[Fintan Lane, IPSC - 05.05.10] On Wednesday 5th May, a large number of Palestine solidarity activists staged a demonstration outside the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Irish multinational CRH, while concerned shareholders inside asked serious and pointed questions about the role of the Irish cement company in supplying construction materials being used in the building of Israel’s apartheid Separation Wall and in illegal settlements in Palestine. Activists from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) dominated the CRH AGM. In the course of an hour, the Board of Directors was bombarded by questions from shareholders anxious about CRH's complicity in human rights abuses in occupied Palestine.
Note: You can read the 'Alternative CRH Annual Report 2009' that we distributed to shareholders by clicking here (PDF).
Please take the time to sign the IPSC's online petition calling for CRH to divest from the Israeli Mashav Group, and thereby ending their complicity in the construction of the Apartheid Wall and illegal colonial settlements and mining operations in the occuiped West Bank.
[Adri Nieuwhof & John Dorman, Electronic Intifada - 12.05.10] Last week, IPSC members attended the annual CRH general shareholders meeting as activist shareholders. Their aim was to discuss the involvement of CRH subsidiary Mashav in illegal construction activities in the occupied West Bank. The four IPSC shareholders dominated the hour-long question and answer session...
[Various - 06.05.10] Click here to read reports of the IPSC's intervention and protest at the 2010 CRH AGM in the Irish mainstream media. Articles from the Irish Times, Irish Independent and Irish Examiner...
[Fintan Lane, IPSC - 05.05.10] On Wednesday 5th May, a large number of Palestine solidarity activists staged a demonstration outside the AGM of Irish multinational CRH, while concerned shareholders inside asked serious and pointed questions about the role of the Irish cement company in supplying construction materials being used in the building of Israel’s apartheid Separation Wall and in illegal settlements in Palestine...
[TD, Bil'in FFJ - 02.05.10] At last Friday's protest against the Apartheid-Annexation Wall, Bil'in and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign send a clear and angry message to Ireland's largest listed company CRH that they should bring their complicity in Israel's human rights abuses in occupied Palestine to an end by divesting from the Israeli holding company Mashav...
[Press Release, Bil'in FFJ - 02.05.10] Iyad Burnat, a leader in the popular struggle against the Israeli wall, was banned by Israel’s military from crossing the West Bank borders into Jordan on Saturday. Burnat is head of the local committee against the wall and settlement in the central West Bank village of Bil’in...
[Letter, Women In Black (Vienna) and JVJP - 02.05.10] As members of civil society, we are extremely concerned by the contravention of international law, the land and water theft for Jewish settlements in the Occupied West Bank, constant ethnic cleansing and massive human rights violations being carried out with impunity by the state of Israel and its army and settlers
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[Press Release, BOYCOTT! - 01.05.10] Israeli citizens issued today an open letter to CRH, urging it to withdraw its holdings in the Israeli company Mashav, which supplies raw materials for settlement construction in the West Bank. The letter was issued by the Israeli group BOYCOTT! and was also endorsed by the Coalition of Women for Peace....
[Michael Jansen, Irish Times - 01.05.10] Irish activist Tommy Donnellan was injured and detained by Israeli soldiers yesterday while filming the weekly protest against the West Bank wall at Bil’in village, writes Michael Jansen...
[Kevin Squires, IPSC - 30.04.10] Irish activist and documentarian Tommy Donnelan, 63, was this afternoon wounded and detained for two hours by the Israeli Military in the West Bank while filming a non-violent protest against the role of Irish cement multinational CRH in building Israel's apartheid wall in the village of Bil'in...
[Notice, IPSC - 29.04.10] The IPSC is asking as many people as possible to mobilise to make a BIG noise outside the CRH AGM and to send a clear message to CRH that they should bring their complicity in Israel's human rights abuses in occupied Palestine to an end by divesting from the Israeli company Mashav. We will be assembling at at 10.15am at the Catholic church plaza...
[Fintan Lane, IPSC - 29.04.10] On Wednesday May 5th at 11am, the Irish multinational CRH will hold its AGM in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, where its activities in Israel/Palestine will come under intense scrutiny by shareholders...
[Fintan Lane, IPSC - 23.04.10] The Ireland–Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) is calling on CRH, the Irish-based multinational building supplies company, to support the human rights of the Palestinian people by divesting from the Israeli company Mashav...
[Adi Ben-Israel, Globes Israel - 28.12.09] IDB Holding Corp. Ltd has cancelled its acquisition of cement company Hanson Israel Ltd. The acquisition was to have been made through IDB unit Clal Industries and Investments Ltd. subsidiary Mashav Initiative and Development Ltd., which owns 75% of Nesher Israel Cement Enterprises Ltd...
[Shir Herver, Alternative News - 25.11.09] On 14 November, hundreds gathered in Dublin, Ireland for a demonstration against the CRH Irish construction company. The demonstration was organized by the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (IPSC)...
[Adri Nieuwhof, Electronic Intifada - 18.08.09] A recent acquisition by the Israeli subsidiary of brick and mortar giant Irish CRH has placed the European conglomerate under increased pressure from Palestine solidarity activists. Irish CRH, formerly known as Cement Roadstone Holding, owns 25 percent of the Mashav Group, an Israeli construction firm...
This is a call to all people in Ireland to support the human rights of the Palestinian people by calling on CRH to divest from Israel.
Thank you for visiting the IPSC's CRH: Stop Your Involvement in the Apartheid Wall campaign website - we hope you will take action on this vitally important issue. The first actions you can take are to familiarise yourself with the campaign, and then sign the online petition by clicking here and join our Facebook group. For other ways to get involved in a more hands-on manner, please see the 'What You Can Do' section of the campaign site. For in depth information about the campaign, please read on...
About the CRH Divestment Campaign
The aim of this campaign is to convince CRH to cease its involvement with the illegal occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people by divesting from the Mashav Group, an Israeli construction company.
This campaign will:
raise public awareness about the effect of the illegal occupation of Palestine and its impact on the Palestinian people, and;
encourage Irish state, financial, educational and church organisations to put pressure on Israel to end discrimination against the Palestinian people and bring an end to the ongoing expulsion from their homes and land, and;
demand that CRH support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence and to make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses by divesting from Mashav and its operations in the occupied territories of Palestine
CRH plc: Tear Down The Wall - A short film about the IPSC's CRH Divestment Campaign
2004 Under questioning from Amnesty International, CRH accepted that “in all probability” Nesher cement is being used in the construction of the wall. The ICJ begin its investigation.
2004 The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the wall is illegal as they considered it to be an attempt by Israel to annexe Palestinian territory contrary to International Law and it interfered with the right of Palestinians to self determination.
Following the ruling the UN General assembly voted overwhelmingly in support of the advisory opinion by 150:6. Israel continues to ignore the ruling and world opinion as does CRH plc.
2010 The wall is currently 450km long. Its planned route will be 711km, twice the length of the 1967 line. It is predominantly (82%) built in 1967 occupied Palestinian territory. So far it has annexed 10% of Palestinian territory.
CRH and its subsidiaries
CRH plc through Europe Materials Division owns 25% of Mashav Initiative and Development Ltd
Mashav own Nesher Cement Enterprises Ltd
Nesher Cement Enterprises Ltd is Israel’s sole cement producer
Nesher supply approximately 75-90% of all cement sold in Israel and occupied Palestine
Nesher cement is being used in the construction of the illegal Separation wall, the Jerusalem Light Railway project, the illegal colonial settlements and the network of apartheid settler-only roads, underpasses, bridges and tunnels in occupied Palestine
Nesher own 50% of Taavura Holdings who among other activities are involved in haulage and transportation of construction materials
Taavura through Tastit Construction Machinery are the sole importers of Liebherr heavy equipment
Liebherr heavy equipment is being used to demolish the homes of Palestinians and the destruction of olive groves and farms to facilitate the continued ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and expansion of Israel’s colonial project in occupied Palestine
CRH through its investment in Mashav is deriving profits and therefore benefiting from the occupation of Palestine. CRH are complicit in the human rights abuses of the Palestinian people through their indirect involvement with the instruments of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
The Campaign
We believe that there is very strong moral, ethical, environmental and legal basis for this campaign of divestment.
Video: Bil'in Village in the West Bank protests against CRH (Thanks to TD for the video)
Looking at CRH’s investments in Israel, this campaign will challenge their assertions that they are fully committed to the protection of human rights, that they adhere to the highest standards of corporate responsibility and that environmental responsibilities are critical to their operations there.
There are several important internationally accepted frameworks and guidelines for transnational corporations with regard to business enterprises and Human Rights. The are 3 key criteria, consistent in the guidelines, which transnational businesses are encouraged to adhere to;
Respect all UN treaties and International Law
Support and respect Human Rights within their sphere of influence
Not be complicit in human rights abuses
These guidelines and frameworks include among others;
Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights (2008) (note 2)
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Businesses (2000-2008) (note 3)
We believe that if CRH wish to be true to their own Code of Business Conduct (note 1 ),let alone the guidelines noted above and the 2004 ICJ ruling (note 5), UN Declaration of Human Rights etc, then they must immediately divest from Mashav and their operations in the occupied territories of Palestine.
Over 8 years have passed since CRH invested in Israel, 7 years since commencement of the illegal apartheid separation wall and 5 since the International Court of Justice ruled that the wall was illegal yet CRH continue to blatantly ignore their possible complicity in Israel’s shameful human rights abuses of the Palestinian peoplewas illegal and CRH continue to blatantly ignore their possible complicity in Israel’s shameful human rights abuses of the Palestinian people.
As the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement grows in strength the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) have joined that call by calling for BDS against Israel and companies considered complicit in the illegal occupation. We believe that CRH plc may be complicit in this regard due to its failure to comply with International law due to its awareness of, proximity to, and the financial benefit it derives from the construction of the Illegal wall, illegal colonial settlements, settler-only roads and light rail system being built in occupied Palestine.
This campaign will seek support from a broad spectrum of Irish civil society including CRH shareholders, the business community, church groups, non-government organisations and public representatives.
The success of this campaign will only be achieved by mounting a strong sustained public awareness campaign. Ireland has a long and respected tradition of supporting the human rights of oppressed people. Ireland cannot sit back and allow CRH, or any Irish company, carry on trade with a regime who has no respect for human rights law or international law nor can we allow an Irish company profit directly or indirectly from the oppression of the Palestinian people. .
This is a call to all people on the island of Ireland to support the human rights of the Palestinian people by calling on CRH plc to immediately divest from Israel.
Note 1: CRH - Corporate and social responsibility[back]
What principles of corporate and social responsibility guide CRH in their business dealings?
CRH claims to be ‘committed to ethically and responsibly managing all aspects of its operations relating to employees, customers, neighbours and local communities, shareholders and other stakeholders’ and that ‘CRH is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance’. CRH’s own Code of Business Conduct (2008) states that ‘The Code should be seen in the context that CRH, while aiming for top financial performance and growth, believes that this can only be achieved by excellence in the way we do business and by adhering to the highest standards of corporate and social responsibility’. The Code claims to:
a) Consider human rights implications where applicable in investment decisions b) Support the principles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights c) Respect the protection of Human Rights within its areas of influence
Regarding the environment CRH state:
‘We consider our environmental responsibilities as absolutely critical to the operations we undertake… Be good neighbours in the many communities in which we operate’.
CRH claims to respect human rights are all well and good however what is clearly missing is an ongoing process of human rights due diligence, whereby CRH would become aware of, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts as outlined in the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s (SRSG) framework outlined below.
Note 2:Protect, Respect and Remedy: a Framework for Business and Human Rights (2008)[back]
This important framework, prepared by John Ruggie, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises was adopted by the Human Rights Council and supported by the EU in 2008. It states that companies should adhere to four core elements:
a) Have a human rights policy b) Assess human rights impacts of the company’s activities c) Integrate those values and findings into corporate cultures and management systems d) Track as well as report performance
Ruggie stated that among the various factors corporations should consider are whether and how the company might contribute to human rights abuse through the relationships connected to its activities, such as with business partners, entities in its supply chain, other non-State actors, and State agents. In “conflict-affected areas” he asserted that corporations should take into account international humanitarian law and policies; and in projects affecting indigenous peoples, should set standards specific to those communities.
CRH urgently need to adopt the SRSG’s framework and carry out due diligence taking the following factors into consideration:
a) The country and local context in which the business activity takes place. The country’s human rights commitments and practices, the public sector’s institutional capacity, ethnic tensions, migration patterns, the scarcity of critical resources like water, and so on
b) What impacts of the groups own activities may have within that context, in its capacity as producer, service provider, employer and neighbour, and understanding that its presence inevitably will change many pre-existing conditions
c) Whether and how the group might contribute to abuse through the relationships connected to its activities, such as with business partners, entities in its value chain, other non-State actors, and State agents
The substantive content of this due diligence process is that CRH should encompass all internationally recognized human rights. There can be no doubt that the Articles of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which CRH claim to be committed to, along with the other significant international laws, treaties, norms and guidelines referred to above are fully applicable to CRH and its subsidiaries. In this regard CRH cannot continue its current relationship with the Israeli company, Mashav.
The substantive content of this due diligence process is that CRH should encompass all internationally recognized human rights. There can be no doubt that the Articles of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which CRH claim to be committed to, along with the other significant international laws, treaties, norms and guidelines referred to above are fully applicable to CRH and its subsidiaries. In this regard CRH cannot continue its current relationship with the Israeli company, Mashav.
Note 3: The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises[back]
The OECD Guidelines are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries. They provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct in a variety of areas including employment and industrial relations, human rights, environment, information disclosure, combating bribery, consumer interests, science and technology, competition, and taxation.
These advisory guidelines state that Enterprises should take fully into account established policies in the countries in which they operate, and consider the views of other stakeholders. In this regard, enterprises should:
• Contribute to economic, social and environmental progress with a view to achieving sustainable development • Respect the human rights of those affected by their activities consistent with the host government’s international obligations and commitments • Encourage local capacity building through close co-operation with the local community, including business interests, as well as developing the enterprise’s activities in domestic and foreign markets, consistent with the need for sound commercial practice
The United Nations Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
The origin of Principles One and Two of the UN Global Compact is in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The aim of this Declaration was to set basic minimum international standards for the protection of the rights and freedoms of the individual. The fundamental nature of these provisions means that they are now widely regarded as forming a foundation of international law.
Principle One:
• Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and
Principle Two:
• Make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses
CRH are not a signatory to the UN Global Compact.
Note 5: The International Court of Justice ruling[back]
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled the wall illegal as they considered it to be an attempt by Israel to annexe Palestinian territory contrary to International Law and it interfered with the right of Palestinians to self determination. The ICJ ruled that all states are:
• Under an obligation not to recognise the illegal situation resulting from the wall including East Jerusalem • Not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation • All states are obliged to ensure compliance by Israel of UN Charters and International Law
The ICJ ordered Israel to:
• Stop the construction of the wall • Dismantle what has been built • Make reparations for damage done • Re-instate the land and housing destroyed by the wall
Note 6: Israel’s ongoing violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law[back]
From the occupation of Palestine, the construction of illegal settlements and its infrastructure, the construction of the apartheid wall and other instruments of the occupation violate:
• The Fourth Geneva Convention 1948 Articles 3, 32, 33, 39, 49, 53, 64,146, 147, Protocols 50, 51 • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 • United Nations Resolutions (more than 28 resolutions including 242, 446, 465, 468, 469, 478, 476, 484) • International Court of Justice ruling on the illegality of the Separation wall 2004 • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) • Many other UN Charters, Conventions and Covenants
Breaches of some of these international laws constitute War Crimes and/or Crimes against Humanity.
[Fintan Lane, IPSC - 05.05.10] On Wednesday 5th May, a large number of Palestine solidarity activists staged a demonstration outside the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Irish multinational CRH, while concerned shareholders inside asked serious and pointed questions about the role of the Irish cement company in supplying construction materials being used in the building of Israel’s apartheid Separation Wall and in illegal settlements in Palestine. Activists from the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) dominated the CRH AGM. In the course of an hour, the Board of Directors was bombarded by questions from shareholders anxious about CRH's complicity in human rights abuses in occupied Palestine. 
