Dossier Unilever

(pdf, 2,45 MB, 37 pag.)

 

On November 26, 2008 Unilever announced that it will divest from Beigel & Beigel, a pretzel and snacks factory located at Barkan, an industrial zone in Ariel, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

 

UCP has advocated the departure of Unilever from the settlement in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the publication of the report "Dutch economic links to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and/or Syrian territories" in 2006. UCP engaged in a constructive dialogue with Unilever Netherlands on the ethical implications of the company's investment in the settlement. UCP report submitted to Unilever prior to the divestment announcement, and titled "Improper Advantage: A Study of Unilever's investment in an illegal Israeli settlement" concludes that:

 

  • The land of the Barkan industrial zone was confiscated from surrounding Palestinian villages by a military order issued by the Israeli Defence Force in 1981, and declared "state land". International Law prohibits the confiscation of occupied land not for military purposes.
  • Location in the settlement makes Unilever complicit with violations of international law, Palestinian human rights and labour rights.
  • Beigel & Beigel benefits from subsidies allocated by the Israeli government to the industrial zones in the settlements. Also, the factory has been guaranteed a state grant for a plan of expansion.

 

Download UCP's report "Improper Advantage: A study of Unilever's investment in an illegal Israeli settlement" ( pdf, 2,45 MB, 37 pag.).

 

Download UCP's report from 2006 "Dutch economic links in support of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian and/or Syrian territories" ( pdf, 732 kB, 78 pag.)

 

Download UCP's report from 2006 in Dutch: "Nederlandse economische relaties die de Israëlische bezetting van Palestijnse en/of Israëlische gebieden ondersteunen" ( pdf, 845 kB, 82 pag.)

 

The news about Unilever was picked up widely in both Dutch and international media:

 

View UCP's press release