Pizzarotti: Stop Building an Israeli-only Train through the Palestinian Territories
On September 6, 2011, Israel's High Court rejected an appeal from the Palestinian town of Beit Iksa against the expropriations of their lands for the construction of an Israeli railway. Take action in response to the Palestinian appeal. Call on the Italian firm Pizzarotti & C. SpA to withdraw from this illegal project!
Israel is constructing a new high-speed railway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, which crosses into the occupied West Bank, confiscating Palestinian land. The villages of Beit Surik and Beit Iksa, which have already been deprived of much of their agricultural land due to the construction of the Wall and settlements, will be hit particularly hard.
The construction of the railway line is in clear violation of international law and private companies involved the project become themselves complicit in these violations. Palestinians are calling for pressure on these international companies to withdraw from the project.
"We want to remind the companies working here that this is Palestinian land and not Israeli. Imagine if I were to travel from Palestine to your house, open the door, and start remodeling. Would this be acceptable?" Abu Fares, Beit Surik Popular Committee
And the campaigns are working! In fact, German railways Deutsche Bahn recently withdrew from the project, which was described by the German Minister of Transport as "problematic from a foreign policy perspective and potentially in contravention of international law."
However, Italian construction firm Pizzarotti & C. S.p.A remains involved in the project.
It's time to convince Pizzarotti! By signing the petition, your message will be sent directly to Pizzarotti calling on the Italian company to immediately withdraw from the project. Take action in response to the call by the Palestinians and make your voice heard!
Sign the petition and http://www.change.org/petitions/pizzarotti-stop-building-an-israeli-only-train-through-the-palestinian-territories " target="_blank">send your message to Pizzarotti
Message that will be sent to Pizzarotti
Dear Pizzarotti,
I recently learned of the Israeli project for a new high-speed train between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in which your company is involved. As you know, this railway line runs through the occupied West Bank, confiscating Palestinian lands. The villages of Beit Surik and Beit Iksa, which have already been deprived of much of their agricultural land due to the construction of the Wall and settlements, will be hit particularly hard.
The construction of the railway line represents a clear violation of international law and private companies involved in the project, such as Pizzarotti, become themselves complicit in these violations.
You have stated to be "mere executors of a project designed by others" and to have played no role in the planning. However, a major company with projects all over the world cannot be exempt from the obligation to validate projects in which it is involved in accordance with human rights and international law, in addition to its own code of ethics.
You claim not to have had "no idea there were complications with the peace process." But it was precisely because of these complications that Deutsche Bahn recently withdrew from the project, described by the German Minister of Transport as "problematic from a foreign policy perspective and potentially in contravention of international law."
Now that the Pizzarotti is aware of the illegality of the project as well as the disastrous impact it will have on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, I am writing to urge you to follow the example of Deutsche Bahn and immediately withdraw from the project.
I look forward to receiving a reply.