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WORLD NEWS Monday 27 noveMber 2017

Israel racing to head off

UN settlement ‘blacklist’

By JOSEF FEDERMAN
JOSH LEDERMAN
JAMEY KEATEN
Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Weeks ahead of the expected com-
pletion of a U.N. database of companies that operate in
Israel’s West Bank settlements, Israel and the Trump Ad-
ministration are working feverishly to prevent its publica-
tion.While Israel is usually quick to brush off U.N. criticism,
officials say they are taking the so-called “blacklist” seri-
ously, fearing its publication could have devastating con-
sequences by driving companies away, deterring others
from coming and prompting investors to dump shares of
Israeli firms. Dozens of major Israeli companies, as well as
multinationals that do business in Israel, are expected to
appear on the list.“We will do everything we can to en-
sure that this list does not see the light of day,” Israel’s U.N. People hold signs that read “All for Justice” during a protest outside the government headquar-
ambassador, Danny Danon, told The Associated Press. ters in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. Thousands of Romanians have gathered in
The U.N.’s top human rights body, the Human Rights Coun- Bucharest and other cities to protest against government plans to introduce legislation they say
cil, ordered the compilation of the database in March will weaken efforts to root out corruption.
2016, calling on U.N. rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein to (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
“investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on Romania’s tax, justice laws protested
Palestinians.”
The international community overwhelmingly considers By ALISON MUTLER biggest since massive anti- for road construction in
the settlements, built on occupied land claimed by the BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) corruption protests at the Romania. It asked Roma-
Palestinians for a future state, to be illegal. Israel rejects — Thousands have pro- beginning of the year, the nia to recover the funds.
such claims, citing the land’s strategic and religious sig- tested in Romania’s capi- largest since the fall of com- Dragnea denies wrongdo-
nificance, and says the matter should be resolved in ne- tal and other major cities munism in Romania. Media ing and has appealed the
gotiations. Sunday against planned reported tens of thousands ruling to freeze his assets.
Israeli officials say that about 100 local companies that changes to the justice took to the streets around He is unable to be prime
operate in the West Bank and east Jerusalem have re- system they say will al- the country, but no official minister because of a 2016
ceived warning letters that they will be on the list. In addi- low high-level corruption figures were available. conviction for vote-rigging.
tion, some 50 international companies, mostly American to go unpunished and a Demonstrations earlier this Vasile Grigore, a 42-year-
and European, also have been warned. tax overhaul that could year erupted after the gov- old doctor, said “we don’t
The companies have not been publicly identified, but lead to lower wages.Pro- ernment moved to decrim- want our country to be run
one official said they include Israeli banks, supermarkets, testers briefly scuffled with inalize official misconduct. by people who are being
restaurant chains, bus lines and security firms, as well as mounted police in Bucha- The government eventually prosecuted, incompetent
international giants that provide equipment or services rest, and they blew whistles scrapped the ordinance, and uneducated.”It was
used to build or maintain settlements. He spoke on con- and called the ruling Social after more than two weeks the latest protest this year
dition of anonymity because he was not authorized to Democratic Party “the red of daily demonstrations. over government plans to
discuss the matter with the media. plague,” in reference to its Prosecutors recently froze revamp the justice system.
The only company to confirm receiving a warning letter Communist Party roots and party leader Liviu Drag- One proposal is to legally
has been Bezeq, Israel’s national telephone company. one of the party’s colors. nea’s assets amid a probe prevent Romania’s presi-
Bezeq’s chief executive, Stella Handler, posted a copy of Thousands took to the into the misuse of 21 million dent from blocking the ap-
the letter sent by Zeid’s office in September on her Face- streets in the cities of Cluj, euros (about $25 million) in pointment of key judges.
book page. It accused Bezeq of using West Bank land for Timisoara, Iasi, Brasov, Sib- European Union funds. President Klaus Iohannis
infrastructure, providing phone and Internet services to iu and Constanta to vent The European Anti-Fraud says he will use constitu-
settlements and operating sales offices in the West Bank their anger at the left-wing Office, OLAF, says the tional means to oppose the
and east Jerusalem. government. In Bucharest, money was fraudulently plan.Demonstrators also
thousands marched to Ro- paid to officials and oth- oppose a law that will shift
Handler angrily wrote that Bezeq provides service to all mania’s Parliament. ers from the European Re- social security taxes to the
customers, regardless of race or where they live.q Sunday’s protest was the gional Development Fund employee. q