Japan: Companies at risk of being complicit with Israeli settlements
Subsequent to reports that the Osaka Chamber of Commerce had conducted a mission to Israel to discuss economic co-operation, Palestine Forum Japan, an NGO working on Palestinian rights, sent a query requesting information on how the organisation ensured that any company doing business in Israel would not be complicit in Israeli settlements in Palestine, which are illegal under international law. Palestine Forum Japan also met with the Kansai Region Economic Bureau, a bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), to raise their concerns. The METI refused to confirm which companies took part in the mission, though the names of five companies appeared in press reports.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted the five companies that were mentioned in the press reports, as well as the Osaka Chamber of Commerce. Ricoh responded. Panasonic confirmed it had participated in the mission, but declined to comment further. None of the other three companies nor the Osaka Chamber of Commerce responded.