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By: BankTrack
Created before Nov 2016
Last update: 2019-11-01 14:56:33

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Israeli Illegal Settlement . Photo: Montecruz Foto via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Sectors Construction
Location
Status
Planning
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Agreement
Construction
Operation
Closure
Decommission

About Israeli illegal settlements

Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, are illegal under international law. This is widely recognised and has been confirmed by the International Court of Justice and the UN Security Council (e.g. see UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2012).

Through these settlements, Israel, the occupying state, violates numerous provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and other international humanitarian law (IHL): these are built and maintained primarily through unlawful appropriation of occupied land and natural resources and transfer of property rights, prohibited transfer of Israeli civilians into occupied territory, and arbitrary restriction of the freedom of movement and forcible transfer of the Palestinian and Syrian population.

Moreover, the settlements also amount to de facto annexation of occupied territory by Israel, which is a flagrant breach of general public international law and the UN Charter, violating the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force and the internationally recognized right of Palestinians to self-determination.

Why this profile?

Israeli banks are facilitating the expansion of the Israeli illegal settlements  in several ways, including lending to construction projects in the settlements, providing banking services for settlements’ local authorities, operating branches in the settlements and providing mortgages for settlement homes and businesses.

Many international banks also support Israeli banks, including their activities in the illegal settlements, for example through direct shareholdings, linking them to these impacts. 

What must happen

Israeli banks, all of which are significantly involved in supporting the illegal Israeli settlements, must limit their service- and business activities and service provision to Israeli companies, authorities and home buyers to those which take place whitin Israel's internationally recognized territory (inside the ''green line''), and avoid all financial support for Israeli settlement activity in occupied territory. They should also seek ways to support business, institutions and development activities of the occupied Palestinian and Syrian population, in order to facilitate independent economic development, self-determination and sovereignty. 

Banks not operating in Israel but with shareholdings in or other exposure to Israeli banks lack the leverage to prevent or mitigate the adverse human rights impacts of business with the illegal Israeli settlements. They should therefore abstain from or end their relationships with Israeli banks, as well as other institutions and business linked to the illegal settlements. States should inform their businesses, including banks, about the risks involved in such business activities under international law, and about the consequences under domestic laws. 

Impacts

Social and human rights impacts

Israeli banks: main types of activities in/with the illegal settlements

Israeli banks engaged with the illegal settlements conduct business and generate profits from wrongfully acquired property rights, contribute directly to the maintenance and development of the illegal settlements, and consolidate the illegal situation of Israeli annexation of occupied territory and violation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people by:

Providing loans for construction on occupied land 
Israeli banks provide loans to construction companies and individual house builders in the illegal settlements. Israeli banks sign ‘accompaniment agreements’ with construction companies for projects located in the settlements. These agreements create close partnerships between banks and developers from a project’s first stages to its completion. Who Profits (2017) found evidence that Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Israel Discount Bank, Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, Bank Igud, FIBI and Bank of Jerusalem are providing these kinds of loans. Israeli banks also provide mortgages to businesses and home buyers in West Banks settlements. 

The banks often become a party to construction projects on occupied land, as the purchased property, both in the case of mortgage loans and accompaniment agreements, is used as collateral for the loan.  The bank then becomes a stakeholder in a settlement property and, in case of foreclosure, it may fully own that property on occupied land.

Servicing and financing Israeli local authorities in the occupied West Bank and the Golan Heights 
Regional councils, local councils and municipalities of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Golan Heights form part of Israel's system of local government and administer the settlements.  These authorities depend on financial services provided by Israeli banks. Israeli banks with no exception have provided loans and financial services to local and regional councils of Israeli settlements in the West Bank between 2010 and 2017. 

Operating branches in Israeli settlements 
All commercial Israeli banks, with the exception of Dexia Israel and Igud Bank have branches or branches of subsidiaries in the settlements. Through these branches Israeli banks participate directly in the settlement economy and provide essential financial services to residents of the settlements. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians are excluded from the services in these branches because they are prohibited from entering the settlements.

Sustaining and benefiting from the captivity of the Palestinian market 
Israeli banks contribute to and benefit from the captivity of the Palestinian financial and economic market in several ways. As Palestinians may not print and use their own currency, the Israeli shekel dominates the Palestinian economy. As such, Palestinian banks must rely on Israeli banks for the transfer of funds and Shekel clearing services. According to official Palestinian sources, Israeli banks demand high cash collaterals for these services, charge high commissions and pose limitations on money transfers.

In addition, Israeli banks cooperate only with some Palestinian banks, refusing to work with newly established banks. Israeli banks have also stopped services to Palestinian banks in the occupied Gaza Strip, bringing the financial market in Gaza to the brink of a total collapse. 

For more information see Who Profits (2017) and Human Rights Watch (2018) 

Other impacts

Responsibilities of international banks and states
International banks with shareholdings in or other exposure to Israeli banks lack the leverage to prevent or mitigate the adverse human rights impacts of business with the illegal Israeli settlements. This is due not only to the deep and direct involvement of Israeli banks in the illegal settlements, but also because the illicit property rights and titles created by the settlement economy from which revenues are generated, and the violations of international law underpinning it, are anchored in Israeli law and a matter of Israeli governmental policy. 

Following this, international banks must abstain from or end their relationships with Israeli banks, institutions and businesses linked to the illegal settlements. They cannot meet their responsibility to respect human rights unless they do so.

In 2013, a Human Rights Council fact finding mission recommended that “private companies must assess the human rights impact of their activities and take all necessary steps – including by terminating their business interests in the settlements – to ensure that they do not have an adverse impact on the human rights of the Palestinian people”, as well as calling on states to adopt measures to ensure that enterprises will do so (see Paragraph 117 of the mission's report).

In March 2016, the Human Rights Council instructed the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to establish a database of enterprises engaged in business with the illegal settlements as a necessary step for the implementation of this recommendation. According to OHCHR’s first progress report issued in January 2018, 206 companies were screened and included in the database; their names will be publicized upon completion of verification.

Governance

Bank policies

The following bank investment policies apply to this project:
Deutsche Bank
csr policies
2016-03-24 00:00:00

Human Rights Statement

2016-03-24 00:00:00 | Deutsche Bank
BNP Paribas
csr policies
2012-12-31 00:00:00

Statement on Human Rights

2012-12-31 00:00:00 | BNP Paribas
Goldman Sachs
csr policies
2011-08-03 00:00:00

Human Rights Statement

2011-08-03 00:00:00 | Goldman Sachs
HSBC
csr policies
2015-09-30 00:00:00

Statement on Human Rights

2015-09-30 00:00:00 | HSBC
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
csr policies
2017-04-30 00:00:00

Statement on human rights

2017-04-30 00:00:00 | BMO

The Occupied Palestinian Territory (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip) and the Syrian Golan Height are situations of armed conflict and Israeli military occupation which are governed by international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, as well as by UN Security Council resolutions and the ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s Wall in occupied Palestinian territory, which declare Israel’s settlements, annexation and associated domestic law and policies to be in flagrant violation of IHL, the prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force and the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people and, therefore, null and void.

Whereas it is the duty of states in this context to not recognize, aid or assist the maintenance of Israel’s illegal settlements and annexation, and to ensure respect of IHL by Israel as occupying power, private enterprises are to recognize that this is a “conflict affected area” in the terms of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, with a high risk of gross human rights abuses. Business requires “enhanced due diligence”; private enterprises must not violate IHL, and not undermine efforts of states to perform their legal obligations, by conducting business with the illegal settlements.

With regard to the illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, obligations of business  enterprises are also addressed in resolutions of the Human Rights Council, 18 EU member states have issued business advisories similar to that of the UK, a civil society-maintained investment screen is available,

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published guidance in 2014 on the implications of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the context of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, here.

Applicable norms and standards

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Financiers

This page lists the major Israeli banks, all of which are significantly involved in supporting the illegal settlements, and international banks which have been identified as linked through share ownership to these Israeli banks. As such, the institutions listed differ in their levels of involvement and linkage to the impacts of the Israeli settlements. Click 'details' next to each bank for details of the financial relationship in each case.

This information is compiled from: 
Who Profits: Facing Land Grab
11.11.11 and Profundo: Doing Business with the Occupation
Thomson Reuters Eikon

News

| |
Type:
Year:
blog
external news
our news

AXA triples investment in Israeli banks financing illegal settlements on eve of annexation

2020-06-05 | BDS Group
blog
external news
our news

SumOfUs Report Exposes French Insurer's Complicity in War Crimes

Report reveals that AXA invests in banned weapons manufacturers and banks that finance illegal Israeli Settlements
2019-07-08 | SumOfUs
blog
external news
our news

Do Oil Fund investments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory violate human rights?

A new report on investments by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund in the Occupied Palestinian Territory recommends reviewing exclusion criteria to avoid inconsistencies and prevent human rights risks.
2019-04-24 | Essex Business and Human Rights Project
blog
external news
our news

UN High Commissioner must release database on companies involved in Israeli settlements

2019-03-13 | Al-Haq
blog
external news
our news

Bankrolling Abuse - Israeli Banks in West Bank Settlements

New report by Human Rights Watch
2018-06-04 | Human Rights Watch
blog
external news
our news

BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank still involved in illegal Israeli settlement industry

2018-05-29 | 11.11.11
blog
external news
our news

How Israeli banks finance theft of Palestinian land

2018-05-29 | Electronic Intifada
blog
external news
our news

Israeli Banks Profit From Settlements

Their Role Abets Land Seizures, Rights Abuses
2018-05-28 | Human Rights Watch
blog
external news
our news

DEXIA GROUP SELLS ITS SHARES IN DEXIA ISRAEL

On 18 March 2018, Dexia announced the sale of its 58.9% stake in Dexia Israel Bank, an Israeli bank that gives loans and other financial services to municipalities of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
2018-04-30 | Who Profits
blog
external news
our news

Why is Human Rights Watch urging engagement with Israel’s banks?

Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, First International Bank of Israel and Israel Discount Bank
2017-09-13 | Electronic Intifada
blog
external news
our news

French Banks’ Dangerous Liaisons with the Israeli Settlement Enterprise

2017-03-31 | Association France Palestine Solidarité
blog
external news
our news

Report reveals links between five French banks and insurance companies and the Israeli settlements

2017-03-29 | Paris | Association France Palestine Solidarité, CCFD - Terre Solidaire, FIDH, LDH, Solidaires
blog
external news
our news

Dirty Profits report highlights role of Israeli banks in settlement construction

2016-02-16 | Article 1 Collective
blog
external news
our news

Financing the occupation through Israeli banks

2015-12-12 | Article 1 Collective
blog
external news
our news

Think Tank Tells EU: Target Israeli Banks Dealing With Settlements

2015-07-22 | Haaretz
blog
external news
our news

Think Tank Tells EU: Target Israeli Banks Dealing With Settlements

2015-07-22
blog
external news
our news

Dutch pension giant divests from 5 Israeli banks

BDS Movement
2014-01-13 | London | Asa Winstanley
blog
external news
our news

Dexia excluded for involvement in Israel

2011-03-08 | Triodos Bank

Documents

Type:
Year:
ngo documents
2017-07-03 00:00:00

Deadly Investments

UK bank complicity in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people
2017-07-03 00:00:00 | War on Want
other documents
2012-12-28 00:00:00

The humanitarian impact of Israeli settlements policies

Update december 2012
2012-12-28 00:00:00 | UNITED NATIONS Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs occupied Palestinian territory
other documents
2013-02-07 00:00:00

Report of the independent international factfinding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

2013-02-07 00:00:00 | UN Human Rights Council
other documents
2018-07-30 00:00:00

Business and Human Rights in Occupied Territory

The UN Database of Business Active in Israel’s Settlements
2018-07-30 00:00:00 | Valentina Azarova, Business and Human Rights Journal, Cambridge University
ngo documents
2018-06-27 00:00:00

Doing Business with the Occupation

Economic and Financial Relationships of Foreign Companies with Israel’s Settlement Enterprise
2018-06-27 00:00:00 | Profundo, 11.11.11
ngo documents
2017-03-17 00:00:00

French financial institutions financing companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories

2017-03-17 00:00:00 | Profundo Fair Fin France
other documents
2014-06-06 00:00:00

Statement on the implications of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the context of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

2014-06-06 00:00:00 | UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
ngo documents
2017-03-10 00:00:00

French Banks' Dangerous Liaisons with the Israeli Settlement Enterprise

2017-03-10 00:00:00 | Al-Haq, Association France Palestine Solidarité, Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement, Confédération Générale du Travail, Fair Finance France, Fédération Internationale des ligues des Droits de l’Homme and Union Syndicale SOLIDAIRES
ngo documents
2018-06-18 00:00:00

Financing Land Grab

The Direct Involvement of Israeli Banks in the Israeli Settlement Enterprise
2018-06-18 00:00:00 | Who Profits
ngo documents
2018-06-18 00:00:00

Bankrolling Abuse

Israeli Banks in West Bank Settlements
2018-06-18 00:00:00 | Human Rights Watch
ngo documents
2018-05-29 00:00:00

Financing Occup'Annexation

How financial institutions in Belgium are involved in the Israeli settlement industry
2018-05-29 00:00:00 | Fairfin.be
our publications
2017-12-08 00:00:00

How banks contribute to human rights violations

BankTrack Human Rights Briefing Paper
2017-12-08 00:00:00 | BankTrack
internal campaign documents
2016-07-01 00:00:00

Investments in Israeli banks

A research paper prepared for BankTrack
2016-07-01 00:00:00 | Profundo
ngo documents
2013-11-01 00:00:00

Financing the Israeli Occupation

The Current Involvement of Israeli Banks in Israeli Settlement Activity
2013-11-01 00:00:00 | Who Profits
ngo documents
2010-10-18 00:00:00

Financing the Isaeli Occupation

2010-10-18 00:00:00 | Who Profits

Links

Who Profits

https://whoprofits.org/

Interactive map of Israeli banks' operations in illegal Israeli settlements

https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/interactive/2018/05/21/israeli-banks-west-bank-settlements

Al Haq

Palestinian NGO documents violations of the individual and collective rights of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/topics/business-and-human-rights-focus

Palestinian BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) National Committee

Https://bdsmovement.net/

Jewish Voice for Peace

Jewish Voice for Peace works for justice, equality and dignity for all in Israel/Palestine. 

https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

US Campaign for Palestinan Rights

https://uscpr.org/

AFSC’s Divestment Screen

Shows a list of companies that support or are complicit in Israel's occupaton of the Palestinian territory due to their involvement in Israel’s settlement industry, economic exploitation of Palestinian people and/or resources, and/or the control of the Palestinian population.

http://investigate.afsc.org/
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