Israeli supermarket tycoon Rami Levy appears intent on becoming a real estate developer in the occupied West Bank by building new shopping centers in illegal settlements.
Last month (April 2013), Who Profits Research Team has conducted a tour to the construction site of the new Tel Aviv-Jerusalem fast train line (A1). The new train route crosses into the occupied Palestinian territory in two areas (For further information, see Who Profits full report on the A1 train). During the tour we have documented Israeli and international companies renowned for their long lasting involvement in the project, such as Impresa Pizzarotti & C. and Shapir Civil and Marine engineering. Moreover, we were able to identify new international companies operating on the ground.
Soda Stream's main production facility still operates in the settlement industrial zone of Mishor Adumim. However, recent publications suggest that the company is preparing the ground for a future withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories.
A follow up on HP's contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defence for the maintenance of the Basel system in checkpoints
Four years after Assa Abloy expressed its regrets about the company’s involvement in the occupation – Mul-T-Lock (Assa Abloy’s full subsidiary) finally relocated its factory from the Barkan Industrial Zone in the West bank.
Beigel and Beigel relocated its factory from the Barkan settlement to the Israeli city of Safed. Who Profits research team has visited the deserted factory and confirmed the withdrawal.
Agrexco renewed its activity in October 2011 under the name Agrexco Carmel agricultural export company. The company, now privately owned by the Bickel group, exports agricultural produce to Europe, North America and South East Asia since January 2012.