From http://www.israelbonds.com/home.aspx
We've explored a few of the many examples of large corporate or capitalistic interests driving governmental policy, whether it be the southwestern agrobusiness' influence on the US Border Patrol, or in the invasions and occupations of Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, etc. to protect US business interests or expand them. And while watching 5 Broken Cameras, I began wondering about the settlement construction, why are they building them and who profits? Particularly, I decided to investigate the companies that construct the settlements and see if those construction companies play key roles in lobbying, encouraging, or reinforcing unjust policies that in turn benefit them economically, as is done in the US and many other places. Though I could not through a small bit of poking around see how much lobbying and direct influence many companies have on settlement construction, I discovered a huge number of companies participating in different ways in the disenfranchisement and abuse of Palestinians. Below are a few examples.
Whoprofits.org organized a database of companies that fall into any of their three categories "of corporate involvement in the settlement industry: Israeli companies which are located in the settlements and thus use the resources of Palestinian land and labor in their production; Companies involved in sustaining the settlements and connecting them to Israel; Companies involved in real estate deals and the construction of Israeli infrastructure and settlements on occupied land." 158 companies alone provide construction services to Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. For example, CRH is one of the largest cement manufacturers and distributors in Israel. CRH provides most of the cement used, and has acknowledged that their cement was most likely used in the construction of the Separation Wall. Also, "through an agreement with the Palestinian Authority and its fully owned Palestinian Commercial Services Company (PCSC), the West Bank and the Gaza strip constitute a captive market for Nesher's cement." Thus, CRH is able to capitalize both from Israeli occupation, and the stifling political effects on Palestinians, which decrease the choices for businesses and construction companies they can utilize in infrastructure and other improvements in occupied regions. Palestinian Authority is purchasing from a company that financially benefits from settlement construction and owns a stake in a company that does transportation for the Israeli military. The single example of CRH demonstrates that economic oppression occurs from many direction and in many different ways. Interestingly, CRH is based in Ireland, thus demonstrating that the company need not be headquartered in a country to benefit from a country's practices.
(http://whoprofits.org/involvement/settlement-industry)
Another example is the Israel Bonds. Israel Bonds are bonds issued by the State of Israel in the United States, and are in part financed by US financial support to Israel. But even more interesting than that is that the bonds are underwritten by the DCI, or the Development Corporation for Israel, which orchestrates settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territories. Many US states and municipalities purchase these bonds in large quantities, and the purchase is seen as a direct support of Israeli actions against Palestinians. Israel Bonds on their website discuss how the bonds are utilized by the state of Israel: "Proceeds from the sale of bonds have played a decisive role in Israel’s rapid evolution into a groundbreaking, globally emulated leader in high-tech, cleantech and biotech. Israel bond capital has helped strengthen every aspect of Israel’s economy, enabling national infrastructure development. Today, expanded ports and transportation networks enabled by investments in Israel bonds help facilitate shipment of ‘Made in Israel’ technology around the world, enhancing national export growth." Israel Bonds demonstrate the direct implications of US investment into Israeli policies and as a support for Palestinian occupation. Also, this support coming as part of a bond program with fininacial and corporate desires demonstrates that the absues agaisnt Palestinians are not purely ideological, but that profits are used to produce those abuses and profits are gained from the abuses.
(http://www.unz.com/article/israel-bonds-are-a-high-risk-investment/)
The Electronic Intifada details the connections of two of Israel's main banks to financing both individual settlers and larger companies buying and building in illegal settlements. Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi as noted in the article financially support settlement endeavors, but I believe that it can easily be stated that they financially benefit from these mortgages as well, they profit from the interest from their customers, thus the banks would want to encourage and continue financing in these areas since they are rapidly and continuing to increase. (https://electronicintifada.net/content/israeli-banks-entrenched-settlement-building/8507)
Other Resources and Readings:
Brief History
https://informationvisualized.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/israeli-palestinian-conflict.jpg
Listing of Corporations that benefit from Settlement construction
http://www.interfaithpeaceinitiative.com/profiting.pdf
http://972mag.com/major-israeli-construction-company-pulls-out-of-settlement-industry/98089/
https://electronicintifada.net/content/report-uk-economic-links-israeli-settlements/3423
http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/8344
https://www.afsc.org/resource/israel%E2%80%99s-settlement-policy-occupied-palestinian-territory
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