LONDON: A new report has revealed that US e-commerce platform Etsy is doing business with dozens of shops in illegal Israeli settlements.
The report, published jointly by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, Global Justice Now and War on Want, identified at least 44 Etsy shops operating in 16 different settlements that have been deemed illegal by the UN and international law since July.
“Etsy does not simply turn a blind eye to businesses listed on its site operating in illegal Israeli settlements, but directly profits from them and in some cases even promotes them,” said Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now.
“In that case, you risk complicity in war crimes, and the reality is that they are not the only company that benefits from the human misery that the Palestinians cause every day. It is time to put an end to this shameless corporate profiteering.”
Most of the stores identified are located in the West Bank, including 14 in Ariel and at least nine in Maale Adumim, the two largest illegal settlements and frequent sites of conflict following expansion plans.
The report also noted that with hundreds of other sellers listed simply under “Israel” without specific locations, there could be many more Etsy shops operating from illegal settlements.
Claire Provost, the report's author and co-founder and co-director of the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, explained that despite the “explicit links” between hosts and locations, “these links have so far flown under the radar and gone unchallenged”.
“Western complicity in Israeli war crimes is so pervasive that even Etsy, a popular platform for 'feel good' shopping, is linked to businesses in the settlements,” Provost said.
Etsy, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Etsy Ireland UC, could face questions and accusations of money laundering if proceeds from illegal settlement businesses are found to be entering the Irish financial system.
A similar complaint against booking.com, filed in November 2023, is currently being investigated by authorities in the Netherlands.
The company said it disagreed with the allegations, stressing that “no laws prohibit inclusion in illegal Israeli settlements.” However, the outcome of the investigation could set a precedent for operations in Israeli settlements.
In response to the findings, Etsy announced an internal review and said it strives to “comply with applicable laws, including applicable anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.”
“By promoting business in Israeli illegal settlements, Etsy is aiding and abetting the war crimes of forced displacement of indigenous peoples and displacement of civilians by occupying forces into occupied territory,” said Neil Sammonds, a leading campaigner for Palestine at War. Want.
“Etsy's complicity extends to the crime of apartheid.” They must stop these vile, illegal activities immediately.”
