AXA crushes the lives of defenseless women and children in Palestine, while providing life insurance around the world. What a sickening paradox.
The French insurance giant is accused of violating international law by financing Elbit Systems -- Israel’s leading arms company -- infamous for supplying prohibited weapons that have already killed and injured hundreds of innocent Palestinian women and children.
What’s more, a new report reveals that AXA also invests in three major Israeli banks that finance Israeli’s illegal settlement expansion.
The job of an insurer is to guard families against risks, to their lives and homes. But AXA is creating risks and endangering Palestinian families both by supporting the manufacture of weapons used against them, and the infrastructure of occupation.
Tell Axa to stop investing in Elbit Systems and banks financing illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine!
These shocking revelations are an embarrassment for AXA which is proud of its commitment to responsible investment, and is already breaking ties with manufacturers of certain weapons. Let’s push it to drop Elbit Systems and the three rogue banks, too. We know people power works -- the peaceful mobilization of the global BDS movement has already forced multinationals, including Veolia and Orange, to drop investments in illegal Israeli settlements. Now it’s AXA's turn!
Elbit Systems is accused of providing weapons banned by international conventions, including chemical weapons like white phosphorus, which was used during the deadly offensive against civilians in Gaza in 2014.
Elbit Systems also participated in building the massive “security wall” project in the occupied Palestinian territory, which the International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 is illegal.
Financial institutions and insurance companies cannot ignore the illegality of Israeli settlements and the daily suffering they cause. Arbitrary confiscation of property, the separation of families, imprisonment of children, and the humiliating and endless checkpoint controls are the daily dehumanizing experiences of Palestinians living under an apartheid.
Such corporations must also be aware of the conclusions of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) report, which clearly states that ‘large French financial groups (BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Générale, BPCE), including AXA are directly or indirectly involved in the colonial project in Palestine’.
Ask AXA's decision makers to submit to their own ethical charter -- and drop investments in Elbit Systems and settlement-supporting Israeli Banks!
According to the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), banks and insurers are seeking profit at any cost, including getting involved in illegal activity. Let’s make them put an end to it.
Taking advantage of the suffering of the Palestinians is unspeakable. During our campaign against Airbnb, more than 151,000 members like you expressed their outrage. Thanks to this amazing mobilization, the United Nations has started to take measures against these outlaw companies! But as AXA continues to bury its head in the sand, let us be numerous and loud! Let’s push it to stop their illegal and immoral investments.
More information
UN News. 9 July 2004.
RFI. 29 March 2017.
FIDH Report. 29 March 2017.
Le Monde. 29 March 2017.