Paris/ PNN /
As the most far-right, racist, fundamentalist, misogynistic and corrupt Israeli government to date intensifies its systematic oppression of the Palestinian people, French insurer AXA continues to invest $15.6M in Israeli banks that are known to be the backbone of the Israeli illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Ahead of AXA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), Palestine solidarity activists once again demonstrated creatively in front of the building where the "AGM ceremony" was taking place to increase pressure on AXA to divest from Israeli apartheid. Dancing to the rhythm of the famous song "Djadja" by the singer Aya Nakamura, with alternative lyrics written for the occasion, the demonstrators called on AXA to “get out of there,” warning that “one day there will be sanctions” on Israel’s settler colonial and apartheid regime and that will adversely affect AXA.
The Israeli banks in which AXA invests are all listed in the United Nations database of businesses involved in the illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied Palestinian territory [2]. In August 2022, a Don't Buy Into Occupation (DBIO) coalition report ranked AXA 24th out of the 100 largest European investors in the illegal Israeli settlement enterprise, with a total of $957M .
Fiona Ben Chekroun, European coordinator for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaigns said:“By continuing to fund these Israeli banks, AXA is responsible for aiding, abetting and profiting from war crimes and the crime against humanity of apartheid.
Not even the best PR can whitewash AXA's support for apartheid. Campaigners are denouncing this, clients are unhappy, and over 10,000 people from around the world have pledged to #BoycottAXA until it divests from Israeli banks financing Israel’s illegal settlements. Join the boycott to pressure AXA shareholders and the French state to end the company’s complicity in apartheid!”
Imen Habib, BDS France campaigner added:“AXA has quickly condemned and acted against the invasion of Ukraine by Russia [4]and its devastating human consequences. Where is AXA’s responsibility towards Palestinians living under Israeli apartheid and occupation for decades? We’ll continue to call to boycott AXA until it ends its complicity with Israeli apartheid.”
