Sydney sanctions Israeli companies in West Bank, occupied al-Quds

By Al Mayadeen English
17 Feb 2025 23:27
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The city already has policies in place to ensure that its investment and procurement practices avoid supporting socially harmful activities, including human rights violations.

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A young boy waves his flag among others as people gather in central Sydney for a rally Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, to support Palestinians in Gaza. (AP) — A young boy waves his flag among others as people gather in central Sydney for a rally Sunday, October 15, 2023, to support Palestinians in Gaza. (AP)

The Sydney City Council approved on Monday a proposal for a boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against companies operating in areas across the West Bank and East occupied al-Quds under occupation, according to The Jerusalem Post, citing council members and local Australian sources.

The report on suppliers and investments in the city of Sydney regarding Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns, which was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Corporations, Finance, Real Estate, and Tenders, received support from all city council members except for one, according to the newspaper.

The city acknowledged that it "does not have any investments or contractual relationships with Israeli or non-Israeli companies operating in the disputed territories listed in the United Nations Human Rights Council's registry," according to what was reported by The Jerusalem Post.

It added that the city already has policies in place to ensure that its investment and procurement practices do not support socially harmful activities, including human rights violations.

The newspaper reported that the BDS movement in Australia praised this decision on social media, considering it a primary step to pave the way for local councils across the country to exclude "companies complicit in the illegal Israeli occupation."

A similar wave

In the same context, more than 60 members of the British Parliament and officials from multiple political parties have demanded a ban on goods and products imported from illegal Israeli settlements, the Mirror reported.

The demand was made in a letter signed and addressed to the United Kingdom's Foreign Minister David Lammy and its Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds, according to the website.

The signees indicated that they believed resolving decades of "conflict" entailed respecting international law, meaning the UK's trade with "Israel" must adhere to its human rights and international law commitments.

The letter further stated that the current trade and investment ties with "Israel" do not meet the required standards, urging the ministers to correct that.

"Benjamin Netanyahu's government has acted with impunity, and the international community's failure to take action is disgraceful," Labour MP Brian Leishman stated, adding that "The UK government has said it wants to follow international law but by trading with Israel so that the Israeli economy benefits, then the Netanyahu government’s war crimes are being legitimized."