Basque groups' statement calling for CAF to withdraw from Israel's Jerusalem Tram project
70 Basque groups tell CAF Israel's settlement rail project is contrary to international law and a new attack on the rights of the Palestinian people
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In 2017, Israel approved the tender for the extension of the Jerusalem tram, known as the Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR), a process for which, among others, the Basque company based in Beasain CAF - Construction and Railroad Auxiliary was bidding. It is a project that is contrary to international law and a new attack on the rights of the Palestinian people, as it seeks to connect Jerusalem with Israeli settlements and thus annex even more militarily occupied Palestinian territory, where more than 600,000 illegal settlers already live.
During the bidding process there were numerous international companies that withdrew from the contest, some citing their concern over the violation of international law: Bombardier, Macquarie, Siemens, Alsthom and Systra, a subsidiary of the French state-owned railway company SNCF. Also City-Pass, the company that currently operates the JLR Red Line, resigned from participating in the tender.
In August, Israel’s Ministry of Finance chose the CAF consortium and the Israeli infrastructure company Shapir to expand the illegal settlement railway project. The $1.8 billion contract will be used to extend the railroad to more illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in East Jerusalem, and to strengthen transportation between those illegal settlements and West Jerusalem.
The CAF company committee in Beasain has repeatedly requested the CAF management to withdraw from the tender. Two unions in Zaragoza, the Independent Group and CGT, which represent the workers in the CAF factory that would build equipment for the JLR, said CAF should withdraw from the project, because it is a "colonial criminal act against the state of Palestine." Even so, turning a deaf ear to the demands of its workers and civil society, CAF has moved forward with its participation in the contract and is already complicit in the occupation in Palestine.
It should be noted that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law as they violate the Fourth Geneva Convention. Likewise, this tram clearly entrenches Israeli apartheid: it is designed to exclude Palestinian neighborhoods and to gather settlements and connect them with each other and with West Jerusalem.
In addition, by carrying out this project CAF is violating its own code of conduct which says that "any action by CAF and its members will scrupulously respect laws, human rights and public liberties." The Basque Autonomous Community government has shares in CAF, which should ensure that no public money supports the illegal occupation of Palestine. There is the precedent of the French multinational Veolia that in 2015 had to sell all its investments in Israel (including that of the Jerusalem tram) due to the billions in losses generated by the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of the State of Israel.
The signatory entities throughout Euskal Herria (Basque Country) request that CAF comply with international law, withdraw from the Jerusalem Tram project and thus end complicity in the occupation of Palestine.
Signers:
AA-Kem-Moc Iruñea, anti-militarist group local branch
Accem, NGO rights
Alternatiba, political party
Antikapitalistak, political party
Askapena, internationalist organization
Askapena Irunerria, local branch internationalist organization
Asociación Colectivo Bachue Elkartea, Latin American refugee group
Asociación Elkarcredit de Solidaridad, solidarity group
Asociación Paz con Dignidad, NGO solidarity
Auzoetatik Piztu Bilbo, social movement
Berri-Otxoak, organization for solidarity group
Bilboko Langile Autodefentsa Sarea, self-defense rights group
Bilboko Talde Antimilitarista (KEM-MOC), anti-militarist group local branch
Bizilur, solidarity group
CCOO Euskadi, trade union national branch
CGT-LKN sindikatua, trade union
ECONOMISTAS SIN FRONTERAS, economists without borders
Euskal Herriko Nekazarien Elkartasuna (EHNE), agrarian trade union
Ekologistak Martxan Bizkaia, environmental group
ELA sindikatua, trade union
Emakume Internazionalistak, internationalist and feminist organization
Emakumeok gerraren aurka - Mujeres contra la guerra, feminist anti-militarist organization
Ernai, youth group
Errekaleor Bizirik!, solidarity group
ESK Sindikatua, trade union
Etxebizitza sindikatua, housing union
Euskal Herria Sozialista, solidarity group
Euskal Herriko Bilgune Feminista, feminist organisation
EZKER ANITZA - IU, national branch of political party
Ezkerretik Foroa, left-wing debates
FeministAlde, feminist organisation
Gasteizko Gaztetxea, youth group
Gasteizkoak, anti-militarist group
Gazte Koordinadora Sozialista, youth group
Gerra Hemen hasten da, anti-militarist group
Hala Bedi, solidarity group
Hazi Aroa, research group
Herria Kultur Elkartea, solidarity group
Hondarpe Groseko Auzo Elkartea, neighborhood community group
Ikasle Abertzaleak, youth group
Internazionalistak Auzolanean, internationalist organisation
IPES ELKARTEA- GIZARTE IKERKETARAKO ERAGILEA, rights groups
Iruñea Ciudad de Acogida (ICA), refugee group
Kakitzat (Koordinadora Antimilitarista), anti-militarist coordination
Komite Internazionalistak, internationalist organisation
LAB Sindikatua, trade union
Lumaltik Herriak, solidarity group
Mekauen Konpartsa Internazionalista, internationalist group
Mikelazulo, cultural association
Mugak Zabalduz, countergroup of the G7
Mugarik Gabe, solidarity group
Mugarik Gabeko Ingeniaritza, engineers without border
Mugen Gainetik, NGO solidarity
Mundubat, NGO rights group
Osasungoa Euskalduntzeko Erakundea, health care organisation
Ongi Etorri Errefuxiatuak, refugee group
Pallasos en Rebeldia, rights group - clowns
Partido Comunista España, political party
Peña Donibane, social group
Podemos Euskadi, political party
Podemos Navarra, political party
Sare Antifaxista, anti-fascist group
Siriaren Alde, solidarity group
SODePAZ, NGO solidarity
Steilas, trade union
Unadikum, solidarity group
Women Defend Rojava - Gasteizko komitea, feminist organisation
Zabaldi Elkartasun Etxea, social center of internationalist groups (SOS Racismo is part of them)
Zizurko Gazte Asamblada, youth group