A warning to French businessmen was published on June 24, with no prior announcement on the website of the Quai dOrsay on the page Israel-Palestinian Territories under the heading, Advice to Travellers and just two days before a visit to Paris by the head of Israeli diplomacy, Avigdor Lieberman. There are risks related to economic and financial activities in Israeli settlements. Financial transactions, investments, purchasing, supplying and other economic activities in the colonies or benefiting the settlements, entail legal and economic risks related to the fact that Israeli settlements under international law, are built on occupied lands and are not recognized as part of the territory of Israel, The site of the Quai dOrsay reminds French citizens that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Golan Heights have been occupied by Israel since 1967 and that the settlements are illegal under international law. Although economic activities in the occupied territories are not illegal under international law, the warning cites the many risks associated with it: disputes related to land, water, mineral and other natural resources which could be the object of a purchase or investment, and the reputational risk.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:47:49 +0000