Dutch economic links with the occupation A research paper prepared for Cordaid, ICCO and IKV Pax Christi Dutch economic links with the occupation A research paper prepared for Cordaid, ICCO and IKV Pax Christi 20 April 2013 Jan Willem van Gelder Barbara Kuepper Ewoud Nijhof Naritaweg 10 1043 BX Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31-20-8208320 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.profundo.nl Contents Summary .......................................................................................................... i Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 Methodology ................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 The economy of the settlements .................................................. 4 2.1 Development of the settlements ............................................................ 4 2.2 Impact on the economic and humanitarian situation of Palestinians ............................................................................................. 6 2.3 Economic relationship with the European Union ................................. 8 2.4 EU policies with relevance to the settlements ...................................... 9 2.4.1 Human rights ............................................................................................ 9 2.4.2 Labelling of settlement products in the European Union ........................... 9 Chapter 3 Relationships between Israel and the Netherlands ................... 11 3.1 Diplomatic relationships ...................................................................... 11 3.2 Trade and economic agreements ........................................................ 11 3.3 Position on the settlements ................................................................. 12 3.4 Labelling of settlement products ......................................................... 12 3.5 Trade volumes and value ..................................................................... 13 Chapter 4 Recent developments in business and investment relationships ................................................................................. 15 4.1 Overview ................................................................................................ 15 4.2 Company developments ...................................................................... 15 4.2.1 Dutch retailers......................................................................................... 15 4.2.2 Mul-T-Lock / Assa Abloy ......................................................................... 16 4.2.3 Unilever .................................................................................................. 16 4.2.4 Riwal Group ............................................................................................ 16 4.3 Divestments by financial institutions .................................................. 17 4.4 Labelling requirements in South Africa .............................................. 17 Chapter 5 Settlement companies exporting to the Netherlands ............... 19 5.1 Difficulties in identifying settlement products .................................... 19 5.2 Fruit, vegetables and flowers ............................................................... 20 5.2.1 AdaFresh ................................................................................................ 20 5.2.2 Agrexco Carmel / Bickel .......................................................................... 21 5.2.3 Arava Export Growers ............................................................................. 22 5.2.4 Edom Fruits ............................................................................................ 23 5.2.5 Hadiklaim ................................................................................................ 23 5.2.6 Mehadrin Group ...................................................................................... 24 5.3 Other food products ............................................................................. 25 5.3.1 Abadi Bakery .......................................................................................... 25 5.3.2 Achdut .................................................................................................... 26 5.3.3 Shamir Salads ........................................................................................ 26 5.4 Wine ....................................................................................................... 27 5.4.1 Golan Heights Winery ............................................................................. 27 5.4.2 Tishbi Estate Winery ............................................................................... 27 5.5 Other beverages ................................................................................... 28 5.5.1 SodaStream ............................................................................................ 28 5.6 Cosmetics ............................................................................................. 30 5.6.1 Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories ................................................................ 30 5.7 Plastic products .................................................................................... 31 5.7.1 Keter Group ............................................................................................ 31 5.7.2 Ram Quality Products (Tip Top Toys Star) .............................................. 32 5.8 Metal products ...................................................................................... 32 5.8.1 A.R.I. Flow Control Accessories .............................................................. 32 5.8.2 Barkan Mounts........................................................................................ 33 5.9 Chemical products................................................................................ 33 5.9.1 Bio-Lab ................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 6 Dutch companies owned by settlement companies ................. 34 6.1 Fruit and vegetables ............................................................................. 34 6.1.1 AdaFresh ................................................................................................ 34 6.1.2 Agrexco Carmel Agricultural Export Company ........................................ 34 6.1.3 Arava Holland ......................................................................................... 35 6.1.4 MTex Holland ......................................................................................... 35 6.2 Beverages ............................................................................................. 36 6.2.1 Eden Springs / Mayanot Eden ................................................................ 36 6.2.2 Sodastream ............................................................................................ 36 6.3 Plastic products .................................................................................... 37 6.3.1 Keter / European Plastic Group .............................................................. 37 6.4 Chemical products................................................................................ 37 6.4.1 Biosolve .................................................................................................. 37 6.5 Other products and services ............................................................... 38 6.5.1 Better Place ............................................................................................ 38 6.5.2 Delek Group ........................................................................................... 38 6.5.3 Egged Israel Transport ........................................................................... 39 Chapter 7 Dutch companies trading with settlements ............................... 40 7.1 Dutch companies importing or selling from settlements ................... 40 7.1.1 Aartsenfruit ............................................................................................. 40 7.1.2 Albert Heijn / Royal Ahold ....................................................................... 40 7.1.3 Anaco & Greeve ..................................................................................... 41 7.1.4 Cosmetix ................................................................................................. 41 7.1.5 De Wijnstok ............................................................................................ 42 7.1.6 Eriks ....................................................................................................... 42 7.1.7 Farmashoponline .................................................................................... 43 7.1.8 FloraHolland ........................................................................................... 43 7.1.9 Gradatim ................................................................................................. 44 7.1.10 Haluco .................................................................................................... 44 7.1.11 Hanos ..................................................................................................... 45 7.1.12 Il Divino ................................................................................................... 45 7.1.13 Israël Producten Centrum ....................................................................... 46 7.1.14 Jumbo Group .........................................................................................