Hyundai profiting from Israel’s colonization of Golan Heights
By Ryan Rodrick, Electronic
Intifada, 14 December 2016.
Intifada, 14 December 2016.
Hyundai equipment is used to
destroy a home in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina in
January 2014.
destroy a home in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina in
January 2014.
ActiveStills
In September, Israeli forces
demolished the home of Bassam Ibrahim. What made his case different from the
more than 48,000 such demolitions in territory
Israel has occupied since 1967 is that Ibrahim is not Palestinian. He is
Syrian.
demolished the home of Bassam Ibrahim. What made his case different from the
more than 48,000 such demolitions in territory
Israel has occupied since 1967 is that Ibrahim is not Palestinian. He is
Syrian.
Ibrahim’s home in the town of
Majdal Shams was the first demolition in the Golan Heights
since Israel occupied the Syrian territory following its capture in 1967.
Majdal Shams was the first demolition in the Golan Heights
since Israel occupied the Syrian territory following its capture in 1967.
The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the destruction of property by
an occupying power except in the case of military necessity.
an occupying power except in the case of military necessity.
Equipment manufactured by Hyundai
Heavy Industries was used to carry out the demolition.
Heavy Industries was used to carry out the demolition.
Under pressure
Headquartered in South Korea,
Hyundai is one of the top five heavy equipment manufacturers worldwide. It is
not the first time its equipment has been used in Israeli violations of international law.
Hyundai is one of the top five heavy equipment manufacturers worldwide. It is
not the first time its equipment has been used in Israeli violations of international law.
Under pressure from Palestine Peace and
Solidarity, a Korean solidarity group, the company pledged in 2013 to cease
dealing with its Israeli distributor, Automotive Equipment Group, stating that
its excavators were intended for “the private sector, but not for military
purposes.”
Solidarity, a Korean solidarity group, the company pledged in 2013 to cease
dealing with its Israeli distributor, Automotive Equipment Group, stating that
its excavators were intended for “the private sector, but not for military
purposes.”
But one year later, Palestine
Peace and Solidarity confirmed that Hyundai had resumed
distribution through another Israeli company, EFCO, and continued to profit
from the use of its machinery in house demolitions and other violations of
international law.
Peace and Solidarity confirmed that Hyundai had resumed
distribution through another Israeli company, EFCO, and continued to profit
from the use of its machinery in house demolitions and other violations of
international law.
The research group Who Profits reports that Hyundai machinery has also
been used in the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, making the
company’s profits in the region “contingent upon land grab, forced displacement
and at times even settler or state violence.”
been used in the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements, making the
company’s profits in the region “contingent upon land grab, forced displacement
and at times even settler or state violence.”
The demolition of Bassam
Ibrahim’s home in the Golan followed a pattern similar to those in the occupied
West Bank.
Ibrahim’s home in the Golan followed a pattern similar to those in the occupied
West Bank.
According to Al-Marsad, a human rights
group in the Golan, hundreds of Israeli police and special forces surrounded
the home as it was destroyed on the pretext that it was built without a permit.
group in the Golan, hundreds of Israeli police and special forces surrounded
the home as it was destroyed on the pretext that it was built without a permit.
Dozens more Syrian-owned homes in the
territory have also received demolition orders.
territory have also received demolition orders.
More than 140,000 Syrians lived
in the Golan Heights, approximately 1,860 square kilometers, before its capture
in 1967. Most were forcibly transferred outside the territory, and only 20,000 remain
today.
in the Golan Heights, approximately 1,860 square kilometers, before its capture
in 1967. Most were forcibly transferred outside the territory, and only 20,000 remain
today.
Discriminatory Israeli policies
make it virtually impossible for residents to obtain permits to build or
improve their homes. Many have no choice but to build without them.
make it virtually impossible for residents to obtain permits to build or
improve their homes. Many have no choice but to build without them.
Syrian communities in the Golan
are also being squeezed by Israel’s expansion of Hermon National Park.
Authorities have moved to appropriate 20,000 acres of land used by
Majdal Shams and other communities for agriculture and housing.
are also being squeezed by Israel’s expansion of Hermon National Park.
Authorities have moved to appropriate 20,000 acres of land used by
Majdal Shams and other communities for agriculture and housing.
This expansion would surround
these communities to the north and west. Already hemmed in to the east by the
militarized boundary with the rest of Syria, this would only leave land in the
south for urban expansion. That land is used for agriculture, “a main source of
livelihood for the local Syrian population,” according to al-Marsad.
these communities to the north and west. Already hemmed in to the east by the
militarized boundary with the rest of Syria, this would only leave land in the
south for urban expansion. That land is used for agriculture, “a main source of
livelihood for the local Syrian population,” according to al-Marsad.
Settlements expand
The number of Jewish settlers in
the Golan is now roughly equal to that of the Syrian
population.
the Golan is now roughly equal to that of the Syrian
population.
In October, Israel approved the
construction of 1,600 new housing units in Katzrin, the largest settlement in
the Golan. It was built on the land of the Syrian villages Qasrin, Shqef and
Sanawber, which were depopulated by Israeli forces in 1967.
construction of 1,600 new housing units in Katzrin, the largest settlement in
the Golan. It was built on the land of the Syrian villages Qasrin, Shqef and
Sanawber, which were depopulated by Israeli forces in 1967.
Israel has capitalized on the
ongoing conflict in Syria to seek international recognition of its
annexation of the Golan Heights.
ongoing conflict in Syria to seek international recognition of its
annexation of the Golan Heights.
These efforts were rebuffed by the UN Security Council,
which in April reaffirmed Resolution 497 declaring that Israel’s
annexation of the Golan was “null and void and without international legal
effect.”
which in April reaffirmed Resolution 497 declaring that Israel’s
annexation of the Golan was “null and void and without international legal
effect.”
Yet since that declaration was
made in 1981, Israel has tightened its grip through settlement enterprises such
as the Golan Heights Winery and Eden Springs mineral water which exploit the
territory’s natural resources.
made in 1981, Israel has tightened its grip through settlement enterprises such
as the Golan Heights Winery and Eden Springs mineral water which exploit the
territory’s natural resources.
Afek, a subsidiary of US-based
Genie Energy, is drilling for oil in the Golan.
Genie Energy, is drilling for oil in the Golan.
Afek’s president, Effie Eitam, is
a settler living in the Golan Heights and a
former general in Israel’s military.
a settler living in the Golan Heights and a
former general in Israel’s military.
Genie’s advisory board includes former US Vice
President Dick Cheney, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, as well as former Clinton
administration officials: treasury secretary Larry Summers, UN ambassador Bill
Richardson and CIA director James Woolsey.
President Dick Cheney, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, as well as former Clinton
administration officials: treasury secretary Larry Summers, UN ambassador Bill
Richardson and CIA director James Woolsey.
