On June 17th Swansea City Council took an historic decision to bar future contracts with Veolia on the grounds of the company’s illegal activities in the West Bank, Palestine.
The resolution was put to the Council as the result of a campaign by Swansea Action for Palestine, in the course of which all 72 councillors were mailed with details of Veolia’s illegal activities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The full text of the resolution agreed by Swansea Council is:
“The UN not only does not recognise Israels annexation and occupation of East Jerusalem, but has repeatedly stated its view that the Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank
contravene international law, and it has demanded that Israeli settlement activities and occupation should not be supported. The international trading company, Veolia, is a leading partner in a consortium seeking to build a light railway system linking Israel to illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, a project that clearly not only contravenes UN demands but is in contravention of international law.
This Council therefore calls on the Leader & Chief Executive not to sign or allow to be signed any new contracts or renewal of any existing contracts with Veolia or any other company in breach of international law, so long as to do so would not be in breach of any relevant legislation.”
The passing of the resolution was very important in its own right, but it has since emerged that this is the first resolution of its kind to have been passed by any UK authority, in that it makes explicit its reasons for ruling out any future contracts with Veolia. Other authorities have discontinued contracts with Veolia, but have not specified this reason.
Swansea City Council is therefore leading the way with what is now seen as a landmark decision.
Further info on the Swansea Action for Palestine blog at:
http://www.swanseapalestine.org
Swansea Greens - Historic Blog 