PGGM has withdrawn its investments in five Israeli banks over their activities in West Bank settlements.
Dutch pension fund asset manager PGGM has stopped investing in five Israeli banks because they are financing construction activities in Jewish settlements over the green line and have branches in the West Bank. PGGM is withdrawing on the basis of UN resolutions which have defined these settlements as illegal.
PGGM, which invests on behalf of the Dutch health service pension fund, has invested tens of millions of euros in Bank Hapoalim (TASE: POLI), Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI), Israel Discount Bank (TASE: DSCT), Mizrahi Tefahot Bank (TASE:MZTF), and First International Bank of Israel (TASE: FTIN).
The banks informed PGGM that Israeli law forbade them from not providing services in the West Bank settlements.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 8, 2014
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