Veolia Caves to BDS, Dumps Share in Israeli Desalination Plant

Veolia, the largest publicly-traded water company in Europe is selling its Israeli businesses after losing contracts over boycott threats. The French-based company is getting rid of its 50% stake in the Ashkeon desalination plant. A company spokesperson, Sandrine Guendoui said, “the Israeli assets are being sold as a full operating business rather than a collection of assets.”

The company had a stake in City Pass for the Jerusalem Light Rail which was transferred to Transdev. BDS protesters objected to Veolia’s involvement with the Jerusalem Light Rail, because it passes through stops in East Jerusalem, considered by Palestinian activists to be occupied territory. Guendoui commented that Veolia “has started to disengage from the transportation business completely and sell its stake in Transdev” as part of a “broader divestment plan initiated and engaged in 2011.”

An anonymous person connected with Veolia admitted that boycott threats over Israeli assets lost the company important contracts.