An AP report carried by Arizona Daily Star [1] said:
Richard Falk, the UN special investigator on human rights in the Palestinian territories called on October 24, 2012 for a boycott of all companies that have dealings with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem until they adhere to international rights standards and practices.
In a report presented to the UN General Assembly, Falk said a number of Israeli-owned and multinational corporations headquartered in the US, Europe and Mexico appear to be violating international human rights and humanitarian laws by exploiting Palestinian resources and helping Israel construct illegal settlements and provide security for them. But he said further investigations will be made to determine whether the allegations are well-founded.
Falk said the call for a boycott is an effort to take infractions of international law seriously and "use what influence we have to change behavior." He said the pace of Israeli settlement building has accelerated and Israel has ignored UN resolutions condemning the practice, so "there is a sense that what the U.N. says doesn't count."
Falk, a professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, has previously angered Israel by comparing the Jewish state to Nazi Germany and accusing it of crimes against humanity because of its treatment of Palestinians. Israel has barred Falk from visiting the Palestinian territories.
In the report, Falk reiterated his request that the Israeli government cooperate with his efforts, as he said it is required to do under the UN Charter.
However, an AFP news carried by gulfnews.com [2] said:
The US and Israel on October 25, 2012 slammed the call for a boycott of companies helping Israel’s colony expansion in the Palestinian territories.
US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said the boycott appeal by Richard Falk would “poison the environment for peace.”
An Israeli spokeswoman criticized the “distasteful sideshow.”
Richard Falk singled out Caterpillar, Hewlett Packard and Motorola of the United States, Veolia Environment of France, G4S of Britain, Dexia of Belgium, Volvo Group and Assa Abloy of Sweden, Ahava, Elbit Systems and Mehadrin of Israel, Riwal Holding Group of the Netherlands and Cemex of Mexico.
He said all were involved in building and maintaining Israeli colonies in the occupied territories that the UN, US and EU all consider illegal. More
