LONDON: A new report has revealed that the American e-commerce platform Etsy is doing business with dozens of shops in illegal Israeli cities.
Published by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, Global Justice Now, and War on Want, the report identified at least 44 Etsy shops operating in 16 different cities that are considered illegal by the United Nations and international law. – national in July.
“Etsy not only turns a blind eye to the shops listed on its site operating in illegal Israeli settlements, but directly benefits and even, in some cases, promotes them,” it said. Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now.
“To do so risks complicity in war crimes, and the reality is that they are not the only ones benefiting from the daily suffering caused by the Palestinians.” It's time to put an end to this shameless money-making.
Most of the identified shops are located in the West Bank, including 14 in Ariel and at least nine in Maale Adumim, two of the largest illegal settlements and sites of frequent post-plan conflict. extension.
The report also notes that with hundreds of sellers listed simply under “Israel” without a specific location, there may be many more Etsy shops operating in illegal cities.
Claire Provost, the report's author and co-founder and co-director of the Center for Journalism and Social Change, explained that despite the “clear communication” between the host and the site, “until now, these relationships have flown under the radar and gone unchallenged.”
“Western complicity in Israeli war crimes is so widespread that even Etsy, the popular 'beautiful' shopping site, is linked to businesses in these cities ,” said Provost.
Etsy, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Etsy Ireland UC, could face questions and accusations of money laundering if the company's proceeds are found to be entering the Irish financial system. – illegal construction.
A similar complaint against booking.com, filed in November 2023, is currently being investigated by authorities in the Netherlands.
The company said it did not accept the allegations and insisted that “there is no law against listing in illegal Israeli cities.” However, the results of the study may set a precedent for action in Israeli cities.
In response to the findings, Etsy announced an internal review and said it plans to “comply with applicable laws, including anti-money laundering laws and sanctions.”
“By promoting business in Israel's illegal settlements, Etsy is aiding and abetting the crime of forced displacement of indigenous peoples and displacement of civilians by the occupying forces to the occupied territories,” said Neil Sammonds, senior campaigner for Palestine at War on. I'd like.
“Etsy's complicity extends to the crime of apartheid. These evil and illegal activities must be stopped immediately. “
