HRW:
Zionist Regime’s Banks Funding Settlements, Helping War Crimes
WEST BANK (Dispatches) – The Zionist regime’s banks are financing the regime’s "unlawful” settlement construction activities on the occupied territories, contributing to serious human rights violations and war crimes against Palestinians, Human Rights Watch says.
In a 41-page report, the New York-based rights group said the regime’s seven largest banks provide services to settlements and facilitate their expansion, thus abetting unlawful population transfers.
"The transfer by the occupier of members of its civilian population into the occupied territory, and the deportation or transfer of members of the population of the territory, are war crimes,” the HRW said.
The report, entitled "Bankrolling Abuse: Israeli Banks in West Bank Settlements,” stressed that in addition to construction projects, the regime’s banks provide loans to settlement authorities and buyers and operate bank branches there.
"Israeli banks are partnering with developers to build homes reserved exclusively for Israelis on Palestinian land,” said Sari Bashi, Israel and Palestine advocacy director at the HRW, adding, "The projects these banks underwrite contribute to displacing Palestinians unlawfully.”
The report also warned that the illegal Zionist settlements contribute to "a discriminatory regime in which Israeli authorities restrict and stunt Palestinian economic development.”
"Settlements inherently contribute to serious human rights abuses. Companies that conduct business in or with settlements cannot mitigate or avoid contributing to these abuses, because the activities they conduct take place on unlawfully seized land, under conditions of discrimination, and through a serious violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power,” it added.
The HRW called on the regime’s banks to cease doing businesses in or with Israeli settlements.
Responding to the report, Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said that the Palestinian Authority would take necessary measures against the banks for abusing the Palestinian people’s rights.
About 600,000 Zionists live in over 230 settlements built illegally since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian lands.
The photo shows a view of the Zionist settlement of Beitar Illit in the occupied West Bank on February 14, 2018.
In a 41-page report, the New York-based rights group said the regime’s seven largest banks provide services to settlements and facilitate their expansion, thus abetting unlawful population transfers.
"The transfer by the occupier of members of its civilian population into the occupied territory, and the deportation or transfer of members of the population of the territory, are war crimes,” the HRW said.
The report, entitled "Bankrolling Abuse: Israeli Banks in West Bank Settlements,” stressed that in addition to construction projects, the regime’s banks provide loans to settlement authorities and buyers and operate bank branches there.
"Israeli banks are partnering with developers to build homes reserved exclusively for Israelis on Palestinian land,” said Sari Bashi, Israel and Palestine advocacy director at the HRW, adding, "The projects these banks underwrite contribute to displacing Palestinians unlawfully.”
The report also warned that the illegal Zionist settlements contribute to "a discriminatory regime in which Israeli authorities restrict and stunt Palestinian economic development.”
"Settlements inherently contribute to serious human rights abuses. Companies that conduct business in or with settlements cannot mitigate or avoid contributing to these abuses, because the activities they conduct take place on unlawfully seized land, under conditions of discrimination, and through a serious violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power,” it added.
The HRW called on the regime’s banks to cease doing businesses in or with Israeli settlements.
Responding to the report, Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said that the Palestinian Authority would take necessary measures against the banks for abusing the Palestinian people’s rights.
About 600,000 Zionists live in over 230 settlements built illegally since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian lands.
The photo shows a view of the Zionist settlement of Beitar Illit in the occupied West Bank on February 14, 2018.