Dutch company refuses Israeli project in occupied Jerusalem

A Dutch company which specialises in engineering and environmental consultancy has announced its decision to withdraw from a partnership agreement with Israel for a project in occupied East Jerusalem.

Royal Haskoning DHV said that it is cancelling a contract signed with the municipality of Jerusalem to build a sewage treatment plant because it is based on the Palestinian side of the 1967 border.

A report in Haaretz claims that the Dutch government asked Royal Haskoning DHV two weeks ago to withdraw from the deal as any Israeli construction in the occupied territories violates international law.

The move comes as the EU has issued guidelines banning European investment in companies which operate in Israel’s illegal settlements, as well as all cooperation or funding for settlement-based organisations.