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    JCB machines are demolishing Palestinian homes Archived Message

    Posted by Mary on March 3, 2020, 8:43 am

    JCB is owned by the Bamford family who are massive donors to Tory MPs (many of whom are members of CFoI) and the Tory party itself. Suggested letter to send to them came from the PSC.
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    We attach a video which shows a JCB vehicle demolishing houses in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. JCB, a world-construction equipment company headquartered in Britain is included in the recent UN list of companies involved in human right breaches arising from settlements. Can you increase the pressure on JCB to end its involvement in demolitions of Palestinian homes and properties by writing to them please or highlighting the issue on social media?

    Suggested wording

    'I have recently become aware of JCB’s involvement in breaches of Palestinian human rights by its sale of JCB products to Comasco, the exclusive dealer of JCB products in Israel. JCB products are part of the supply chain that result in demolitions of Palestinian property or settlement related construction. I attach a video of an example of this destruction.

    The occupation of Palestine by Israel has been declared illegal by the United Nations. In 2018/19 the UK Government gave £2 million in legal aid to help Palestinian residents defend the types of demolition orders that JCB has been involved in. However the pace of demolitions continues unabated. From 2006 to October 2019, 1,489 Palestinian homes were demolished in the West Bank, displacing 6,508 people, over 50% of whom were minors. From 2004 to 2018 Israeli authorities demolished 54 residential units per year on average in East (Palestinian) Jerusalem. In 2019, 204 structures were demolished in East Jerusalem.

    Please immediately stop selling products to Comsaco and end JCB's involvement in the expansion of settlements

    Develop and publish on your website a human rights policy which specifically sets out the due diligence methodology JCB will apply to ensure that its products are not at risk of contributing and/or being directly linked in a business relationship, which leads to the violation of human rights; and

    Incorporate appropriate financial and/or non-financial remedies for individuals in respect of damages suffered through the known uses of JCB products in the demolition of their homes and property.'

    Address letters to: Mr S. Ovens Company Secretary JCB, Lakeside Works Rocester, Staffs, ST14 5JP
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