9 September 2013

Dutch company terminates involvement in project in East Jerusalem in view of possible conflict with international law

The Dutch company Royal HaskoningDHV has terminated its involvement in a sewage construction project in East Jerusalem because it would violate international law. It was earlier reported that the Dutch government had advised the company to withdraw from the project in view of the possible conflict with international law. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the decision. The Israeli government contested that the project would violate international law.

Source: Reformatorisch Dagblad | Nederlandse ingenieurs weg uit Oost-Jeruzalem (in Dutch)

27 August 2013

Dutch government urges local company not to participate in East Jerusalem project

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the Dutch Foreign Ministry has warned the Dutch engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV not to participate in a sewage construction project in East Jerusalem because it would violate international law.

The warning comes after the publication of new EU guidelines in July that ban union funding of Israeli institutions operating in the occupied territories. According to Haaretz, EU officials are considering warning companies about contacts with the settlements, and an Israeli official was reported stating that such a decision would be a serious escalation in EU measures against the settlements.

Source: Haaretz | Dutch government urges local firm to cancel East Jerusalem project