New SOAS Study Released: UK Economic Links with Israeli Settlements

School of Oriental and African Studies, The University of London, February 10, 2009 - This report [UK economic links with Israeli settlements in Palestinian occupied territory] was prepared by Profundo economic research for the Sir Joseph Hotung Programme. It is an empirical study forming part of a wider project which examines economic and trade issues arising from Israel's occupation of occupied Palestinian and Syrian territories.

The objective of this report to identify the roles played by UK companies - directly or indirectly - in supporting the existence and expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

The research has identified 68 British companies which have links with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem: 49 have their Head Office in the UK and 19 are British subsidiaries of companies based in Israel or other countries.

The report is framed within the international legal context both of the settlements themselves and of the trade agreements between Israel and the UK and EU. It illustrates furthermore how the economy of Israel proper and that of the settlements in occupied territory have become intertwined.