However, all efforts to resolve the issue have so far failed with some countries, most notably Britain and Germany, expressing reluctance to put increased pressure on Israel at a time when diplomatic efforts are focused on encouraging both the Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

CAABU has been working closely with NGOs across Europe on the issue of settlement products and recently sent evidence of Israel's violations of the EU/Israel Association Agreement and the Fourth Geneva Convention to the EU in advance of this meeting. It was hoped that in light of such damning evidence, that action would be taken to prevent Israel's continued abuse of the trade agreement.

Whilst researching on the matter, CAABU discovered that Selfridges, the major department store in London, stocks various products made in illegal Israeli settlements.

These settlements have been built on land expropriated from the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Not only are they illegal under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, but their existence and continuing expansion, a symbol of the ongoing occupation, has been identified as a major obstacle to peace at this sensitive time.

The EU and international positions make it clear that settlements are not part of Israel, and therefore are not covered by any trade agreement. By stocking such products, Selfridges is in effect assisting settlement expansion through subsidising the settler economy. Whilst settlement trade flourishes, Israel continues to strangle the Palestinian economy by denying it free access to the outside world.

The products found in Selfridges included:
· Achva Halva - Barkan Industrial Zone, West Bank
· Ahava toiletries - Mitspe Shalem, West Bank
· Beigal and Beigal pretzels - Barkan Industrial Zone, West Bank
· Yarden Wines - Katzrin, Golan Heights

Sir Cyril Townsend, Director of CAABU raised the issue in a letter to the Chief Executive of Selfridges, Mr Vittorio Radice, and urged him to reconsider Selfridges' policy in stocking such illegal settlement products. CAABU is currently awaiting reply.

Notes for Editors:


1. Notwithstanding the Oslo Accords of 1993, all Israeli governments
have continued to expand settlements. There is currently an estimated
400,000 Israeli settlers in the occupied territories, 200,000 of which live
within the illegally extended municipal boundaries of East Jerusalem. These
settlers live in 175 settlements: 9 in Jerusalem (extended municipal
boundaries), 150 in the West Bank, 16 in the Gaza Strip and 36 settlements
in the Golan Heights. ( http://www.palestine-un.org/mission/5_f.html)
2. About 80% of these settlements consist of 500 settlers or less, and
of the settlers in the West Bank, approximately 60% live in 14 urban
settlements. Also, 60% of the settlers are on the Israeli public payroll. In
total, the settlements occupy around 7% of the overall occupied Palestinian
territory.
3. 25 new settlements have been approved since Ariel Sharon took office
in March of this year.
4. The average growth rate of the Jewish population in all of Israel is
2% per year. Average growth in the settlements is 8.5% per year. Over 80% of
settlement growth, therefore, is higher than the national average, and yet
this is referred to as 'natural growth'.
5. During 1999, Israel confiscated 40,178 dunums of Palestinian land
(19,691 dunums were used for settlements, 3,830 declared confiscated and
16,657 used to build new bypass roads). (LAW Annual Report 1999).


For more information:
· See Passia Settlement Factsheet -
 http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/pdf/Land%20and%20Settlement.pdf
· Peace Now Settlement Factsheet
 http://www.peacenow.org/SettlementSites
· Foundation for Middle East Peace Settlement Watch
 http://www.fmep.org/



21 November 2001

For further information, please contact Chris Doyle at the CAABU Information
Office -020 7373 8414 - Fax: 020 7835 2088 e-mail  doylec@caabu.org
www.caabu.org



Chris Doyle
Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding
21 Collingham Road
London SW5 0NU
Tel: 020 7373 8414
Fax: 020 7835 2088
Mobile 07968 040 281
 http://www.caabu.org