The Palestinian Authority announced on Tuesday it will take legal action against online retail giant Amazon over the company’s policy that allows Israelis living in illegal Jewish settlements free delivery while charging Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement on Tuesday, the PA’s economy ministry said it will send a letter to Amazon demanding an immediate halt of its commercial activities in Israeli settlements.
The ministry also said it will seek legal action against the e-commerce company, over “its discrimination policy that favors illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories over the indigenous Palestinian population”.
From now on I am boycotting you for boycotting Palestine!
Shame on #Amazon @AmazonNewsDE @amazonDE @amazon
Illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank are offered free of charge.
Palestinians in the Occupied Territories pay from $24?
???— SamemomM (@NaumLea) February 16, 2020
The move comes after a Financial Times report revealed, in blatant defiance of international law, Amazon was offering free shipping to illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, but not to Palestinians living in the same area.
In fact, Palestinian customers who list their address as “the Palestinian Territories” are forced to pay shipping and handling fees starting from $24.
Amazon spokesman Nick Caplin told the Financial Times that Palestinians can only circumvent the issue by selecting Israel as their country.
#Amazon Provides Free Shipping to Illegal Jewish #Settlers, Charges #Palestinians https://t.co/mzX0SawcVJ via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/9K9FtpUU6F
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) February 19, 2020
“If a customer within the Palestinian Territories enters their address and selects Israel as the country, they can receive free shipping through the same promotion,” said Caplin.
Amazon was not included in the United Nations Human Rights Council’s database of companies operating in the illegal settlements released last week.
(The Palestine Chronicle, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Social Media)
This is completely unfair. The curse of all right-thinking human beings should befall on your despicable company. I feel so sad about this.