Norway pension fund bans Israeli occupation-profiteers after lies exposed

Construction site of Africa Israel housing project in the Gilo settlement, occupied east Jerusalem, 28 August 2013.

Ta’ayush

The Norwegian government has once again excluded two Israeli occupation-profiteering firms from eligibility to be included in the portfolio of the Nordic nation’s state pension fund.

The decision is based in part on evidence published by The Electronic Intifada last year that the firms were lying about their activities.

Norway’s finance ministry announced today that it accepted a recommendation from the pension fund’s ethics council to “exclude the companies Africa Israel Investments and Danya Cebus from the Fund due to contribution to serious violations of individual rights in war or conflict through the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem.”

Lies exposed

The two companies were previously excluded from the pension fund between August 2010 and August 2013 for similar activities.

Last August, however, the Norwegian government ended the exclusion based on the companies’ assurances that they had ended their illegal activities.

However evidence – including videos, photos and documents – uncovered by Who Profits and Ta’ayush and published by The Electronic Intifada last August proved that Africa Israel was lying and was still involved in settlement construction.

Danya Cebus is a subsidiary of Africa Israel.

Electronic Intifada contributor Adri Nieuwhof communicated this evidence to the Norwegian pension fund’s ethics council, which assured her it would be reviewed.

It is based on this review that the council once again recommended that the Israeli firms be excluded and today the government acted.

In addition, the Israeli settlement builder Shikun & Binui, Ltd. has been excluded by the Norwegian pension fund since May 2012.

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Comments

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Skål for Norge! Tusen takk. Også for Electronic Intifada.

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Tack sa mycket!" (Swedish) (should be a little "o" over the "a" in sa)
But we have so many miles to go.

Today I have pasted a large paper I copied myself in my little apartment with the
three points BDS called for.

We must go step by step and keep monitoring the accomplishments we have made
together. Keep reminding we are thankful and we are listening. Always.

Does anyone have contacts in "LO", the all-inclusive labor union in Sweden??

Peter in Boston, MA (USA, b in Manhattan , NY,NY)