UAE contracts with Israeli institutions on UN blacklist

ANKARA, Sep. 23 (YPA) – An investigation conducted by ‘Anadolu’ Agency has revealed that Emirati companies have contracted in recent weeks with Israeli companies that were classified by the United Nations as a “black list”, which includes companies that support settlement in the occupied Arab lands.

The “black list” includes 112 Israeli and international companies, which the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said they are carrying out specific activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the agency.

The Israeli “Leumi” Bank was mentioned a lot in these contracts, despite being one of the companies on the UN blacklist.

According to the Emirati media, it is clear that the aforementioned Israeli bank has concluded three agreements with three Emirati banks, namely Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and ‘Emirates NBD’.

The issue was not limited to Leumi Bank, as Emirati companies signed contracts with ‘Hapoalim’ Bank, whose name is also on the blacklist. It was announced in the UAE that a memorandum of understanding had been signed between “Hapoalim” and “Emirates NBD”, and this agreement was celebrated as the first between Israeli and Emirati bankers.

In the same context, the Israeli ‘Haaretz’ newspaper said on November 6, 2019, that the Israeli Film Council approved the establishment of three new cinema funds, including one in settlements in the occupied West Bank.

While the UAE has contracted with Israeli companies that have activities in settlements, many international companies have stopped their dealings with their Israeli counterparts working in settlements, fearing that they will be prosecuted in the International Criminal Court, which is expected to make a decision soon on launching a criminal investigation for war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.

YPA