You may have heard about SodaStream recently, it is a company which produces devices for home carbonating your drink.
As ‘Trading Away Peace’ – a report by 22 NGOs – states:
“The main factory is in the Mishor Adummim industrial zone in the West Bank. Mishor Adummim is part of Ma’ale Adummim, one of the largest settlements strategically located east of Jerusalem, the establishment of which is considered one of the largest expropriations of private Palestinian land during the occupation.118
SodaStream pays taxes to Ma’ale Adummim Municipality; its revenues are thus directly funding this settlement, which effectively bifurcates the West Bank and is considered to be a major obstacle to any future peace agreement.”
So it is disappointing – to say the least – to find the Independent newspaper offering the chance to win a SodaStream on the ‘YourMoney’ section of their website.
Please complain to [email protected] or via twitter @independent pointing out:
- SodaStream home beverage carbonating devices are fraudulently labelled as “Made in Israel”
- they are in fact produced in illegal Israeli settlements, under the conditions of a military occupation in the West Bank, outside the internationally-recognised borders of Israel
- Settlement production relies on, and supports, an activity that is illegal under international law
- Outside official state borders, Israeli companies operating in the West Bank enjoy cheap land and water, confiscated from the indigenous Palestinian owners; a captive Palestinian labour force, under severe restrictions of movement and organisation; vast tax incentives; and lax regulation of environmental and labor protection laws.
“Thank you for taking the time to set out your views about the competition we ran last week. The competition has now closed and we will bear in mind for the future what you have said.”
Tell the Independent you want a proper response dealing with the issues!
