Further evidence of how screwed-up America is when it comes to Israel/Palestine. The AP reports that a Swedish company, Assa Abloy, the world's largest lockmaker, is moving a factory from the apartheid West Bank following church groups' complaints:
The announcement followed
a critical report by the Church of Sweden, aid group Diakonia and
SwedWatch, a nonprofit group that monitors the conduct of Swedish
businesses. The report said Assa Abloy disrespects international
humanitarian law by conducting business in occupied territory…
"Assa Abloy can only in this context regret that the
inappropriateness has not been noted internally, during the eight years
of ownership, of having a production unit on the West Bank," the
company said in a statement.
Now compare that to the U.S. Obama says that Palestinians are suffering the most. He is condemned and forced to retract the statement. Jimmy Carter points out the obvious and is stoned as a "pharisee." Walt and Mearsheimer speak of the "moral" problems in supporting Israel, and are smeared an antisemites. Everything the U.N. says the U.S. denies. For years American church groups have argued over sanctions against Israel, divestment from companies doing business in the West Bank. It goes nowhere. Human Rights Watch tries to condemn Israeli abuses; its donors say it must be evenhanded… 600 shades of denial.
How is a company hiring Palestinians a violation of human rights?
Is it preferable that those companies NOT hire Palestinians?
99.9% of those companies' employees are Israelis. The land the companies control is stolen according to international law. Witty is up to his usual bold-faced lies:
link to diakonia.se
I'd cut Mr. Witty some slack on this one. It's not immediately apparent that there is anything immoral or illegal going on. Palestinians do desperately need investment. I have yet to read the linked pdf, and haven't yet seen any details on the factory, and Mr. Witty might not have either.
Witty spouting off while lacking details? Perish the thought.
I'd cut Mr. Witty some slack on this one
Without doubt usually the settlers and Israelis erecting business on confiscated Palestinian land usually build factories for the poor Palestinians. So he must assume in this instance it must be the case too.
Unfortunately this one is an exception to the above rule. (!) The firm only employs ONE alibi Palestinian.
From the Report pdf anon gave above:
"According to Mr. Dvela only one Palestinian employee a janitor/caretaker. Mr. Dvela sees no special reason for this but points out that Mul-T-Lock's work with security solutions demands a very high level of security clearance of employees." page 15
The original company was bought by the Swedish company.
I'm not a fan by any stretch even of boycott of Israeli West Bank firms that employ majority Israelis.
The best that the Swedish firm could do would be to open its employment to all, if its not already.
Boycott is the way to keep the status as it is.
Even in South Africa, when IBM hired even its token black engineers, it shifted the consciousness of those white engineers that collaborated. They had to, or be fired.
Its not the end goal, but it is on the path.
The Swedish firm could be punished by the left and left/right for doing what is economically rational and socially beneficial.
Its not the first time.
"I'm not a fan by any stretch even of boycott of Israeli West Bank firms that employ majority Israelis."
Oh really?
Why did I suspect that would be the case?