In September 2008 The Electronic Intifada published a report written by Jeff Handmaker, a human rights lawyer, and a researcher and university lecturer in human rights at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Handmaker attended a meeting at the offices of SNS Bank that included representatives of the Amsterdam-based group A Different Jewish Voice and a prominent Dutch development organization. He wrote:
We were there to urge the bank to withdraw its investments in Veolia Corporation because of Veolia’s direct and indirect involvement in Israel’s violations of international law in occupied East Jerusalem. Our group was concerned over Veolia’s involvement in the City Pass consortium to construct a light rail line on occupied and annexed Palestinian land in East Jerusalem. This is a serious and direct violation of international humanitarian law. Veolia has claimed — erroneously — that the light rail would be “accessible to both Jews and Arabs.” However, the Jewish-only settlements and neighborhoods of West Jerusalem where the light rail is being built are effectively off-limits for Palestinians. At the meeting, SNS Bank acknowledged that it had concerns with Veolia’s activities in East Jerusalem. However, SNS Bank insisted that according to its own assessment, Veolia’s involvement with the light rail project did not amount to “direct serious violations” of human rights. However, as we reminded SNS Bank in our meeting, the light rail project is inextricably linked with Israel’s wide array of human rights abuses. Trade unions, academics and cultural figures increasingly call for the boycott of and divestment from companies that profit from Israel’s serious and systematic violations of Palestinian rights. SNS Bank’s investment in Veolia is not consistent with its motto as “The Responsible Investor.” For SNS to live up to its motto, it must demand on a prompt response from Veolia to the concerns over Veolia’s involvement in the City Pass consortium. This would be in line with the responsible actions of ASN Bank, for a truly responsible investor cannot be party to this situation of gross, serious and well-documented violations of international law and human rights.
Another French company, Alstom, is involved in the project. The following video contains an incisive Al Jazeera report that further illustrates the concerns human rights activists have with this project.
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