Cellcom Israel That summer, on the fifth anni- Justice ...coat.ncf.ca/P4C/66/17-18.pdf · Article...
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Spring 2012 (Issue # 66) Press for Conversion! 17 tear gas grenades,” as well as colour, infrared and thermal video cameras for night missions. These CAT robots, says InRob, are “ideally suited for a wide range of military, paramilitary, [and] law enforcement” operations. In 2007, InRob said the “Robotic MTL 257B platform will be marketed through Cat- erpillar’s network of distributors around the world.” CAT also makes engines used by Israel’s Navy. In 2010, when Israel launched its deadly attack against the “Mavi Marmara” – the lead ship in a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza – Is- rael’s Navy used a commando boat powered by CAT engines. Israel’s Morena Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat, made by US Marine Inc., uses CAT’s turbocharged 3126 diesel engines. References 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies ethisphere.com/past-wme-honorees/wme2011/ Caterpillar en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_Inc. Contracts to Caterpillar, Inc. www.fedspending.org/fpds/search.php Caterpillar Defence Products www.worldsecurity-index.com/details.php?id=207 Zoko Enterprises www.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=707 Caterpillar www.boycott-israel.co.uk/business-links/124-caterpillar Company summaries www.neumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ /Companies_Recommended_for_Divestment_HJKK VNTP.pdf “IAI/Ramta Begins Deliveries of Armor Pro- tected Caterpillar D9R Dozers under Contract Option Exercised by IDF,” June 14, 2004. www.iai.co.il/23048-31739-en/MediaRoom_ NewsArchives_2004.aspx? Direct Action Against Israel, Part 1, Jan. 29, 2009 www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3192 InRob to Deliver First Products Involving Its Project with Caterpillar & Ramta, July 27, 2006. www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=18 Management Team www.inrobtech.com/ManagementTeam.asp Specifications = Front Runner (CAT MTL 257) inrobtech.com/UserFiles/products20_file.pdf InRob’s JV MTL Platform to Be Marketed Worldwide Through Caterpillar Network, August 15, 2007. www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=41 Caterpillar www.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=601 Martin Broek, Ali Abunimah, Carlo Tombola and Wendela de Vries, “European & American weap- ons in Israeli attack on Gaza Flotilla,” June 15, 2010. stopwapenhandel.org/publicaties/factsheets/ israel_flotilla_attack.html Cellcom Isr Cellcom Isr Cellcom Isr Cellcom Isr Cellcom Israel ael ael ael ael That summer, on the fifth anni- versary of the International Court of Justice declaration that Israel’s separa- tion wall is illegal, Cellcom ran an ad campaign on Israeli TV depicting sol- diers patrolling the wall. When a soc- cer ball came over the wall, dozens of machine-gun toting Israeli troops jumped from their jeeps to “have some fun” playing with the unseen Palestin- ians. The ad was “extensively criticized for making light of the Palestinian suf- fering inflicted by the West Bank bar- rier,” said Israel’s Haaretz newspaper. In response to Cellcom’s ad, a video posted to YouTube showed what really happens when Palestinians kick a soccer ball over Israel’s razor wire- topped separation barrier. In the video, armed Israeli troops respond to the soc- cer ball by firing numerous volleys of tear gas at the Palestinian activists. The “Who Profits from the oc- cupation” database also says Cellcom “erected close to two hundred an- tennas and telecommunication infra- structure facilities on occupied land in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The company provides cel- lular communication services to the settlers and Israeli soldiers in the occupied territory.” Cellcom’s wholly-owned sub- sidiary, NetVision, was acquired for US$427 million in 2011. As early as Canada P Canada P Canada P Canada P Canada P ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan 20 20 20 20 20 1 1 1 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv estment estment estment estment estment $3 million $3 million $3 million $3 million $3 million T his major telecom company is “the largest Israeli cellular op- erator.” The company is con- trolled by the Israel Discount Banks’ IDB Holding Corp. through the Dis- count Investment Corp. (DIC) which owns about 53% of Cellcom’s shares. (See DIC, p.25, and IDB in table “CPP Investments,” p.53.) In 2009, Israel’s Globes busi- ness paper reported that Cellcom won “a Ministry of Defense tender to pro- vide some landline telephony services for the IDF [Israel Defense Force]…. Cellcom will provide 50-100 hookups to switchboards at IDF bases.” Cellcom’s CEO, Amos Shapira, called “this tender a vote of confidence by the IDF in the capability and reli- ability of the company’s technology and services in general.” This 2009 deal came one month after Cellcom broke Bezeq’s longstand- ing monopoly over phone contracts with Israel’s military. (See pp.11-12.) On the 5th anniv On the 5th anniv On the 5th anniv On the 5th anniv On the 5th anniver er er er ersary o sary o sary o sary o sary of the International Court o f the International Court o f the International Court o f the International Court o f the International Court of Justice f Justice f Justice f Justice f Justice decision that Isr decision that Isr decision that Isr decision that Isr decision that Israel’ ael’ ael’ ael’ ael’s separ s separ s separ s separ s separation w ation w ation w ation w ation wall is illegal, all is illegal, all is illegal, all is illegal, all is illegal, Cellcom w Cellcom w Cellcom w Cellcom w Cellcom was widely criticised f as widely criticised f as widely criticised f as widely criticised f as widely criticised for running a TV ad campaign or running a TV ad campaign or running a TV ad campaign or running a TV ad campaign or running a TV ad campaign that depicted laughing, machine gun-t that depicted laughing, machine gun-t that depicted laughing, machine gun-t that depicted laughing, machine gun-t that depicted laughing, machine gun-toting Isr oting Isr oting Isr oting Isr oting Israeli tr aeli tr aeli tr aeli tr aeli troops oops oops oops oops just “ha just “ha just “ha just “ha just “having some fun” kicking a soccer ball o ving some fun” kicking a soccer ball o ving some fun” kicking a soccer ball o ving some fun” kicking a soccer ball o ving some fun” kicking a soccer ball over the w er the w er the w er the w er the wall. all. all. all. all.
Transcript of Cellcom Israel That summer, on the fifth anni- Justice ...coat.ncf.ca/P4C/66/17-18.pdf · Article...
Spring 2012 (Issue # 66) Press for Conversion! 17
tear gas grenades,” as well as colour,infrared and thermal video cameras fornight missions. These CAT robots, saysInRob, are “ideally suited for a widerange of military, paramilitary, [and]law enforcement” operations. In 2007,InRob said the “Robotic MTL 257Bplatform will be marketed through Cat-erpillar’s network of distributorsaround the world.”
CAT also makes engines usedby Israel’s Navy. In 2010, when Israellaunched its deadly attack against the“Mavi Marmara” – the lead ship in aflotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza – Is-rael’s Navy used a commando boatpowered by CAT engines. Israel’sMorena Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat,made by US Marine Inc., uses CAT’sturbocharged 3126 diesel engines.
References2011 World’s Most Ethical Companiesethisphere.com/past-wme-honorees/wme2011/
Caterpillaren.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_Inc.
Contracts to Caterpillar, Inc.www.fedspending.org/fpds/search.php
Caterpillar Defence Productswww.worldsecurity-index.com/details.php?id=207
Zoko Enterpriseswww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=707
Caterpillarwww.boycott-israel.co.uk/business-links/124-caterpillar
Company summarieswww.neumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/Companies_Recommended_for_Divestment_HJKKVNTP.pdf
“IAI/Ramta Begins Deliveries of Armor Pro-tected Caterpillar D9R Dozers under ContractOption Exercised by IDF,” June 14, 2004.www.iai .co. i l /23048-31739-en/MediaRoom_NewsArchives_2004.aspx?
Direct Action Against Israel, Part 1, Jan. 29, 2009www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3192
InRob to Deliver First Products Involving ItsProject with Caterpillar & Ramta, July 27, 2006.www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=18
Management Teamwww.inrobtech.com/ManagementTeam.asp
Specifications = Front Runner (CAT MTL 257)inrobtech.com/UserFiles/products20_file.pdf
InRob’s JV MTL Platform to Be MarketedWorldwide Through Caterpillar Network, August15, 2007.www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=41
Caterpillarwww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=601
Martin Broek, Ali Abunimah, Carlo Tombola andWendela de Vries, “European & American weap-ons in Israeli attack on Gaza Flotilla,” June 15, 2010.stopwapenhandel .org/publicat ies/factsheets/israel_flotilla_attack.html
Cellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom Israelaelaelaelael That summer, on the fifth anni-versary of the International Court ofJustice declaration that Israel’s separa-tion wall is illegal, Cellcom ran an adcampaign on Israeli TV depicting sol-diers patrolling the wall. When a soc-cer ball came over the wall, dozens ofmachine-gun toting Israeli troopsjumped from their jeeps to “have somefun” playing with the unseen Palestin-ians. The ad was “extensively criticizedfor making light of the Palestinian suf-fering inflicted by the West Bank bar-rier,” said Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.
In response to Cellcom’s ad, avideo posted to YouTube showed whatreally happens when Palestinians kicka soccer ball over Israel’s razor wire-topped separation barrier. In the video,armed Israeli troops respond to the soc-cer ball by firing numerous volleys oftear gas at the Palestinian activists.
The “Who Profits from the oc-cupation” database also says Cellcom
“erected close to two hundred an-tennas and telecommunication infra-structure facilities on occupied landin the West Bank and the GolanHeights. The company provides cel-lular communication services to thesettlers and Israeli soldiers in theoccupied territory.”
Cellcom’s wholly-owned sub-sidiary, NetVision, was acquired forUS$427 million in 2011. As early as
Canada PCanada PCanada PCanada PCanada Pension Planension Planension Planension Planension Plan2020202020111111 Inv1 Inv1 Inv1 Inv1 Investmentestmentestmentestmentestment
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This major telecom company is“the largest Israeli cellular op-erator.” The company is con-
trolled by the Israel Discount Banks’IDB Holding Corp. through the Dis-count Investment Corp. (DIC) whichowns about 53% of Cellcom’s shares.(See DIC, p.25, and IDB in table “CPPInvestments,” p.53.)
In 2009, Israel’s Globes busi-ness paper reported that Cellcom won“a Ministry of Defense tender to pro-vide some landline telephony servicesfor the IDF [Israel Defense Force]….Cellcom will provide 50-100 hookupsto switchboards at IDF bases.”
Cellcom’s CEO, Amos Shapira,called “this tender a vote of confidenceby the IDF in the capability and reli-ability of the company’s technologyand services in general.”
This 2009 deal came one monthafter Cellcom broke Bezeq’s longstand-ing monopoly over phone contractswith Israel’s military. (See pp.11-12.)
On the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivererererersary osary osary osary osary of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of Justicef Justicef Justicef Justicef Justicedecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Israel’ael’ael’ael’ael’s separs separs separs separs separation wation wation wation wation wall is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,
Cellcom wCellcom wCellcom wCellcom wCellcom was widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised for running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-toting Isroting Isroting Isroting Isroting Israeli traeli traeli traeli traeli troopsoopsoopsoopsoopsjust “hajust “hajust “hajust “hajust “having some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball ovvvvver the wer the wer the wer the wer the wall.all.all.all.all.
Press for Conversion! (Issue # 66) Spring 201218
2002, this Israeli internet and phonecompany was one of two IDF InternetService Providers (ISP). NetVision re-tained this ISP contract until 2009.
Since 2006, Cellcom’s board ofdirectors has included retired BrigadierGeneral Shlomo Waxe. Before serv-ing as the Director General of Israel’sMinistry of Communications (1993-1997), Waxe was a commanding officerof the Israeli military’s signal, electron-ics and computer corps (1990-1993).
Another Cellcom executive withmilitary ties is Eliezer Ogman. WithCellcom since 1994 and its Chief Tech-nology Officer since 2000, Ogman is aretired Lieutenant Colonel who “servedin the signal, electronics and computercorps” of the Israeli military.
ReferencesCellcom Israel Ltd.duns100.dundb.co.il/ts.cgi?tsscript=comp_eng&duns=600545057
Discount Investment Corp, Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discount_Investment_Corporation
“Cellcom wins IDF landline deal,” Globes, Au-gust 25, 2009.www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000492710
Amitai Ziv, “Cellcom breaks Bezeq’s monopolyover government phone services,” Haaretz, Au-gust 8, 2009.www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/cellcom-breaks-bezeq-s-monopoly-over-government-phone-serv-ices-1.306636
Oded Yaron, “Soccer game or tear gas? Pales-tinians put controversial ad to test,” Haaretz, July22, 2009.www.haaretz.com/news/soccer-game-or-tear-gas-palestinians-put-controversial-ad-to-test-1.280506
A response to Israeli Cellcom advertwww.youtube.com/watch?v=Et8VGyCDt10
Cellcom Israelwww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=712
“The Cellular Companies and the Occupation,”Newsletter, Who Profits, August 2009.whoprofits.org/Newsletter.php?nlid=46
“Cellcom and NetVision complete merger,” TMTFinance, August 15, 2011tmtfinance.com/news/cellcom-and-netvision-complete-merger
Gad Perez, “IDF chooses Bezeq Int’l as ISP,”Globes, September 9, 2009.www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000496871
Nissim Atiasinvesting.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=1675611
Shlomo Waxeinvesting.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=31266111
Eliezer (Lipa) Ogmanpeople.forbes.com/profile/eliezer-lipa-ogman/16928
Canada PCanada PCanada PCanada PCanada Pension Planension Planension Planension Planension Plan2020202020111111 Inv1 Inv1 Inv1 Inv1 Investmentestmentestmentestmentestment
$15 million$15 million$15 million$15 million$15 million
She also notes that CEMEX hasendorsed the UN Global Compact. This“strategic policy initiative” commitsbusinesses to “responsiblebusiness practices,” such as makingsure “they are not complicit in humanrights abuses.” She concludes that
“Although CEMEX is fully awareof its involvement in Israel’s viola-tions of international law in the oc-cupied West Bank and the GolanHeights, it shows no sign of chang-ing its policy.”
References“Building a STRONGER Foundation,” CEMEX2010 20F Reportwww.cemex.com/InvestorCenter / f i les /2010/CEMEX2010_20F.pdf
Cemexwww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=704
Readymix Industrieswww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=645
Adri Nieuwhof, “Multinational companies min-ing occupied Palestinian land,” ElectronicIntifada, May 22, 2011.electronicintifada.net/content/multinational-companies-mining-occupied-palestinian-land/9974
Cemex complicit in Israel’s violations of inter-national law, June 1, 2011www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3991
Adri Nieuwhof, “CEMEX tries to reason awaycomplicity in Israeli violations of internationallaw,” Electronic Intifada, Aug. 19, 2011.electronicintifada.net/blog/adri-nieuwhof/cemex-tries-reason-away-complicity-israeli-violations-international-law
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Mexico’s Cemex company –the world’s largest supplierof building materials and
third largest cement producer – has re-fused to help build the US-Mexicanborder wall. However, the company’sIsraeli subsidiary, Readymix, providesconcrete for Israel’s illegal separationwall, as well as for checkpoints andother Israeli infrastructure in the occu-pied West Bank. Readymix also oper-ates plants in the illegally-occupiedWest Bank and Golan Heights.
In its 2010 report, Cemex saidit owns “54 ready-mix concrete plants,eight aggregates quarries, one concreteproducts plant, one admixtures plant,one asphalt plant, one lime factory andone blocks factory in Israel.”
The Yatir Quarry in the southHebron Hills of the West Bank, is co-owned by Readymix (50%). Interna-tional law (Hague Regulations, 1907,Article 55) prohibits the exploitation ofnatural resources in occupied territo-ries. Swiss human rights activist, AdriNieuwhof, reported that in May 2011Readymix was filmed removing mate-rials from Yatir through a checkpointinto Israel using a Volvo truck. (Seetable, “CPP Investments, p.53).
In 2009, an Israeli human rightsgroup, Yesh Din, unsuccessfully peti-tioned Israel’s high court to end Israelimining, including at Yatir. The group’sattorneys said such quarries are “clearlyillegal activity, which constitutes bluntand ugly colonial exploitation of landwe [Israel] had forcefully seized.”
In another article, Nieuwhofnotes that Cemex has also provided“concrete for the construction of Isra-el’s controversial Jerusalem Light Railproject,” which “strengthens Israel’sgrip on the greater Jerusalem area byconnecting West Jerusalem withseveral settlements in or sur-rounding occupied East Jerusalem.”
