and Personal Care, Unilever is owner of Beigel & Beigel Ltd, which is located in the Barkan industrial zone in the occupied West Bank.401

Kees van der Waaij, Chairman Unilever Nederland Holdings B.V., Rotterdam, 4 October 2006; Unilever London, Annual report 2007, April 2008. 399 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, Dun's 100: Israel's Largest Enterprises”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (www.duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; Unilever Israel, “About Unilever Israel”, Website Unilever Israel (www.unilever.co.il), Viewed in May 2011. 400 Unilever, “Perscontacten”, Website Unilever (www.unilever.nl), Viewed in May 2011.401 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Beigel and Beigel”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 6 March 2011, Viewed in March 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Unilever”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 8 November 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Unilever Israel, “Brands”, Website Unilever Israel (www.unilever.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.



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After several campaigns against the factory and Unilever, the company first announced it would sell Beigel & Beigel, but decided in December 2010 that it will move the factory from the settlement. Talks with Wissotzky Tea in 2009 ended because the bid was too low. 402

Besides Beigel & Beigel Food, Unilever also has trade relations with Golden Ryd Dyl, an Israeli paper and cleaning products importer and distributor located in the Mishor Edumim settlement (see paragraph 13.20), which is a supplier to Lipton, a brand of Unilever.403

8.7

Other trade links

This section describes Dutch companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

8.7.1 PlMA

PLMA International CouncilWorld Trade CenterStrawinskylaan 6711077 XX AmsterdamThe NetherlandsTelephone +31 (0)2 05 75 30 32Fax +31 (0)2 05 75 30 93E-mail: [email protected]: www.plmainternational.com

The Private Label Manufacturers Association is the international trade organisation dedicated to the promotion of private label brands. With offices in Amsterdam and New York, PLMA represents more than 3,200 manufacturers and suppliers

402 Unilever to sell stake in plant based in West Bank settlement, The Guardian, London, 1 December 2008; UCP, “Dossier Unilever”, Website United Civilians for Peace (www.unitedcivilians.nl), Viewed in May 2011; Author unknown, “Wissotzky Tea may reportedly acquire Beigel”, Businessweek, 12 February; Yevet, O., “Exclusive - It seems that Unilever gives up selling Beigel&Beigel”, Calcalist, October 2009.Beigel&Beigel. Chen, Shoshana, “Wissotzky CEO: ‘Mega is making a full of consumers’ ”, Ynet economy, 3 December 2009.403 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Golden Ryd Dyl”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Update 5 March 2008, Viewed in March 2011; GRD, “About us”, Website Golden Ryd Dyl (www.grd.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

worldwide. It organizes “World of Private Label” show every spring in Amsterdam, to help manufacturers and retailers build their private label programmes.404

In the 2007 edition of the show, at least three settlement companies participated: Dispobud (see paragraph 13.14), Ofertex Industries (see paragraph 12.3.19) and Plasto-Polish (see paragraph 13.31).405 At least one of these companies, Plasto-Polish, also participated in the 2010 edition of the PLMA show.406

8.8

Summary

A total of 20 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Italy were identified (see Table 13). For seven of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries.

404 PLMA, “Private Label Today”, Website PLMA (www.plmainternational.com), Viewed in April 2011.405 Embassy of Israel, “Israeli Exhibitors PLMA Amsterdam - Non Food”, Embassy of Israel, May 2007.406 The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Israel at PLMA International 2010”, The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, May 2010.


tABlE 13.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to the Netherlands

EXPORTER PRODUCTS DUTCH SUBSIDIARY DUTCH IMPORTER / RETAILER

AdaFresh Fruit & Vegetables AdaFresh Anaco Greeve

Adanim Tea Tea Israël Producten Centrum


Agrexco Agricultural Export Com, Carmexco

Beau Flowers Aalsmeer, Aartsenfruit

Amnon & Tamar Herbs Israël Producten Centrum


Agricultural products Arava Holland, Faran


Nedis, Praxis, Scheer&Foppen, Stebis B.V.

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Israël Producten

Centrum, Hema

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products

Teva Nederland, Yoffi, Yentl Cosmetica, Kring-apotheek Albers, Cosmetix, MijnCreme.nl, Farmashoponline.nl



Jardin International Holding, Keter Europe Gardening

Keterim

Mehadrin Dates MTEX Holland AartsenfruitMul-T-Lock Locks International Mul-T-Lock MarencoOdeyah Industries Cosmetics Qt Trading

Ofertex Industries Clothes No further details

could be found.

Oppenheimer Chocolate products

Mouwes Kosher Delicatessenbedrijf B.V.


No further details could be found.


Soda-Club International, Soda-Club Worldwide, SodaStream International, SodaStream International

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines Vinogusto, Vinoo

Tip Top Toys Star Speelgoed International

Tishbi Estate Winery Wines

Wijnkoperij Floractive, Moments4Wine, Il Divino, Karo Kado


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Apart from the companies with direct trade links or subsidiaries in the Netherlands, we found three companies with other trade or investments links with Israeli settlements.

C h a p t e r 9

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H N O R W A Y


tABlE 14.Other Dutch business links with Israeli settlements

DUTCH COMPANY


Heineken Beer and cider brewery

Heineken owns 40% of Tempo Beer Company, which owns 83.16% of the Israeli company Barkan Wine Cellars

UnileverFood, personal care and detergents

Through its subsidiaries Unilever Israel Foods and Unilever Israel Home and Personal Care, Unilever is owner of Beigel & Beigel Ltd

PLMA International Council

International trade organisation

Settlement companies participated in its yearly show


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W I T H N O R W A Y

9.1


relationships

Norway was one of the first countries to recognize Israel in February 1949. Later that year both countries established diplomatic relations. Israel has an embassy in Tel Aviv and consulates in Heifa and Eilat.

The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre visited Israel on 16-18 January 2010. During his visit he met with President Shimon Peres, Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, Minister of Intelligence Dan Meridor and the leader of Kadima, MK Tzipi Livni. The purpose of the visit was to discuss bilateral issues, regional issues of common concern, and the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The visit made clear that, in addition to the on-going political dialogue between Norway and Israel, there is an increase in cooperation in the field of culture, and there is a clear will from both countries to promote more cooperation in the field of research and development.407

During the trip in January 2010 minister Støre also visited the Palestinian territories. Since December 2010, Palestine has an official embassy in Oslo, Norway. This means that, after Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, Norway recognizes Palestine as an independent country, as the first European country.408

407 Norway – The official site in Israel, “Taking our bilateral relations further and forward: Foreign Minister Støre in Israel 16-18 January 2010”, Press release Norway – The official site in Israel (www.norway.org.il), 25 January 2010.408 Modkraft.dk, “Palæstina får ambassade i Oslo”, Modkraft.dk, 17 December 2010.

9.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1957 Israel and Norway have signed eight bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:409

Agreement on Trade and Payments •between the Government of the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Norway signed in 1961;Convention for the Avoidance of •Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Norway signed in 1966;Agreement relating to Air Services •between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway signed in 1977.

9.3


Norway is strongly opposed to Israel’s expansion of the settlements in East Jerusalem. In a press release of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued in November 2010, Foreign Minister Støre states: “I urge Israel to revoke the decision to build new homes in East Jerusalem. […] Israel’s construction activities in the occupied territories are among the greatest threats to the peace talks”. He is of the opinion that “the settlements on occupied land are illegal

409 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in May 2011.

and in violation of international law [….] and one of the most serious threats to a two-state solution”410

According to Støre, “the most important thing now is that Israel changes its policy before a two-state solution becomes impossible”.411 Norway even urged the Quartet (the UN, the US, the EU and Russia), to protest and put pressure on Israel to stop building illegal settlements.412

9.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Norway and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Norway, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Norway.

Norwegian imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 75.6 million in 2008 and then sharply declined to US$ 61.4 million in 2009 (see Figure 21). Norway accounts for less than 1.0% of Israel’s exports in 2009.413 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Where Norwegian exports used to be higher than its imports, it started decreasing in 2006, was equal to Norwegian imports in mid - 2007 and further declined to US$ 52

410 Arbeiderpartiet, “Bosetningene er ulovlige”, Press release Arbeiderpartiet (Available at www.arbeiderpartiet.no, 15 March 2011; Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Norway urges Israel to revoke approval of new 238 new homes in East Jerusalem”, Press release Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 19 October 2010.411 NRK Nyheter, “Støre fordømmer Israel-bosetninger”, NRK Nyheter, 10 March 2010; Arbeiderpartiet, “Bosetningene er ulovlige”, Press release Arbeiderpartiet, 15 March 2011.412 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs , “Foreign Minister Støre protests against Israel’s settlement expansion in East Jerusalem”, Press release Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 March 2010.413 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

million in 2009. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.414

Figure 21 gives an overview of Norwegian imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.

As Figure 21 shows, the most important Norwegian imports from Israel consists of electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment (49%). Food products form another important category of which edible vegetables, fruits and nuts are the main products.415

9.5


companies to Norway

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Norway. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

9.5.1 Agrexco

Agrexco’s products are sold in Norway by:

Coop Norway: www.coop.no 416

In March 2011 the company’s response to questions about dates from Hadiklaim was that it has never and will never source products from the occupied West Bank. Because its strict requirements to suppliers ensures that the products from Israeli companies do not originate from occupied territories Coop will not fully stop trading

414 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website CBS Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.415 Central Bureau of Statistics Israel, “Foreign Trade”, Website Central Bureau of Statistics Israel (www1.cbs.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011416 Palestinakomiteèn I Norge, “Fortsatt salg av israelske okkupasjonsvarer i Coop sine butikker (Further sales of Israeli occupation goods in Coop's stores)”, Press release Palestinakomiteèn i Norge, 30 March 2011.


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with Agrexco. Therefore, the Palestine Committee Norway called on Coop to stop all trade relationships with Agrexco. 417

Coop’s importer of Agrexco products is:418

BAMA Gruppen AS419

Økern torg 60580 Oslo,NorwayTel: +47 (0)2 288 05 00Website: www.bama.no

9.5.2 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Norway by: 420

Euronics NOP.O. Box 1417Fredrikstad NorwayTel: +47 (0)8 150 06 35Website: www.euronics.no

Njal Hansson ASP.O. Box 6031EtterstadN-0601 OsloNorwayTel: +47 (0)2 276 29 50Website: www.njal.no

PhillipsSandstuveien 70 Tel: +47 (0)2 274 80 00Website: www.phillips.no

417 Coop, “Gammelt nytt fra Palestinakomiteen (Old news from Palestine Committee)”, Press release Coop Norway, 29 March 2011; Palestinakomiteèn I Norge, “Fortsatt salg av israelske okkupasjonsvarer i Coop sine butikker (Further sales of Israeli occupation goods in Coop's stores)”, Press release Palestinakomiteèn i Norge, 30 March 2011.418 Boikott Israel, “Carmel Agrexco”, Website Boikott Israel (www.boikott.net), Viewed in April 2011.419 Boikott Israel, “Bama Gruppen AS”, Website Boikott Israel (www.boikott.net), Viewed in April 2011.420 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories, the producers of Ahava cosmetics, has a branch office in Norway. The products are sold online via its website. 421

Ahava Norge P.O. Box 433540 Nesbyen, NorwayTel: +47 (0)32 06 81 00Fax: +47 (0)32 06 80 99Website: www.ahava.no

9.5.4 Distek

DiSTeK develops and manufactures zinc coating technologies for protection of metal parts in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.15). DiSTeK’s agent for Scandinavia is located in Norway: 422

DiSTeK-ScandinaviaBoveien 1194070 RandabergNorwayTel: +47 (0)51 41 81 21

9.5.5 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Norway. 423

Activists report that Hadiklaim dates are indeed sold in supermarkets of Coop Norway (see also paragraph 9.5.1). 424

421 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava worldwide”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in April 2011; Dead Sea Laboratories, “Home”, Website Ahava Norge (www.ahava.no), Viewed in April 2011.422 Distek, “List of agencies”, Website DiSTek (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in March 2011.423 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.424 Palestinakomiteèn I Norge, “Fortsatt salg av israelske okkupasjonsvarer i Coop sine butikker (Further sales of Israeli occupation goods in Coop's stores)”, Press release Palestinakomiteèn i Norge, 30 March 2011.

9 RELATIONSHIPSWITH NORWAY

FIgURE 21.Norway imports from Israel and Norway exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 22.Norway imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)



P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories103P R O S P E R P a l e s t i n e UNVEILED: European Trade & Investment Relationships with Companies

in Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories102

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9.5.6 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock’s official distributor in Norway is:

Trioving 425

Varnaveien 32 1523 MossNorwayTel: +47 (0)6 924 52 07 Fax: +47 (0)3 331 81 39E-mail: [email protected]

9.5.7 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Norway.

425 Mul-T-Lock, “Find Distributor”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in May 2011.

In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, SodaStream is distributed by Empire:426

SodaStream-Empire Norway Stensberggatan 25Oslo 0170NorwayTel: +47 (0)8 003 00 95 or +47 (0)2 137 70 55E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.no

9.6

Summary

A total of seven Israeli settlement companies exporting to Norway were identified (see Table 15). For three of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries.

426 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011; SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.

C h a p t e r 1 0

R E L A T I O N S H I P S W I T H S P A I N

9 RELATIONSHIPSWITH NORWAY

tABlE 15. Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Norway

EXPORTER PRODUCTS NORWEGIAN SUBSIDIARY

NORWEGIAN IMPORTER / RETAILER


Coop supermarkets, BAMA Gruppen (importer for Coop)


Euronics, Njal Hansson, Philips

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Ahava Norge

DiSTeK Zinc coating technologies DiSTeK-Scandinavia

Hadiklaim Dates Coop supermarketsMul-T-Lock Locks Trioving (distributor)


SodaStream-Empire Norway


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1 0R E L A T I O N S H I P S

W I T H S P A I N

10.1


relationships

In 2011, Spain and Israel celebrate the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relationships, with visits by the Israeli president Peres to Spain and the Spanish prince royal and crown princess to Israel.427 The good diplomatic relationships have resulted in 11 bilateral agreements between the two countries, on issues such as the environment, double taxation, desertification, scientific collaboration, agriculture, air transport and jurisdictions.428

As part of their economic collaboration, the two countries have placed economic attachés at their respective embassies. The Israeli economic attaché of the Israeli embassy in Madrid promotes various Israeli companies at its website, including Ahava which is producing cosmetics in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.429

Despite these good relationships, Spain is becoming more critical on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and on the establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. When visiting Israel and the Palestinian Territories in September 2008, the Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos was still reluctant to be critical on the issue. In a meeting with the Israeli president Shimon Peres he did not specifically raise the issue of Israeli settlement expansion in the West

427 Aurora, “Los Príncipes de España vienen a Jerusalén, capital de Israel”, Aurora, 5 April 2011.428 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.429 Agregaduría Comercial de Israel en España, “Cosmética”, Website Agregaduría Comercial de Israel en España (comerciohispanoisraeli.com/industrias-israelies/cosmetica-e-articulos-de-aseo/), Viewed in April 2011.

Bank, as Israel “already knows” the Spanish position on this issue. To journalists he described this position as: “We cannot accept the expansion of Israeli settlements to continue forever”. The international community “needs to work to avoid the establishment of new settlements.”430

In 2009 the Spanish ministry of Housing decided to disqualify the architecture department of the Ariel University Center of Samaria, located in the Israeli settlement Ariel, from the finals of a prestigious international architecture competition. The bi-annual competition, Solar Decathlon, is sponsored by the Spanish government. 431

In October 2010 minister of foreign affairs Moratinos commented that he “deeply regretted” the resumption of Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, and found that it “does not help to find a solution to the conflict. He described the construction of 238 homes in two Jewish settlements, as “bad news”.432

10.2


No reliable statistics exist on trade between the Spain and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Spain we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Spain.

Spanish imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 1.1 billion in 2008 and then dropped to US$ 0.9 billion in 2009

430 El Economista, “Moratinos dice que no habló con Peres sobre las colonias porque Israel "ya conoce la postura española"”, El Economista, 14 September 2008.431 Selig, A., “Spain bans Ariel U. from int’l contest”, The Jerusalem Post, 22 September 2009; Emergui, S.,“España boicotea la universidad israelí en Cisjordania”, El Mundo, 22 September 2009.432 EFE, “España critica la reanudación de asentamientos israelíes en Jerusalén”, EFE, 16 October 2010.

FIgURE 23.Spanish imports from Israel and Spanish exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 24.Spanish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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(see Figure 23). Spain is Israel’s 9th largest export market in the Europe, accounting for 2.0% of its exports in 2009.433 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.

Spanish exports to Israel used to be higher than its imports, but this changed in 2004. Exports also peaked in 2007, but at US$ 0.9 billion and dropped to US$ 0.8 billion in 2009. In 2009 the Spain was Israel’s 9th largest European supplier, accounting for 2.0% of Israel’s total imports.434

Figure 23 gives an overview of Spanish imports from Israel (including imports from the occupied territories) by major product categories. The chart indicates that the most important Spanish imports from Israel consists of mechanical appliances (14%, including heat exchange units even 21%), electrical machinery and equipment (13%, including burglary and fire alarms even 20%), organic (12%) and inorganic chemicals (11%), and manufactured goods (9%).

Hidden in these statistics on trading relationships between Spain and Israel are the trading relationships between Spanish companies and companies active in Israeli settlements. How many Spanish companies have trading relationships with companies active in the Israeli settlements, and precisely how important these trading relationships are in financial terms, is difficult to assess. However, as the following paragraphs demonstrate, various trading links do exist between Spanish companies and Israeli companies active in the main product categories mentioned above.


10.3


companies to Spain

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Spain. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

10.3.1 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand (see paragraph 13.2). Achva halva is offered on Spanish websites435 and can be bought at:

Kosher Tov11 Gil y Morte Street46007 ValenciaSpainTel: +34 (0)9 63 25 07 70 or +34 (0)6 44 37 70 83E-mail: [email protected]: www.koshertov.com

10.3.2 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Adanim Tea’s trading partner in Spain is:436

Cotrading, S.LJosep Umbert 9608402 GranollersBarcelonaSpain Tel: +34 (0)9 38 79 48 58Fax: +34 (0)9 38 79 29 69E-mail: [email protected]

This company sells the Adanim products to various shops in Spain. The Valdena organic tea of Adanim Tea is sold in Spain by the following shops:

435 Alibaba, “Achva Halva”, Website Alibaba (spanish.alibaba.com/product-free/achva-halva-216090195.html), Viewed in March 2011.436 Adanim Tea, “Contact Us”, Website Adanim Tea (www.adanim-tea.com/contact.php), Viewed in March 2011.

Dietética Eco Sol, a company operating four organic food shops in Tarragona;437

Bionsan, a company producing organic foods in Tarragona.438

10.3.3 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has a representative office in Madrid: 439

Agrexco España S.A.Avda. de Brasil, 4, 8º B28020 MadridTel: +34 (0)9 15 97 23 17Fax: +34 (0)9 15 97 08 01E-mail: [email protected]

In March 2004, Agrexco established a regular freight service between Israel and Spain. Two ships, the “Carmel Ecofresh” and the “Carmel Biotop” maintain a weekly service, following the route Asdhod - Marseille - Valencia (Wednesday) - Genua (Friday) - Haifa (Monday) - Asdhod (Tuesday). The agent of Agrexco in Valencia is Romeu y Cía.440

437 Dietética Eco Sol, “Tes de Oriente”, Website Dietética Eco Sol (www.dieteticaecosol.com/index.php/alimentacion/infusiones/tes-de-oriente.html?limit=5&mode=list), Viewed in March 2011.438 Bionsan, “Bienvenidos a Bonsan”, Website Bionsan (www.bionsan.com/esp/principal_esp.htm), Viewed in March 2011.439 Agrexco, “Contact us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011Horticom, “Agrexco Espagna”, Website Horticom (www.horticom.es), Viewed in April 2011; Horticom, “Agrexco Espagna”, Website Euroagora (www.euroagora.es), Viewed in April 2011.440 Veintepies, “Agrexco y Maersk establecen servicio conjunto desde Valencia a Israel”, Veintepies.com, 2 March 2004.

10.3.4 Barkan Mounts

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Spain by: 441

AI Digital: www.•accesoriosdigital.comAKI: www.aki.es•Bauhaus: www.bauhaus.es/•Carrefour: www.carrefour.es•Darty: www.darty.es•El Corte Ingles: www.•elcorteingles.esFnac: www.fnac.es•Hipercor: www.hipercor.es•Media-Saturn: www.•media-saturn.comMiro: www.miro.es•Pc City: www.pccity.es•Staples: www.staplesadvantage.es•Worten: www.worten.es•


Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). Beigel & Beigel crackers are sold at:

Kosher Tov11 Gil y Morte Street46007 ValenciaSpainTel: +34 (0)9 63 25 07 70 or +34 (0)6 44 37 70 83E-mail: [email protected]: www.koshertov.com


Carmel Carpets manufactures carpets in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.12). The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICE) reports that Carmel Carpets has a high success rate in repeat export orders from various countries including Spain.442 However, we could not

441 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.442 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.

10 RELATIONSHIPSWITH SPAIN

FIgURE 25.The Carmel Bio-Top in the port of Valencia, June 2007. Source: Shipphotos, “Carmel Bio-Top”, Website Shipphotos (www.shipphotos.es/carmelbiotop.htm), Viewed in March 2011.


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find further information in public sources about exports to Spain and the company did not respond to our questions.


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Ahava products are sold in Spain by the following (online) shops:

Disavo in Gijón 443

C / Jesus n º 833205 Gijón - AsturiasSpain Tel: +43 (0)9 85 14 16 71E-mail: [email protected]: www.disavo.com

Belmine 444

SL Camino de Valderribas 93-C6 - 28038 MadridSpainTel: +43(0)913 280144Fax: + 34(0)913 282970E-mail: [email protected]

According to the Boycott Israel movement in Spain, Ahava is further marketed by Sephora Cosméticos and sold in Corte Inglés stores and various perfumeries.445 However, we could not find the products on the websites of these companies.

10.3.8 Dispobud

Dispobud is a company which manufactures and distributes a wide variety of nonwoven products in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.14). Dispobud products are offered on Spanish websites such as Alibaba.446

443 Disavo, “Home”, Website Disavo (www.disavo.com), Viewed in March 2011.444 Rebelión, “Productos israelíes comercializados en el Estado español (Israeli products sold in Spain)”, Website Rebelión (www.rebelion.org), Viewed in April 2011.445 Author unknown, “Made in Israel”, Boicot Israel.net, 18 June 2010.446 Alibaba, “Dispobud”, Website Alibaba (spanish.alibaba.com/suppliers/disposable-table-cover-supplier.html), Viewed in April 2011.

10.3.9 Fermentek

Fermentek manufactures bioactive compounds in a factory in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.19). Fermentek offers Parthenolide on the Spanish Alibaba website, which suggests it is active in Spain.447 However, we could not find further information in public sources.


10.3.10 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Spain.449

According to the Boycott Israel movement in Spain, Hadiklaim dates are sold in Corte Inglés and Carrefour stores.450 However, we could not find the products on the websites of these retailers or in other public sources and Hadiklaim did not respond to our questions.


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (indoor storage, outdoor furniture and toys) are sold in Spain by: 451

Aki Bricolaje: www.aki.es•El Corte Inglés: www.•elcorteingles.es

447 Alibaba, “Fermentek Parthenolide”, Website Alibaba (spanish.alibaba.com/product-free/parthenolide-11404721.html), Viewed in April 2011.448 Personal communication by Yosef Behrend, managing director, Fermentek, 5 July 2011.449 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.450 Author unknown, “Made in Israel”, Boicot Israel.net, 18 June 2010.451 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Leroy Merlin: www.leroymerlin.es•Carrefour: www.carrefour.es•Bricor: www.bricor.es•Bricogroup: www.bricogroup.com•Bricoking: www.bricoking.com•Bauhaus Spain (formerly •Hagalo): www.bauhaus.es Toys ’R Us: www.toysrus.es •



Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural company, exporting dates and grapes from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.26). Miriam Shoham, a subsidiary of the Mehadrin Group, reports on its website that Spain is amongst its export destinations.452 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

10.3.13 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock products are distributed to Spain via its exclusive distributor Gaon System SA, which is owned by Luis Alfredo Gaon Levy. Gaon System has developed a network with hundreds of technical centres throughout the country and two offices: 453

Main officeCalle Gamonal 5, Nave 2528031 MadridTel: + 34 (0)902 311511 Fax: +34 (0)917 788568 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Website: www.gaonsys.es

452 Miriam Shoham, “About us”, Website Shoham (www.mshoham.com), Viewed in April 2011.453 Gaon Systems, “Empresa”, Website Gaon Systems (www.gaonsys.es), Viewed in April 2011; Mul-T-Lock, “Distributors”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in April 2011; RM, “Información Mercantil interactiva de los Registros Mercantiles de España. Gaon System SA”, Registradores Mercantiles, 6 April 2011.

Barcelona officeCalle Consell de Cent 170, 2nd floor 08015 Barcelona Tel: +34(0)93 451 34 31 E-mail: [email protected]

10.3.14 Royalife

Royalife produces bed textile in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.33).Bed textile of Royalife is sold at El Corte Inglés.454

10.3.15 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including Spain.

Its products are sold under the SodaStream name in most countries, and under the Soda-Club name or select other names in certain other countries. SodaStream sells its products through more than 35,000 retail stores, including Carrefour.455

The distributor for Spain is located in Barcelona: 456

SodaStream EspañaCommercial del vapour Di4Calle Copérnic 5-7 08860 Castelldefels Barcelona Tel: +34 (0)9 02 10 58 39E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.es

The website of SodaStream Spain presents many selling points of SodaStream products in Spain.457

454 El Corte Inglés, “Textil – Juego de funda nórdica malva”, Website El Corte Inglés (www.elcorteingles.es), Viewed in April 2011; Antag, “Royalife”, Website ANTAG (www.antag.es), Viewed in April 2011. 455 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.456 SodaStream, “About us”, Website SodaStream Spain (www.sodastream.es), Viewed in April 2011. 457 SodaStream, “Puntos de venta”, Website SodaStream Spain (www.sodastream.es), Viewed in April 2011.



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10.3.16 tip top toys

Tip Top Toys Star produces high quality educational toys, sold under the Interstar brandname, in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.40). Interstar rings can be bought (online) at the following websites:

Stoks Didactic458

C / Falco, 11Lliça d’Amunt 08186 BarcelonaSpainTel: +34 93 841 70 77E-mail: [email protected]: www.stoksdidactic.com

Salvadedos 459

C / Santa María 56 08911 Badalona SpainTel: +34 (0)93 513 5761 Fax: +34 (0)93 513 5802 E-mail: [email protected]: www.salvadedos.com


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s brand names are available in various European countries, including Spain.460

Tishbi’s distributor in Spain is:461

Mrs Shira LabelTel: +34 (0)9 36 74 04 97

Tishbi’s wine is also for sale at online shopping mall Alibaba: spanish.alibaba.com.462

458 Stoks Didactic, “Interstar Rings”, Website Stoks Didactic (www.stoksdidactic.com/juegos/montar-construir/construcciones/interstar-rings-es), Viewed in April 2011. 459 Stoks Didactic, “Interstar Rings”, Website Stoks Didactic (www.salvadedos.com/jugueteria.htm), Viewed in April 2011460 Tishbi, “Wine Store” and “Distributors”, Website Tishbi Estate Winery (www.tishbi.com), Viewed in March 2011.461 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com ), Viewed in April 2011.462 Alibaba, “Tishbi Chardonnay”, Website Alibaba (spanish.alibaba.com/product-free/tishbi-estate-chardonnay-12252485.html l), Viewed in April 2011.

10.3.18 twitoplast

Twitoplast manufactures plastic accessories for the air conditioning market in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.42). Twitoplast exports to Spain via its distributor Serna Hermanos, which operates under the names Panaconfort and Deklima:463

PanaconfortAvenida Denia 62 - 6403016 AlicanteSpainTel: +34 966 590 666 M: +34 649 109 405Website: www.panaconfort.com

DeclimaC / 9 in San Salvador 03005 AlicanteSpainTel: +34 (0)9 66 08 77 77E-mail: [email protected]: www.sha.com


Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). Jet Madrid Keys, headquartered in Madrid, is a supplier of industrial and locksmith products and also sells the Yardeni brand:464

Jet Madrid KeysCalle del Salvador 628012 MadridSpainTel: +34 (0)9 13 66 36 37Website: www.jetmadridkeys.com

463 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Twitoplast, “Distributors”, Website Twitoplast (www.twitoplast.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.464 Jet Madrid Keys, “Brands”, Website Jet Madrid Keys (www.jetmadridkeys.com), Viewed in April 2011.

10.4

Other trade links

10.4.1 Comexi group

Pol. Ind. de Girona E-17457 Riudellots de la SelvaSpain Tel: +34 (0)9 72 47 77 44 Fax: +34 (0)9 72 47 73 84Website: www.comexi.com

The Spanish Comexi Group is a supplier of machinery and services to the flexible packaging converting industry. In December 2010 the company mentioned in an article that it has supplied machinery to RonoPolydan Packaging.465 RonoPolydan Packaging produces and prints flexible packaging for the food and other consumer industries in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.32).

10.5

Summary

A total of 19 Israeli settlement companies exporting to Spain were identified (see Table 16).

465 Comexi Group, “Comexi Group: The Meeting Point of Sustainable Innovation”, Newsletter Comexi Group, Vol. 6 No. 15, December 2010.


tABlE 16.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Spain

EXPORTER PRODUCTS SPANISH SUBSIDIARY SPANISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

Achdut Sesame products Kosher Tov

Adanim Tea Tea Cotrading SL, Diética Eco Sol and Bionsan

Agrexco Fruit & Vegetables Agrexco España

Barkan Mounts Electronic goods

Al Digital, AKI, Bauhaus, Carrefour, Darty, El Corte Ingles, Fnac, Hipercor, Media-Saturn, Miro, Pc City, Staples, Worten.

Beigel & Beigel Bakery products Kosher TovCarmel Carpets Carpets No further details could be found.


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EXPORTER PRODUCTS SPANISH SUBSIDIARY SPANISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

Dead Sea Laboratories

Ahava beauty products

Disavo, Belmine, possibly also by Sephora Cosmetics, El Corte Inglés.

Dispobud Textile Alibaba online shop

Fermentek Bioactive compounds Alibaba online shop

Hadiklaim Dates Possibly by El Corte Inglés and Carrefour

Keter Plastic Plastic products

Aki Bricolaje, El Corte Inglés, Leroy Merlin, Carrefour, Bricor, Bricogroup, Bricoking, Hagalo, Toys ’R Us

Miriam Shoham Fruit & Vegetables

Mul-T-Lock Locks Gaon System SARoyalife Bed textile El Corte Inglés


SodaStream España SA

TipTopToys Toys Stoks Didactic and Salvadedos

Tishbi Estate Winery Wine Alibaba online shop

Twitoplast

Plastic accessories for air conditioning industry

Panaconfort and Declima

Yardeni Locks Holdings Locks Jet Madrid Keys


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1 1R E L A T I O N S H I P S

W I T H S W E D E N

11.1


relationships

In August 2009 Sweden and Israel were engaged in a diplomatic row when a Swedish newspaper accused Israeli soldiers of having harvested organs from Palestinian bodies. The Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt rejected Israeli calls for official condemnation of the article, saying freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy.466

Sweden has an embassy in Tel Aviv and consulates in Haifa and Eilat. In January 2008 the Swedish minister of foreign affairs, Carl Bildt, visited Tel Aviv and met with the then prime minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert (see Figure 26).467 Carl Bildt visited Israel and Palestine again between 26 February and 3 March 2011. In Israel, Bildt met among others Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Lieberman and opposition leader Tzipi Livni. He also met with representatives of civil society and discussed the developments in the Middle East with analysts from Israeli think tanks. Carl Bildt also had the opportunity to visit northern Israel.468

Sweden supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Sweden is one of the largest donors of support to the Palestinians. In 2008 Sweden contributed some SEK 720 million to Palestinian state-building and humanitarian emergency relief.469

466 Ynetnews.com, “Israel: Sweden using 'freedom of speech' as fig leaf”, Ynetnews.com, 22 August 2009.467 Regeringskansliet, “Carl Bildt”, Website Regeringskansliet (www.sweden.gov.se), Viewed in May 2011.468 Embassy of Sweden Tel Aviv, “Carl Bildt in Israel”, Press release Embassy of Sweden Tel Aviv, 4 March 2011.469 Regeringskansliet, “Carl Bildt participating in international meeting on support to Palestinians”, Press release Regeringskansliet, 22 September 2008.

In May 2010 the Swedish Port Workers Union launched a one week boycott of Israeli products.

11.2

Trade and economic

agreements

Since 1959 Israel and Sweden signed nine bilateral agreements. The following are relevant for trade and economic relations:470

Agreement for the Avoidance of Double •Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital signed in 1959;Agreement on the Co-Production of •Films between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Sweden signed in 1971;Agreement relating to Air Services •between the Kingdom of Sweden and the Government of the State of Israel signed in 1977;Memorandum of Understanding •(MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Research and Development between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of Sweden signed in 2000.

The MoU of 200 was signed in order to promote and increase technological exchange between high-tech industries in Israel and Sweden. This agreement was implemented and supported through the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) at the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Jerusalem and VINNOVA, the Swedish Agency for Innovative Systems.471

470 Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel Bilateral Agreements”, Website Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Templates/Amanot.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B5F215993-CC42-421E-B74D-949AACCA4C9C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=/mfa/treaties/israel%20bilateral%20agreements/&NRCACHEHINT=Guest), Viewed in April 2011.471 Embassy of Sweden, “Agreements & Cooperation”, Website Embassy of Sweden Tel Aviv (www.swedenabroad.com), Viewed in April 2011.

11.3


Sweden is of the opinion that the settlements are illegal and impede peace negotiations in the region.472 The Swedish minister of International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, stated in September 2008 that“ […] settlement policy remains an obstacle to [economic] developments. Much more needs to be done to get the Palestinian economy on its feet,” .473 Recently, Minister Bildt called for a moratorium of the settlements. “It is reasonable that this moratorium is to say forever. These are illegal settlements on land”, he stated in an interview in October 2010. He also stressed the importance of a gesture from the Israeli side to safe the peace talks. “Something should be done”, he said in this regard.474

472 Regeringskansliet, “Speech by Gunilla Carlsson at Gaza Accountability Conference 2010”, Website Regeringskansliet (available at www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/12855/a/140656), Viewed in May 2011.473 Regeringskansliet, “Carl Bildt participating in international meeting on support to Palestinians”, Press release Regeringskansliet, 22 September 2008.474 Sverige Radio, “Vill ha evigt moratorium för bosättningar”, Press release Sverige Radio, 20 October 2010.

11.4


No reliable statistics exist on trade between Sweden and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and Sweden, we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to Sweden.

Swedish imports from Israel are low and relatively stable (see Figure 27). It peaked in 2008 at US$182 million, but then decreased to US$ 121 million in 2009.475 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

Swedish exports from are on average 3 times higher and Israel sharply increased the past five years to US$ 693 million in 2008 and then declined to US$ 523 million in 2009. In 2009 Sweden was Israel’s 10th largest European supplier, accounting for 1.0% of Israel’s total imports. There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.476

Figure 28 gives an overview of Swedish imports from Israel (including imports from settlements in the occupied territories) by major product categories.


FIgURE 26.Former Israeli prime minister Olmert and Swedish minister BildtSource: Regeringskansliet, “Carl Bildt”, Website Regeringskansliet (www.sweden.gov.se), Viewed in May 2011


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As Figure 28 shows, the most important Swedish imports from Israel consists of edible vegetables, fruits and nuts and other food products (19%). Electrical machinery and equipment (19%), mechanical appliances (13%), electrical apparatus for telecommunication (10%) measuring and medical instruments (7%), together comprise 49% of Swedish import from Israel.

11.5


companies to Sweden

This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to Sweden. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

11.5.1 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Adanim teas are sold by the Israel Produkt Centrum Skandinavien. This organisation works together with IPC Nijkerk in the Netherlands (see paragraph 8.5.2), which has a storage centre from which it transport Israeli products to Sweden.477

11.5.2 Agrexco

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). According to Palestine Gruppe Sverige (Palestine Association Sweden), Carmel Agrexco’s fruit and vegetables are sold in stores of COOP and Lidl.478

477 IPCS, “Catalogue - Adanim Tee”, Website Israel Produkt Centrum Skandinavien (www.ipcs.se), Viewed in April 2011. 478 PGS, “Öppet brev till Lidl (Open letter to Lidl)”, Press release Palestine Gruppe Sverige, 4 February 2011; PGS, “Ett steg närmare bannlysning av stulen frukt i Coop-butiker? (One step closer to banning stolen fruit in Coop stores?)”, Press release Palestine Gruppe Sverige, 22 Februaru 2011.

Coop operates grocery retail shops in chains like Coop Forum, Coop Extra, Coop Konsum and Coop Nära, and accounts for 21.5 per cent of the entire Swedish grocery retail sector. Kooperative Förbundet (KF), the Swedish Cooperative Union, is the parent company of KF Group where Coop’s grocery retail trade constitutes its core business. KF is a federation of 47 consumer cooperative societies in Sweden, with over 3 million individual members. The KF Group is also home to a number of companies within different business sectors as well as companies offering internal services. 479

CoopEnglundavägen 4171 88 SolnaSwedenTel: +46 (0)8 743 10 00E-mail: [email protected]: coop.se

Kooperativa Förbundet (KF)Stadsgården 10 PO Box 15200S-10465 Stockholm SwedenTel: + 46 (0)8 743 25 00 E-mail: [email protected]: www.kf.se

In Sweden, Coop is repeatedly asked by civil society organisations and some of its consumer cooperative societies to end trade relationships with Agrexco. Coop however claims that it can ensure that their products did not originate from occupied Palestinian land and continues its relationship with Agrexco. 480

Agrexco’s products are supplied to Coop supermarkets through the company Everfresh, which is part of the group Total Produce: 481

479 Coop, “About Coop”, Website Coop (www.coop.se), Viewed in April 2011; KF, “About KF”, Website Coop (www.coop.se), Viewed in April 2011480 PGS, “Ockupation MedMera. Coops handel med israeliska företag som beggar folkraättsbrott (Coop's trade with Israeli companies who commit crimes against international law)”, Palestinagrupperna I Sverige, January 2011. 481 Everfresh, “Home”, Website Everfresh (www.totalproducenordic.se/everfresh), Viewed in April 2011; PGS, “Ockupation MedMera. Coops handel med israeliska företag som beggar folkraättsbrott (Coop's trade with Israeli companies who commit crimes against international law)”, Palestinagrupperna I Sverige, January 2011.

11 RELATIONSHIPSWITH SWEDEN

FIgURE 27.Swedish imports from Israel and Sweden exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 28.Swedish imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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Everfresh ABLångebergavägen 190 256 69 Helsingborg SwedenTel: +46 (0)4 24 50 23 00E-mail: [email protected]


Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in Sweden by: 482

Bauhaus Enköpingsvägen 41JärfällaTel: +46 (0)8 58 02 20 00Website: www.bauhaus.se

Moon RadioBox 3SE-735 21 SurahammarSwedenTel: +46 (0)2 203 71 20Website: www.moon.se

Net On NetTel: +46 (0)3 348 84 88Website: www.netonnet.se


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in Sweden by:483

Primeur Vin Ab PO Box 25S-443 21 LerumTel: +46 (0)3 021 40 70Fax: +46 (0)3 021 31 24E-mail: [email protected]


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand

482 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.483 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars (www.barkan-winery.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Ahava products are sold online by the following (online) cosmetics stores:

Vivamondo, which was founded in Sweden, has a branch in Denmark and delivers cosmetics worldwide.484

Duveskogs Reseservice (Travel Service) 485

Örnvägen 1821 50 BollnäsSwedenTel: +46 (0)2 781 60 05 E-mail: [email protected]

11.5.6 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). The company claims to export to Sweden. 486 However, we could not find further information in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic products (outdoor storage) are sold in Sweden by the following retailers: 487

Brafab: www.brafab.se•Brisak: www.brisak.se•Gofab: www.gofab.se•Lantmannen: www.lantmannen.se•

As Keter Plastic and the other companies within Keter Group together have many production facilities, it is not entirely clear from which Keter Plastic plants these

484 Viavamondo, “Om Vivamondo” and “Home”, Website Vivamondo (www.vivamondo.dk), Viewed in April 2011. 485 Duveskogs Reseservice, “Ahava”, Website Duveskogs Reseservice (www.duvres.se), Viewed in April 2011.486 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.487 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in May 2011.

products originate but it is possible that they come from one of the factories located in the occupied West Bank.

11.5.8 Mehadrin

MTex has an office in Sweden: 488

Nordenstedt Frukt ABVästra Hamngatan 13A411 17 Göteborg Tel: +46 (0)31134932

11.5.9 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock Sweden is located at:

Mul-T-Lock AB 489

Hällebergsvei 1SE-443 60 StenkullenVästra Götalands länSweden

The official distributor in Sweden is Assa Abloy, the parent company of Mul-T-Lock, see paragraph 11.6.1.490

11.5.10 sodastream

SodaStream products are exported to Sweden by Empire: 491

Empire Sweden AB 492

Östermalmsgatan 87A114 59 StockholmSwedenTel: +46 (0)7 65 47 04 00

488 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010.489 BalticNordic, “Mul-T-Lock”, Website BalticNordic (/www.balticnordic.com), Viewed in May 2011.490 Mul-T-Lock, ‘Find Distributor”, Website Mul_T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock), Viewed in May 2011.491 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.492 SodaStream, “Office locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in May 2011.

Fax: +46 (0)8 66 10 74 00E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.se

Early 2011, after a report by the Coalition of Women for Peace, the Swedish retail chains ICA and MediaSaturn that sell SodaStream products, claimed that the company was moving its production lines from the settlement. SodaStream’s CEO Birnbaum confirmed that the company is building a new factory but it is unsure whether production will be relocated. He further told that products sold in Sweden come from the factory in China. 493


Supergum Industries produces plastic and rubber products for the automotive industry in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.38). One of Supergum’s main customers is the Swedish Army. 494


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi’s distributor in Sweden is:495

Brill & CoBox 10116, 121 28Stockholm-GlobenTel: +46 (0)8 660 69 20Fax: +46 (0)8 600 41 25 Website: www.brill.se

493 Sadeh, S., “SodaStream setting up plant within Green Line”, Haaretz.com, 3 March 2011.494 Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, “Supergum Industries”, Website Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in April 2011.495 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi (www.tishbi.com), Viewed in April 2011.



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11.6

Investments in


This section describes investments in settlement companies by Swedish companies or financial institutions via loans, share ownership or otherwise.

11.6.1 AssA Abloy

Assa Abloy ABP.O. Box 70340SE-107 23 StockholmSwedenTel: +46 (0)8 506 485 00E-mail: [email protected]

The Swedish company Assa Abloy is the parent company of Mul-T-Lock (see paragraph 13.27). Assa Abloy was established in 1994 and is now one of the leading lock producers worldwide with around 37,000 employees and sales of around € 4.1 billion (SEK 37 billion). The company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa division (EMEA) sells mechanical, electromechanical and electronic locks, cylinders, security doors and fittings. Most sales take place in West Europe, but emerging markets in East Europe and the Middle East are gaining importance.496

In 2000 Assa Abloy acquired 89% of the Israeli company Mul-T-Lock. At the time of purchase the book value of Assa Abloy’s share in Mul-T-Lock amounted to € 112.4 million (SEK 1,004 million).497 Assa Abloy is informed about Mul-T-Lock’s activities in the settlements and stated in October 2008 that it has decided to review the situation of Mul-T-Lock’s production site there. It declared that the production site will be moved and that an internal project group has been set up with the assignment to investigate the requirements to start this process.498 Since then however no steps have been taken in this direction.

496 Assa Abloy, “Assa Abloy in brief”, Website Assa Abloy (www.assaabloy.com), Viewed in May 2011.497 Assa Abloy, “Annual Report 2000”, Assa Abloy, February 2001.498 Assa Abloy, “Assa Abloy's production unit in Barkan”, Assa Abloy, 20 October 2011; Assa Abloy, “Assa Abloy moves the production unit from Barkan”, Assa Abloy, 21 October 2008.

11.7

Summary

A total of twelve Israeli settlement companies exporting to Sweden were identified (see Table 17). For three of these companies we have found local marketing subsidiaries. For three of these companies we have found local subsidiaries.

Apart from the Swedish companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found one company with another trade link to Israeli settlements.


tABlE 17.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to Sweden

EXPORTER PRODUCTS SWEDISH SUBSIDIARY SWEDISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

Adanim Tea Tea Israel Produkt Centrum Skandinavien


Coop Sweden supermarkets, Everfresh (importer)


Bauhaus, Moon Radio, Net On Net

Barkan Wine Cellars Wines Primeur Vin Ab

Dead Sea Laboratories Beauty products Vivamondo, Duveskogs

Reseservice



Brafab, Brisac, Gofab, HDF, Lantmannen

Mehadrin Dates Nordenstedt Frukt ABMul-T-Lock Locks Mul-T-Lock AB


Empire Sweden AB ICA, MediaSaturn

Supergum Industries

Plastic and rubber products Swedish Army (customer)

Tishbi Estate Winery Wines Brill & Co (distributor)

tABlE 18.Other Swedish business links with Israeli settlements

SWEDISH COMPANY


Assa Abloy Mechanical, Parent company of Mul-T-Lock which has a factory in the settlement Barkan Industrial Zone in the West Bank.


C h a p t e r 1 2

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12.1


relationships


In November 2008, the UK Business Secretary Lord Mandelson called for deeper business ties between the UK and its “firm friend” Israel. The UK aims to raise trade between the two countries to £ 3 billion per year by 2012. According to the Business Secretary, opportunities exist in financial services, bio-technology, ICT, medical equipment and software, and also in creative industries, including film-making. The Business Secretary did not announce concrete funds or agreements.499 But in November 2010, a film co-production agreement was signed. Besides the European Association Agreement, there are now three bilateral agreements regarding economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Israel:

The Avoidance of Double Taxation •Treaty between the United Kingdom and Israel was signed in September 1962. Double taxation treaties are conventions between two countries that aim to eliminate the double taxation of income or gains arising in one territory and paid to residents of another territory.500

The Industrial Research and •Development Agreement which was signed in 1999. The purpose of the agreement is to promote cooperation in industrial research and development between private sector companies in the United Kingdom and Israel by establishing a joint United Kingdom-Israel industrial research and

499 DBERR, “Lord Mandelson calls for more business with Israel”, Press release Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, London, 18 November 2008.500 UNCTAD, “United Kingdom FDI Country Profile”, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva, June 2005.

development fund (the Britech Fund) to support collaborative projects between such companies.501 The Britech fund was initially launched for a period of five years, but extended for another four years. At the end of 2008 the fund was suspended. Funding for cooperation in industrial research and development appears increasingly to be channelled through European wide programmes such as Eureka and Eurostars.502 Since the fall of 2010, the British government has launched a UK/Israel Life Sciences Council, a UK/Israel Regenerative Medicine fund, a major push to promote links between the two high tech economies and a new Film Treaty to expand the cultural cooperation.503

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague •and his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman signed on a film co-production agreement in November 2010. The film treaty provides the legal framework for British-Israeli film co-productions through financial benefits and cooperation between the Israel Film Fund and a partner film organisation in the UK. At the same day the UK Foreign Secretary also signed a comparable treaty with the Palestine Authority, the first bilateral agreement between the two nations.504

501 FCO, “Explanatory Memorandum on an Industrial Research and Development Agreement between the UK and Israel (01/06/99)”, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, June 1999; FCO, “Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the State of Israel on Bilateral Cooperation in Private Sector Industrial Research and Development”, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London, 24 May 1999502 Personal communication, Pera, February 2009. See also www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/internationalprogramme.ashx503 Hague, W., “Sixty years of British-Israeli diplomatic relations”, Speech of Foreign Secretary William Hague to Chatham House, 30 March 2011.504 British Embassy in Israel, “UK and Israel sign film co-production agreement”, British Embassy in Israel, 9 November 2010; British Embassy in Israel, “UK-Palestine Film Agreement”, British Embassy in Israel, 9 November 2010.

12.1.2 Diplomatic relationships

The British government has connections with Israel through the following organisations:

Foreign & Commonwealth Office •(FCO)

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for promoting British interest abroad. As Britain diplomatic service that represent the UK government overseas it has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates, with 14,400 employees working in over 170 countries. Its political team is made up of the Secretary of State, William Hague, and several Ministers, among which the Minister of Middle East, Alistair Burt.505

the British Consulate general•

The British Consulate General in East Jerusalem506 is part of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. On its website it states the following: “Our goal is a secure and universally recognised Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem the future capital of both states, and a fair settlement for refugees. (…) Settlements, as well as the evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem are illegal and deeply unhelpful to efforts to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East conflict.”507

Uk trade & Investment•

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is a directorate of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. UKTI helps UK companies succeed in international markets and assists overseas companies to bring high quality investment to the UK. The UKTI website includes sections about export to Israel and to the Palestinian Territories.508

505 FCO, “About us”, Website Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011.506 Its address is 19 Nashashibi Street, Sheikh Jarrah Quarter, P O Box 19690, Jerusalem+97200 , Website: ukinjerusalem.fco.gov.uk. The address of the British Embassy in Israel is 192 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63405, Israel. Website: ukinisrael.fco.gov.uk507 FCO, “Middle East Peace Process”, Website British Embassy in Israel (ukinisrael.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011.508 UKTI, “Countries”, Website UK Trade & Investment (www.ukti.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011.

the Department for International •Development (DFID)

DFID509 is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain’s aid to developing countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty through development. Its website notes that “many different things can contribute to development which reduces poverty, such as settling conflicts, increasing trade, tackling climate change, securing more and better aid, and improving health and education.510

It has a programme aimed at the OPTs. This programme is based on the importance the UK Government places on the achievement of an Israeli-Palestinian peace. It believes that sustainable poverty reduction and economic growth can only be achieved in the OPTs if a peaceful solution is secured. DFID spends an average of £86 million per year in the OPTs until 2015. 511

British Council in Israel•

The British Council is a charitable organisation promoting education and culture which acts independently of the United Kingdom Government. While it does not carry out its functions on behalf of the Government, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is answerable to Parliament for the policies, operations and performance of the British Council as the FCO is its sponsoring department.512

For more than fifty years the British Council has worked in partnership with Israeli organisations and individuals in the development of Israel in education, English language skills, arts, governance, human rights, science, environment and technology. Many of the projects and programmes the Council works on are funded by the British Government through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The British Council has centres in Tel Aviv, West

509 Its address is DFID Palestinian Programme, Middle East and North Africa Department, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0)20-7023-0860 E-mail: [email protected] DFID, “About DFID”, Website DFID (www.dfid.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011.511 DFID, “Where we work – Occupied Palestinian Territories”, Website DFID (www.dfid.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011.512 British Council, “About us”, Website British Council (www.britishcouncil.org), Viewed in March 2011.


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Jerusalem and Nazareth in Israel.513 It also has a centre in East Jerusalem and contact points in Ramalla, Gaza, Nablus, the An-Najah National University, and Hebron, the Palestine Polytechnic University.514

12.1.3 British position on settlements

In the past few years, the British government has consistently taken the position that the Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal and an obstacle to peace. In March 2008, a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reacted on plans to build in the settlement of Givat Ze’ev: “We see this as unhelpful - particularly when Israelis and Palestinians should be focusing on full implementation of their obligations under phase one of the road map, which include freezing all settlement activity, including natural growth.”515

In July 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Israel and met with President Shimon Peres. Brown told that the UK supports Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, but called on Israel’s government to halt construction in the West Bank and to ease travel restrictions imposed on Palestinians. 516 Gordon Brown also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. He offered Abbas additional financial support and police training to the Palestinian government and pledged US$500 million over 3 years to 2011 for economic development in Palestine.517

513 Its address in Israel is Beit HaCrystal, 12 Hahilazon Street, P.O. Box3302, Ramat Gan 52136, Israel. Tel: +972 (0)3 6113600 Fax: +972 (0)3 6113640/50 E-mail: [email protected]; British Council, Israel Home”, Website British Council (www.britishcouncil.org/israel), Viewed in March 2011.514 British Council, ”Palestinian Territories Home”, Website British Council (www.britishcouncil.org/ps), Viewed in March 2011515 Jerusalem Post, “Peace Now says there are plans to connect Jerusalem with the settlement of Adam”, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem, 11 March 2008.516 FCO, “Middle East and North Africa – Middle East Peace Process – The Palestinians”, Website Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011; FCO, “Foreign Office Minister visits Israel and the Palestinian Authority”, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 16 January 2011.517 Brown: U.K. a true friend of Israel, will work toward terror-free future, Haaretz, Tel Aviv, 20 July 2008.

In August 2008, FCO minister Kim Howells vowed to ensure that settlers will not be invited to future events hosted by the British embassy in Israel following a complaint by a Member of Parliament that Israeli settlers took part in a party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday at the residence of the British ambassador to Israel in June.518

In a parliamentary debate on the UK’s policy toward Israeli settlement in July 2009, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis made clear that the UK opposes to settlements and press the Israeli government on the importance of fulfilling its commitments: Israel should freeze all settlement activity, including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001. 519

In May 2010, the UK supported Israel’s application to the OECD, but emphasized that this does not mean the government accepts the illegal settlements. To this end the OECD Secretariat has agreed to the addition of a footnote in reports concerning Israeli data. The FCO has worked hard to achieve sufficient language: “This report/review/document is not intended to cover the territories known as the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. However, for technical reasons, it uses Israel’s official statistics, which include data relating to the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It is without prejudice to positions regarding those territories, which most members of the international community regard as occupied territory under the terms of international law.” 520

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office in September 2010 stated that “the UK is very disappointed that Israel has not renewed the settlement freeze that has expired in September 2010”. 521 During a visit to Israel

518 UK minister: Keep settlers out of official events, Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem, 5 August 2008.519 FCO, “Middle East Peace Process remains a top priority”, Press release Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 21 July 2009.520 FCO, “Middle East and North Africa – Middle East Peace Process – Israel and the international community”, Website Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011. 521 FCO, “Middle East and North Africa – Middle East Peace Process – Israel and the international community”, Website Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011;

in in November 2010, Foreign Secretary William Hague said construction of further settlements should stop.522

In January 2011, the Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, announced another £17 million funding to the OPT’s for education and access to clear drinking water during his visit to Northern Israel and the Palestinian Authority.523

Prime Minister David Cameron stated in February 2011 that “Israel need to meet its Road Map obligation to halt illegal settlement activities as the resolution Britain supported at the UN Security Council (…) underlines.” 524 Foreign Secretary William Hague also has said repeatedly that settlements are illegal, run contrary to peace and are a threat to the two-state solution, for example during his latest meeting with Ehud Barak and his speech to Chatham House in March 2011.525

12.2


No reliable statistics exist on trade between the United Kingdom and settlement companies. As trade with settlements is included in the trade statistics of the trade between Israel and the United Kingdom we discuss these official trade statistics, to get an indication of which products might be exported by settlement companies to the United Kingdom.

Israel is the UK’s largest individual trading partner in the Middle East & North Africa. British imports from Israel increased the past decade to US$ 1.9 billion in 2007

522 FCO, “Israeli settlements: ‘extremely disappointing and unhelpful’ ”, Press release Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 9 March 2011. 523 FCO, “Middle East and North Africa – Middle East Peace Process – The Palestinians”, Website Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), Viewed in March 2011. 524 Cameron, D., “Prime Minister Urges Reform in the Middle East,”, Speech of Prime Minister David Cameron to Kuwaiti National Assembly, 22 February 2011. 525 Hague, W., “Sixty years of British-Israeli diplomatic relations”, Speech of Foreign Secretary William Hague to Chatham House, 30 March 2011; London Evening Standard, “William Hague: Israeli settlement building ‘runs contrary to peace’, London Evening Standard (www.standard.co.uk), 18 March 2011.

and then dropped to US$ 1.4 billion in 2009 (see Figure 29). The UK is Israel’s 4th largest export market in the European Union, accounting for 3.0% of its exports in 2009.526 As no distinction is made in these statistics between Israeli products and settlement products, the import figures from Israel include settlement products.

British exports to Israel are slightly higher and peaked at US$ 2.7 billion in 2007, but dropped to US$ 1.9 billion in 2009. In 2009 the United Kingdom was Israel’s 4th largest supplier, accounting for 4.0% of Israel’s total imports.527 There are no figures on the percentage of these exports which is destined for the settlements.

Figure 30 gives an overview of British imports from Israel (including imports from the occupied territories) by major product categories. The chart indicates that the most important British imports from Israel consists of electric machinery and equipment (21%), plastics (14%), diamonds (13%), agricultural and food products (13%), pharmaceutical products (10%) and chemicals (9%).

Hidden in these statistics on trading relationships between the UK and Israel are the trading relationships between British companies and companies active in Israeli settlements. How many British companies have trading relationships with companies active in the Israeli settlements, and precisely how important these trading relationships are in financial terms, is difficult to assess. However, as the following paragraphs demonstrate, various trading links do exist between British companies and Israeli companies active in the main product categories mentioned above.

One important category are plastic products, especially plastic packaging products (boxes, crates, etc.) and kitchenware and toilet articles, which account for 6% of British imports from Israel. The largest Israeli exporter in these two product categories is the Keter Group, which manufactures some of its products in the settlements.


12 RELATIONSHIPSWITH THE UNITED KINGDOM


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Many economic relationships also exist in the category agricultural and food products (accounting for 13% of British imports from Israel), among which potatoes, capsicum, citrus fruits and other fruits are the largest product groups. Several companies export agricultural products grown in Israeli settlements to the United Kingdom. These fruit and vegetable products are often sold with a “West Bank” label of origin, which is confusing to customers who have assumed they are buying goods from Palestinian-owned farms. The major UK supermarket chains Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Somerfield in 2008 all admitted sourcing produce from Israeli-owned farms on Palestinian territory, but they claimed that labelling the goods “origin West Bank” provides enough information for the customer to make an informed choice.528

However, many campaigners feel that this is insufficient to enable consumers to tell whether they are buying products from the settlements or from Palestinian enterprises and that settlement goods should be clearly labelled as such. 529

In December 2009, pressure by campaigners convinced the UK government to advise retailers to label food from Palestinian farmers as ‘Palestinian produce’ and food from Israeli settlers in occupied territories as ‘Israeli settlement produce’.530 Issued by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the voluntary guidelines’ purpose is to give more precise information on the origin of produce from Israel and the OPT’s. Israeli officials and settler leaders are highly critical, saying that it is to increase the prospects of a consumer boycott of products from those territories. Palestinians on the other hand urged the UK government to make legal requirements of the guidelines.The British Retail Consortium, which represents

528 Responses from spokesmen of the supermarkets after being approached by the Observer, see also: 'Illicit' settler food sold in UK stores, The Observer, London, 6 July 2008.529 Quaker Peace and Social Witness, “Settlement products – the issues and advocacy messages in relation to the European Union”, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, April 2009; DEFRA, “Technical advice: labelling of produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”, DEFRA (Available at archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/pdf/labelling-palestine.pdf), 10 December 2009.530 DEFRA, “Technical advice: labelling of produce grown in the Occupied Palestinian Territories”, DEFRA (Available at archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/pdf/labelling-palestine.pdf), 10 December 2009.

leading chain stores, and the retailers Sainsbury’s and Waitrose said in their comments that the retailers would follow the guidelines on produce coming from the West Bank. 531

In October 2010, the House of Commons debated about UK’s trade with Israel, whether imports from Israel are regularly checked on their origin and about mislabelling. Some of the questions raised were whether the HM Revenues and Customs authority has examined customs import declarations mentioned in a 2009 research paper written by Profundo for the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies; what the consequences will be for importers making false declarations on the origin of goods from Israel; which supermarkets are contacted to explore discrepancies between the supermarkets’ tracking system and customs import declarations; and what other plans HM Revenue and Customs have to ensure compliance with the rules on claims for preference. 532

In response to questions raised by Andy Slaughter MP in May 2011, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice clarified that the origin labelling only applies to fresh produce. “Origin labelling of products other than food and drink is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.” 533

531 Al Jazeera, “UK calls for clearer Israeli labels. Agency advises shops how to tell customers if produce is from illegal Israeli settlements”, Al Jazeera, 11 December 2009; Black, I., and R. McCarthy, “UK issues new guidance on labelling of food from illegal West Bank settlements”, The Guardian, 10 December 2009; Elliot, V., “Israel expresses anger at new Palestine food labels”, The Times, 12 December 2009.532 Hansard, “House of Commons debates. 18 Oct 2010: Column 548W, EU External Trade: Israel”, Website Hansard Daily (www.publications.parliament.uk), 18 October 2010. 533 Hansard, “House of Commons Written Answers. 24 May 2011: Column 548W, Origin Marking: Israel”, Website Hansard Daily (www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110524/text/110524w0002.htm#11052480009895), 24 May 2011.


FIgURE 29.UK imports from Israel and UK exports to Israel (in US$ million)

FIgURE 30.UK imports from Israel in 2009 (value %)




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12.3


companies to the UK This section describes the exports of products or services by settlement companies to the United Kingdom. A profile of the settlement companies can be found in Chapter 13.

12.3.1 Achdut

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products in the Barkan settlement, which are sold under the Achva brand (see paragraph 13.2). Achva products are sold in the UK by:

Kelmans’ Kosher Foods 534

198 Preston RoadWembley, MiddlesexHA9 8PAUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)20 87 95 03 00E-mail: [email protected]

Ocado 535

Titan Court3 Bishop SquareHatfield Business ParkHatfield AL10 9NEUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)1 707 22 78 00Website: www.ocadogroup.com / www.ocado.com

Ocado is UK’s largest online supermarket that sells more than 21,000 different products, of which a vast majority are sourced through Waitrose. 536

Achva halva products of Achdut are also sold in the United Kingdom by Yarden in London.537

534 Kelmans’ Kosher Foods, “About us” and “Search”, Website Kelmans’ Kosher Products (https://www.secureonlineshopping.biz/liovic/main.asp), Viewed in March 2011.535 Ocado, “Webshop. Achva Sugarless Sesame Halva 275g”, Website Ocado (www.ocado.com), Viewed in April 2011.536 Ocado, “About us”, Website Ocado (www.ocadogroup.com), Viewed in April 2011.537 Yarden, “Achva”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?searchStr=achva&_a=viewCat), Viewed in April 2011.

12.3.2 Adanim tea

Adanim Tea produces (organic) herbal tea, sold under the Adanim and Valdena brand names, in the Ofra settlement (see paragraph 13.4). Adanim bio Camille tea is sold in the United Kingdom by Yarden in London.538

12.3.3 Agrexco Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements, mostly under the Carmel brand (see paragraph 13.5). Agrexco has a branch office in the UK, responsible for importing Agrexco’s fruit, vegetable and flowers:

Agrexco Agricultural Export Co. Ltd 539

Carmel House4F Swallowfield Way HayesMiddlesex UB3 1DQTel: +44 (0)20-8848-7788E-mail: [email protected]

From this depot, Agrexco supplies fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers to all major supermarkets. Products are sold both under the Carmel brand and under the private labels of the supermarkets. In 2008, the United Kingdom represented about 35% of Agrexco’s business.540

Cargoflora is a British freight company which has, reportedly, been handling Agrexco’s cut flowers, distributing them to UK’s supermarkets. Campaigners of CorporateWatch reported in February 2010 that members of staff from both Cargoflora and Agrexco confirmed the two companies have worked together for some years. The company’s partner, J and E Page Distributors Ltd, based in the same office as Cargoflora, advertises that it imports flowers from Israel. 541

There have been a number of protests at Agrexco’s depot in Middlesex. In July and August 2007, activists entered the depot.

538 Yarden, “Adanim”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=3166), Viewed in April 2011.539 Yellow pages, “Agrexco”, Website Yellow pages (www.yell.com), Viewed in March 2011.540 The Grocer, “Weak sterling deters Israelis”, The Grocer, Crawley, 12 May 2008.541 Author unknown, “A Valentine's message from Cargoflora”, CorporateWatch, 25 February 2010.

In June 2008 activists occupied and shut-down Carmel Agrexco’s headquarters and freight warehouse for over six hours.542 In February 2009 Agrexco’s and February 2010 both Carmel Agrexco and Cargoflora’s depots in Hayes Middlesex have been blocked. 543


Arava Export Growers sources agricultural produce, such as tomatoes and herbs, from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.7). Arava Export Growers has a sales office in the United Kingdom, called Arava UK, which is closely working together with Arava Export Growers and Arava Holland. 544

The company’s Dutch subsidiary, Arava Holland (see paragraph 8.5.5) has been decreasing its sales of vegetables to the united Kingdom in the past few years. The largest part of Arava Holland’s sales is imported from its parent company in Israel, but the imports from other countries are increasing.545

In 2008, the company Mill Associates, had taken over the marketing activities of Arava UK, but it is now unclear whether it still exists. At that time, Mill Associates responded on the reported trade of agriculutural produce from the occupied Jordan Valley to the United Kingdom, that ‘Arava does not supply melons, mangos, cucumbers, aubergine, watermelons or cut flowers into the UK’. This statement neither confirms nor denies that Arava exports tomatoes, herbs and other products grown in the occupied Jordan Valley to the UK.546

The address of Arava UK is:Unit 5, The Mill Business Centre Gringley on the HillDoncaster, DN10 4RAUnited Kingdom Tel: +44(0)1777 818 333 E-mail: [email protected]

542 Various articles on Agrexco, Website Indymedia UK (www.indymedia.org.uk), Viewed in March 2011.543 Author unknown, “Carmel Agrexco and Cargoflora blockaded over Imports of Israeli Flowers”, Indymedia, Viewed in March 2011.544 Arava, “Home”, Website Arava Export Growers (www.arv.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.545 Arava Holland, “Annual report 2009 for public purposes”, Arava Holland, September 2010.546 Arava UK treads the Mill, Freshinfo, London, 3 October 2008; E-mail by David Crossland, Mill Associates, to SOAS, 3 December 2008.

On its website, Arava Export Growers presents a certificate which states that the company conforms to the Tesco Nurture (organic) standard and holds a list of approved growers of peppers and herbs. This indicates that Arava is supplying produce to Tesco. One of the locations mentioned on the certificate is Moshav Mehola, a settlement in the West Bank.547


Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products in a factory in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.9). Products of Barkan Mounts are sold in the United Kingdom by: 548

AV Lounge201-203 Streatfield Road HarrowLondon, UK Tel: +44 (0)2 082 04 85 65Website: www.avlounge.co.uk

BlueunpluggedWebsite: www.blueunplugged.com

CSN StoresTel: +44 (0)8 009 17 51 24Website: www.csnstores.co.uk

Digiland - BirminghamUNIT 5, Demuth WayOldburyBirminghamTel: +44 (0)1 215 44 34 63

Digiland - TelfordStafford Park 12Telford UK Tel: +44 (0)8 449 80 21 25

FonejuiceWebsite: www.fonejuice.com

Frame your TV127 Lichfield GroveFinchleyLondon N3 2JLTel: +44 (0)8 00 82 85 86

547 NSF-CMi Certification, “Tesco Nurture. Certificate of Conformity”, NSF-CMi Certification, 30 May 2010.548 Barkan Mounts, “Where to Buy?”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.



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Website: www.frameyourtv.co.uk/

Global Cellular

Laptop Outlet51 Tottenham Court RoadLondon W1T 7QPTel: +44 (0)2 076 37 57 77Website: www.laptopoutlet.co.uk

LTO - CardiffUnited KingdomUnit J, St. Catherine’s Trade ParkPengam RoadCardiffTel: +44 (0)2 920 49 19 46

LTO - MiddlesexArnold Hawker House, Central WayNorth Feltham Trading EstateFeltham, MiddlesexTel: +44 (0)2 087 51 51 05

LTO - SurreyUnited KingdomSutton High Street SuttonSurreyTel: +44 (0)2 086 61 95 94

Micro AnvikaUnit 2055 Westfield London Shopping CentreAriel WayLondon W12 7GETel: +44 (0)2 074 67 60 75Website: www.microanvika.com

N Genius239-240 Tottenham Court RoadLondon W1T 7QPTel: +44 (0)2 076 31 20 20Website: www.n-genius.com

Pama & Co. LtdPama HouseStockport Road EastBredburyTel: +44 (0)8 707 26 26 26Website: www.pama.co.uk

Photostereo109 Queensway Bayswater London Tel: +44 (0)2 077 27 56 54


One of the vineyards of Barkan Wine Cellars is located in the Dolev settlement (see paragraph 13.10). Barkan wines are sold in the United Kingdom by:549

Kedem Europe Ltd. Morris Herzog10 Timberwharf RoadLondon N166DBUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)2 088 02 88 89Fax: +44 (0)2 088 09 28 80E-mail: [email protected]

Abudarham Kosher Food David Abudarham32 Cornwall’s LaneGibraltarTel: +35 (0)2 007 85 06Fax: +35 (0)2 007 32 49

The following British (wine) webshops sell Barkan wines:

Everywine.co.uk: www.•everywine.co.uk 550

Selfridges & Co: www.•selfridges.com 551

Yarden: www.yardenoutlet.co.uk • 552


Beigel & Beigel Food produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.11). According to a report by a UK NGO, Beigel & Beigel products in the UK are sold by large retailers Tesco and Waitrose. According to a website of a UK online ordering service which delivers goods sold by the major supermarkets, Beigel & Beigel products are indeed sold by Tesco, but not by Waitrose.553

549 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Partners”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars, Viewed in April 2011.550 Everywine, “Barkan Chardonnay”, Website Everywine (www.everywine.co.uk/wine.store/Products/Barkan-CLASSIC-Chardonnay-Dan-Isreal-Kosher-Mevushal-95691/Show.html), Viewed in May 2011. 551 Selfridges & Co, “Barkan”, Website Selfridges & Co (www.selfridges.com/en/Food-Wine/Brand-rooms/Gourmet-brands/BARKAN/?brandname=BARKAN&departmentId=19943), Viewed in July 2011.552 Yarden, “Barkan Classic Merlot”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=2567), Viewed in May 2011.553 My Supermarket, “Beigel Beigel Nish Nosh Mediterranean Herb Snacks (300g)”, Website MySUpermarket (www.mysupermarket.


Carmel Carpets manufactures carpets in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.12). The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (IEICE) reports that Carmel Carpets has a high success rate in repeat export orders from various countries including the United Kingdom. 554 We could not find any more detailed information and the company did not respond to our questions about exports to the United Kingdom.


Dead Sea Laboratories produces personal care products, sold under the Ahava brand name, in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement (see paragraph 13.13). Dead Sea Laboratories has a branch in the UK, from which customers can order Ahava products online and ask for the nearest beauty salons and retailers:555

Ahava (U.K.) Ltd.Bentham Manor, BenthamCheltenham, GloucestershireGL51 4TZUnited KingdomTel: 014-5286-4574E-mail: [email protected]: www.ahava.co.uk

The following beauty salons offer Ahava treatments:

Taylormade Made Treatments Ltd556

23 West StreetBuckinghamBucksMK18 1HE Tel: +44(0)1280 816101Website: www.taylormadetreatments.co.uk

co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Snacks/Beigel_Beigel_Extra_Thin_Stick_Pretzels_150g.html), Viewed in March 2011; War on Want, “Profiting from the Occupation”, War on Want, London, July 2006.554 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.555 Ahava UK, “Contact Us”, Website Ahava UK (www.ahava.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.556 Taylormade Treatments, “Treatments”, Website Taylormade Treatments (www.taylormadetreatments.co.uk), Viewed in May 2011.

Ahava Shop and Beauty 557

39 Monmouth StreetCovent GardenLondonWC1H 9DDUnited KingdomTel: 020-7240-8815E-mail: [email protected]

Jill Kelly Skincare Clinic11 Dean RoadScarboroughYO12 7SNTel: +44(0)1723 35 44 21Website: www.beautysalonscarborough.co.uk

12.3.10 Dispobud

Dispobud is a company which manufactures and distributes a wide variety of nonwoven products in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.14). Dispobud exports to the UK under private brand names since Dispobud is a member of the international Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and is listed on the Private Label UK directory, which lists suppliers and manufacturers of private label products and services. Only disposable table covers are mentioned.558 We did not found a more recent source confirming this information.

12.3.11 Distek

DiSTeK develops and manufactures zinc coating technologies for protection of metal parts in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.15). DiSTeK’s agent for the UK is located in the USA. 559

The following British company is among DiSTeK’s list of worldwide applicators: 560

Bodycote Metallurgical Coatings LtdShakespeare StreetWolverhamptonWV1 3LRUnited Kingdom

557 Covent-Garden, “Ahava Store”, Website Covent-Garden (www.covent-garden.co.uk/TopSpots/Ahava.html), Viewed in March 2011. 558 Private Label UK Magazine – Issue 04, The Planet Group, Birkby, June 2008.559 Distek, “List of agencies”, Website DiSTek (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in March 2011.560 Distek, “Clients”, Website DiSTek (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in March 2011.



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Tel: 019-0245-2915 Fax: 019-0235-2917E-mail: [email protected]: mc.bodycote.com

12.3.12 Familia sweet

Familia Sweet manufactures sweets, sold under the Oneg brandname, in the Mishor Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.18). Oneg sweets produced by Familia Sweet are sold in the United Kingdom by Yarden in London.561

12.3.13 Fermentek

Fermentek manufactures bioactive compounds in a factory in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.19). Fermentek is mentioned as a supplier on several British online supplier databases and trading platforms, which suggests that the company is offering its products in the UK.562 And according to a profile of Fermentek on the platform Biopharma, the company is active in United Kingdom.563

However, we could not find further information on selling points in the United Kingdom in public sources. In response to an e-mail Fermentek told us it has “no formal distributors working under Fermentek name. We are working with several international biochemical companies who buy our products and sell them under their name.” 564

12.3.14 hadiklaim

Hadiklaim exports dates from Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.21). Press reports claim that Hadiklaim products are sold by Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda

561 Yarden, “Oneg”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?searchStr=oneg&_a=viewCat), Viewed in April 2011.562 EngNet, “Fermentek”, Website Engineering Network (www.engnet.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011; TradeHolding, “Fermentek”, Website TradeHolding (www.tradeholding.net), Viewed in March 2011.563 BioPharmaLink, “Companies”, Website BioPharmaLink (www.biopharmalink.com), Viewed in March 2011.564 Personal communication by Yosef Behrend, managing director, Fermentek, 5 July 2011.

and Waitrose under their private brand names (i.e. the names of the supermarket chains).565

In December 2009, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s said to start following the UK Government’s advise for more precise labelling on produce from the West Bank. Food from Palestinian farmers will be labelled as ‘Palestinian produce’ and food from Israeli settlers in occupied territories as ‘Israeli settlement produce’. 566

In 2008, Marks & Spencer stated the following about it:

”In the past, we have sold dates from this region, however, we made a policy decision sometime ago to cease all purchases from this area. However, our UK suppliers do buy raw material (dates) from the organisation Hadiklaim on our behalf. The contract explicitly prohibits purchase from Palestinian Territories and Hadiklaim source the dates from elsewhere within Israel to satisfy our requirements. Traceability systems are in place to confirm the source of the dates.”567

12.3.15 Isratoys

Isratoys manufactures board games in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.23).Board games produced by Isratoys are offered by the following webshops:

Rimmon Judaica via Amazon •UK: www.amazon.co.uk568

Toy Essentials: www.•toyessentials.co.uk569

565 Lendman, S., "Israeli Occupation Supportive Companies to Boycott", The Palestine Chronicle, 3 February 2010.566 Al Jazeera, “UK calls for clearer Israeli labels. Agency advises shops how to tell customers if produce is from illegal Israeli settlements”, Al Jazeera, 11 December 2009; Black, I., and R. McCarthy, “UK issues new guidance on labelling of food from illegal West Bank settlements”, The Guardian, 10 December 2009; Elliot, V., “Israel expresses anger at new Palestine food labels”, The Times, 12 December 2009.567 E-mail by David Gregory, Technical Director Food Division of Marks & Spencer, to SOAS, 19 December 2008.568 Amazon UK, “Rimmon - Isratoys”, Website Amazon UK (www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=toys-uk&field-keywords=Rimmon%20-%20Isratoys), Viewed in May 2011.569 Toy Essentials, “Search Isratoys”, Website Toy Essentials (www.toyessentials.


Keter Plastic is a large Israeli manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market, which operates two plants in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.24). Keter Plastic has a subsidiary in the UK which imports and distributes products from its parent in Israel:

Keter (UK) Ltd 570

Unit 12 Woodgate Business ParkClapgate LaneBirminghamWest Midlands B32 3DBTel: +44(0)12 1422 6633E-mail: [email protected]

Keter Plastic products are sold in the UK by Ace, Argos, B&Q, Costco, Debenhams, Focus, Homebase, Makro, Tesco, and Toys-R-Us.571 As Keter Plastic and the other companies within Keter Group together have many production facilities, it is not entirely clear from which Keter Plastic plants these products originate but it is possible that they come from one of the factories located in the occupied West Bank.


Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural company, exporting dates and grapes from the occupied Jordan Valley (see paragraph 13.26). MTex has an office in the UK: 572

MTex UK3 Penta CourtStation RoadBorehamwood Hertfordshire WD61SLUnited KingdomTel: +44(0)20 3114 3030E-mail: [email protected]

co.uk/search.asp), Viewed in May 2011.570 BHETA, “Keter (UK) Ltd”, Website British Home Enhancement Trade Association (www.bheta.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011; Keter, “Contact us – Keter UK”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in March 2011.571 Keter, “Where to buy”, Website Keter (www.keter.com), Viewed in March 2011..572 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010; MTex, “Global location”, Website Mehadrin Tnuport Export Company (www.mtex.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

MTex, a subsidiary of the Mehadrin Group, is the second-largest importer Israeli exporter of fruit and vegetables to the UK (after Agrexco). MTex markets its products in the UK via Tesco and Asda. Other subsidiaries in the United Kingdom are Mehadrin Thnuport Marketing UK (100%), MTex U.K Food Service (100%) and Topgro U.K. (50%).573

In 2008, MTex started a campaign to promote the Jaffa brand in the UK, supported by Tesco. The supermarket has an exclusive 12-month supply contract with MTex.574 For the year 2009-2010, Tesco issued ‘Certificates of Conformity’ to MTex.575

12.3.18 Mul-t-lock

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. produces high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.27). Mul-T-Lock has an office in the UK, which supplies Mul-T-Lock, Nemef, Corbin, Medeco and Ingersoll Security branded products to Ireland and the UK: 576

Mul-T-Lock (UK) Ltd.Portobello Works, School StreetWillenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3PWUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)1902 364 200Website: www.mul-t-lock.co.ukE-mail: [email protected]

Mul-T-Lock products are sold in the UK by a large number of locksmiths to be found in the directory on the website of Mul-T-Lock UK.577

573 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Mehadrin Group”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 12 December 2010, Viewed in March 2011; The Grocer, “Dates not just on the Christmans calendar”, The Grocer, 4 December 2010.574 FreshPlaza, “MTex announces support for the Jaffa brand in the UK”, FreshPlaza, Tholen, 3 March 2008; Talking Retail, “Tesco set to promote Jaffa brand”, Talking Retail, Swanley, 22 January 2008; Ford, R., “Jaffa gets down with the kids in a brand revamp”, The Grocer, 4 October 2008.575 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010.576 Mul-t-lock, “Group Companies”, Website Mul-T-Lock (www.mul-t-lock.com), Viewed in March 2011; Mul-T-Lock UK, “Home”, Website Mul-T-Lock UK (www.mul-t-lock.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.577 Mul-T-Lock, “Locksmiths directory”, Website Mul-T-Lock UK (www.mul-t-lock.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.



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Ofertex Industries manufactures cloths in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.29). Ofertex Industries has a branch for Ireland and the UK: 578

Ofertex Industries (IRL) ltdPeter HanleyUnit 17 Tallaght Enterprise CentreIDA Industrial EstateWhitestown Road, Dublin 24Republic of IrelandTel: +35 (0)3 12 98 13 52M: +35 (0)8 61 58 65 56E-mail: [email protected]

Ofertex was also present at the Springfield Show in Birmingham in 2008.579

12.3.20 Oppenheimer Manufacture & Marketing

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing produces chocolate products in the Atarot settlement (see paragraph 13.30). Oppenheimer confectionery is sold in the UK by:

Just Kosher580

5-7 Croxdale RoadBorehamwood, HertfordshireWD6 4QDUnited KingdomTel: 020-8207-5556E-mail: [email protected]: www.justkosher.co.uk

Oppenheimer choco chips are also sold by Yarden in London.581

578 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ofertex Industries”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 1 October 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Ofertex, “Contact information”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in March 2011; Personal communication by Meital Tene, Ofertex Industries, 4 July 2011..579 Ofertex Industries, “Exibitions”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in April 2011.580 Just Kosher, “Search results Shamir”, Website Just Kosher (www.justkosher.co.uk/index.aspx?page=search&query=Shamir), Viewed in March 2011. 581 Yarden, “Oppenheimer”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?searchStr=oppenheimer&_a=viewCat), Viewed in April 2011.


Shamir Salads produces ready-made salads in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.34). Shamir Salads products are sold by:

Just Kosher582

5-7 Croxdale RoadBorehamwood, HertfordshireWD6 4QDUnited KingdomTel: +44(0)2 8207 5556E-mail: [email protected]: www.justkosher.co.uk

Salads and dips of Shamir Salads are also sold by Yarden in London.583

12.3.22 shemesh spices

Shemesh Spices produces spices and sauces in the settlement Karnei Shomron (see paragraph 13.35). Products of Shemesh Spices are sold in the United Kingdom by Kosher Cuisine in London584 and the webshop Ocado from Hatfield.585

12.3.23 sodastream

SodaStream produces home beverage carbonation systems in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement (see paragraph 13.37). SodaStream products are exported to 39 countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom. SodaStream has the following offices in the UK: 586

582 Just Kosher, “Search results Oppenheimer”, Website Just Kosher (www.justkosher.co.uk/index.aspx?page=search&query=Oppenheimer), Viewed in March 2011. 583 Yarden, “Shamir”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?searchStr=shamir&_a=viewCat), Viewed in April 2011.584 Kosher Chuisine, “Shemesh Spices Uma”, Website Kosher Cuisine (www.kcuisine.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=319), Viewed in April 2011.585 Ocado, “Shemesh Spices”, Website Ocado (www.ocado.com/webshop/getSearchProducts.do?clearTabs=yes&entry=shemesh), Viewed in April 2011.586 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011; SodaStream, “Office Locator”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Business AddressSodaStream Worldwide Trading Company3, Francis CourtFen DittonCambridgeCB5 8TE

Warehouse AddressGefco UK LtdSodaStream UKUnit 13a Prologis ParkCoventryCV6 4BX

Registered AddressSoda Club Worldwide Trading CompanyUnit 3The Manorgrove CentreVicarage Farm RoadPeterboroughPE1 5UH Tel: 084-5601-0093Fax: 017-3329-6941E-mail: [email protected]: www.sodastream.co.uk

On its website SodaStream mentions John Lewis, Comet, Argos, Lakeland, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Harvey Nichols, Steamer Trading, Robert Dyas and many other in its online store locator.587


Teperberg 1870 Winery owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion and Mevo Horon settlements (see paragraph 13.39). The United Kingdom is one of the countries in Europe where Teperberg has a distributor. This distributor is:588

DrumsticksLondonUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)2 088 85 26 00

Teperberg Riesling wine is sold in the United Kingdom by Yarden in London. 589

587 SodaStream UK, “Home”, Website SodaStream UK (www.sodastream.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.588 Personal communication with Teperberg, 27 April 2011.589 Yarden, “Tperberg”, Website Yarden (www.yardenoutlet.co.uk/index.php?searchStr=teperberg&_a=viewCat), Viewed in April 2011.

12.3.25 tip top toys

Tip Top Toys Star produces high quality educational toys, sold under the Interstar brandname, in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.40). Tip Top Toys is registered in the UK:590

21st Century Toys Limited t/a TipTopToys.co.uk Registration number 0717669 Registered office:136 Tinshill RoadLeeds LS16 7PZ

Ready Steady StoreKirkstall Road LeedsLS4 2QDE-mail: [email protected]: www.tiptoptoys.co.uk

Interstar toys, brand of Tip Top Toys, are sold in the UK by:

Amazon 591

Website: www.amazon.co.uk

Eduzone LtdCedar House, Sopers RoadCuffley, HertsEN6 4RYTel: +44 (0)8456 445 556 E-mail: [email protected]: www.eduzone.co.uk

In direct correspondence, Eduzone indicated that it was completely unaware that any of the factories producing products from Tip Top Toys are located in settlements in the West Bank. Eduzone stated that it would seriously consider withdrawing these products from sale in order to exert pressure on the manufacturer to relocate their factory out of the occupied West Bank, and would welcome further dialogue in this regard.592 However, Interstar toys can still be found on the website.593

590 Tip Top Toys UK, “Contact us”, Website Tip Top Toys UK (www.tiptoptoys.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.591 Amazon, “Interstar Master Builder”, Website Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011. 592 Personal communication by Nigel Thorogood, Eduzone Ltd, to SOAS, December 2008.593 Eduzone, “Interstar Animal and People Pack”, Website Eduzone (www.website.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.



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Just Childsplay 594

Unit 17, Abbey CourtWallingford RoadLeicester, LE4 5RDUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)8 448 26 00 10 E-mail: [email protected]: www.justchildsplay.co.uk


Tishbi Estate Winery has a vineyard in the Gush Etzion settlement (see paragraph 13.41). Tishbi wine is distributed in the UK by:595

Smithfield WineTel: +44(0)16 1273 6070E-mail: [email protected]: www.smithfieldwine.com

David BarryLondonTel: +44 (0)797 960 4346 E-mail: [email protected]: www.tishbigreen.co.uk

12.3.27 twitoplast

Twitoplast manufactures plastic accessories for the air conditioning market in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.42). In the UK, Medal Aircon has secured UK marketing rights for the Twitoplast range of grilles, diffusers and ancillary air movement products.596

Medal Aircon Distribution LtdSuite 5LMH Business ParkHarlescott Lane, Shrewsbury, ShropshireSY1 3AHUnited KingdomTel: +44(0)17 4346 6333E-mail: [email protected]: www.medalaircon.co.uk

594 JustChildsPLay, “Interstar Master Builder”, Website JustChildsPlay (www.justchildsplay.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011. 595 Tishbi, “Distributors”, Website Tishbi Estate Winery (www.tishbi.com), Viewed in March 2011.596 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org)(www.whoprofits.org), Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Twitoplast is Medal winner, ACR-news, South Croyden, 16 July 2007; Twitoplast, “Links”, Website Twitoplast (www.twitoplast.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.


Yardeni Locks Holdings manufactures high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanism in the Barkan settlement (see paragraph 13.43). On the website of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, Yardeni Locks claims it exports to the United Kingdom.597

The following shops in the United Kingdom sell Yardeni keys:

NW Keys Ltd: www.nwkeys.co.uk • 598

Davenport-Burgess: www.•davenport-burgess.com 599

12.4

Investments in


This section describes investments in settlement companies by UK companies or financial institutions via loans, share ownership or otherwise.

12.4.1 Apax Partners

33 Jermyn StreetLondon SW1Y 6DN United KingdomTel: +44 (0)2 078 72 63 00Website: www.apax.com

Apax Partners is an independent global private equity advisory firm that invests via its Apax Funds in companies with a value of between €1 billion and € 5 billion. Apax Partners employs about 300 people and has offices staffed by local nationals in 12 countries worldwide. It has two funds for investments in Israel: the Apax Israel II

597 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog. Yardeni Locks Ltd.”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in June 2011.598 NW Keys, “Silca YD2 Yardeni cylinder key”, Website NW Keys (www.nwkeys.co.uk/Portal.aspx?page=43&prod=6477), Viewed in July 2011.599 Davenport Burgers, “YD2R Silca Yardeni”, Website Davenport Burgers (www.davenport-burgess.com/searchresults.aspx), Viewed in July 2011.

and the Israel Growth Fund. Its subsidiary Apax Partners Israel Ltd is located in Tel Aviv.600

One of the companies Apax Partners invests in is the Israeli Tnuva Food Industries, which owns 25% of Agrexco (see paragraph 13.5). It was acquired in January 2008 at a value of US$1.025 billion by Apax Partners and the Mivtach Shamir group, which together hold 76.7% of Tnuva’s shares. A further 23.3% is owned by a Holding Corporation whose members include Kibbutzim, Moshavim and the Kibbutz Economic Organizations.601

Apax Partners also invests in Israeli telecommunication provider Bezeq, a company providing telecommunication services to all of the Israeli settlements, army bases and checkpoints in the West Bank. Since December 2009, Apax Partners has a majority stake in Israeli asset manager Psagot, which Trust Funds hold shares (8%) in Amir Marketing and Investment in Agriculture. This company has a branch in Thomer, occupied Jordan Valley.602

12.4.2 greenkote

Greenkote PlcThames HoudPortsmouth RoadEsherSurrey KT10 9ADUnited KingdomE-mail: [email protected]: www.greenkote.com

Greenkote, formerly Summet Hi-Tech Coatings Ltd, was established in 1999 in Israel as part of the OCS Incubators

600 Apax Partners, “Our Company”, Website Apax Partners (www.apax.com), Viewed in March 2011; Apax Partners, “Annual Report 2009”, Apax Partners, October 2010.601 Apax Partners, “Secotr Focus – Retail&Consumer Investments - Investment Company”, Website Apax Partners (www.apax.com), Viewed in March 2011; Apax Partners, “Consortium comprising funds advised by Apax Partners & Mivtach Shamir acquires Tnuva forUS$1.025 billion”, Press release Apax Partners, 7 January 2008.602 Apax Partners, “Annual Report 2009”, Apax Partners, October 2010; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Amir Marketing and Investment in Agriculture”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org) Updated 21 December 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Bezeq”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 17 May 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Psagot, “English Site”, Website Psagot (www.psagot.co.il/heb/EnglishContent/Homepage), Viewed in March 2011.

Program with the goal of developing first-quality, cost-effective environmentally-friendly coatings. Greenkote develops, produces and distributes advanced metal, alloy and plastics coatings. Greenkote has a R&D centre in the Barkan Industrial Zone settlement. In this centre the Greenkote processes were developed and continue to be refined. 603

Greenkote is now registered as a UK company and headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Through subsidiaries Greenkote GmbH, Greenkote (Israel0 Ltd, Greenkote USA, Greenkote NA Holdings and its subsidiaries, it has factories in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, India, Israel, Mexico and United States. Customers include Audi, Bosch, Daimler AG, Ford Motor, GE, General Motors, Hop, Iscar, Motorola, Volkswagen, Whirlpool, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and TCB in the UK. 604

There are two addresses known of the company’s subsidiary in Israel. According to its own website Greenkote Israel is located in Yavne, but according to its annual report and various other sources, Greenkote is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone. This is the research and development site for new technologies. It also has limited production capabilities. 605

Greenkote (Israel) Ltd Ha’odem 6P.O. Box 8744820 Barkan Industrial Zone IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 90 60 920Fax: +972 (0)3 93 68 210

603 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Greenkote (Summet Hitech Coatings”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 11 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Greenkote, “About Us”, Website Greenkote (www.greenkote.com), Viewed in March 2011.; Greenkote, Annual Report 2009”, Greenkote Plc, 14 June 2010.604 Greenkote, “About Us” and “Contact Us” , Website Greenkote (www.greenkote.com), Viewed in March 2011. 605 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Greenkote (Summet Hitech Coatings”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 11 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Greenkote, Annual Report 2009”, Greenkote Plc, 14 June 2010; IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog - Greenkote Plc”, Website Israeli Export & International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in May 2011.



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12.4.3 g4s

G4S plc.606

The ManorManor RoyalCrawleyWest Sussex RH10 9UNUnited KingdomTel: 44 (0)12 93 55 44 00Website: www.g4s.com

G4S is the result of a merger between the British Securicor company and the Danish Group4Falck in 2004. The company, G4S plc. is, registered in England and traded on the London Stock Exchange and Nordic Nasdaqy-OMX. 607

Its subsidiary, G4S Israel (also known as Hashmira Company Limited, bought by Group4Falck in 2002), provides security systems to prisons in Israel and the OPT, to Israeli military checkpoints and police headquarters in the West Bank, and to businesses in the settlements. In March 2011, after a campaign of Dan Watch, the company stated that it would stop part of their occupation-related activities. 608

12.4.4 hanson

Hanson House14 Castle HillMaidenheadBerkshire SL6 4JJUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)1 628 77 41 00Website: www.heidelbergcement.com/uk/en/hanson

Hanson is the UK’s leading supplier of heavy building materials to the construction industry. Hanson’s UK business is split into three business lines - quarry products, building products and cement - which together operate over 350 manufacturing sites and employ more than 6,000 people. In August 2007 the company was acquired by HeidelbergCement from Germany.609

606 G4S, “Annual Report and Accounts 2009”, G4S, March 2011.607 G4S, “Factsheet”, G4S, 28 March 2011.608 Who Profits, “The Case of G4S. Private Security Companies and the Israeli Occupation”, Coalition of Women for Peace, March 2011.609 HeidelbergCement, “About us”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.

Hanson’s subsidiary in Israel, Hanson Israel, owns and operates three aggregate quarries, two asphalt plants and 26 ready-mixed concrete plants.610 According to the Coalition of Women for Peace, four of these plants are located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank: concrete plants in Modiin Illit and in Atarot, and an asphalt plant and an aggregates quarry located south of Elqana (see paragraph 13.22).611

In July 2009, HeidelbergCement announced the sale of its activities in Israel to Mashav Initiating and Development Ltd, a company owned by the IDB Group which is one of the largest public holding companies of Israel.612

The Israeli antitrust authorities, however, indicated that they would oppose to the originally intended sale and the agreement was terminated. HeidelbergCement stills plans to sell Hanson Israel, as it is a non-strategic business unit.613 But at this moment the company is still part of the HeidelbergCement Group.614

12.4.5 Unilever

Unilever UK FoodsHead OfficeBrooke House Manor Royal Crawley, West Sussex RH10 9RQUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)1 293 64 80 00Website: www.unilever.co.uk

The Anglo-Dutch company Unilever, is one of the largest food, personal care and detergents producers in the world. It has

com), Viewed in April 2011; HeidelbergCement, “Our history”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.610 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.611 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Hanson Israel”, Website Who Profits?, Viewed in April 2011; Personal communication by Dalit Baum, Project Coordinator, "Who Profits from the Occupation?", The Coalition of Women for Peace, Tel Aviv, November 2008.612 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement sells its activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 July 2009.613 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement restarts sale of activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 December 2009.614 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.

been active in Israel since 1938. In 1995, Unilever expanded its business by buying a 50% stake in the ice cream business of Strauss, one of Israel’s two leading dairies. This stake was later raised to 51%. Unilever furthermore acquired the household and personal care division and the food division of the Israeli company Vitco and Bestfoods. 615

Unilever Israel, a full subsidiary of Unilever, is one of the largest manufacturer of food and cleaning products in Israel. Its annual sales amount to € 400 million and its headquarters is located in Airport City, an industry park adjacent to Ben Gurion airport. The company has 2,000 employees in various subsidiaries spread throughout Israel.616

Unilever Israel 617

Airport City P.O. Box 208 Ben Gurion Airport 70100IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 972 93 02 F: +972 (0)3 972 93 33E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.unilever.co.il

Through its subsidiaries Unilever Israel Foods and Unilever Israel Home and Personal Care, Unilever is owner of Beigel & Beigel Ltd, which is located in the Barkan industrial zone in the occupied West Bank. 618

After several campaigns against the factory and Unilever, the company first announced it would sell Beigel & Beigel, but decided in December 2010 that it will move the

615 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, Dun's 100: Israel's Largest Enterprises”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (www.duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; Personal communication by Kees van der Waaij, Chairman Unilever Nederland Holdings B.V., Rotterdam, 4 October 2006; Unilever London, Annual report 2007, April 2008. 616 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, Dun's 100: Israel's Largest Enterprises”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (www.duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; Unilever Israel, “About Unilever Israel”, Website Unilever Israel (www.unilever.co.il), Viewed in May 2011. 617 Unilever, “Perscontacten”, Website Unilever (www.unilever.nl), Viewed in May 2011.618 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Beigel and Beigel”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 6 March 2011, Viewed in March 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Unilever”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 8 November 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Unilever Israel, “Brands”, Website Unilever Israel (www.unilever.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.

factory from the settlement. Talks with Wissotzky Tea in 2009 ended because the bid was too low. 619Beigel & Beigel

Besides Beigel & Beigel Food, Unilever also has trade relations with Golden Ryd Dyl, an Israeli paper and cleaning products importer and distributor, which is a supplier to Lipton, a brand of Unilever.620

12.5

Other trade links

This section describes UK companies involved in exporting products or services to settlement companies.

12.5.1 Record Power

Unit B Adelphi Way Ireland Industrial Estate Staveley, Chesterfield S43 3LS United KingdomTel: +44 (0)8 707 70 17 77 Fax: +44 (0)8 707 70 18 88Website: www.recordpower.co.uk

Record Power Ltd designs and manufactures fine woodworking machinery and tools. 621 According to D.N.M.’s website, Record Power’s products are imported from the United Kingdom by the Israeli company D.N.M. Technical Equipment and Tools, which has a branch located in the Barkan Industrial Zone, in the West Bank.622

619 Unilever to sell stake in plant based in West Bank settlement, The Guardian, London, 1 December 2008; UCP, “Dossier Unilever”, Website United Civilians for Peace (www.unitedcivilians.nl), Viewed in May 2011; Author unknown, “Wissotzky Tea may reportedly acquire Beigel”, Businessweek, 12 February; Yevet, O., “Exclusive - It seems that Unilever gives up selling Beigel&Beigel”, Calcalist, October 2009; Chen, Shoshana, “Wissotzky CEO: ‘Mega is making a full of consumers’ ”, Ynet economy, 3 December 2009.620 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Golden Ryd Dyl”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Update 5 March 2008, Viewed in March 2011; GRD, “About us”, Website Golden Ryd Dyl (www.grd.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.621 Record Power, “About us”, Website Record Power (www.recordpower.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011.622 D.N.M., “Home”, Website D.N.M. Technical Equipment & Tools (www.dnm.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.



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12.6

Summary

A total of 23 Israeli settlement companies exporting to the United Kingdom were identified (see Table 19). For 9 of these companies 12 British marketing subsidiaries were found.

Apart from the British companies importing products from Israeli settlements, we found a further 7 British companies with a trade or investment link to Israeli settlements.


tABlE 19.Exports from Israeli settlements in occupied territories to the UK

EXPORTER PRODUCTS BRITISH SUBSIDIARY BRITISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

Achdut Sesame products Kelmans’ Kosher Foods, Just Kosher, Adafina, Yarden

Agrexco Fruit & vegetables

Agrexco Agricultural Export

Probably to most supermarkets. Handling of flowers by Cargoflora


Fruit & vegetables Arava UK Tesco

Beigel & Beigel Bakery products Tesco, WaitroseCarmel Carpets Carpets Dead Sea Laboratories

Ahava beauty care products

Ahava (U.K.) Ltd, Ahava Shop and Beauty

Taylormade Beauty, Jill Kelly Skincare Clinic

Dispobud Textile Exports under private brand names

DiSTeK Zinc coating technologies Bodycote Metallurgical

Coatings

Fermentek Bioactive compounds

Hadiklaim Dates Asda, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose

Keter Plastic Plastic products Keter (UK) Ltd

Ace, Argos, B&Q, Costco, Debenhams, Focus, Homebase, Makro, Tesco and Toys-R-Us.

Mehadrin-Tnuport

Fruit & vegetables

MTex UK, Mehadrin Tnuport Marketing UK, MTex UK Food Service and Topgro UK

Asda and Tesco

Mul-T-Lock Locks Mul-T-Lock (UK) Ltd Large number of locksmiths

Ofertex Industries Cloths Ofertex Industries

(IRL) Ltd

Oppenheimer Chocolate products Just Kosher

Shamir Salads Salads and ready-made salads Just Kosher

Shemesh Spices Spices and sauces Kosher Cuisine, Ocado

EXPORTER PRODUCTS BRITISH SUBSIDIARY BRITISH IMPORTER / RETAILER

SodaStream Carbonating devices

Soda Club Worldwide Trading Company

John Lewis, Comet, Argos, Lakeland, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Harvey Nichols, Steamer Trading, Robert Dyas

Teperberg 1870 Winery Wines Drumsticks, Yarden

Tip Top Toys Toys 21st Century Toys Limited

Amazon, Eduzone Ltd, Just Childsplay

Tishbi Estate Winery Wine Smithfield Wine,

David Barry

Twitoplast Plastic accessories Medal Aircon

Distribution LtdYardeni Locks Holdings Locks NW Keys Ltd,

Davenport-Burgess

tABlE 20.Other British business links with Israeli settlements

BRITISH COMPANY


Apax Partners Investment company

Invests in Israeli Tnuva Food Industries, Bezeq and Psagot companies that are involved in production or services to the settlements

Greenkote Coatings Greenkote has a factory located in the Barkan Industrial Zone, a settlement in the West Bank.

G4S Security services and equipment

Provides services to settlements through its subsidiary G4S Israel.

HansonSupplier of heavy building materials

Hanson’s subsidiary in Israel, Hanson Israel, owns and operates aggregate quarries, asphalt plants and concrete plants in Israel of which four are located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Record Power Ltd

Woodworking machinery and tools manufacturer

Exports to D.N.M. Technical Equipment and Tools, which has a branch located in the Barkan Industrial Zone

Unilever

Food, personal care and detergents producer

Owns Beigel & Beigel through its subsidiaries, which is located in the Barkan industrial zone

Is supplied by Golden Ryd Dyl


C h a p t e r 1 3

P R O F I L E S : S E T T L E M E N T C O M P A N I E S


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1 3P R O F I L E S :

SETTLEMENT COMPANIES

13.1

Abadi Bakery

158 HaTozeret Street Jerusalem 97800 Israel Tel: +972 (0)2 5855228Fax: +972 (0)2 5836026E-mail: [email protected]: www.abadibakery.com

Abadi Bakery is a manufacturer of traditional Mediterranean cookies, cakes and other baked goods. According to the company it holds nearly 80% of the market for savoury cookies in Israel and 12% of the entire cookie market. Products are available in Israeli supermarkets and at 9 factory outlet-stores. In Israel its products are distributed by Wizotsky Tea, outside the country is has distributors in the United States (King David Import, Galil Importing and Nuts & More), France (Shneiders), China (Ruifuhang Food Trade) and Australia (Botany International Foods). 623

The company offices and factory are located in the Atarot Industrial Zone, which is a settlement in the West Bank. It employs both Israeli and Palestinian workers, but would prefer to hire more Israelis.624

In response to a large boycott called upon by Palestinians and Arab Israelis in May 2010, staff from Abadi Bakery told The Jerusalem Post that the company ‘doesn’t care’ because the boycott will not affect its business.625

623 Abadi, “About us” and “Distrubutors”, Website Abadi Bakery”, Viewed in March 2011, CWP, Coalition of Women for Peace, “Abadi Bakery ("Mizrahiot" Cookies) “, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011.624 Friedman, R., “NU battles back against settlements goods ban”, The Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2010; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; RVN, “Jordan: Next step regarding Jerusalem”, Right Vision News, 11 December 2009625 Friedman, R., “NU battles back against settlements goods ban”, The Jerusalem Post, 7 May 2010.

13.2

Achdut

P.O. Box 79Barkan Industrial Zone 44829IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9068020E-mail: [email protected]: www.halva.co.il

Achdut is a company manufacturing sesame products (tahini, halva), sugarless products, organic products, syrups, sweets, cakes, cookies & mini cakes. It uses the brand Achva. It is a major provider of tahini for the Israeli Army. The company is located in the industrial zone of the Barkan settlement, which is in the West Bank. 626

Because the current factory is too small, Achva has purchased new land and is building a new modern factory. It is however unclear where this new factory is located and the company did not respond to our questions about this issue. The company has distributors and retailers in amongst others: United Kingdom and France.627

The products of Achdut are exported by the Mavua Group, a major Israeli exporter of food and cosmetics products:628

6 Hasollelim StreetTel Aviv 67897IsraelTel: +972 3 5626612 Fax: +972 3 5626615

626 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ahdut Factory for Tehina Halva and Sweets”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 3 February 2008, Viewed in March 2011.627 Achva, “About us”, Website Achva (www.halva.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.628 Mavua, “About Mavua”, Website Mavua (www.mavua.com), Viewed in March 2011.

13.3

AdaFresh

Farm 37 Kfar Truman 73150 Tel: +972 (0)3 973 50 01E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.adafresh.co.il

AdaFresh is an exporter of (organic) agricultural products from settlements in the occupied Jordan Valley, including Eitan and Inon Herbs and herbs from Aroma Na’ama.629 The company has subsidiaries in the Netherlands and the United States, with their own logistics centres for distribution of AdaFresh’ products. 630

13.4

Adanim Tea

P.O. Box 38Beit Lehem Haglilit 36007Israel Tel: +972 4-9534603Fax: +972 4-9534683E-mail: [email protected]: www.adanim-tea.co.il / www.adanim-tea.com

Adanim Tea Co. produces organically grown herbal teas. The office of the company is located in Israel itself, but “the company’s organic herbs are grown in the Galilee

629 Coalition of Women for Peace, “AdaFresh”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 9 July 2009, Viewed in April 2011.630 AdaFresh, “Logistics”, Website AdaFresh (www.adafresh.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

Mountains and the Jordan valley, where growing conditions are optimal.”631 More specifically, the company’s production facility is located in Ofra, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank: 632

11 Ha’sela StreetOfra 90627 Tel: +972 (0)2 9975691

The company sells (organic) herbal tea under the Adanim and Valdena brand names.633

The products of Adanim Tea are exported by the Mavua Group, a major Israeli exporter of food and cosmetics products:634

6 Hasollelim StreetTel Aviv 67897IsraelTel: +972 3 5626612 Fax: +972 3 5626615

13.5

Agrexco

121 Ha’hashmonaim StreetP.O. Box 20601Tel Aviv 61206IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 5630900Fax: +972 (0)3 563-0988E-mail: [email protected]: www.agrexco.com

Agrexco is Israel’s largest exporter of fresh agricultural produce. Agrexco exports over 600 products, with some 2,000-4,000 farmers supplying products under contract to about 350 buyers worldwide.635 In 2007, the company marketed 435,000 tons of fresh agricultural produce, of which 47% were vegetables, 19% flowers, 14% fruits,

631 Adanim Tea, “Home”, Website Adanim Tea (www.adanim-tea.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.632 List of Products from Settlements in the Occupied Territories, Website Gush Shalom (gush-shalom.org.), Updated in March 2009; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Adanim Tea”, Website Who Profits? www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011.633 Adanim Tea, “Products”, Website Adanim Tea (www.adanim-tea.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.634 Mavua, “About Mavua”, Website Mavua (www.mavua.com), Viewed in March 2011.635 Agrexco, “Ecofresh”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexo.com), Viewed in March 2011.

FIgURE 31.Factory of Achdut in the Barkan Settlement.


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5% plants and propagation materials, 4% citrus fruit, 3% organic produce, 3% general products/processed food and 5% general trade. 636 Of the 50,000 tonnes avocadoes produced annually in Israel, Agrexco produces approximately 70%.637

Agrexco is owned in part by the Israeli government (50%), Israeli growers represented by the country’s production and marketing boards (25%), and the Tnuva cooperative (25%), whose controlling shareholder is Apax Partners. The company has about 500 employees in Israel and overseas. Annual turnover amounted to €653 million in 2007, mostly realised by exports to the EU. Agrexco exports 85% of its products to Western Europe.638

In 2010, Agrexco exported 300,000 tonnes. Its main export clients are located in Western Europe: 50% in France, 15% in Germany, 12% in the United Kingdom and 12% in Scandinavia.639

Carmel is Agrexco’s leading brand. Organic produce is marketed under the Carmel Bio Top label, which represent over 30 different types of organically grown goods. Other brands used by Agrexco are Jaffa, Jordan Plains, Alesia and Coral, a brand created exclusively for Palestinian agricultural products exported and marketed by Agrexco. 640

Agrexco has a global network of branches operating in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Rotterdam, New York, Zurich, Vienna, Madrid and Milan. Marketing and sales offices in Israel are dedicated to marketing and sales in countries where Agrexco does not have representative offices, such as Eastern Europe, the Far and Near East. 641

636 Author unknown. (11 October 2001). Israel's fresh exports-produce. Eurofood. Retrieved from duns100.dundb.co.il637 Smits, C., “Agrexco exporteerde grootste gedeelte”, AGF, Tholen, 2 November 2009.638 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011; Syngenta Seeds, “Pepper production in Israel”, S&G Pepper Today, No. 6, December 2007. 639 Mercados, “El aguacate israelí se consolida en el mercado europeo”, Mercados, Nº 93, February 2011.640 Agrexco, “Our brands”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexo.com), Viewed in March 2011.641 Agrexco, “About us”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexo.com), Viewed in March 2011.

Agrexco’s vegetables and fruits are transported to Europe mainly by boat. Since 1987, Agrexco chartered two ships from the Israeli Ofer Group to supply its products to Southern Europe: the Carmel Topaz and the Carmel Exotic, with a capacity of 370,000 cubic feet and 80 containers. In 2004 these two ships were replaced by two ships which Agrexco had ordered at the ENVC shipyard in Viana de Castelo in Portugal: the Carmel Biotop and the Carmel Ecofresh. The two ships have a carrying capacity of 460,000 cubic feet and 880 containers. The costs of the ships were € 35 million, financed by Munchmeyer Petersen Capital (Germany).642

In March 2004, Agrexco and the Danish freight transport company Maersk Sealand established a regular freight service across the Mediterranean Sea, for containers and refrigerated goods. The Carmel Ecofresh and the Carmel Biotop maintain a weekly service, following the route Asdhod - Marseille - Valencia (Wednesday) - Genua (Friday) - Haifa (Monday) - Asdhod (Tuesday). Agrexco carries its own produce on the ships, while Maersk can ship containers with the ships.643

The Israeli company Associated Maritime Agencies (AMA) is the commercial and operational manager of this shipping service in all ports of call.644 In Marseille (France) Agrexco has a “state-of-the-art terminal”, where products are stored and then distributed throughout the European continent and the U.K. 645 Since October 2010, Agrexco also ships produce to the port of Sète in the south of France once a week.646

Agrexco also transports flowers and some fruits by 747 airplane to Liege (Belgium), where Agrexco has a terminal. From there they are further distributed to other European countries and the UK. 647 Transport by airplane is decreasing in recent years however, due to rising fuel

642 Berrill, P., “New reefers up Agrexco fruit trade”, TradeWinds, 24 October 2003.643 644 AMA, “Representation”, Website AMA (www.ama.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.645 Agrexco, “Logistics”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.646 Coalition contre Agrexco, “Une procédure judiciaire révèle les violations du droit et la fraude commises par la société Agrexco-Carmel”, Press release of the Coalition contre Agrexco, 18 February 2011.647 Agrexco, “Logistics”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

prices. Agrexco announced in 2008 that it intends to minimize transport by airplane in the coming years.648

Activities in settlements

Agrexco is the main exporter of agricultural products from Israeli settlements649, such as grapes, Medjoul dates, citrus fruits, herbs, vegetables, melons and flowers. These products are mostly sold under the Carmel brand. Citrus fruit from the settlements is sold under the Jaffa brand name and dates are sold under the Jordan Plains brand name.650 The brand Jordan Plains is owned by the Jordan Plains Development Corporation, which provide delivery and packing services to agricultural growers in Israeli settlements on occupied land in the Jordan Valley and exports (Medjoul) dates through Agrexco. 651

On its website, Agrexco confirms that its dates originate from a wide area that includes the West Bank. The Agrexco website also states that its pomegranates originate from Mitzpe Shalem, an Israeli

648 Berkel, L. van, “Algemeen directeur van Agrexco: ‘Zo min mogelijk gebruik van luchtvracht maken’ (CEO of Agrexco: ‘Use air freight as little as possible’)”, AGF, Tholen, 13 August 2008.649 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011; William, H., “CODEPINK Activists Protest AIPAC at DC Confab”, The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May / June 2010.650 Green, L., “Apartheid and Agrexco in the Jordan Valley”, The Electronic Intifada, 4 September 2005. 651 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Jordan Plains Development Corporation”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 20 July 2008, Viewed in April 2011

settlement on the West Bank, while figs originate from Masuah, another Israeli settlement on the West Bank.652

Agrexco has a regional office in the Jordan Valley and also owns packing houses situated in the settlements in the West Bank such as Tomer, Massua, Ro’I, Netiv Hagdud and Mehola.653

In January 2006, a court case took place at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in the United Kingdom against seven demonstrators who had participated in a November 2004 blockade of the British office of Agrexco in Hayes. During the court case, the British manager of Agrexco, Amos Orr, testified that Agrexco is responsible for marketing 60-70% of the agricultural produce grown in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. These settlement products account for about 5% of Agrexco’s total turnover.654

Agrexco thus exports agricultural produce from Israel, from Israeli settlements in territories occupied by Israel and from Palestinian agricultural companies. Recently it became clear that Agrexco’s exports are not always proper labelled. In February 2011, the French court of Montpellier issued a report of research verifying the origin of the goods unloaded in the port of Sète, which shows that Agrexco imports settlement produce ánd certifies it as Israeli produce. These proceedings confirmed the law violations and fraud committed by Agrexco.655

The Palestine Solidarity Association of Sweden and DanWatch also published reports that found Agrexco products, labelled as ‘Made in Israel’ but actually produced in settlements, in stores of the Coop supermarket in Sweden and Denmark. 656

652 Agrexco, “News”, Website Agrexco (www.agrexco.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.653 Author unknown, “A Valentine's message from Cargoflora”, CorporateWatch, 25 February 2010; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Agrexco Agricultural Export Company”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in March 2011.654 The Agrexco Seven - Day one. (2006, January 24) Retrieved July 2009 from www.bigcampaign.org655 Coalition contre Agrexco, “Une procédure judiciaire révèle les violations du droit et la fraude commises par la société Agrexco-Carmel”, Press release of the Coalition contre Agrexco, 18 February 2011.656 PGS, “Ett steg närmare bannlysning av stulen frukt i Coop-butiker? (One step closer to

13 PROFILES:SETTLEMENTCOMPANIES

FIgURE 32.Agrexco truck carrying products from the Jordan Valley through the West BankSource: Coalition of Women for Peace, August 2008


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13.6

Amnon & Tamar

16 Kalanit StreetAlfe-Menashe 44851IsraelTel: +972 (0)9 7925657Fax: +972 (0)9 7926682E-mail: [email protected]: www.herb-seasoning.com / www.amnon-tamar.com

Amnon & Tamar Ltd. produces herbal seasonings which are sold under the Pyramid brand name. The factory of the company is located in Israel itself, but its corporate office is located in the Israeli settlement Alfe-Menashe in the occupied West Bank, near the Palestinian town of Qalqilyah. This privately held company is owned by Amnon and Tamar Karmi. 657

According to the Dutch Israel Producten Centrum, the herbs are being grown in Israel, at a plantation in Jizreel, Galilee. 658

13.7


P.O. Box 238Bnei Atarot 60991IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9734141Fax: +972 (0)3 9734114E-mail: [email protected]: www.arv.co.il

Arava Export Growers is the third largest agricultural export company in Israel, with export sales of about € 60 million. It is 50% owned by Hamashbir Holdings, which is part of B. Gaon Holdings. The other 50% is held by farmers in the Arava region of Israel and by Jordan River Herbs. The company exports (organic) bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and other products such as melons, grapes, mangos, cucumbers,

banning stolen fruit in Coop stores?)”, Press release Palestine Gruppe Sverige, 22 Februaru 2011.657 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Amnon and Tamar (Pyramid Herbal Seasonings)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 2 December 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Cronin, D., “Netherlands: Dutch Christian Group Backs Israeli Settlements”, Interpress Service, 28 July 2010; 658 IPC, “Webwinkel”, Israel Producten Centrum (www.ipc-nijkerk.nl), Viewed in March 2011.

aubergines, and cut flowers to a large number of export markets, all under the Arava brand name.659

Arava is active in the occupied Jordan Valley. 660 Figure 33 shows Arava’s tomato growing regions which include the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea, which is part of the West Bank.

Activists also report that Arava Export Growers is supplied by “Jordan River Herbs”, a company owned by farmers from the settlement of Mechola in the occupied Jordan Valley.661

Arava has subsidiaries in the United States, Arava USA, and in the Netherlands, Arava Holland B.V., and a sales office in the United Kingdom, Arava UK. 662

659 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Arava Export Growers”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 17 September 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Israel's fresh exports - produce, Eurofood, 11 October 2001; Duns 100, “B. Gaon Holdings Ltd.”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in April 2011; Arava, “Home”, Website Arava Export Growers (www.arv.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.660 Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009. 661 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Arava Export Growers”, Website Who Profits? ( www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 17 September 2008, Viewed in March 2011.662 Arava, “Home”, Website Arava Export Growers (www.arava.co.il), Viewed in March 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Arava Export Growers”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 17 September 2008, Viewed in March 2011.

13.8

Avgol

Avgol32 Habarzel StreetP.O. Box 13281Tel-Aviv 61132IsraelTel. +972 3 9061555Fax. +972 3 9364376E-mail: [email protected]

Avgol Nonwoven Industries is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of ultra-lightweight and top quality nonwoven fabrics from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), primarily for manufacturers of baby diapers, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products. Avgol supplies nonwoven fabric products to large manufacturers of disposable hygiene products in all 5 continents. The company has factories in an Israeli settlement (see below), the United States, China and Russia, as well as strategically located warehouses in the United States and Europe. The company is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE).663

The United States accounted for 78% of Avgol’s sales in 2009. Its largest customer is the American company Proctor & Gamble.664

The first factory of Avgol Nonwoven Industries is located in Barkan, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank:

663 Avgol, “Company Profile”, Website Avgol (www.avgol.com), Viewed in April 2011.664 Globes, “Nonwoven textile co Avgol buys Cleaver Associates”, Globes, 27 December 2010.

P.O. Box 39, Ha-Inbar StreetBarkan Industrial Zone

The Barkan factory accounts for 40% of Avgol’s total production volume. About half is shipped to the United States. Only a minimal amount of nonwovens produced within Israel serve the domestic market while the rest is used to supply European customers.665 This means that about 20% of Avgol’s total sales are sold in Europe, all originating from a factory located in an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.

13.9

Barkan Mounts

Hasadna Street 18Holon 58815 Israel Tel: +972 3 936 7404Fax: +972 3 936 7405E-mail: [email protected]

Barkan Mounts produces mounting solutions for LCD televisions, plasma televisions and other consumer electronic products. Barkan Mounts was established in 1988 by Mr Lior Barkan. The company has one integrated R&D and production facility, employing 120 people.666

This plant is located in Ariel, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank:667

22 Sachlav StreetArielP.O. Box 89Barkan

665 Nonwovens Industry, “International Top 40”, Nonwovens Industry, September 2007.666 Barkan Mounts, “Company Profile”, Website Barkan Mounts (www.barkanmounts.com), Viewed in April 2011.667 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, “Barkan Mounts”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (israel-business.dundb.co.il), Viewed in April 2011; Laub, K., “Settlement deep in West Bank seen as peace spoiler”, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 March 2010.


FIgURE 33.Tomato growing regions of AravaSource: Arava, “Products. Tomatoes”, Website Arava (www.arv.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

FIgURE 34.Barkan Mounts plant in Ariel. Source: Laub, K., “Settlement deep in West Bank seen as peace spoiler”, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 March 2010


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13.10

Barkan Wine Cellars

Kibbutz HuldaP.O. Box 146Doar Na Sorek 76842IsraelTel: +972 8-9355858Fax: +972 8-9355859E-mail: [email protected]: www.barkan-winery.co.il

Barkan Wine Cellars was originally founded in 1889 and had several owners and different names since. Today Barkan Wine Cellars is the second largest winery in Israel. 668

In 1988 the company rented a facility in the Barkan Industrial Zone, near the settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank, and moved its entire operation, storage and offices to that location.

In 2005, the Tempo Beverage Company (60% owned by Tempo Beer Industries and 40% owned by the Dutch company Heineken) entered into a partnership with Barkan Wine Cellars. Today it owns 83.16% of the company and operates as its exclusive distributor in Israel. Following this acquisition by the Tempo Beverage Company, Barkan Wine Cellars started to moved its entire operation out of the West Bank. By early 2007, both the production process and the warehouses of Barkan were moved out of the West Bank and into Kibbutz Hulda, and all of the winery’s corporate activity in the Barkan Industrial Zone has completely ceased.669

Barkan Wine Cellars however still owns vineyards in three locations on the Golan Heights and one location on the occupied West Bank, the settlement of Dolev, near Ramallah. According to the company’s website, Barkan’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009 contains grapes from the settlement of Dolev.670

668 Barkan Wine Cellars, “Inside Barkan”, Website Barkan Wine Cellars, Viewed in May 2011.669 Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.670 Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.

Barkan Wine Cellars market its wines through an extensive network of distributors and shops throughout Europe, the Americas (North and South) and East Asia.671

13.11

Beigel & Beigel Food

Industrial Zone44820 BarkanIsraelTel: +972 3 9066534E-mail: [email protected]: www.bbexport.co.il

Beigel & Beigel Food Ltd. produces pretzels, savoury biscuits and crackers. It is located in the Barkan Industrial Park in the occupied West Bank. Beigel & Beigel has 120 employees. Its factory, probably the largest in Israel and the Middle East, produces 11 million bags of snacks a year.672 According to its website, the company lead the pretzels and mini cracker market snacks in Israel with a 60% market share and is exporting to more than 20 countries.

In May 2010, Beigel & Beigel pretzels were target of a boycott of settlement-made products by Arab Israelis.673

A 51% stake in Beigel & Beigel was acquired by Unilever through the take-over of Best Foods in 2001.674 Unilever tried to sell its stake to amongst others, Wissotsky Tea in 2009, but ended talks because the bid was too low.675 According to Who Profits? Beigel

671 Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.672 E-mail Kees van der Waaij (Chairman Unilever Nederland Holdings B.V.) to United Civilians for Peace, Rotterdam, 4 October 2006; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; United Civilians for Peace. (2008) Improper advantage: a study of Unilever’s investment in an illegal Israeli settlement. Retrieved August 2009 from www.unilever.co.il673 Friedman, R., “Arab Israelis launch boycott of settlement goods. Shopkeepers to post no-buy lists * 'We are part of the Palestinian people,' Kafr Kana leader declares”, The Jerusalem Post, 6 May 2010.674 United Civilians for Peace, “Improper advantage: a study of Unilever’s investment in an illegal Israeli settlement”, United Civilians for Peace, 2008675 Unilever to sell stake in plant based in West Bank settlement, The Guardian, London, 1 December 2008; UCP, “Dossier Unilever”, Website United Civilians for Peace (www.unitedcivilians.nl),

& Beigel is now fully owned by Unilever through Unilever Israel Foods and Unilever Israel Home and Personal Care. Unilever announced in December 2010 that it will move the factory from the settlement (see paragraph 8.6.2). 676 However, until now there is no evidence that this has actually happened. The company did not respond to our questions about this issue.

13.12

Carmel Carpets

2 Ezzel Street, N.I.Z.Rishon Le-Zion, 75105IsraelTel: +972 3 936 7470 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.carmelcarpets.co.il

Carmel Carpets manufactures and distributes carpets. Its factory is located in the industrial zones of the Barkan settlement. Its subsidiary company, Caesarea Carpets, has factories both in the Barkan and in the Shahak settlements in the West Bank. 677

The company is controlled by Carmel Holdings (Beitili), a public holding company held by the Eitani family from Israel. This holding company owns several furniture, household and carpet manufacturing companies in Israel and abroad. In Germany, its subsidiary Egger produces parquet and laminate. Grandeco, a manufacturer of wallpaper, is located in France and Belgium. Its subsidiary Cool Grass is based in the Netherlands. 678 We have found no information in public sources that these

Viewed in May 2011; Author unknown, “Wissotzky Tea may reportedly acquire Beigel”, Businessweek, 12 February; Yevet, O., “Exclusive - It seems that Unilever gives up selling Beigel&Beigel”, Calcalist, October 2009; Chen, Shoshana, “Wissotzky CEO: ‘Mega is making a full of consumers’ ”, Ynet economy, 3 December 2009.676 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Beigel and Beigel”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 6 March 2011, Viewed in March 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Unilever”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 8 November 2008, Viewed in March 2011.677 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Carmel Carpets” and “Caesarea Carpets”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 26 May 2008, Viewed in March 2011.678 Carmel Carpets, “About”, Website Carmel Carpets (www.carmelcarpets.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.

sister companies of Carmel Carpets import products produced by Carmel Carpets in the settlements.

Apart from selling to consumers, Carmel Carpets also specialises in consulting, producing and supplying carpets for hotels and office buildings. Among its clients are international hotel chains including Sheraton, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Marriott and Meridian.679 The company exports to the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Brazil and Cyprus. 680

13.13

Dead Sea Laboratories

Main address: Arava 1, Airport City, Lod AirportVisitors centre:Mitzpe Shalem, Dead Sea, 86983IsraelTel: +972 (0)2 9945117 / +972 (0)2 9945123Fax: +972 (0)2 9945122E-mail: [email protected]: www.ahava.com

Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd. (DSL) was established in 1988. It produces personal care products, which are sold under the Ahava brand name.681 The Ahava brand is sold in over 25 countries. In 2006, Ahava had a turnover of US$ 23.4 million. The international market accounted for approximately 42% of Ahava’s total products sales.682

The company shares are held by the West Bank settlement of Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem (37%), Hamashbir Holdings (the investment fund of B. Gaon Holdings and the Livnat

679 Carmel Carpets, “Client List”, Website Carmel Carpets (www.carmelcarpets.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.680 IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.681 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 10 October 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Dead Sea Laboratories, “Home”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in May 2011.682 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Intention to float on the London stock exchange – AIM”, Dead Sea Laboratories, Mitzpe Shalem, 1 October 2007.



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family, about 37%), Shamrock Holdings (the investment fund of the Roy E. Disney family, about 18.5%), and the West Bank settlement of Kibbutz Kalia (7.5%).683 B. Gaon Holdings Ltd. is one of the largest holding companies in Israel, managed by Benjamin Gaon (former president of Koor Industries).684

In October 2007, DSL announced its intention to sell shares on the AIM, part of the London Stock Exchange. It expected to raise US$ 22 million. British investment bank Evolution Securities acted as nominated adviser and broker to DSL.685 However, Evolution Securities has indicated that the listing did not take place and that it no longer has any involvement or relationship with Ahava.686

Dead Sea Laboratories has a plant and a visitor centre in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement in the West Bank.687 The company uses Palestinian natural resources without the permission of or compensation to the Palestinians. Palestinians are further denied access to the shores of the Dead Sea and its resources, although one-third of the western shore of the Dead Sea lies in the occupied West Bank. 688

Since 2009 Ahava Dead Sea products are often a target of protests. In August 2009, Oxfam International stopped publicity involving its ambassador, ‘Sex and the City’ actress Kristin Davis, because she was also a spokeswoman for Ahava Dead Sea Products. The contract has expired but the

683 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Last updated 10 October 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Nieuwhof, A., “Boycott of Ahava Dead Sea products makes an impact”, Website BDS Movement (www.bdsmovement.net), Posted on 3 December 2009, Viewed in April 2011.684 Gaon Holdings, “About us”, Website Gaon Holdings (www.gaon.com), Viewed in May 2011.685 Dead Sea Laboratories, “Intention to float on the London stock exchange – AIM”, Dead Sea Laboratories, Mitzpe Shalem, 1 October 2007.686 Personal communication by TJ Worlledge, Head of Corporate Finance, Evolution Securities, London, 5 December 2008.687 Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Dead Sea Laboratories, “Ahava Stores”, Website Dead Sea Laboratories (www.ahava.com), Viewed in May 2011; Frank, T., “Concern over Israel settlement exports”, BBC, London, 5 November 2008.688 Nieuwhof, A., “Boycott of Ahava Dead Sea products makes an impact”, Website BDS Movement (www.bdsmovement.net), Posted on 3 December 2009, Viewed in April 2011.

campaign against Ahava continues.689 In May 2010, Ahava Dead Sea products were target of a boycott of settlement-made products by Arab Israelis.690

Its central flagship store in London was forced to move as a result of the campaigns.691

13.14

Dispobud

Ha’almog Street P.O. Box 93Barkan Industrial Park 44820 IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9067733Fax: +972 (0)3 9368933 E-mail: [email protected]: www.dispobud.co.il

Dispobud is a company which manufactures and distributes a wide variety of nonwoven products, from disposable table covers, disposable clothing and promotional products. Two private companies, Mega Print and Bold Marketing, are the owners of Dispobud. Its factory is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone.692

13.15

DiSTeK

7 Sapir StreetP.O. Box 72 Barkan, Jerusalem 44820Israel Tel: +972 (0)3 9067976 Fax: +972 (0)3 9366256 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.distekgroup.com

689 Cheslow, D., “Mr. Khatib Goes to Quebec”, The Jerusalem Report, 7 december 2009.690 Friedman, R., “Arab Israelis launch boycott of settlement goods. Shopkeepers to post no-buy lists. 'We are part of the Palestinian people,' Kafr Kana leader declares”, The Jerusalem Post, 6 May 2010.691 BNC, “BDS campaigners force London Ahava shop to move”, BDS Movement, 31 March 2011.692 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Dispobud”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 4 October 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Dispobud, “About us”, Website Dispobud (www.dispobud.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

The company DiSTeK develops and manufactures zinc coating technologies for protection of metal parts. DiSTeK has overseas offices in Austria, Bulgaria, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. A zinc thermal diffusion coating technology is registered under the trademark ArmorGalv in the USA. 693

DiSTeK is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone. The company is owned by Isaak (Yitzhak) Shtikan, the German company N.T.B. AG, Y.T.B. Incentive Technological R&D Center in Ariel, and the Economic Company of Ariel.694

13.16

D.N.M. Technical

Equipment and Tools

Haifa branch:33 Jaffa StreetP.O. Box 681Haifa 31006Tel: +972 (0)4 85 23 528E-mail: [email protected]: www.dnm.co.il

Barkan Branch:Barkan Industrial Zone P.O. Box48 DN Ephraim 44820

693 DiSTeK, “Profile”, Website DiSTeK (www.distekgroup.com), Viewed in April 2011.694 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Distek”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 15 April 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009.

D.N.M. Technical Equipment and Tools is an importer and marketer of heavy technical equipment and tools for industrial and personal use. One of its two branches is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone, in the West Bank. Company clients include the Israeli Ministry of Defence.695

D.N.M. claims on its website to import and market tools of various European companies, including AEG (Germany), Bosch (Germany), Metabo Power Tools (United Kingdom), Record Power (United Kingdom), and Bahco (Sweden).696

13.17

Em Hachita

15 HayetziraAtarot Industrial Zone91460 JerusalemIsrael

Em Hachita produces Passover matza products. Their line includes exotic flavors of matza, including tea matzos, spelt matzos, matza meal, Passover cakes and more.697 The company is located in Atarot, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.698

13.18

Familia Sweet

10 Ophira StreetP.O. Box33 Mishor AdumimTel:972-2-5355749Fax:972-25909740 E-mail:[email protected]: www.onegsweet.com

695 Coalition of Women for Peace, “D.N.M. Technical Equipment and Tools”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 16 June 2006, Viewed in March 2011; DNM, “Barkan Branch”, Website D.N.M. Technical Equipment & Tools (www.dnm.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.696 DNM, “Home”, Website D.N.M. Technical Equipment & Tools (www.dnm.co.il),, Viewed in March 2011.697 Scandi Kosher Food, “Kosher Matzot products by Em Hachita”, Website Scandi Kosher Food (www.scandikosherfood.com), Viewed in April 2011.698 Kompass, “Em Hachita Ltd”, Website Kompass (il.kompass.com), Viewed in April 2011.


FIgURE 35.Jerusalem Matzy produced by Em Hachita


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Familia Sweet manufactures and markets sweets. The company specializes in producing: toffee, hard candy, lollipops, chocolate snacks, ice snacks, sour snacks and more. The company markets its produce in Israel and abroad under the name “Oneg” and also markets private brand names to large companies in Israel and abroad. The factory of the company is located in Mishor Adumim, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.699

13.19

Fermentek

Yatziv 25Atarot Industrial Zone P.O. Box 47120 Jerusalem 97800 IsraelTel: +972 (0)2 5853953Fax: +972 (0)2 5853943E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.fermentek.co.il

Fermentek was founded in 1995 and manufactures bioactive compounds by the means of fermentation technology. Its products are intended for biological research, in the areas of molecular biology, applied medical research, and, in bulk amounts, for preclinical trials and for drug research in a factory in the Atarot settlement. The majority of Fermentek’s produce is sold to major chemical trading companies who resell it under their own trade names. The remainder is sold directly to the end-users who apply to Fermentek via the Internet. Among these are university research institutes, drug research/development companies, and major pharmaceutical manufacturers.700

Fermentek has 10 employees and a yearly turnover of about US$ 1.5 million. Fermentek is active in several European countries, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom.701

699 Familia Sweet, “English”, Website Familia Sweet (www.onegsweet.com), Viewed in April 2011; Adumim Industrial Park, “Food”, Website Adumim Industrial Park (www.parkedom.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.700 Fermentek, “About”, Website Fermentek (www.fermentek.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.701 BioPharmaLink, “Companies”, Website BioPharmaLink (www.biopharmalink.com), Viewed in March 2011.

West Bank settlements, the company is also reported to use cheap Palestinian labour, even children, under harsh working conditions.705

Hadiklaim’s marketing is handled by Israeli export company Almog Tradex Ltd (Mr Chezi Almog) to clients such as Migros, Coop, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose, Safeway.706 On its website Hadiklaim states that some of its “largest customers are leading retail chains in the UK and the US”. The main European countries selected for this research are all amongst Hadiklaim’s export destinations 707

705 Lendman, S., "Israeli Occupation Supportive Companies to Boycott", The Palestine Chronicle, 3 February 2010.706 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Hadiklaim – Israel Date Growers’ Cooperative”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 23 November 2008, Viewed in March 2011;.707 Hadiklaim, “Company Customers”, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.

13.22

Hanson Israel

5 Jabotinski StreetRamat Gan 52520P.O. Box 21137Ramat Gan 61211IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 57 64 242 Website: www.hanson-israel.com

Hanson Israel owns and operates three aggregate quarries, two asphalt plants and 26 ready-mixed concrete plants.708 According to the Coalition of Women for Peace, four of these plants are located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank: concrete plants in Modiin Illit and in Atarot, and an asphalt plant and an aggregates quarry located south of Elqana.709

Although the boundaries of the West Bank are not indicated, Figure 36 also shows that several Hanson sites are located in the West Bank.

Hanson Israel is a subsidiary of the British company Hanson, which was taken over by the German company HeidelbergCement in August 2007. In July 2009, HeidelbergCement announced the sale of its activities in Israel to Mashav Initiating and Development Ltd, a company owned by the IDB Group which is one of the largest public holding companies of Israel.710

The Israeli antitrust authorities, however, indicated that they would oppose to the originally intended sale and the agreement was terminated. HeidelbergCement stills plans to sell Hanson Israel, as it is a non-

708 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.709 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Hanson Israel”, Website Who Profits?, Viewed in April 2011; Personal communication by Dalit Baum, Project Coordinator, "Who Profits from the Occupation?", The Coalition of Women for Peace, Tel Aviv, November 2008.710 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement sells its activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 July 2009.

13.20

Golden Ryd Dyl

Golden Ryd Dyl, an Israeli paper and cleaning products importer and distributor, is a supplier to Lipton, one of Unilever’s brands for beverages. Golden Ryd Dyl is located in Mishor Edomim Industrial Zone, which is a settlement in the occupied West Bank.702

Golden Ryd Dyl56 Haruvit StreetMishor Edomim Industrial Zone 98510P.O. Box9030Jerusalem 91096IsraelTel: +972 (0)2 5356060Website: www.grd.co.il

13.21

Hadiklaim - Israel Date

Growers’ Cooperative

6 Harutz StreetTel Aviv 67060IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 6389555Fax: +972 (0)3 6885999Website: www.hadiklaim.com

Hadiklaim - Israel Date Growers’ Cooperative Ltd. produces and exports dates under three brand names - Jordan River, Jordan River Bio-Top and King Solomon - but also under the private labels of supermarket chains. Its main packing houses are located in Zemach, Beit Shean and Eilat in Israel. 703

The company exports dates from Israel and from the occupied territories, especially Israeli settlements in the Jordan Valley.704 Besides harvesting dates from

702 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Golden Ryd Dyl”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Update 5 March 2008, Viewed in March 2011; GRD, “About us”, Website Golden Ryd Dyl (www.grd.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.703 Hadiklaim, “Company Overview’, Website Hadiklaim (www.hadiklaim.com), Viewed in March 2011.704 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Hadiklaim – Israel Date Growers’ Cooperative”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 23 November 2008, Viewed in March 2011; FruitLogistica, “HADIKLAIM LTD.”, Website Fruit Logistica Virtual Market Place (www.virtualmarket.fruitlogistica.de), Viewed in May 2011.


FIgURE 36.Plants of Hanson IsraelNB: circles are concrete plants, triangles are quarries and the cylinders are asphalt plants.Source: HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.


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strategic business unit.711 But at this moment the company is still part of the HeidelbergCement Group.712

13.23

Isratoys

P.O. Box 95Barkan Industrial Zone 44820 Tel: +972 3 9368033Fax: +972 3 9068374E-mail: [email protected]: www.isratoys.net

Isratoys manufactures board games. The company is located in Barkan, which is an Israeli settlement on the occupied West Bank.713

13.24

Keter Plastic

2 Sapir StreetHertzliya Industrial Zone 46852IsraelTel: +972 (0)9 9591212E-mail: [email protected]: www.keter.com

The Israeli company Keter Plastic is a large manufacturer of plastic indoor and garden furniture, shelving systems, tool boxes and storage products for the do-it-yourself market. It also produces household products and kitchen utensils, polyurethane insulated camping products, refuse containers, electronic bathroom and kitchen scales, bathroom accessories, toilet seats, juvenile products and a complete line of sanitary fittings. 714

Keter Plastic is owned by Israeli businessman Sami Sagol and his family. In 2007, sales by

711 HeidelbergCement, “Press release: HeidelbergCement restarts sale of activities in Israel”, HeidelbergCement, 30 December 2009.712 HeidelbergCement, “Israel”, Website HeidelbergCement (www.heidelbergcement.com), Viewed in April 2011.713 Isratoys, “Home”, Website Isratoys (www.isratoys.net), Viewed in May 2011; Kompass, “Isratoys”, Website Kompass (il.kompass.com), Viewed in May 2011.714 Duns 100, “Company profile Keter”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

Keter Group, including related companies, surpassedUS$ 1.1 billion, 90% of which derived from overseas sales. Sales in 2008 were forecast to reach US$ 1.1 billion. Keter Plastics contributedUS$ 450 million to the Group’s turnover. The Keter Group manufactures its products in Israel, Europe and the USA in 29 factories with 2,500 employees and operates sales offices and representatives in 90 countries. Keter Israel operates its own chain of retail stores.715

Keter Group is the largest supplier of plastic household products to the European market, after the acquisitions of French company Allibert and Dutch company Curver in 2004 and 2005.716 Allibert runs production facilities in France and Belgium producing bathroom accessories, household storage containers, custom thermoformed products and garden furniture. Curver produces plastic home and food storage, cleaning, closet organization, laundry, bathroom- and refuse-removal products. The company runs plants in Poland and Hungary.717

715 Duns 100, “Company profile Keter”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011. 716 Lauzon, M., “Keter buys rival Allibert”, Plastics News. 5 January 2004; Lauzon, M. ,”Keter owners acquire Curver”, Plastics News, 17 January 2005; Newell Rubbermaid, “Newell Rubbermaid Completes Sale of Curver”, Press release Newell Rubbermaid, Atlanta, 1 June 2005. 717 Author unknown, “Dutch Company Information Ownership Structures. Jardin International Holding B.V.”, LexisNexis Benelux, 18 July 2009.

Besides Allibert and Curver, Keter Group subsidiaries are Jardin (the Netherlands), Lotemplast (51%) and Mckit (50%). Furthermore, it is controlling shareholder of the Merhav Group and it holds 6.67% of Israel Petrochemical Enterprises. Keter sells its products under the brand names of these subsidiaries and also under Black and Decker.718

Keter Plastic and its subsidiaries have about 2,000 employees at two offices and 13 manufacturing locations in Israel. Since it has closed its storage products factory in the Teradion Industrial Zone near Karmiel, manufacturing of storage products is now limited solely to Keter’s main plant in Karmiel.719

Keter and its subsidiary Lipski, operate two factories in the Barkan Industrial Park (Hashoham Street 11), located in the occupied West Bank.720 It is unclear which products are manufactured at these locations. We could not find information about this issue in public sources and the company did not respond to our questions.

13.25

Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem

7 Eitam StreetMishor Adumim Ind. ZoneTel.+972 (0)2 5357991Fax:+972 (0)2 5357568E-mail: [email protected]: www.maya-foods.com

Maya Spice of Life - Jerusalem manufactures, packs and markets quality foods, under the strict Hechsher of Badatz Eida Charedis in Jerusalem. The company manufactures some 300 diverse products: sweets, snacks, baking supplies, dried fruits, various types

718 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Keter Plastic (Keter Group)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 14 July 2010, Viewed in March 2011.719 Gross Englander, Y. (23 November 2008). Keter closes factory and fires 200. Globes Online: Israel’s Business Arena. Retrieved August 2009 from www.globes-online.com.720 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Keter Plastic (Keter Group)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 14 July 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009.

of rice, legumes, spices, and more. The company also manufactures Private Label products for several brands, as well as special products for the Jewish holidays. Company products are distributed in Israel and to Jewish communities worldwide under the brand names Maya, Super Class and others. The company is located in Mishor Adumim, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.721

13.26

Mehadrin Group

Power Center 1Be’erot Yitzaq 60905IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9371371Fax: +972 (0)3 9371372 E-mail: [email protected]: www.mtex.co.il

The Mehadrin Group is a large agricultural enterprise in Israel active in fruit and vegetable cultivation, packing and cooling services, marketing, export and real estate. The Group’s income amounted to NIS 845 million (€ 161 million), with profits of NIS 43 million (€ 8.2 million), in 2008. 722

An important subsidiary is Mehadrin Tnuport Export (MTex). With over 8,500 hectares of agricultural holdings, MTex is Israel’s largest grower and exporter of citrus as well as other fruits and vegetables. In Israel, MTEX markets citrus fruit under the Pri-Or brand, supplying 20% of the domestic market. Furthermore, MTEX is the leading supplier of JAFFA citrus, handling over 200,000 tons of citrus and tropical fruit annually. The company has annual sales of approximately US$ 200 million with over 65% of the produce exported globally to all continents. Key destinations currently include the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. MTEX has branches in Sweden, France, Netherlands and United Kingdom.723

721 Maya Spice of Life, “Home”, Website Maya Spice of Life (www.maya-foods.com/len/), Viewed in April 2011.722 Duns 100, “Company profile The Mehadrin Group”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.723 MTex, “Home” and “About us”, Website Mehadrin Tnuport Export Company (www.mtex.co.il), Viewed in March 2011; Duns 100, “Company profile The Mehadrin Group”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.


FIgURE 37.A collection of trademarks and brands of the Keter Group


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Since July 2007, MTex has exported Medjoul dates, which are grown in the occupied Jordan Valley.724 MTex is also one of the largest suppliers of the Jaffa brand. Grapes and dates originate from amongst others the settlement of Beqa’ot, but are labelled ‘Produce of Israel’ in French, German and English.725

The company has various subsidiaries of which Mehadrin Thnuport Marketing UK, MTEX U.K Food Service (100%) and Topgro U.K (50%) are located in the United Kingdom and MTEX Holland in the Netherlands.726

The Mehadrin Group also holds 50% of Miriam Shoham, that owns a packing house for mangos in the Golan Heights. This company claims to market its products in England, France, Germany, the Gulf States, the Netherlands, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa and Spain. Clients can order fruit packed in their own brand name. A link to Tesco’s Nature’s Choice Standard indicates that Tesco is one of their clients.727

13.27

Mul-T-Lock

P.O. Box 63781104 YavneIsraelTel: +972 (0)8 94 24 333Fax: +972 (0)8 94 24 609E-mail: hanita_b@mul-t-lockWebsite: www.mul-t-lock.com

724 Berkel, L. van, “MTex verwacht recordjaar voor Medjoul-dadels (MTex expects record for Medjould dates this year”, AGF, Tholen, 14 August 2008; Westen, D., “MTex voegt Medjoul-dadels toe aan het assortiment (MTex adds Medjoul dates to its line of products)”, AGF, Tholen, 5 July 2007.725 Corporate Watch, “Mehadrin’s business in Beqa’ot settlement – and Tesco’s Complicity”, Corporate Watch Research Blogs, 18 May 2010.726 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Mehadrin Group”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 12 December 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Duns 100, “Company profile The Mehadrin Group”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.727 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Mehadrin Group”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 12 December 2010, Viewed in March 2011; Duns 100, “Company profile The Mehadrin Group”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (duns100.dundb.co.il), Viewed in March 2011; Miriam Shoham, “About us”, Website Shoham (www.mshoham.com), Viewed in April 2011.

Barkan plant:728

Ha’inbar 15P.O. Box 36Barkan Industrial Zone

Mul-T-Lock Ltd. is an Israeli producer of high-security cylinders, locks and padlocks for institutional, commercial, industrial and residential applications. The company also develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of key cutting machines. Mul-T-Lock has various subsidiaries in the United States and Europe, as well as one in the United Kingdom. Mul-T-Lock has about 520 employees and is fully owned by Assa Abloy.729

The company’s main factory was located on Ha’inbar Street in the Barkan Industrial Park in the occupied West Bank. Barkan is part of the Israeli settlement Ariel, located 40 km east of Tel Aviv and 10 km inside the West Bank. Mul-T-Lock’s manufacturing plant in the Barkan Industrial Park was opened by Rav-Bariach, the company’s former owner, in 1984 and was acquired by Assa Abloy in 2000.730

Following a report by Swedish organisations, Assa Abloy announced in October 2008 that it will move the Mul-T-Lock plant out of the settlements.731 One year later, Mul-T-Lock came to the conclusion that it is necessary to completely rebuild the plant at another location and decided to move to Modi’in, within Israel but near the border with Palestine. The relocation is expected to be fully complete in 2011.732

Mul-T-Lock has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Canada, Czech Republic, Argentina and Turkey.733

728 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Mul-T-Lock (formerly Rav Bariach)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 10 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011.729 Mul-T-Lock, “Company Profile”, Website Mul-T-Lock (), Viewed in May 2011; 730 Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Wohlfeil, J. et al, “Illegal Ground - Assa Abloy’s business in occupied Palestinian territory”, SwedWatch, Report No. 22, October 2008. 731 Associated Press, “Lock maker Assa Abloy to move West Bank plant”, Associated Press, 21 October 2008; Assa Abloy, “Sustainability Report 2008”, Assa Abloy, April 2009.732 Communication by Ann Holmberg, Corporate Communication Manager, Assa Abloy, 10 August 2009; Assa Abloy, “Sustainability Report 2009”, Assa Abloy, April 2010.733 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Mul-T-Lock (formerly Rav Bariach)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated

13.28

Odeyah Industries

Atarot Industrial ZoneP.O. Box 4710591470 JerusalemIsraelTel: +972 (0)2 5833260 Fax:+972 (0)2 5833259 E-mail: [email protected]: www.odeyah.com

Odeyah Industries Ltd. is a private company producing a wide collection of cosmetic products and skin care products based on minerals taken from the Dead Sea. The products are branded under the “Mineral from the Dead Sea” brand. The company is located in Atarot, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank.734

13.29

Ofertex Industries

P.O. Box 30Industrial Zone Barkan 44820IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9366567Fax: +972 (0)3 9068296E-mail: [email protected]: www.ofertex.com

Ofertex Industries (1997) Ltd. manufactures cloths by non-woven stitch bonding (zigzag) technology. The plant, located in the Barkan Industrial Zone in the occupied West Bank, 735 recycles textile waste into various consumer goods, with floor cloths, bathmats and variety of innovative cleaning cloths being the company’s main products. The products are packaged and supplied to distributors and large marketing chains in various countries around the world under the brand names of large retailers, as Ofertex attends the exhibition of the Private Label Manufacturers Association

10 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011.734 Odeyah Industries, “About us”, Website Odeyah Industries (www.odeyah.com), Viewed in April 2011.735 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ofertex Industries”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 1 October 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Israel Exporter, “Ofertex Industries”, Website Israel Exporter (www.israelexporter.com/ofertex), Viewed in March 2011.

(PLMA). The company has customers in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and various other European countries, North America, Latin America and Australia.736

13.30

Oppenheimer Manufacturing

and Marketing

Hamifalot Street 13Atarot Industrial ZoneJerusalem 97800Tel: +972 (0)2 6566691

Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing produces and exports chocolate products and sweets. It is owned by Ya’akov Yakav and Shim’on Ben Simhon. Yakav is also CEO, together with David Mendel. The company is located in the industrial zone of Atarot in the West Bank. 737

In May 2010, Oppenheimer chocolates were target of a boycott of settlement-made products by Arab Israelis.738

13.31

Plasto-Polish

P.O. Box 10383Petach-Tikva49003 IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 9368830Fax: +972 (0)3 9368333E-mail: [email protected]: www.plasto-polish.co.il

Plasto-Polish develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality household cleaning products: sponges, cleaning cloths, magic erasers, and scorers in a wide range of

736 Ofertex, “Customers”, Website Ofertex Industries (www.ofertex.com), Viewed in March 2011; Israel Exporter, “Ofertex Industries”, Website Israel Exporter (www.israelexporter.com/ofertex), Viewed in March 2011.737 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 5 August 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009.738 Friedman, R., “Arab Israelis launch boycott of settlement goods. Shopkeepers to post no-buy lists. 'We are part of the Palestinian people,' Kafr Kana leader declares”, The Jerusalem Post, 6 May 2010.



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sizes, colours, and materials. Plasto-Polish’s products are sold worldwide under its own Bianco label as well as private label for leading American companies such as 3M (under the Scotch Brite brand) and Kimberly Clark. 739

The factory of Plasto-Polish is located in Barkan, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank:740

4 Inbar StreetP.O. Box 2744820 Barkan Industrial Zone

13.32

RonoPolydan Packaging

P.O. Box 7767Ramat Gan52176 IsraelTel: +972 3 936 7060 / 7131Fax: +972 3 936 7151 / 7063E-mail: [email protected]: www.rpp.co.il

RonoPolydan Packaging produces and prints flexible packaging for the food and other consumer industries. RonoPolydan covers an area of 5,000 square meters with employees numbering more than 110 people.741

The company provides packing services to multiple consumer goods manufacturers and importers in Israel including Osem, Beigel & Beigel, Colon and Persil Laundry Detergent, Sunfrost, Soglowek, Eden Springs, Sano, Tafnukim Diapers, and Landwer Coffee. The plant of RonoPolydan Packaging is located in Barkan, an Israeli settlement on the West Bank:742

739 IsraelExporter, “Plasto-Polish”, Website IsraelExporter (www.israelexporter.com/plasto-polish), Viewed in April 2011; Plasto-Polish, “About us”, Website Plasto-Polish (www.plasto-polish.co.il/about.asp), Viewed in April 2011.740 Kompass, “Plasto - Polish (Barkan) Ltd”, Website Kompass (il.kompass.com), Viewed in April 2011; Dun & Bradstreet Israel, “Plasto - Polish (Barkan) Ltd”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (israel-business.dundb.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.741 RonoPolydan Packaging, “Profile”, Website RonoPolydan Packaging (rpp.co.il/profile.htm), Viewed in April 2011.742 Who Profits, “RonoPolidan Packaging”, Website Who Profits (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in April 2011; Panjiva, “Ronopolydan Ltd.”, Website Panjiva (www.panjiva.com), Viewed in April 2011.

P.O. Box 88Barkan Industrial Zone 44820Tel: +972 3 9366241

13.33

Royalife

29 Kaufman St. Tel Aviv 58001 IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 5505001 E-mail: [email protected]: www.royalife.co.il

Factory:29 Hametsuda Street68012 AzorIsrael

Royalife is a bed textile company.743 According to several sources, the factory of Royalife is located in the Barkan industrial zone.744

In 2009, a report by Kav LaOved came out on discrimination and bad working conditions of Palestinian workers at the Royalife factory in the settlement. People were fired after organizing strikes to demand their rights.745 A group of 21 women are involved in legal battle with Royalife, claiming that conditions in the factory break Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor health and safety rules and that they were paid far less than the Israeli minimum wage. The companies’ management has rejected the claims. Moreover, since the group (then 45 women) took their employer to court, the company sacked workers who maintain their claims. About 20 have withdrawn their claims because of such pressure. But one of the workers reached a compromise with the defendants that enabled the payment of

743 Kompass, “Royalife”, Website Kompass, Viewed in April 2011.744 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ofertex Industries”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 1 October 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Duns Guide Global, “Royalife Ltd.”, Website DunsGuide Global Israel Business Area (Israel-business.dundb.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.745 Irving, S., “Palestinian women settlement workers’plight”, Electronic Intifada, 4 May 2009.

differences of minimum wage, vacation days, holiday pay and convalescence pay in June 2009.746

13.34

Shamir Salads

E-mail: [email protected]: www.shamir-salads.com

Shamir Salads is a producer of ready-made salads. Its factory has the ability to produce 700 tons a month and the capacity to deliver 1800 tons of salads.747 It is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone. It has been exposed as deliberately mislabelling their settlement produce. In March 2001, for instance, Gush Shalom found products in the Netherlands, labelled as ‘made in Israel’. From an interview with a former Palestinian worker, Corporate Watch also reported that people worked seven days a week, made many overtime hours and were paid below Israeli minimum wage.748

In January 2008, 51% of Shamir Salads was bought by G. Willi-Food, Israel’s largest food importer and a supplier of an extensive range of quality kosher food products. Willi-Food’s current product list includes some 400 food products.749

746 Corporate Watch, “Resisting the corporations”, Corporate Watch, 18 November 2009; Irving, S., “Palestinian Workers in West Bank Sue for Rights”, WeNews, 19 July 2009.747 Shamir Salads, “Company Profile”, Website Shamir Salads (www.shamir-salads.com/Eng), Viewed in March 2011.748 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Shamir Salads”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 17 June 2008, Viewed in March 2011; Indymedia, “Corporate Watch: Working for Shamir Salads in Barkan industrial zone”, Indymedia, 22 May 2010; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Gush Shalom, “Shamir Salads' false label”, Press release Gush Shalom, 27 March 2010.749 Indymedia, “Corporate Watch: Working for Shamir Salads in Barkan industrial zone”, Indymedia, 22 May 2010; Willi-Food, “About us – Background”, Website G. Willi-Food (www.willi-food.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

13.35

Shemesh Spices

P.O. Box 13030Karnei Shomron Tel: +972 (0)9 7941333

Shemesh Spices produces spices and sauces. The company is located in the settlement Karnei Shomron on the West Bank.750

13.36

Shor Family Wineries

Arza WineryP.O. Box 9118118218 JerusalemIsraelTel: +972 (0)2 535 1442Fax: +972 (0)2 535 2128E-mail: [email protected]: www.arza.biz

Hacormim Vineyard (1978) Co. Ltd 751

Haruvit 20Maale AdumimIndustrial Zone Mishor AdumimP.O. Box 5188JerusalemIsraelTel: +972 (0)2 535 2255Website: www.hacormim.com

Zion Fine Wines45 Charuvit StreetMishor AdumimIsraelTel: +972 (0)2 53 52 540 Fax: +972 (0)2 53 55 533Website: www.zionfinewines.co.il

Three wineries owned by the Israeli Shor family are all located in Mishor Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank: Arza Winery, Zion Fine Wines and Hacormim Vineyard. The owners and managers of these wineries all descend from the Shor family and sell wine, grape juice and alcoholic beverages, including Kidush (sacramental)

750 Dun & Bradstreet Israel, “Shemesh Spices”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (dunstrade.dundb.co.il/D600410591.aspx), Viewed in April 2011.751 D&B, “Hacormim Vineyard (1978) Co. Ltd”, Website Dun & Bradstreet Israel (dunstrade.dunb.co.il), Viewed in April 2011.



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wine. Well-known brands of these wineries are Charisma (from Arza Winery), Conditon and Kings Kiddush Wines (Hacormim). The flagship wine of Zion Fine Wines is Armon. Zion further produces wine under the labels Erez and Tidhar. Arza Winery has an annual production of 4 million bottles and Zion Fine Wines of 2.2 million. 752

13.37

SodaStream

Israeli Main OfficeGilboa StreetP.O. Box 28070151 Ben-Gurion AirportTel AvivIsraelTel: +972 (0)3 97 62 45 1 Fax: +972 (0)3 9736660Website: www.sodastream.com

SodaStream International (formerly known as Soda-Club Holdings) is engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing home beverage carbonation systems and related products, such as soda makers, exchangeable carbon-dioxide (CO

2)

cylinders, and consumables, consisting of CO

2 refills, reusable carbonation bottles

and flavours. In 2010, the company realised global revenues of € 160.7 million and had 40,000 points of sale and more than 1,000 employees worldwide. 753

SodaStream products are sold in 41 countries worldwide, including the European countries Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In Germany, its distributor Brita imports and markets products of SodaStream. In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, SodaStream is distributed by Empire. Its products are sold under the SodaStream name in most countries, and under the Soda-Club name or selected other names in certain other countries.

752 Wines Israel, “The Shor Family – A Story of Wine & Religion”, Website Wines Israel (www.wines-israel.co.il), 30 September 2008, Viewed in April 2011; Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit. The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.753 SodaStream, “SodaStream International Reports Record Fourth Quarter And Full Year Revenue”, Press release SodaStream, 1 March 2011.

SodaStream sells its products through retail stores, including Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Sears, Kmart, Coop, Carrefour, Gall and Gall, Edeka, and Migros.754

The English businessman Peter Wiseburgh, introduced the soda makers in Israel in the 1970s and established Soda-Club in 1991. Soda-Club acquired its competitor SodaStream in 1998, thus creating the world’s largest home carbonation system supplier.

Following a financial crisis, Soda-Club was taken over by Fortissimo Capital Fund in 2007, a fund that invests in technology companies in “special situations” and controlled by the Israeli businessman Yuval Cohen. The fund’s main investors are Israeli institutional investors, including the Bank Leumi Gemel provident fund. In 2008, Plenus Mezzanine Fund lent Soda Club Group NIS 33 million (€ 6.3 million). Another important shareholder was Real Property Investments, a Liberian company controlled by the British Conrad Morris.755

In 2010, the company was renamed into SodaStream International Ltd., whose head office is located in Israel. This company made an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the American NASDAQ stock exchange in November 2010. The company issued 6.3 million shares with a total value of US$ 125.29 million to private and institutional investors from various countries.756

754 ABN, “Oppenheimer (NYSE-mail: OPY) Initiates Coverage on Sodastream International (NASDAQ: SODA)”, American Banking News, 14 December 2010; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.755 Feldman, B., “Fortissimo Capital to raise new fund”, Globes – Israel’s Business Arena, 27 April 2008; Habib-Valdhorn, S., “SodaStream files for Nasdaq IPO; The home soda company wants to raiseUS$95 million at a company value of US$336 million”, Globes – Israel Business Arena, 19 October 2010; Shlomo, G., “Institutional investors invest NIS 11.5b in private equity”, Globes – Israel’s Business Arena, 12 August 2008; Who Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011; SodaStream, “Milestones”, Website SodaStream (ww.sodastream.com), Viewed in May 2011.756 Habib-Valdhorn, S., “SodaStream files for Nasdaq IPO; The home soda company wants to raise US$95 million at a company value of US$336 million”, Globes – Israel Business Arena, 19 October 2010; Thomson One Financial Database, “Tearsheet deal number 2231119002”, Thomson One Financial Database, 2 November 2010; Who Profits,

The company structure of SodaStream International is shown in Figure 38.

Activities in settlements

SodaStream International has seven factories located in Germany, Israel, Australia, South Africa and China.757 Since July 1996, the main production plant of the company has been located in Ma’aleh Adumim, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, employing 300 people.758 But in May 2003, the company announced it would relocate some operations to Ashkelon in Israel. The company did this because the EU does not recognize exports from beyond the Green Line as Israeli exports and seeks to levy

“SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.757 SodaStream, “About SodaStream”, Website SodaStream (www.sodastream.com), Viewed in May 2011.758 Author unknown, “Soda Club Leases 13,000 SqM in Mishor Edomim forUS$3.25 per SqM”, Globes Online, 30 July 1996.

full import taxes on them (see paragraph 1.5.2). The factory in Ashkelon was opened in July 2003.759

However, SodaStream International still operates the plant in Mishor Adumim, which it calls “our principal manufacturing facility”. At this location, the company operates “a metal factory, plastic and bottle blowing factory, machining factory, assembly factory, cylinder manufacturing facility, CO

2 refill line and cylinder retest

facility”. In Ashkelon, the company only manufactures “the flavors that are distributed worldwide”.760

In May 2009, Soda-Club employed 450 people in the factory in Ma’aleh Adumim, including Israelis, recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopians, Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, 18 Bedouins, and even 40 Darfur refugees. “We are doing the best we can to create coexistence among different types of people who work in the factory,” said Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of the Soda-Club Group.761

Apart from the location of the factory, poor working conditions are another problem. According to Salwa Alenat, the West Bank coordinator for Kav LaOved, an independent Israeli labour organisation, Palestinian workers say they are discriminated against. “They don’t even make half the minimum wage and working conditions are poor. If they demand their rights, they will be fired. This is the story at many factories in this area but Soda-Club’s factory is one of the worst,” Alenat said.762

Following a case study on SodaStream by “Who Profits from the Occupation?”, a research project by the Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace, SodaStream in March 2011 publicly amitted that the company is building a new plant within the Green Line. Reports that the Ma’aleh Adumim plant will close are not confirmed by the company,

759 Coren, O., “Soda Club exits territories under EU pressure”, Haaretz, 4 May 2003.760 SodaStream Internaational, “Prospectus Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) for the issuance of 6,009,655 shares”, SodaStream International, 15 April 2011. 761 Snyder, T. and S. Writer, “Homemade Egg Cream, Anyone?”, The New York Jewish Week, 6 March 2009.762 Diakonia, “Radio broadcast translation of ‘Soda Stream manufactured in West Bank’ at Ekot-National Swedish Radio”, Diakonia Regional Office (www.business-humanrights.org), 31 October 2008.


FIgURE 38.The structure of SodaStream. Source: Who

Profits, “SodaStream. A Case Study for Corporate Activity

in Illegal Israeli Settlements”, Who Profits / Coalition of

Women for Peace, A Case Study No. 1, January 2011.


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however. “I don’t know if production at Mishor Adumim will continue.depends on the political atmosphere and the company’s needs,” said SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum to the Haaretz newspaper.763

The Hamburg Finance Court was asked in July 2009 to decide whether Soda-Club devices made in Ma’ale Adumim can be imported into the European Union duty-free, like all other Israeli industrial products. The judges have been asked to reach a decision concerning €19,155.46 for imported Soda-Club water-carbonating machines and syrup from Ma’ale Adumim by Brita GmbH, a distributor of Soda-Club devices since 1995. The company labelled the products as being “Made in Israel”, and claimed that they should consequently be exempt from customs duties.

The Hamburg court consulted with the European Court of Justice about obtaining a “preliminary ruling” that would settle the issue in a binding manner for all 27 EU member states.764 A hearing took place on September 2009, before the Fourth Chamber of the European Court of Justice and in March 2010, the Court ruled that “Israeli products originating from Israel’s colonial settlements built on Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) do not qualify for preferential customs treatment under the EC-Israel trade agreement”765 Advocate General Bot also concluded that preferential tariffs there may apply “only if the certificates of origin necessary are issued, in accordance with that agreement, by the Palestinian authorities.”766

In March 2011, the company announced that a new plant is being built within the Green Line, but it is unsure whether production in

763 Sadeh, S., “SodaStream setting up plant within Green Line”, The Marker, 3 March 2011; Kepler, T., “SodaStream to Open Plant within Green Line, but Not Closing Settlement Operation”, Alternative Information Center (AIC), 3 March 2011.764 Best, R. and Schult, C., “Will EU penalize exports from Israeli settlements?”, Spiegel Online International, 14 July 2009.765 Court of Justice of the European Communities, “In Advocate General Bot’s opinion, products originating from the occupied territories are not entitled to preferential customs treatment under the EC-Israel Agreement”, Press release Court of Justice of the European Communities, 29 October 2009.766 AFP, “EU-Israel trade terms can’t apply to occupied areas: EU advisor” EU Business, 29 October 2009; Kolb, V.M., “Europäischer Gerichtshof zu Soda-Club. Ärger um Sprudler aus Nahost. (European Court versus Soda-Club. Anger at bubbler from the Middle East)”, Suddeutsche Zeitung, 3 September 2009.

the West Bank will cease, because “closing the plant would do nothing good for the 160 Palestinian families who depend on it for employment”.767

13.38

Supergum Industries

Supergum Ltd.Barkan Industrial AreaP.O. Box 54P.N. Ephraim 44820,IsraelTel: +972 3 9365692Fax: +972 3 9367742E-mail: [email protected]: www.supergum.com

Supergum Industries is an important manufacturer of plastic and rubber products for the automotive industry. The company was established in Tel Aviv, but moved to Barkan Industrial Zone following expansion and investment in machinery.768 Activist report that Supergum also has a location in Ma’ale Efraim. 769

Supergum Industries is privately owned by Yehuda Gescheit and Eilon Ronel and part of the Supergum Group. Other companies in the Supergum Group include Impertech Industries and Supergum Manufacture of Rubber & Plastic Products.770

Customers of Supergum include: Egged, International (Navistar), Crown Automotive, MAN, Johnson Controls (Automotive System Group), IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), Swedish Army, GIAT Industries (France). Supergum is spread worldwide with sales offices in North America and Europe and operates front logistical facilities in the United States and Germany to support on time delivery demands of its customers.771

767 Sadeh, S., “SodaStream setting up plant within Green Line”, Haaretz.com, 3 March 2011.768 Author unknown, “Supergum Ltd. Homeland Security 2009/2010 catalogue”, Website Israeli Export & International Cooperation Institute, Viewed in April 2011.769 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Supergum Industries”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 19 June 2008, Viewed in April 2011.770 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Supergum”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 19 June 2008, Viewed in April 2011.771 Supergum, “Supergum Industries Ltd”, Supergum, 8 March 2011.

13.39

Teperberg 1870 Winery

Teperberg 1870 Winery (also known as Efrat Winery) is a family owned winery founded in 1870. Since 2002, the winery has been located in Tzor’a, inside the internationally recognized borders of Israel. The company’s vineyards extend to several areas inside Israel as well as to areas in the occupied West Bank. On the West Bank, Teperberg owns vineyards in the Gush Etzion settlement block and in extensive plots in Mevo Horon.

Planted between 1999 and 2007, the Mevo Horon vineyards bear the grapes of French Colombard, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Petit Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Morvedre, Malbec, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. These vineyards range across281,000mᵌandyieldbetween1.25-1.50tonsper1,000mᵌ.772

Teperberg has three wine series, branded as Reserve, Terra and Silver. The origin of the grapes for each wine is not clearly marked in any of the company’s publications.

Teperberg exports its wines to more than 22 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, France, England, Australia and more.

13.40

Tip Top Toys Star

15 Mendes StreetRamat Gan 52653IsraelTel: +972 3 9364121Website: www.interstar.co.il

Tip Top Toys Star (91) Ltd is an Israeli producer of high quality educational toys. The company was established in 1991 by Uri Barazani. Its main product line is the plastic Interstar construction system.773

772 Teperberg 1870, “The vineyards”, Website Teperberg 1870, Viewed in April 2011; Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011. 773 Tip Top Toys Star, “About us”, Website Tip Top Toys (www.interstar.co.il), Viewed in March 2011.

The factory of Tip Top Toys is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone in the occupied West Bank (Sapir 28, Barkan 44820).774

Interstar toys are sold via Amazon, which has online stores in Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and United Kingdom.775

13.41

Tishbi Estate Winery

33 Hameyasdim St. Zichron Yaakov 30900IsraelTel: +972 4-6380434/5Fax: +972 4-6380223E-mail: [email protected]: www.tishbi.com

Tishbi Estate Winery is a family-owned medium-sized winery in Zichron Yaakov. One of the company’s vineyards is located in Gush Etzion, a block of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, Tishbi is one of the owners (8%) of Gush Etzion Wineries, which has wineries in the settlement of Efrata.776 Tishbi also uses grapes from Gush Etzion Wineries in the production of its own wines.777

The wines are sold under the Jonathan Tishbi, Tishbi and Tishbi Estate brand names, in various European countries, Canada and South Africa.778 The company does not provide accurate information as to the origin of the grapes in each of its wines.779

774 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Ram Quality Products B.R. (Tip Top Toys Star)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 14 September 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlements in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009.775 Amazon, “Interstar Master Builder”, Website Amazon (www.amazon.co.uk), Viewed in March 2011. 776 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Tishbi Estate Winery (Habaron Wine Cellars)”, Website Who Profits? (www.whoprofits.org), Updated 22 February 2009, Viewed in March 2011777 Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.778 Tishbi, “Wine Store” and “Distributors”, Website Tishbi Estate Winery (www.tishbi.com), Viewed in March 2011.779 Who Profits, “Forbidden Fruit – The Israeli Wine Industry and the Occupation”, Who Profits / Coalition of Women for Peace, April 2011.



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13.42

Twitoplast

3 Gazit Street Segula Industrial ZonePetach-Tikva 49279Tel: +972 (0)3 9345888 E-mail: [email protected]: www.twitoplast.co.il

Twitoplast is a privately owned company focusing on the development and manufacture of plastic accessories, primarily for the air conditioning market. Twitoplast is owned by Israel Twito and Shoshana Twito. Twitoplast has a production facility in the Barkan Industrial Zone in the occupied West Bank. It exports to 33 countries, amongst others to France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom.780

13.43

Yardeni Locks Holdings

2 Inbar StreetIndustrial Zone BarkanP.O.B. 24Petah Tikva 44820IsraelTel: +972 (0)3 936 50 00E-mail: [email protected]: www.yardenilocks.co.il

Yardeni Locks Holdings is a manufacturer of high quality locks and locking cylinder mechanisms. The company produces a wide range of locks for practically all requirements of OEM, contractors, locksmiths, and DIY stores. It has around 80 employees and annual sales between US$ 2.5 and 5 million. Yardeni exports between 61-70% of its products. Its main markets include France, Italy and the United Kingdom.781

780 Twitoplast, “Profile”, Website Twitoplast (www.twitoplast.co.il), Viewed in April 2011;Coalition of Women for Peace, “Twitoplast”, Website Who Profits?(www.whoprofits.org)?, Updated 21 April 2010, Viewed in April 2011; IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in March 2011.781 Alibaba, “Yardeni Locks Holdings (2005)”, Website Alibaba, Viewed in April 2011; IEICI, “Israeli Exporters Catalog. Yardeni Locks Ltd.”, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute (www.export.gov.il), Viewed in June 2011.

The company was founded in 1947 by Mr Yardeni and now is part of the Astron Group.782

Yardeni Locks has a factory in the Barkan Industrial Zone in the West Bank.783 According to the Coalition of Women for Peace, the company has announced that as of May 2011 it will shut down its factory in the settlement and will be moving to inside Israel.784

13.44

Zriha Hlavin Industries

5 Saphir StreetP.O. Box28 Barkan 44820 Tel: +972 (0)3 9066906Fax: +972 (0)3 9364578Website: www.zriha.com

Zriha Hlavin Industries manufactures, imports and markets technical plastic products, office computer products and communication components. Under the brand name Dr Byte the company markets office supplies of a number of foreign companies (Sky, Ovann, Muller, PAQ, A4-Tech, Circle Data and Speed) in Israel. The company is located in the Barkan Industrial Zone, which is an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. 785

The company exports to the United States and Italy.786

782 Astron, “Company Profile”, Website Astron (www.astron.co.il), Viewed in May 2011; Yardeni, “About us”, Website Yardeni (www.yardenilocks.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.783 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Yardeni Locks Holdings”, Website Who Profits? (whoprofits.org), Updated 16 April 2009, Viewed in March 2011; Gush Shalom, “List of Products from Settlement in the Occupied Territories”, Gush Shalom, 8 March 2009; Yardeni, “Contact”, Website Yardeni (www.yardenilocks.co.il), Viewed in May 2011.784 Coalition of Women for Peace, “Yardeni Locks Holdings”, Website Who Profits? (whoprofits.org), Updated 16 April 2009, Viewed in May 2011.785 Zriha Hlavin Industries, “Home”, Website Zriha Hlavin Industries(www.zriha.com/), Viewed in April 2011; Coalition of Women for Peace, “Zriha Hlavin industries”, Website Who Profits (www.whoprofits.org), Viewed in April 2011.786 Nave, C., “Packaging Index-2007”, The Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute, 2007.


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UNVEILED - France Palestine2.3.18 Shor Family Wineries 2.3.19 SodaStream 2.3.20 Teperberg 1870 Winery 2.3.21 Tishbi Estate Winery ... 5.3.16 Oppenheimer Manufacturing and Marketing