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Article

29 Dec 2010

Author:
Adri Nieuwhof, The Electronic Intifada

Photostory: Volvo equipment used in house demolitions (part 2) [Israel & the Occupied Territories]

Israeli forces are using Volvo construction equipment and trucks in the destruction of Palestinian property. The Electronic Intifada has previously documented the use of Volvo equipment by the Israeli government in its destruction of Palestinian property...Volvo construction equipment and trucks were seen in action on the construction site of Israel's wall near al-Walaja village in the occupied West Bank [June 2010]...The Palestinian Bedouins living in al-Araqib in the Naqab (Negev) desert...also witnessed the destructive force of Volvo equipment when their village was destroyed for the third time by Israeli forces on 10 August. The demolition of 45 houses left approximately 300 persons homeless...In 2007, Volvo informed the Business and Human Rights Resource Center...that Volvo Group does not condone the destructive use of Volvo equipment and would regret the use of its products for destructive purposes. The company claimed to have no control over the use of their products. However, as a partner in the UN Global Compact, Volvo should support and respect the protection of international human rights within their spheres of influence...The Electronic Intifada asked Volvo to comment [on the recent events]...The External Relations Director of Volvo Construction Equipment, Bill Law...added, "We are not in a position to monitor how every one of our machines is used...in the many countries in which they are operated...At the same time, within our sphere of influence, we have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility..."...Volvo Group has known about the destructive use of its equipment by the Israeli government since 2007 -- if not earlier.