Who Profits from the Israeli Occupation? - Announcing a new online database: www.whoprofits.org
Now, more than ever, Israeli activists need a powerful global movement to help us build a just peace in Israel/ Palestine. Looking for effective tools for ending the occupation, we have launched a new website listing companies directly involved in the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights.
The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace's grassroots initiative includes a database and an information center and reflects an ongoing two-year effort involving rigorous research, documentation, and site visits.
This unprecedented online resource already lists about 200 companies, and hundreds more will be added during 2009, offering an extensive and intricate mapping of the corporate aspects and interests in the continued occupation. The website offers a new and useful categorization of all corporate interests in the occupation and exposes specific examples of direct involvement of many international and Israeli companies for the first time. In tracing ownership links it shows in detail how some of Israel's largest corporations are tied in with the occupation.
The database allows for advanced searches; such as: Which U.S. corporations support the West Bank military checkpoints? Which of the companies are listed in the London stock exchange? What settlements' production is formally registered inside Israel? Note, however, that the online data is always partial, always growing. Please send us any relevant information, further requests for information or suggestions.
As Israeli activists, we feel obligated to try and educate ourselves and others about the economic incentives and corporate involvement in the occupation, but this is not enough. You can support our efforts by continuing this investigation in your own country, by informing others of our website, or by sending us a much needed donation.
Note: The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace ended its work in 2020, but the website continues as an independent research center.