Flash Report
PLUNDERING THE SUN: THE ISRAELI SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRY AND PALESTINIAN FORCED DISPLACEMENT
MAY 2018
Methodology 2 Introduction 2 “Going Green” Israeli Style 3 Systematic Un-electrification and Dispossession 8 The Naqab: Industrialization and Impoverishment 9 Area C: Land Grab and Displacement 14 Profiteering from Forced Displacement 19 Conclusion 24 Appendix I: Solar Edge Response 25 Appendix II: PADCON Response 25 Appendix III: ABB Group Response 26 Appendix IV: Arava Power 26 Appendix V: Response from the Israeli Civil Administration to Who Profits’ Freedom of Information Request 27 Appendix VI: The Company for the Development of Mount Hebron Corporate Profile 27 Appendix VII: Arava Power Company Corporate Profile 28 Appendix VIII: Shikun Binuy Energy Corporate Profile 28 Appendix VIIII: EDF Energies Nouvelles Corporate Profile 29 Methodology versible ecological damage caused by using limited natural resources (oil and gas) for its This report is based on both desk and field re- production. This awareness has raised inter- search, as well as research conducted for the est in generating electricity from renewable in depth report “Greenwashing the Israeli Oc- and non-polluting sources, also known as cupation: The Solar Energy Industry and the green energy.1 Israel follows this trend and Israeli Occupation” and the flash report “Gre- plans to generate 10% of its energy from so- enwashing the Naqab: The Israeli Industry lar power by 2020, backed by domestic and of Solar Energy” published by Who Profits in international corporations. February 2017. Desk research includes collec- tion and analysis of information from various For this endeavor, Israel uses swaths of land public sources, such as company records and in the Naqab (Negev) desert in southern Isra- publications, public tenders, documents of el and in Area C of the occupied West Bank. the Israeli Registrar of Companies of the Min- Israel’s complete control over these two ar- istry of Justice, newspapers and other media eas, with their vast lands, intense sunlight sources, archives of photography agencies and scarce population, renders them ideal for and publications by various state authorities the Israeli solar project. However, in the Pal- (including Israeli government ministries). The estinian context, even access to the sun has field research consisted of visits to commer- become political and carries extensive impli- cial solar fields generating solar energy in cations for Palestinian communities on both Area C. Prior to publication, Who Profits con- sides of the Green Line. tacted all the companies mentioned in this report and requested their comments and Palestinian communities living in these- re responses. Newly identified companies, as source-rich areas bear the brunt of Israel’s well as, companies included in the previous brutal militaristic and discriminatory and eco- reports were contacted in 2017. Who Profits nomic marginalization policies. The majority received only four responses from all com- of their Palestinian residents are deliberately panies identified: SolarEdge, an Israeli-based left with no connection to the national Israeli multinational company, on 1 September electricity grid – the only electricity grid cov- 2016; PADCON, a German-based company, on ering both Israel and the occupied Palestinian 10 October 2016; ABB Group, a publicly traded territory (oPt). Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation, on 30 November 2017; and on February 2018, In this flash report, we look at how the fruits Arava Power, a private Israeli company, also of Israel’s flourishing green industry are not sent a written response to Who Profits. The only denied to Palestinian communities in full statements of all companies can be found the occupied West Bank and Palestinians in appendix I, appendix II, appendix III and ap- living in unrecognized villages in the Naqab, pendix VI (respectively). but they are gained at their expense, lead- ing to further dispossession and land an- Introduction nexation and contributing to their impover-
The global demand for electricity is constant- 1 International Energy Agency,Technology ly rising, and with it – awareness of the irre- Roadmap: Solar Photovoltaic Energy , 2014, p. 9.
2 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement ishment and forced displacement. specific policies incentivizing investment for commercial and residential solar fields in The report provides further evidence to sup- both the Naqab and Area C. In both places, port the assertion made by Natalie Grove, communities are deliberately marginalized a representative of the Office of the United and un-electrified, contributing to the co- Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ercive environment that leads to forced dis- (OHCHR), that the Israeli policies in Area C placement. In section 4, concerning system- create a “highly coercive environment that atic un-electrification and dispossession, the forces [Palestinians] to leave.”2 These policies report will demonstrate that while the overall ultimately seek to clear the land of its people strategy of marginalization and displacement and further entrench the settlement enter- is common in both areas, it is implemented prise in the occupied West Bank.3 For Pales- using different mechanisms. tinians living in unrecognized villages, the dis- placement from their ancestral land to make Finally, the report reveals Israeli and interna- way for Jewish-only towns, commercial cen- tional corporate agents who support Israel’s ters and military facilities is an official state political objectives, in violation of interna- policy.4 tional law, whilst reaping immense financial gain. We will note the entry of four additional Faced with no alternative and despite the international corporations – ABB Group, SMA considerable risk, some communities try to Solar Technology, PGR Drive Technologies and install solar panels to provide basic electric- Ja Solar Holdings – since Who Profits’ previ- ity needs. In contrast to Israeli solar panel ous reports on this area. Who Profits docu- fields, armed with the latest technologies mented the involvement of 18 Israeli and and lavishly funded by the government and international corporations in selected solar private companies, the Palestinian off-grid, fields. In Area C, Who Profits documented the community solar panels are small and often commercial involvement of seven Israeli and sponsored by international and local donors. eight international companies. In the Naqab, However, their modest size and crucial role in where the Israeli solar energy industry was sustaining life has not stopped Israeli authori- first launched, Who Profits examined some of ties from confiscating and demolishing them. the biggest solar fields and documented the involvement of four Israeli and four interna- In this flash report, we will first outline Isra- tional companies. This flash report will also el’s booming solar energy industry, which is demonstrate the involvement of two interna- supported by state policies and financial in- tional corporations, Volvo Group and Fassi, in centives for corporations. We will review the confiscation of Palestinian solar panels in- stalled with the aid and financing of non-gov- 2 Tovah Lazaroff, “UN: Israeli Policies Forc- ernmental organizations. ing Palestinian to Leave Area C of the West Bank,” Jerusalem Post, 27 July 2016. 3 B’Tselem, Acting the Landlord: Israel’s “Going Green” Israeli Style Policy in Area C, the West Bank, June 2013. 4 Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Mi- Israel’s determination to develop its renew- nority Rights in Israel, Position Paper on Prawer II, able energy sector was described by Prime January 2017. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a national
3 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement goal of the highest importance because the IEA, photovoltaic systems – energy systems addiction to oil has led to the Western world that rely on solar panels to generate electrici- to being dependent on the oil-producing ty – were expected to generate approximate- countries and harms the standing and securi- ly USD 450 million in electricity payments in ty of the State of Israel.”5 2016.9
The Israeli government has implemented sev- In 2016, the Israeli government passed Reso- eral policies to promote the green electricity lution No. 1403, reinforcing Israel’s commit- industry and entice international and Israeli ment to incentivize investment in green en- corporations to invest in it. In January 2009, ergy production and recommitting to grant Government Resolution No. 4450 set a target an accelerated 20% tax depreciation on solar for the generation of 5% of Israel’s electrici- systems for the first three years.10 This applies ty needs from renewable energy sources by to both private and commercial solar systems, 2014 and 10% by 2020, amounting to no less but only those connected to the national Is- than 250 megawatts (MW) per year between raeli electricity grid. 2010 and 2020.6 The resolution declared the Naqab and the Arava area, south of the Dead In March 2017, the IEA announced its inten- Sea, as “national priority areas for renewable tion to publish tenders for the generation of energy sources.”7 To reach that goal, in 2010 1,000 MW of solar electricity over the follow- the government approved a plan to invest ing two years.11 The first tender was for the USD 600 million over the next decade, par- generation of 235 MW of solar electricity. ticularly to encourage green construction and Energix, EDF and Shikun & Binui Renewable the development of innovative technologies.8 Energy were among the winning bidders.12 These corporations are already making a prof- Since then, the Israeli solar energy industry it from their involvement in constructing and has been thriving and domestic and interna- providing services to solar fields in the Naqab tional corporations have been reaping huge and the occupied West Bank. profits. By the end of 2016, the Israeli Electric- ity Authority (IEA) licensed and regulated so- In addition to government subsidies, com- lar energy projects in Israel and the oPt with panies investing in the Israeli market enjoy a capacity of over 800 MW, all connected to significant tax exemptions as “benefited en- the national electricity grid. According to the 9 The Electricity Authority, “Arrangements 5 Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, “Cabinet of Photovoltaic Structures in Israel – Installed Discusses National Plan to Reduce Dependence Quantities, Prices and Annual Payments” (He- on Petroleum for Transportation,” September brew), 31 August 2015. 2010. 10 Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, “National 6 Israeli Ministry of National Infrastruc- Plan to Implement Goals to Reduce Greenhouse tures, Policy on the Integration of Renewable Gases and Increase Energy Efficiency” (Hebrew), Energy Sources into the Israeli Electricity Sector, 10 April 2016. February 2010. 11 The Electricity Authority, “Winners of 7 Ibid., p. 29. the Electricity Authority’s First Huge Tender for 8 The Associated Press, “Israel Focuses Its Construction of Solar Electricity Generation Facili- Energy on Clean Technologies,” Jerusalem Post, 5 ties Selected” (Hebrew), 20 March 2017. January 2011. 12 Ibid.
4 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement terprises” under the Law for the Encourage- energy industry has brought a swift liberaliza- ment of Capital Investment (hereinafter: In- tion of the market and a proliferation of cor- vestment Law).13 While the Investment Law porate actors. The Ketura Sun solar field, one does not currently apply to Israeli industries of the first and largest commercial solar fields in the West Bank, benefits have been grant- to be built in the Naqab, produces 4.9 MW ed through alternative government decisions of electricity.18 It is situated in the Hevel Eilot and administrative arrangements.14 Since it Regional Council, which covers approximately is more complicated to apply tax benefits to 13% of Israel’s land area and is populated by an entire area in which Israeli law does not less than 5,000 people, only about 0.05% of apply, the government decided to amend the Israel’s population.19 The construction of so- Income Tax Order with regard to Israeli indi- lar fields creates jobs (by some estimates 100 viduals (illegal settlers) in the West Bank.15 In jobs per MW)20 and provides incentives to in- June 2016, the Knesset passed Amendment dividuals and families to move to the area – No. 226, stipulating that Israeli residents of thereby helping to advance Israel’s first Prime the West Bank, who are eligible for benefits Minister, Ben-Gurion’s dream of populating under the Investment Law, will receive similar the Naqab with Jewish citizens. income tax benefits.16 According to Who Profits’ findings, at present The Investment Law was further amended in there are six major solar fields in the Naqab. 2001 to incentivize corporate investment in Together, these fields take up 2.1 square ki- the Naqab. The amendment allows – by of- lometers of land (210 hectares or about 520 fering investment grants, tax exemptions and acres) and generate 224.5 MW of green elec- generous loans to companies that establish tricity21 for the benefit of neighboring kibbut- factories in certain peripheral areas. Accord- zim and towns, while communities inhabited ing to Article 40(C), the investment grant pro- by the majority of the Naqab’s Palestinian vided by the State can reach up to 30% of the population remain un-electrified and impov- expenses – the highest rate offered under this erished. law – when building a factory in the Naqab.17 18 Who Profits, Greenwashing the Naqab: Israel’s active encouragement of Israeli and The Israeli Industry of Solar Energy, February international private investments in the solar 2017. 19 Hevel Eilot Regional Council, “Geographic Review” (Hebrew), eilot.org,il. 13 Law for the Encouragement of Capital 20 Arava Power Company, “Solar Energy: Investment, 1959 (Hebrew). See Article 51(a) Arava Power, realizing a Zionist dream”, (Hebrew), on benefited enterprises, which was added in Youtube Amendment No. 60 (2005). 21 According to Who Profits’ findings, the 14 The Social Guard, “Proposed Amend- Ketura Sun solar field takes up 8 hectares of land ment to the Income Tax Order (No. 226)” (He- and generates 5 MW of electricity; Ramat Hovav brew), hamishmar.org.il, 28 August 2016. takes up 48.5 hectares of land and generates 37.5 15 Ibid. MW; Ashalim takes up 75 hectares of land and 16 Amendment to the Income Tax Order generates 121 MW; Zmorot takes up 60 hectares (No. 226), 2016 (Hebrew). of land and generates 50 MW; Sde Boker takes 17 Law for the Encouragement of Capital up 9 hectares of land and generates 5 MW; and Investment, 1959 (Hebrew). Amendment No. 51 Hatzerim takes up 10 hectares of land and gener- (2001) ates 6 MW.
5 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement The Netiv Hagdud solar field, Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank | October 2017 | Photo by Who Profits
In the West Bank, the first medium-sized com- Hills.24 Together they take up around 400,000 mercial solar field was constructed in 2015, in square kilometers (40 hectares or about 100 the settlement of Netiv Hagdud in the occu- acres) of occupied Palestinian land and gen- pied Jordan Valley. The field occupies 5 hect- erate around 24.8 MW of green electricity.25 ares of Palestinian land and generates 4 MW of electricity.22 Its establishment was possible The list of profiteers from the construction only after the Israeli government cement- these commercial solar fields in the oPt also ed its support for the development of solar extends to the Israeli Civil Administration energy fields in the oPt by becoming a finan- (hereinafter: ICA), an arm of the Israeli mili- cial guarantor for projects there. The gov- tary that controls and administers Area C of ernment’s involvement helped to overcome the occupied West Bank. Corporate bodies the Israeli banks’ initial reluctance to provide must get approval from the ICA and pay roy- loans for solar fields in the West Bank, fearing alties to it before constructing solar fields in thwwat Israel will withdraw from this area in the oPt. In 2016, through a freedom of infor- the future and their investment will be lost.23 24 There is one additional commercial solar There are currently four Israeli commercial field in the oPt, in the settlement of Petza’el, but solar fields in the West Bank: three in the it only generates 630 kW and therefore was not Jordan Valley and one in the South Hebron significant enough to document. 25 According to Who Profits’ findings, the commercial solar fields of Kalia (10.8 MW), Netiv Hagdud (4 MW) and Shadmot Mehola (5 MW) 22 Who Profits,Greenwashing the Occu- have taken up to 28.5-30 hectares of land in the pation: The Solar Energy Industry and the Israeli Jordan Valley, with prospects of future expansion. Occupation, January 2017, p. 29. The Meitarim solar field (5 MW), situated in the 23 Yedidya Ben Or, “First Solar Farm in Shim’a/Meitarim Industrial Zone in the South He- Judea and Samaria” (Hebrew), Arutz 7, 26 April bron Hills, occupies up to 10 hectares of Palestin- 2015. ian land.
6 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement mation request, Who Profits learned that the ty to the Palestinian Authority).27 The IEC buys corporate owners of the four commercial so- solar-based electricity at a price that is four lar fields in the West Bank paid a combined times that of regular electricity, from both amount of NIS 9,750,491 (approximately USD commercial and residential systems.28 2,760,000) in royalties to the ICA.26 In the oPt, a specific outline plan was issued In addition to corporate and state beneficia- by the ICA to ensure that settlers will be able ries, Israel’s growing renewable energy indus- to install and profit from residential solar
Settler homes in Shadmot Mehola and Netiv Hagdud, Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank | October 2017 | Photos by Who Profits try is generating profit for Israeli citizens on systems. In December 2011, the ICA issued both sides of the Green Line. If the residential Regional Outline Plan 55/1, a planning doc- solar system produces electricity in excess of ument for photovoltaic facilities in the West consumption, the surplus electricity can be Bank.29 The approval of this outline plan in sold to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). 2011 ushered in a new era for solar systems The IEC, a government-owned public compa- in settlements. According to the organization ny, is one of the largest companies in Israel, Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, the with revenues of NIS 23,370 million in 2017 outline plan introduced solar power systems (NIS 1,613 of which through sales of electrici- 27 The Israeli Electric Corporation Ltd.,An - nual Report 2017, 31 December 2017, p. 23. 26 Kalia Clean Energy, which owns the Kalia 28 In June 2008, the Electricity Authority solar field, paid NIS 4,302,424 in royalties to the passed regulations to incentivize the installation ICA; Orot Netiv Hagdud, which owns the Netiv of residential photovoltaic systems. The regula- Hagdud solar field, paid NIS 901,762 in royalties tions state that the price of solar-based electricity to the ICA; Energy Sde Ilan 2010, which owns the will be NIS 2.04 per unit (kWh), four times that of Shadmot Mehola solar field, paid NIS 2,195,777 regular electricity, which is estimated at less than in royalties to the ICA; Energix and the Company NIS 0.5 per unit. See: Solar Israel, “The Price of for the Development of South Hebron, which own Electricity” (Hebrew), solar-israel.co.il. the Meitarim solar field, paid NIS 4,326,128 in 29 Israel Planning Administration, Regional royalties to the ICA. The full response from the Outline Plan (Judea and Samaria) 55/1, document ICA can be found in appendix VI of this report. on file with Who Profits.
7 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement in a regulated manner and ensured the con- solar panels documented were installed on nectivity of settlement residential systems to every available space on residential rooftops the grid, something that had not been previ- (see photos), and in the Kalia settlement on ously available to Israeli settlers.30 The con- chicken coops and cow sheds. nection to the Israeli grid not only ensures
The Kalia settlement, Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank | October 2017 | Photo by Who Profits that settlements and settlers have a regular supply of electricity, but also that they can Systematic Un-Electrification profit from generating green electricity. This and Dispossession serves as a direct financial incentive, granting Israeli settlers the opportunity to profit from In stark contrast to Israel’s boosting of its the use of occupied land and the sun that own solar industry, it utilizes its planning and shines on it, whilst nearby Palestinians con- zoning regime to strangle Palestinian natural tinue to struggle without electricity and the growth, economic development and ability to basic rights associated with it. develop green systems. The threat of prop- erty demolitions constantly looms over every During a field research tour in October 2017, aspect of life in Area C of the West Bank and Who Profits documented solar panels in- in unrecognized villages in the Naqab. The stalled on residential rooftops in the settle- systematic denial of building permits creates ments of Kalia, Netiv Hagdud, Shadmot Me- unrelenting pressure on Palestinians to aban- hola and Petza’el in the Jordan Valley.31 The don their lands and livelihoods and is at the
30 An interview with Bimkom representa- installation is limited to them. They are specifical- tives, conducted by Who Profits on 2 November ly mentioned because they were visited by Who 2016. Profits during a field research tour. 31 These four settlements are given as an example, and it is not suggested that solar panel
8 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement core of Israel’s long-term plan for land grabs carries out government decisions to incentiv- and annexation. ize resettlement of the Naqab by Jewish citi- zens, enhanced by the industrialization of the The Palestinian communities in Area C and area33 and forced displacement of the Bed- the Naqab live in close proximity to thriving ouin population to “free up” the land. Jewish settlements, kibbutzim and towns that enjoy an uninterrupted flow of electric- The Naqab is a 13,000 square kilometer, ity. With no electricity network to provide semi-arid land area in southern Israel and them with light and with heating or cooling, home to some 200,000 Palestinian Bedou- the Palestinians are either forced to leave or ins. Before the establishment of the Israe- left to survive on limited diesel-generated li state in 1948, the Naqab was populated electricity. Diesel generators are notorious- by an estimated 65,000-90,000 Palestinians ly expensive (the fuel can cost 100 dollars a who had owned land, settled and farmed the day), unreliable, noisy and environmentally Naqab for centuries. Following Israel’s estab- unfriendly.32 The exorbitant cost means that lishment, 80-85% of the Naqab’s population they can only be used for a few hours a day. were expelled and became refugees; their land was appropriated and transferred to Is- The Naqab: Industrialization and rael’s Development Authority and Land Ad- Impoverishment ministration.34
In the Naqab, the flourishing solar energy The remaining 11,000 were placed under industry and corporate involvement in it are martial law until 1966, along with other Pales- part of Israel’s ongoing industrialization, -ur tinians who remained within Israel’s borders. banization and resettlement plan. This plan Two thirds of the Palestinian communities in is founded on the dispossession, economic the Naqab were forcibly removed from their de-development and forced displacement of ancestral lands and confined to a territory the Naqab’s Palestinian Bedouin community. called the siyag (restricted area), located in Although Israel’s focus on the Naqab region the northeastern Naqab, which represented was recently intensified, the plan to displace only 10% of the land they had controlled be- its Bedouin community and populate the area fore 1948.35 with Jewish citizens has long been a declared policy, dating back to the establishment of The Naqab is about 60% of historical Pales- the Israeli state and its first Prime Minister’s tine’s total land area and critical to the Zionist goal to “make the desert bloom.” project, which meant its indigenous popula- tion was perceived as an obstacle. In a letter This process was to be carried out by state bodies such as the Negev Development Au- 33 The Ministry of Construction and Hous- ing, “The National Strategic Plan for the Develop- thority, an operational arm of the Ministry for ment of the Negev”, (Hebrew), moch.gov.il. the Development of the Periphery, Negev and 34 Ismael Abu-Saad, “Introduction: State Galilee, established in 1991. The Authority Rule and Indigenous Resistance An Introduction: State Rule and Indigenous Resistance among Al 32 Anne-Marie O’Connor, “This Palestinian Naqab Bedouin Arabs,”, HAGAR Studies in Cul- Village Had Solar Power Until Israeli Soldiers Took ture, Polity and Identities Vol. 8 (2), 2008, p. 3. It Away”, The Washington Post, 7 July 2017. 35 Ibid., p. 3-4.
9 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement to his son, Israel’s first Prime Minister David mately 70,000 Bedouin citizens of Israel who Ben-Gurion wrote in 1937: “Negev land is live in these unrecognized villages are consid- reserved for Jewish citizens, whenever and ered by Israel as trespassers on their land.39 wherever they want... We must expel Arabs Amendment No. 116 to the Law, which was and take their places... And if we have to use passed by the Knesset in 2017, imposes pen- force, then we have force at our disposal, not alties even on businesses that sell materials in order to dispossess the Arabs of Al Naqab, to be used for construction without a building and transfer them, but in order to guarantee permit.40 This amendment terrorizes Israel’s our own right to settle in those places.”36 Palestinian citizens’ who own builder supply businesses and forces them to act on behalf Between 1969 and 1989, seven Bedouin of the State. The lack of residential building townships were established as part of Is- permits means it is impossible to obtain a rael’s colonization process and attempt to permit to install solar panels in the unrecog- “solve” what it considers “the Bedouin prob- nized villages, which as noted above are not lem.” The residents “were promised services connected to the national electricity grid. in exchange for renouncing their claims to ancestral lands.”37 Moving to the townships Today, the Naqab’s 200,000 Palestinian Bed- would strip Bedouin of their traditional liveli- ouins living in recognized and unrecognized hoods as herders and farmers. About half of towns and villages are among the poorest the Naqab’s Bedouin population moved into and most vulnerable groups in Israel, ranking these state planned townships and the rest at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder remained in 46 villages, only 11 of which have and with the highest rates of unemployment. been “recognized” by Israeli authorities over The 2016 Poverty Index, published by the Na- the years. Despite the fact that some of the tional Insurance Institute of Israel, showed unrecognized villages predate the establish- that nearly 70% of the Bedouin children in the ment of the Israeli state and all predate the Naqab live in poverty.41 The chronic electrici- first master plan in the 1960s, they were not recognized villages. Already existing structures included in it and therefore denied services, will not be demolished, but new ones cannot be paved roads, public transportation, connec- built and communities have not been connected tion to the water and electricity networks and to the national water or electricity grid. waste management. This, despite the fact 39 Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Mi- that the residents have Israeli citizenship and nority Rights in Israel, From Al-Araqib to Susiya: are taxpayers. The Forced Displacement of Palestinians on Both Sides of the Green Line, May 2013. 40 Qasim al-Bakri, “The Naqab: Authorities Under Israel’s 1965 Planning and Building Law, Prevent the Sale of Building Materials to Unrecog- any construction in these villages is illegal and nized Villages” (Arabic), arab48.com, 26 Novem- no permits are granted.38 Currently, approxi- ber 2017. 41 National Insurance Institute of Israel, 2016: Poverty Rates and Social Gaps (Hebrew), 36 Ibid., p. 5. December 2017, p. 21. See also: Maya Aiden, 37 Pekka Hakala, “Forced Displacement “1.8 Million People Below the Poverty Line, More Looms for Bedouins in the Negev,” Director- Working Families Are Poor” (Hebrew), Channel ate-General for External Policies of the European 10 News, 6 December 2017. In the same year, the Union, 8 October 2012, p. 1 Bedouin townships in the Naqab ranked highest 38 This also applies to some of the recently in the national unemployment index, with Arara
10 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement ty crisis, due to Israel’s discriminatory policies using Volvo Group machinery. On the first day in the Naqab, prevents economic growth and of August 2017, Al-Arakib was demolished for impedes the long-term development of Pal- the 111th time,43 and an Israeli court ordered estinian Bedouin communities. the residents to pay NIS 262,000 (approxi-
A Map of the Naqab’s unrecognized villages | Map by Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights
Although forced displacement has been an on- mately USD 74,000) in demolition costs and going reality for Bedouin communities, it was an additional NIS 100,000 (~USD 28,000) for accelerated after September 2011, when the Is- the expenses of the state’s lawyer.44 raeli government approved the “Prawar-Begin Plan.” This plan included the destruction of all Demolitions and forced displacements have unrecognized communities and the forced dis- been implemented using extreme force and placement of nearly 90,000 people. In the face police violence, for example in the unrecog- of international outcry and local resistance,42 nized village of Umm al-Hiran, where resi- the Israeli Knesset froze the plan in 2013. dents are being displaced in order to build an exclusively Jewish town called Hiran. On Despite the official freezing of the Prawer 18 January 2017, one of the village residents, Plan, in practice the demolitions and forced Yacoub Abu al-Qiyan, was shot dead during a displacement in the Naqab were never halt- pre-dawn raid by hundreds of police officers. ed. One of the most prominent cases is that The lethal attack left the community trauma- of the Al-Arakib village, where a wave of dem- tized and terrified of an imminent expulsion.45 olitions started in 2010 during which two so- 43 Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equal- lar panels were destroyed by the Israeli police ity, “Al-ʿArāgīb – List of Demolitions Since 2010,” dukium.org. first (25.3%), then Kseifee (20.8%) and Lakiya and 44 Almog Ben Zikri, “Israeli Court Orders Tel Sheva (around 16%). The national unemploy- Bedouin to Reimburse State for Cost of Demolish- ment rate in 2016 stood at 4.8%. ing Their Homes,” Haaretz, 22 August 2017. 42 Ben White, “Fighting New Nakba in the 45 Jonathan Cook, “In Umm el-Hiran It Is ‘a Negev,” Al Jazeera, 17 July 2013. Continuing Nakba’”, Al Jazeera, 22 January 2017.
11 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement The demolition of a residential solar panel in the village of Umm al-Hiran, the Naqab | 13 January 2017 | Photo by Activestills
Demolitions in the Naqab villages are carried for a reliable and consistent supply of elec- out using heavy machinery and are often ac- tricity. Many residents take the risk; despite companied by units from the Israeli police the exorbitant cost of installing solar systems force. For example, in Umm al-Hiran stand- (off-grid communities are not eligible for state alone solar panels were destroyed using Vol- subsidies that reduce the cost of purchasing vo Group heavy machinery, as part of wider and installing residential solar systems). demolitions in the village. Who Profits spoke to Rateb Abu Qrinat, who Volvo Group heavy machinery was also docu- lives in the village of Abu Qrinat and installed mented demolishing homes in the recognized six solar panels, 12 batteries and one distrib- village of Kuhla (Kuhlih) on 26 February 2014, utor in his home.47 The system cost Abu Qri- including the destruction of solar panels. Al- nat NIS 15,000 (~USD 4,300) and generates though Kuhla was recognised in 1992, it has electricity sufficient only for the operation not been connected to the national electric- of a television, fridge and washing machine. ity grid and its residents are not permitted Despite the risks and high price, he considers to build any new structures.46 This deliberate solar panels to be “an environmentally friend- de-development of the village aims to dis- ly solution for the generation of electricity, placed residents, despite the fact that they which made life easier for us and are much privately own the land. more reliable than the generators we used to use in the past.” For the Naqab’s impoverished, off-grid com- munities, solar panels may be the only source According to Human Rights Watch, “Israe-
46 Haanet, “Video and Pictuers: The Demo- 47 Abu Qrinat village is a recognized village. lition of Two Homes in Kuhla – Abu Rbaia Render- However, the residents are not allowed to build ing 21 people in the Open”, (Arabic), Haanet.co.il, structures and only the community’s school was 21 October 2007. connected to the national electricity grid.
12 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Demolition of homes and solar panels in the village of Kuhla, the Naqab | 26 February 2014 | Photo by Activestills
li policies have created a situation whereby buying houses and setting up businesses.50 tens of thousands of Bedouin citizens in the Negev have little or no alternative but to live Israel’s discrimination against its Bedouin citi- in ramshackle villages and build illegally in or- zens is amplified by the allocation of large -ar der to meet their most basic shelter needs.”48 eas of land exclusively to Jewish citizens, for Adalah noted that this policy is deliberate and the establishment of private farms (known as seeks to “encourage” the Arab Bedouin citi- havot bodedim, “individual farms”). Accord- zens to give up their ancestral land.49 ing to Human Rights Watch, in 2008 there were about 59 such farms in the Naqab, While Israel forcibly displaces and impover- “covering more than 81,000 dunams of land, ishes its Palestinian Bedouin citizens, it contin- which is greater than the total land mass that ues to actively invest in populating the Naqab the State granted to the seven Bedouin town- with its Jewish citizens and razes Bedouin vil- ships housing around 85,000 people.”51 These lages like Umm al-Hiran to build Jewish-only farms are often built before securing building towns. In order to encourage Jewish citizens permits and local authorities connect them to to live in the Naqab, Israel grants incentives the grid regardless of that. that include an income tax reduction of up to 24% for those living in “national priority lo- According to statements by Israeli officials, cations” (military personnel receive an addi- in the coming decades the Naqab will see tional 5% reduction) and financial support for rapid economic changes. In 2014, the Israe- li government announced a plan to establish 48 Human Rights Watch, Off the Map: Land and Housing Rights Violations in Israel’s Unrecog- 50 The Ministry for the Development of the nized Bedouin Villages, March 2008, p. 2. Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee, “Benefits” 49 Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Mi- (Hebrew), negev-galil.gov.il. nority Rights in Israel, The Inequality Report: The 51 Human Rights Watch, Off the Map, supra Palestinian Arab Minority in Israel, March 2011. note 47, p. 33.
13 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement 22 new towns in the Naqab – only 7 of which issued two military orders: Order 150, which are designated for Bedouins – and to increase regulated “absentee properties” in the - Jor the Naqab’s population by 1.2 million people dan Valley; and Order 151, which declared by 2035.52 Amounts exceeding NIS 30 billion much of the Jordan Valley as a closed military (~USD 8.5 billion) have been earmarked for zone, preventing “absentee Palestinian land- investment by governmental and private en- owners,” even if present, from reaching their tities into industrial, military and civil projects lands.55 Those lands are a closed military zone in the area,53 and a new complex of military to this day. training bases, expected to be the third-larg- est population center in the Naqab, is already The colonization of the Jordan Valley began operational as part of a multiyear, massive almost immediately after the war, with 21 set- relocation of Israeli army facilities to this -re tlements established in the first ten years. Lat- gion.54 er on, the government has encouraged Jewish citizens to move to Jordan Valley settlements Area C: Land Grab and Forced Displacement with subsidies and incentives amounting to millions of shekels.56 By 2012 there were ap- In Area C of the occupied West Bank, partic- proximately 9,500 illegal settlers living in 37 ularly in the Jordan Valley, where the Israe- settlements in the Jordan Valley, and 87% of li solar energy industry is rapidly expanding, its territory was designated as Area C and pro- the connection between this booming indus- hibited for Palestinian use.57 try, dispossession and forced displacement mirrors the Naqab, but is even more imme- Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, in Area C Israel diate and stark. In this area, the solar energy controls both security and all land-related civ- industry comes as an added layer to a brutal il matters, including land allocation, planning, military occupation, ongoing land grab and construction and infrastructure. According to the exploitation of agriculture and natural re- the United Nations Office for the Coordina- sources – creating a devastating reality for the tion of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) there Palestinian population. are some 300,000 Palestinians living in 532 residential areas located partially or fully in The Jordan Valley accounts for some 28.5% of Area C,58 and approximately 60,000 of them the West Bank’s area. It has been a longstand- ing target of Israel’s exploitation of Palestin- 55 Hillel Cohen, The Present Absentee: (Arabic ian natural resources. Immediately after the Palestinian Refugees in Israel Since 1948 translation), Institute for Palestine Studies, 2003, occupation of the West Bank and Jerusalem p. 85. in the 1967 War, Major General Uzi Narkiss 56 Oxfam International,On the Brink: Israeli Settlements and Their Impact on Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, July 2012, p. 2. 52 Hilla Tzion, “Plan: Increasing the Negev 57 United Nations Office for the Coordina- Population by One Million People” (Hebrew), tion of Humanitarian Affairs, “Humanitarian Fact Ynet, 14 November 2014. Sheet on the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea Area,” 53 Who Profits, Greenwashing the Naqab, February 2012, p. 1. supra note 18. 58 United Nations Office for the Coordina- 54 Meirav Arlosoroff, “Israel to Issue Bonds tion of Humanitarian Affairs,Occupied “ Palestin- to Pay for Mass Army Relocation,” Haaretz, 2 April ian Territory: Humanitarian Facts and Figures,” 21 2014. December 2017, p. 12.
14 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement are in the Jordan Valley.59 The Palestinians in Less than 1% of Area C land is approved for the valley are isolated from adjacent Palestin- Palestinian development, allowing Palestin- ian cities and villages suffer from restrictions ians to request building permits,66 and most on access to services, transportation routes, of this minuscule area is already built up. This agricultural land and water resources.60 Their means that the population living in Area C living conditions are abysmal and their socio- has almost no space to accommodate natural economic levels are amongst the lowest in population growth, either in terms of housing the West Bank. or public infrastructure. As in the case of the Naqab, these conditions are the result of de- There are approximately 400,000 Israeli set- cades of colonisation and deliberate policies tlers living in Area C in about 230 settlements bolstering Israel’s intent to expel Palestinians and “outposts” (small settlements established from their land. without the authorities’ formal approval but with their de facto assistance).61 It is further In addition, through the Oslo Accords eco- subdivided into administrative categories. nomic annex known as the Paris Protocol,67 About 63% of Area C is under the jurisdiction the Accords cemented Israel’s control over of the local and regional councils of the set- the Palestinian economy and its electricity tlements,62 securing the space for continuous sector, dictating that all electricity in the oPt settlement expansion. A further 30% of Area and Gaza must be purchased from Israel.68 C lands have been designated as military fir- This has generated enormous profits to the ing zones, mostly in the Jordan Valley, and are IEC and maintains the Palestinian electricity thus also off limits to Palestinians.63 However, sector in a perpetual state of under-devel- there are 6,200 people in 38 mostly Bedou- opment.69 For the majority of Palestinians in in and herding communities that predate Is- Area C, access to reliable electricity is an un- rael’s planning and zoning process, who live attainable privilege. in such firing zones.64 These communities live in extremely difficult conditions, with limited To this day, under the agreement, Palestinian access to water and electricity, while endur- communities in Area C cannot install or de- ing a constant threat of house demolitions velop any existing infrastructure, including and forced displacement.65 electricity lines and networks, without the approval of the ICA.70 As described above, for
66 UN OCHA, “Occupied Palestinian Territo- 59 UN OCHA “Humanitarian Fact Sheet,” ry,” supra note 57. supra note 56. 67 Also referred to as the Interim Agree- 60 Ibid. ment on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, 61 UN OCHA, “Occupied Palestinian Territo- Gaza-Jericho Agreement Annex IV – Economic ry,” supra note 57. Protocol, 29 April 1994. 62 B’Tselem, Acting the Landlord: Israel’s 68 The World Bank, Assessment and Action Policy in Area C, the West Bank, June 2013, p. 13. Plan to Improve Payment for Electricity Services 63 Ibid., p. 14. in the Palestinian Territories: Study on Electricity 64 United Nations Office for the Coordina- Sector Contribution to Net Lending, World Bank tion of Humanitarian Affairs, “Four Herding Com- Group, November 2014, p. 21. munities in the North Jordan Valley at Imminent 69 Who Profits,Greenwashing the Occupa- Risk of Forcible Transfer,” 10 November 2017. tion, supra note 21. 65 Ibid. 70 Ibid.
15 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement the Palestinians determined to remain and ter or sewerage.75 sustain life on their land, building permits are almost impossible to obtain in Area C. In an attempt to bolster communities’ ability to sustain life on their land and resist displace- During his tenure as UN Secretary-General, ment, local and international non-govern- Ban Ki-moon described the Israeli zoning and mental organizations have been supporting planning policy in the West Bank as “restric- communities to install solar systems. These tive and discriminatory.”71 No structure in donor funded systems are minuscule in com- Area C is off limits for the Israeli army and the parison to the Israeli solar fields. As in the ICA. According to the UN OCHA, in the years Naqab, solar panels are confiscated during 1988-2016 a total of 16,085 demolition -or demolitions in villages or by a small number ders were issued against Palestinian homes of ICA personnel accompanied by Israeli sol- and structures in Area C.72 During August and diers and Border Police. For example, on 1 September 2017 alone, 40 Palestinian homes April 2015, 12 solar panels were confiscated and structures in Area C were demolished or from homes in the community of Khan al-Ah- seized.73 Between 2010 and 2014, Palestinian mar by ICA officers accompanied by Israeli in Area C submitted 2,020 applications for Border police, using trucks manufactured by building permits, of which only 33 were ap- the Swedish-multinational company Volvo proved.74 For Palestinian communities in Area Group.76 The Khan al-Ahmar community has C, no legal avenue has been left to secure been systematically targeted by the ICA. 15 building permits, including for solar energy days after the initial confiscation of solar pan- systems. els, ICA personnel confiscated two additional solar panels, affecting five people. An addi- Under these circumstances, in many Palestin- tional wave of confiscations hit the communi- ian villages without proper plans in Area C, ty on 7 April 2016, when another donor-fund- the residents are left with no access to basic ed solar panel was confiscated.77 These panels services and unconnected to electricity, wa- are the sole source of electricity for the com- munity, which comprises about 170 people and is not connected to the grid even though 71 UN News Center, “Senior UN Relief electric wires pass over it. Official Calls on Israel to Halt Demolitions in West Bank Immediately,” 17 February 2016. Khan al-Ahmar is one of 46 Palestinian Bed- 72 United Nations Office for the Coordina- ouin communities in Area C, comprising some tion of Humanitarian Affairs, “Israeli Demolition Orders against Palestinian Structures in Area C, 8,100 people, which the UN OCHA considers 1988-2016,” data.ochaopt.org. “at high risk of forcible transfer.”78 Twenty five 73 United Nations Office for the Coordi- nation of Humanitarian Affairs, “Demolition and 75 Bimkom – Planners for Planning Rights, Seizure of Service Infrastructure in Palestinian “Planning Assistance to Palestinians in Area C of Communities in Area C Exacerbates Risk of Forc- the West Bank,” bimkom.org. ible Transfer,” The Monthly Humanitarian Bulletin, 76 B’Tselem, “Civil Administration Confis- 11 October 2017. cates 12 Solar Panels from the Khan al-Ahmar 74 United Nations Office for the Coordina- Community Close to Ma’ale Adumim,” btselem. tion of Humanitarian Affairs, “Fragmented Lives: org, 19 April 2015 (see video). Humanitarian Overview 2015,” ochaopt.org, 13 77 Information is on file with Who Profits. June 2016. 78 United National Office for the Coordi-
16 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement of these communities rely on solar panels as irbet Tall al-Himma.84 their only or main source of electricity, yet ac- cording to OCHA these panels “are at risk of In close proximity to Khirbet Tall al-Himma is requisition without prior warning.”79 one of Israel’s largest solar fields, in Shadmot Mehola, where settlers enjoy an uninterrupt- Similarly, on 2 February 2016, the Israeli army ed flow of electricity and private companies confiscated three solar panels from Khirbet generate profit from solar energy. The Shad- Jenbah and two panels from Khirbet al-Hala- mot Mehola solar field covers 49,242 square wah, two communities in Masafer Yatta in the meters of Palestinian land and generates 5 South Hebron Hills, and demolished fifteen MW of electricity – enough to power some and seven dwellings, respectively. These solar 2,500 houses.85 panels, donated by a humanitarian aid agen- cy, were the only source of electricity for the In some cases, solar panels are not confiscat- residents.80 The photos from Khirbet Jenbah ed but damaged to incapacitate the system. indicate that Volvo Group trucks were again For example, on 11 February 2016, seven used during the confiscation of the solar pan- privately financed solar batteries were dam- els.81 aged during the demolition of 12 structures belonging to the Khalet Khader community Masafer Yatta is located in an area designated in the northern Jordan Valley. The demolition by Israel as “Firing Zone 918” and Palestinians was carried out by the ICA and Israeli soldiers are denied access and building permits. Not under the claim that the structures had been far from there lies the Meitarim solar field, built without permits.86 which generates 5 MW of green electricity for the benefit of Israeli settlers in the area.82 Comet-ME is a non-profit organization that provides green energy and clean water ser- On 5 July 2017, two solar panels used by five vices to off-grid communities in the oPt and families were confiscated from the commu- has installed 50 energy systems that generate nity of Khirbet Tall al-Himma in the northern electricity for some 5,000 people in the West Jordan Valley.83 Truck-mounted cranes man- Bank. At least 18 of those systems are facing ufactured by the Italian company FASSI were various stages of demolition orders from the used for the confiscation of solar panels in Kh- ICA.87 nation of Humanitarian Affairs, “Demolition and The UN OCHA has documented 26 cases of Seizure,” supra note 72. 79 Ibid. solar panel confiscation or demolition within 80 B’Tselem, “New Wave of Demolitions in Area C between 2009 and 2016.88 For the most West Bank: Another Phase in Policy of Expelling part, solar panel confiscations and demoli- Palestinians from Vast Portions of West Bank,” btselem.org, 16 February 2016. 84 Ibid . 81 Ibid. 85 Who Profits, Greenwashing the Occupa- 82 Uri Blau, “Solar Energy Access Drives tion, supra note 21, p. 34. New Wedge into Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” 86 Information is on file with Who Profits. TakePart Magazine, 6 November 2015. 87 Interview conducted by Who Profits with 83 B’Tselem, “Israel’s CA Confiscates Solar one of Coment-ME’s founders on 9 November Panels from Khirbet Tall al-Himma, 5 July 2017”, 2017. July 2017. 88 Information is on file with who Profits.
17 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement tions go unheeded, but some have garnered and editing projects on a home computer.93 international attention. One such case was the confiscation of 96 solar panels in the village of In contrast to settlers, who receive incentives Jubbet adh-Dhib, east of Bethlehem. This vil- to install solar panels and profit by selling the lage, established in 1929, enjoyed access to excess electricity generated by their system, a consistent supply of electricity for the first Jubbet adh-Dhib residents paid one shekel time in November 2016 through a Dutch-fund- (around 30 American cents) per kilowatt.94 ed hybrid energy (solar and diesel) project.89 The village residents have been demanding to By providing around the clock electricity, the be connected to the electricity grid since 1988, women’s committee sought to bring back the but all requests were rejected because the vil- village’s residents who had left it because of lage does not have an outline plan. Israel re- the harsh living conditions and lack of elec- jected a plan jointly prepared by the councils tricity and building permits.95 However, after of Za’atara and Jubbet adh-Dhib.90 less than a year, on 28 June 2017, the military and ICA imposed a curfew on the village and The 40,000 Euro, small-scale solar field was confiscated its solar panels.96 Israeli soldiers funded by the Dutch government and in- also confiscated electronic equipment from stalled and maintained through a collabo- the power room. As with all solar panel con- ration between Comet-ME and the village fiscations and demolitions in Area C, the rea- women’s committee.91 The power supply gen- son provided by the Israeli authorities was erated by the 96 panels barely met the resi- the lack of the almost unattainable permits. dents’ basic needs. Amar al-Wahsh, an elec- trician and resident of the village, noted that Some isolated, stand-alone solar panels with- “the power supply was limited to lighting and stood the challenges and currently provide ordinary domestic appliances such as fridges electricity to impoverished and displaced Pal- and washing machines,” but nevertheless the estinian communities.97 As a rare exception, residents’ “quality of life improved.”92 With the in 2017 the village of Dhaher al-Malah in the help of aid organizations, residents bought re- northwestern West Bank, which had been frigerators, televisions, computers and wash- established in the 1930s, was connected for ing machines. The consistent access to con- the first time to the national electricity grid. sistent electricity also boosted employment, The decision came after the Israeli NGO Bim- for example one woman was able to open a kom petitioned the High Court of Justice. The grocery store and another – to work on film 93 Ibid. 94 Ibid. 89 Anne-Marie O’Connor, “This Palestinian 95 Amira Hass, “Dutch Protest,” supra note 92. Village,” supra note 32. 96 Ibid. 90 B’Tselem, “Israel Confiscates Solar Panels 97 The villages of Atouf, Yarza, Amkahel, Supplying All Power for Palestinian Village It Has Ibzeq and Al-Hadidiya are examples of rural com- Not Connected to Grid for 50 Years,” btselem.org, munities that have been electrified using solar 17 July 2017. systems. These projects were installed under 91 Amira Hass, “Dutch Protest Israeli Seizure the supervision of the Energy Research Center of Palestinian Solar Panels They Funded in West at An-Najah National University. See: An-Najah Bank,” Haaretz, 1 July 2017. National University – Energy Research Center, 92 B’Tselem, “Israel Confiscates,” supra note 91. “Projects: Rural Electrifications,” najah.edu.
18 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement village’s fortunate 240 residents could finally role in Israel’s growing green energy industry, enjoy consistent electricity for the refrigera- reaping immense profits while contributing tion of perishable goods, for air conditioning to Palestinian dispossession, de-development and so on.98 and forced displacement.
The case of Dhaher al-Malah is an anoma- Two of the newly identified companies who ly. Other Palestinian attempts to connect to supply equipment to Israeli solar fields in the electricity have been thwarted under the pre- oPt are ABB Group, a Swedish-Swiss multina- text that they were not conducted in accor- tional corporation that manufactures electri- dance with an outline plan and a permit from fication products, and SMA Solar Technology, the ICA. As described above, outline plans a publicly-traded German solar energy equip- and building permits are virtually impossible ment supplier. Both companies are signatories to obtain for Palestinians in Area C. to the UN Global Compact, which encourages businesses “to align strategies and operations For Palestinians facing demolition threats, so- with universal principles on human rights, la- lar panels are a lifeline and means of survival. bour, environment and anti-corruption, and Their destruction or confiscation directly and take actions that advance societal goals.”100 significantly contributes to a coercive environ- ABB Group, which is involved in equipping the ment, which leads to the forced displacement Kalia solar field in the occupied Jordan Valley, of a protected population in contravention is a founding member of the UN Global Com- of international law. To quote Ali Mohamed pact. In a reply to Who Profits, ABB Group Hraizat, head of the village council of Imneizil, stated that it is “strongly committed to doing a Palestinian village in the South Hebron Hills business in compliance with all applicable in- that is not connected to the grid and whose ternational regulations,” and that the compa- solar panels have been slated for demolition: ny considers its involvement in Israel’s solar “We’ve been here since 1948. We try to stay industry in the West Bank to be “in line with and maintain our lives, but people will leave this principle.”101 if the electricity is cut off [...] The solar panel isn’t doing any harm [...] I just don’t see the The principles of the UN Global Compact and point in demolishing it.”99 the companies’ declared commitments con- tradict their involvement in Israel’s solar en- ergy industry on occupied land. Their involve- Profiteering from ment bolsters Israel’s settlement enterprise Forced Displacement and intricate mechanism of discriminatory policies, which contravenes international law On both sides of the Green Line, domestic and and deprives Palestinians from equal access international corporations play an integral to electricity, ultimately creating conditions that lead to the forcible displacement of im- 98 Yotam Berger, “After Decades of Dark- poverished Palestinian communities. ness, Palestinian Village Gets Power”, Haaretz, 4 September 2017. 100 United Nations Global Compact, 99 Phoebe Greenwood, “Palestinians “What Is Global Compact,” unglobalcompact.org. Prepare to Lose the Solar Panels that Provide a 101 The full response of the ABB Group can Lifeline,” The Guardian, 14 March 2012. be found in appendix III.
19 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement In 2017, two Who Profits reports outlined 5 July 2017, a Fassi manufactured crane was corporate involvement in Israel’s booming, documented during the confiscation of solar “greenwashing” solar energy capitalist en- panels by the Israeli Civil Administration in deavour.102 In Area C, Who Profits document- the Palestinian village of Khirbet Tall al- ed the commercial involvement of seven Is- Himma in the Jordan Valley in the occupied raeli companies (Clal Sun, Energix Renewable West Bank. The two solar panels, donated Energies, The Company for the Development by a humanitarian aid organization in March of Mount Hebron,103 Enerpoint Israel, Green 2017, had been used by five families.108 Is Us, SolarEdge, M.G.A. Energy) and six in- ternational companies (First Solar, PADCON, Corporate information: SunTech, Refu Elektronik, Sun Edison and En- Ownership: Part of the Fassi Group owned )104. erpoint Italy) In the Naqab, where the Is- by the Fassi family. raeli solar energy industry was first launched, Other companies in the Fassi Group: Who Profits examined some of the biggest so- Cranab (Sweden), Slagkraft (Sweden), Vimek lar fields and documented the involvement of (Sweden), Bracke Forest (Sweden), Marrel four Israeli (Energix Renewable Energies, En- (France), Jekko (Italy) erpoint Israel, Arava Power Company105, Shi- Revenue: $1,024 Million in 2016. kun Binuy Energy106) and three international companies (First Solar, SunTech, EDF Energies Subsidiaries: Fassi France, Fassi UK, Fassi Nouvelles107). Germany. In this report, Who Profits documents the entry Partners: The company’s exclusive of four additional international corporations – distributor in Israel is K.D.M. Engineering ABB Group, SMA Solar Technology, PGR Drive & Cranes Ltd. Clients of K.D.M. Engineering Technologies and JA Solar Holdings in Israel’s & Cranes include the Israeli Ministry of solar energy industry. Below are the corporate Defense, the Israel Electric Corporation, profiles for these corporations and for corpora- Bezeq, Electra, Readymix, Avi Cranes and tions involved in the confiscation of small-scale Albar. Palestinian solar systems on both sides of the Tel: +39 035776400 Green Line – Fassi Ltd. and Volvo Group. Website: www.fassi.com Global Presence: France, Spain, Sweden, UK, Fassi Ltd. Germany. A private Italian manufacturer of cranes. On Company Response: No response.
102 Who Profits, Greenwashing the Naqab, Volvo Group supra note 18; Who Profits, Greenwashing the A Swedish-based, multinational public Occupation, supra note 21. 103 See Appendix V for company profile. company, which manufactures trucks, buses, 104 Since then, Sun Edison Ltd, has dissolved construction equipment and marine and and Enerpoint Italy’s Israeli subsidiary, Enerpoint industrial engines. Volvo equipment has Israel, became an independent company, but kept the name. 105 See Appendix VI for company profile. 108 B’Tselem, “Israel’s CA Confiscates Solar 106 See Appendix VII for company profile. Panels from Khirbet Tall al-Himma, 5 July 2017”, 107 See Appendix VIII for company profile. July 2017.
20 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement been used by the Israeli Civil Administration remaining shares are held by Mayer’s Cars in the confiscation of solar panels belonging and Trucks, which is the exclusive distributor to Palestinian communities in Khirbet Jebnah of Volvo in Israel. and Khan al-Ahmar. In response to a freedom of information In February 2016, Volvo trucks were used request by Who Profits, the Israel Prison by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Service confirmed that the Volvo Group and Israeli military to confiscate solar panels in its subsidiary Merkavim provide services to Khirbet Jebnah.109 In April 2015, a Volvo truck the Israel Prison Service, including buses for was documented in the confiscation of 12 the transportation of prisoners. solar panels belonging to Khan al-Ahmar by The Volvo Group supplied maintenance the Israeli Civil Administration and Border trucks to the Jerusalem Light Rail project, Police.110 In both cases, the solar panels, which connects settlements in occupied East provided by humanitarian aid organizations, Jerusalem to one another and to the western were the community’s sole source of part of the city. electricity. Volvo Group heavy machinery is used during demolition of Palestinian houses in the Corporate information: oPt, East Jerusaelm and within the Green Traded: a public company traded on Nasdaq Line. Volvo machinery was used in multiple Nordic demolitions in the city of Lod. In addition, Ownership: The Volvo brand comprises the company’s wheel loaders were used in Volvo AB and Volvo Cars. In 2010, Volvo Cars, numerous attempts to evict the Bedouin which was held by Ford Motors, was sold community of Al-Araqib and Um el-Hiran to the Chinese corporation Geely. Volvo AB from its land in the Naqab (Negev) desert. includes Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses, Volvo This included the demolition of solar panels. Penta, Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo The company’s equipment was used for the Financial Services and Volvo Holdings. construction of the Har Gilo settlement and President and CEO: Martin Lundstedt the Barkan Industrial Zone. Volvo trucks were Revenues: $36.66 Billion (36,655,378,740) used for the construction of the Huwwara USD in 2016 checkpoint, Route 443 (a West Bank road for Subsidiaries: Volvo has dozens of Israelis only) and the Separation Wall near subsidiaries worldwide, including Volvo the Palestinian village of Al-Walaja. Penta (Sweden), Volvo Construction Volvo Buses, a subsidiary of the Volvo Equipment (the Netherlands), Volvo Financial Group, owns 26.5% of Merkavim, which Services (Sweden), Volvo Holdings (Sweden), supplies armored buses for Egged lines in the Volvo Group Japan, Volvo China, Volvo GB, occupied Palestinian territory. Merkavim’s Volvo Holding Mexico, Volvo Norway, Volvo Malaysia, Volvo Italy, Volvo Russia, Volvo 109 B’Tselem, “New Wave of Demolitions in Singapore and Volvo Latvia. West Bank: Another Phase in Policy of Expelling Partners: The Volvo Group has production Palestinians from Vast Portions of West Bank”, 16 facilities in 18 countries and a presence in February 2016. 110 B’Tselem, “Communities Facing Expul- more than 190 markets worldwide. sion: The Khan Al-Ahmar Area”, 10 October 2017. Head Office: SE-405 08 Gothenburg Sweden
21 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Tel.: +46-31660000 Website: www.volvogroup.com Company Response: no response.
ABB Group ABB Group is a publicly traded Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation manufacturing electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids. The Group serves customers in utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure.111 ABB Group equipment was documented by Who Profits during a field tour, October 2017, at the Kalia settlement solar energy field in the Jordan Valley, the occupied West Bank. The specific product documented was the 1SL0221A00, an industrial electrical SMA Solar Technology and ABB Group Packaging, Kalia, Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank enclosure. | October 2017 | Photo by Who Profits
Corporate Information: Trade: A public company traded on SIX 8050 Zürich, Switzerland Swiss Exchange, NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Tel: +41-43-317 4144 Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ABB. Website: www.new.abb.com Ownership: ABB Ltd, is the ultimate parent Company Response: Full company response company of the ABB Group, which comprised can be found in Appendix III. approximately of 320 consolidated operating and holding subsidiaries worldwide. SMA Solar Technology CEO: Ulrich Spiesshofer. SMA Solar Technology is a publicly- Revenue: $33,379 Million in 2016. traded German solar energy equipment Subsidiaries: ABB group has an Israeli supplier. SMA Solar Technology develops, subsidiary, ABB Israel. ABB Israel’s CEO is produces and sells photovoltaic inverters Ronen Aharon. and monitoring systems for photovoltaic facilities. Partners: Philips Lighting (The Netherlands), Microsoft (USA), Nordke Shell (a subsidiary SMA equipment was documented by of Royal Dutch Shell), Fluor (USA), Aibel Who Profits on October 2017 at the Kalia (Norway), Doral Solar (Israel). settlement solar energy field in the Jordan Valley region of the occupied West Bank. Head office: Affolternstrasse 44 / Postfach, The specific product provided was STP-60 which is a solar panel system solution for 111 ABB Group, About, new.abb.com.
22 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement commercial and utility PV plants. holdings (6.54%): Numeric Investors LLc, Morgan Stanley, Guggenheim Capital LLc, Renaissance Technologies LLc. Corporate Information: Other shareholders: All directors and Trade: Publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Officers as a Group (17.35%), Jinglong Group Exchange under the ticker symbol FSE:S92. Co., Ltd. (16.35%). Ownership: The company is owned by its Revenue: $2.3 Billion in 2016. founders, their trusts and families (29.64%), Pool SMA Solar Technology AG (25.20%), Partners: Shanghai branch of China Dafoss A/S (20%) and the remaining 25.16% Development Bank (“CDB”), Soventix GmbH. are floating shares. Subsidiaries: The company has tens of CEO: Pierre-Pascal Urbon. directly owned subsidiaries mainly in China. Its global subsidiaries include: JA Revenue: $1117.8 Million in 2016. Development Co., Ltd. (British Virgin Islands), Subsidiaries: SMA Solar Technology, holds, JA Solar Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), JA directly or indirectly, 100% of shares in the Solar Vietnam Company Limited (Vietnam), SMA Group. The SMA Group consists of JA Solar USA Inc. (U.S.). 35 companies, eight of which are based in Head Office: Building NO.8, Noble Center, Germany and 27 abroad. Automobile Museum, East Road, Fengtai Partners: Siemens, Tigo Energy, Danfoss. District, Beijing, China 100160. Head office:Sonnenallee 1, 34266, Niestetal, Tel: +86 -10- 63611888 Germany Website: www.jasolar.com Tel: +49-561-95220 Factories: The company has a total of 9 Website: www.SMA.de factories: 7 factories in China and 2 in Company Response: No Response was Vietnam and Malaysia. received. Global presence: JA Solar products and services are delivered globally including in: JA Solar Holdings China, Japan, US, South Africa, Australia, JA solar Holdings is a Chinese corporation Germany, Israel. that designs, develops, manufactures and Company Response: No Response was sells solar power products for residential, received. commercial and utility-scale power plants. JA Solar Holdings’ JAP310 panels were PGR Drive Technologies installed in the Meitarim Solar field in the PGR Drive Technologies is a private occupied Jordan Valley. 112 Turkish gear and gearbox manufacturer Corporate Information: and exporter. The company also produces Traded: Publicly traded on NASDAQ under variators and Servo Drivers. The company the ticker symbol: JASO. has two main production factories, one in Ownership: Top five institutional Turkey and the other in Germany. PGR Drive Technologies equipment was 112 Energix Group, Meitarim, energix-group. documented by Who Profits in October 2017 com
23 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement ian communities in Area C and the Naqab is at the Nativ Hagdud settlement solar energy manifested in a variety of mechanisms and field in the Jordan Valley in the occupied policies, but they have a shared goal of clear- West Bank. ing the land for more Jewish-only settlements, while exploiting Palestinian natural resources, Corporate Information: including sunlight,113 to generate profit. Israel uses its flourishing green energy indus- try to paint a progressive image of itself. How- ever, the reality on the ground shows that this capitalist enterprise is in fact a continuation of Israel’s decades-long violation of internation- al law, oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people on both sides of the Green Line. The development of the Israeli solar energy industry, backed by state and private (domestic and international) funding, comes at the expense of Palestinian communities. At the same time, Palestinians are virtually prohibited from utilizing the sun to generate PGR Drive Technologies Equipment, Netiv Hagdud, electricity. A consistent access to electricity Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank would improve the harsh living conditions of | October 2017 | Photo by Who Profits these Palestinian communities and enable them to sustain life on their land. Ownership: A private Turkish company part Israeli state bodies and international and Israeli of the POLAT Redukto Group. The Group corporations are highly complicit in this process also includes Aykutsan Oluklu Mukkavva and and facilitate it from its inception – planning, POLAT Tarim. construction, providing equipment and tech- Partners: PGR Drive Technologies has two nology – to finally connecting and maintaining Israeli distributors: A. Aziki Transmission it, as well as quashing the potential of small- Solutions and Pelshar Conveyers Solutions. scale, Palestinian, green energy generation. Pelshar’s clients include the Israeli Ministry Israel’s deliberate denial of electricity through of Defense and the Israeli national water conventional or solar systems is a calculated company, Mekorot. policy, backed by a lack of building permits Head office: Ahi Evran Cad 1203.sk No: 18 D: and outline plans. It is an integral part of the 58-60 Isgem Ostim-Ankara, Turkey. Israeli occupation and web of systematic dis- Tel: + 90 -312 354 44 08 criminatory policies, which leads to the dis- Website: http://www.pgr.com.tr/ possession and forced displacement of Pales- Company Response: No Response was tinians on both sides of the Green Line. received.
Conclusion Israel’s oppression and control over Palestin- 113 Ibid.
24 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Appendix I: Solar Edge Response
September 1, 2016
WHO PROFITS P.O.B 1084 Tel Aviv 6101001 ISRAEL Re. Your letter dated August 10, 2016
To whom it may concern,
We are in receipt of the above referenced letter containing reference to a project in Shadmot Mechola which you stated contains “your solar systems.”
Please note that as a leading provider of intelligent inverter solutions, we sell our products to distributors worldwide. We are not an installer and are not involved in installation projects. As a publicly traded Company (NADSAQ: SEDG), SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. complies with U.S. and Israeli laws and except for specific limitations imposed on selling into certain black listed countries, we do not limit our distributors in their resale of our products. As such, we do not control where they are installed and are not involved in the construction of said site.
Our products are installed in more than 90 countries and are instrumental in generating an optimal amount of solar energy from solar panels, further reducing the need to burn fossil fuels and helping create a cleaner environment.
Gmail - Fwd: Who profits 5/2/18, 4)27 PM Nothing contained in this letter shall be construed as a waiver of any of SolarEdge’s rights, all of which are preserved in full.
Oriana Weich
Fwd: Who profits 2 Rachelmessages Prishkolnik, Advocate VP General Counsel Who Profits Research Center
PADCON Response Appendix II: PADCON Response R ------Forwarded message ------From: Silvia Engelhardt
Dear Who Profits Research Team, Dear Who Profits Research Team, SolarEdgeWe receivedTechnologies | www.solaredge.com your letter from 26 September 2016 regarding our components being used USA - Germany - UK - Italy - The Netherlands - Japan - China - Australia - Israel
inWe receiveda Solar your letterField from 26called September Kalia. 2016 regarding our components being used in a Solar Field called Kalia. Thank you for you making for us aware making of this. us aware of this.
Padcon is regularly is regularlysupplying electrical supplying equipment to construction electrical companies equipment in Israel that build tophotovoltaic construction projects. companies in Israel
that build photovoltaic projects.
However, due to the nature that Padcon equipment is a commodity equipment, we don’t know nor require to ask However,where this equipment due was installedto the by thenature Israeli companies. that Padcon Therefore, Padcon equipment had no way to know is thata commodityits equipment, we don’t equipment was used for that project and had not supply any services to this project. know nor require to ask where this equipment Gmailwas - Fwd: Who installed profits by the Israeli companies. 5/2/18, 4)27 PM
Therefore, Padcon had no way to know that its equipment was used for that project and Furthermore, please note that Padcon does not supply inverters but only electrical and software components.
had not supply any services to this project. Furthermore, please note that Padcon does not supply inverters but only electrical and softwareWith best regards components. Mit freundlichen Grüßen With best regards Silvia Engelhardt
Kfm. Auftragsabwicklung Mit freundlichen Grüßen Commercial order processing
PADCON GmbH Tel.: +49 9321 2680 -299 Steigweg 24 - Gebäude 44 Fax: +49 9321 2680 -9299 97318 Kitzingen / Germany www.padcon.de https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?ui=2&ik=dfcc67446f&jsver=VWMns…th=16321077b249b7a1&siml=1631fd30e00ae095&siml=16321077b249b7a1 Page 1 of 2 E-Mail: [email protected]
Amtsgericht: Würzburg, HRB Nr. 9721 I St.-Nr. 257/135/00383 | Geschäftsführer: Constantin Wenzlik, Robert Jüttner 25 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement
Who Profits Research Center
Padcon [Quoted text hidden]
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?ui=2&ik=dfcc67446f&jsver=VWMns…th=16321077b249b7a1&siml=1631fd30e00ae095&siml=16321077b249b7a1 Page 2 of 2 Gmail - Fwd: Request for response to a publication about ABB Group 5/2/18, 3)41 PM
Gmail - Fwd: Request for response to a publication about ABB Group 5/2/18, 3)41 PM Oriana Weich
Fwd: Request for response to a publication aboutOriana ABB Weich Group
WhoFwd: Profits Request Research for Center response
As regards your proposed list of Partners, Doral Solar is a local customer, but not a As regards your proposed list of Partners, Doral Solar is a local customer, but not a strategic business partner of strategic· · As regards business your proposed partner list of Partners, of ABB.Doral Solar is a local customer, but not a strategic business partner of ABB.ABB. For correct quotation of our 2016 revenues, kindly note that they amount to For correct quotation of our 2016 revenues, kindly note that they amount to 33,379,000,000 USD. 33,379,000,000· · For correct quotation ofUSD. our 2016 revenues, kindly note that they amount to 33,379,000,000 USD. Appendix V: Response from the Israeli ABB is strongly committed to doing business in compliance with all applicable international ABB is strongly committed to doing business in compliance with all applicable international regulations, and we Civil Administration to Who Profits’ regulations,ABBconsider is strongly the business committed and cases we to doingyou consider are business referring in tothe compliance in your business letter with to allbe applicablein cases line with international thisyou principle. are regulations, referring and towe in your letter to be in consider the business cases you are referring to in your letter to be in line with this principle. lineYours with sincerely, this principle. Yours sincerely, Yours sincerely,
Adrienne Williams
AdrienneHead of Corporate Williams Responsibility
HeadABB ofAsea Corporate Brown BoveriResponsibility Ltd Affolternstrasse 44 ABB8050 Asea Zurich, Brown Switzerland Boveri Ltd AffolternstrassePhone: +41 (0)43 44 317 65 52 8050Mobile: Zurich, +41 Switzerland(0)79 456 68 60 Phone:email: [email protected] (0)43 317 65 52 Mobile: +41 (0)79 456 68 60 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?ui=2&ik=dfcc67446f&jsver=VWMns…4&view=pt&search=inbox&th=1631fd21ead712c7&siml=1631fd21ead712c7email: [email protected] Page 1 of 2 Appendix IV: ARAVA Power Company https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?ui=2&ik=dfcc67446f&jsver=VWMns…4&view=pt&search=inbox&th=1631fd21ead712c7&siml=1631fd21ead712c7Response Page 1 of 2
26 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Appendix IV: Response from the Israeli Civil South Hebron Hills. By declaring most of the Administration to Who Profits’ Freedom of regional councils of West Bank settlements Information Request as “national priority areas,” the Israeli government is officially able to allocate 65% more grants for settlement councils than local councils inside Israel.114 The company owns 49.9% of the Meitarim solar field located in Meitarim settlement, occupied Jordan Valley.115
Corporate information: Revenue: $19.61 Million in 2016. Company director: Yehoshua Moshe Michael Korman. Head office: Otniel Settlement, occupied West Bank. Tel: +972 -8-6254800 Company Response: No Response was received. Appendix VI: Arava Power Company Corporate Profile Founded in 2006, Arava Power Company is a private Israeli company that develops medium and large scale solar energy projects in the Naqab desert. Arava Power built the Ketura Sun dolar field, the first commercial solar field in the Naqab. The 18,500 solar panel field covers 80,000 square meters and generates 4.9 MW of electricity. Panels used in the field were Appendix V: The Company for the Develop- provided by SunTech. The total cost of the ment of Mount Hebron Corporate Profile field was 312.5 million NIS, 250 million (80%) were invested by Bank Hapoalim. The Company for the Development of Mount Hebron is a private company, established Aside from Ketura Sun, the company has in 1984 by the Hebron Regional Council other projects developed in the Naqab; Elifaz together with surrounding settlements Project with 24000 solar panels and 7 MW in and cooperatives from the Kiryat Arba capacity taking up 96,000 sq meters of land; settlement. The company was established in order to 114 Ibid develop industrial projects in the area of the 115 Energix Group, Meitarim, energix-group. com.
27 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Grofit Sun Project with 22100 solar panels occupied West Bank. and 6,4 MW in capacity, taking up 84,000 Meshaki the Kibutzim also includes Meshaki sq meters of land; Yotvata Sun Project with the Golan Heights, including the settlements 23400 solar panels and 6.8 MW in capacity of Odem, Oral, El Rom, Dan, Gadat, Dafna, taking up to 88,000 sq meters of land; Maslal Meron Golan, Ein Zivan and Snir. Sun with 30,700 solar panels and 8.9 MW in According to Arava, this partnership capacity, taking up to 140,000 sq meters of amplifies the “ultimate integration of land. Zionism and business.” Head Office: Kibbutz Ketura, D.N. Hevel Eilot Corporate Information: 88840, Israel Ownership: The Arava Power Company is Tel: +972-74-7171810 a privately held partnership, owned by the Website: www.aravapower.com Israeli incorporated Global Sun Partners Company response: The company Company. responded asking us not to publish any Global Sun Partners Company is held by information. Arab Power Company, The Phoenix Group, The Jewish National Fund, Arava Institute for Environmental studies and Partners, LP Appendix VIII: Shikun Binuy Energy global Sun. Corporate Profile Shareholders: Global Sun Partners (52%), The renewable energy division of the The Phoenix Group (41%), The Jewish Israeli Shikun & Biniu Group. The company National Fund (6%) and the Arava Institute constructs and operates renewable energy for Environmental Studies (1%). projects, including solar fields. Partners: Arava Power partnered with In partnership with the publicly traded SunTech for the construction of the Ketura Chinese company, SunTech, Shikun Binui solar field, in the Naqab. developed the Sde Boker and Hatzerim solar field. Sde Boker and Hatrzerim fields Arava power, formed a partnership – Arava generate 5 MW, taking up 75,000sq meters Meshakim & Partners – with the financial of land and 6 MW, taking up 90,000sq bodies of The Negev settlements, the meters of land (respectively). Southern region and the Kibutzim. The joint investments of Shikun Binui and Meshaki the Negev settlements, the SunTech in the fields reached $20 million, Southern Region are independent making it one of the largest deals ever in the investment bodies, but they are also solar energy field in Israel. included under the Meshaki the Kibutzim.
Meshaki the Kibutzim has 270 members Corporate Information: from across the Green Line. Meshaki Traded: Publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stok Southern Region, include Jordan Valley exchange under the ticker symbol SKBN settlements of Almog, Ma’on, Beit HaArava, Niran, Gilal and Kalia. It also includes the Ownership: Shikun & Binui Renewable settlements of Beit Yatir, Kfar Etzion, Mevo Energy Ltd is a fully owned subsidiary of the Horon, Migdal Oz and Rosh Tzurim, in the Shikun & Binui Group.
28 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement Parent company ownership: Arison solar power, which is able to send electricity Investments Ltd. (47%), Clal Insurance to the 33,000 volt line to kibbutzim in the Enterprises Holdings Ltf. (4.30%), Migdal area. Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd (4.25%) With its Israeli partner EDF Énergies CEO: Didi Paz Nouvelles operates twenty solar fields, with Revenue: Shikun & Binui Groups revenue: the total capacity of 160 MW. 5.379 Million NIS. Revenue generated from renewable energy : NIS 44,679 thousand. Corporate information: Subsidiaries: Etgal Energy ltd (100%), Negev Ownership: EDF Energies Nouvelles is a Energy (50%) wholly owned subsidiary of French electric Partners: TSK Group, Noy Foundation. utility EDF, a French electric utility company, Through its parent company the Renewable largely owned by the French state. EDF Energy Ltd has a partnership with the Israeli operates a portfolio of more than 120 Ministry of Defence. countries. Global Presence: Renewable Energy Ltd’s Revenues: $82.90 billion in 2016. parent company is present in around Partners: EDF Énergies Nouvelles partnered 20 countries, including: US, UK, The with the Israeli company Solex. Netherlands, Germany, Guatemala, Kenya, Subsidiary: Photowatt. Uganda, Switzerland. Global Presence: The company is active in Head Office: 1a Ha’Yarden st., P.O.B 1133, 21 countries. In the solar energy market the Airport City 7010000, Israel company operates its fields in India, Israel, Tel: +972-3-6301111 Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Chile, USA and Website: http://www.shikunbinui.co.il Canada. Head office: Coeur Défense – Tour B 100, Appendix VIIII: EDF Energies Nouvelles Esplanade du Général de Gaulle 92932 Paris Corporate Profile La Défense Cedex Tel: +33 (0)1 40 90 23 00 EDF Énergies Nouvelles is a French based Website: www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com global producer of electricity from renewable sources. The company develops, builds and Israeli partner, Solex: operates green electricity power plants. Head office: Yam 2 St. Beit Yanai, Israel With its Israeli partner, Solex Generating Tel: +974-54-8161310 power, EDF Énergies Nouvelles operates Website: www.solexrenewable.com the Zomrot solar field, in the Naqab. The 207,000- panel field has a 50 MWp capacity, enough to cover the annual electricity needs of 30,000 inhabitants. Through its Israeli subsidiary, EDF Énergies Nouvelles Israel, the company is also involved in the Ketura solar field, in the Naqab. The 18200 panels produce 4.9 MW of
29 | The Israeli Solar Eneregy Industry and Palestinian Forced Displacement