Legal Obligations

This morning I spoke to the state investment board about their obligation under international law to not provide material support Israel. What I said is a shortened piece of a letter to the editor – which itself requires brevity. I was given two minutes to talk this morning, and below is what I said, excluding some introduction about my name and connection to the issue:

Last year the International Court of Justice passed a ruling, concluding that Israel’s continued seizure of the the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) of East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank is illegal under international law and that it must be ended immediately. The court asserted that countries, and states within them, are obligated NOT to recognize Israel’s illegal acts, and must REFRAIN from providing aid or assistance that maintains Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution supporting the findings of the ICJ.

Simply, this means that we as people, and you as a board, have an obligation to not invest in any company within Israel, or with any company that provides Israel material support such as shipping, or mass surveillance.

Thanks for your time today, and you attention on where our collective money is invested.

I hope you find your own words to write to to newspapers and to speak to the powers that be to ensure our money is invested in a way that does not create harm.