Monday, January 25, 2010

Et Tu, Denmark?

From the Copenhagen Post:
Danske Bank adds two firms to a list of companies in which it won’t invest due to questionable ethics
Africa Israel Investments and Elbit Systems have been added to Danske Bank’s list of companies that fail to adhere to its Socially Responsible Investment policy.

The bank’s SRI policy obliges it to examine the willingness of potential investments to follow international conventions in human rights and employment standards among others.

The two companies have been added to the list, which contains 24 companies, based on their activities in the settlement areas of the Palestinian territories.

Elbit Systems reportedly provides surveillance systems to the separation wall dividing Israel and the West Bank, while Africa Israel Investments has reportedly been involved in construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

The International Court of Justice has already ruled the wall to be illegal, while UN and EU bodies have condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Thomas H. Kjærgaard, head of Danske Bank’s SRI department, told Business.dk the bank was looking out for the interests of its customers by not ‘placing their money in companies that violate international standards’.

‘It’s not in itself against national legislation to build a house, but our SRI policy goes further than that. It adheres to UN conventions and analyses them in a political context. It’s the Nordic, UN and EU position that the settlements are illegal and a hindrance to a peaceful resolution. On that basis we can state that this is a violation of our SRI policy,’ he said.

Danske Bank’s move follows a similar decision from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global to exclude Elbit last September for its involvement in the separation barrier.
The difference between the Danes of today and the Danes of yesteryear: today's Danes (who share their small country with a very vocal Muslim population, and who, heaven knows, have had their innings with the 'Slamozanies) aren't going to show their support for beleagured Jewry by wearing yellow stars. This time--shame on them--they're siding with the Jew-haters.

1 comment:

Tim Johnston said...

How times change, and what short memories we have.
Wearing a yellow star as solidarity with Jews or Israelis sounds like a good idea, has this taken off in any way since the war?

I wonder will they boycott the contractors who painted the walls as well, and the woman who made the tea for the workers who made the tyres for the truck that brought the bricks for the wall?
Just a thought.