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PA demands Amazon to halt discriminatory practice toward Palestinians

Wednesday, 26 February 2020 4:23 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 26 February 2020 4:23 PM ]

The Amazon logo at the entrance area of the Amazon logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, on March 4, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Amazon over its policy that allows Israeli settlers living in settlements free delivery but charges Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, calling on the online retail giant to cease its discriminatory practice against Palestinians.

Palestinian Minister of Finance, Shukri Bishara, and Palestinian Minister for National Economy Khaled al-Osaily, in two identical letters addressed to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Wednesday, expressed astonishment over the company’s recent decision.

الحكومة الفلسطينية تخطر شركة "أمازون" بالتوقف الفوري عن دعم النشاط الاستيطانيhttps://t.co/LIE3IvuY3F pic.twitter.com/Btx5ZR7d63
— Wafa News Agency (@WAFA_PS) February 26, 2020

“It is unacceptable for Amazon to flaunt international law in such a way. Nearly 140 UN member states – a vast majority – have formally recognized Palestine as a state. Yet Amazon, using its overwhelming financial and commercial clout, now seeks to extract from Palestinians a formal admission that they are part of Israel,” the letter read.

Amazon’s free shipping to Israeli settlements 'biased,' Hamas says

Customers who select

The two Palestinian ministers then accused Amazon of aiding and abetting the Tel Aviv regime’s violation of international law as regards free shipping to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank which are illegal under the international law.

“Amazon’s reprehensible practice must cease immediately,” they said. “If it does not do so, then the world will come to realize that the lofty words and aspirations of Amazon’s commitment to equality, fairness and corporate social responsibility are entirely hollow,” Bishara and Osaily pointed out.

Netanyahu goes ahead with settlement project, contravening intl. law

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders the construction of some 3,500 new settlements in a contentious area in the occupied West Bank, defying international law.

Last week, the English-language international daily newspaper Financial Times revealed that upon running West Bank addresses listed as Israeli through Amazon's delivery portal, the online retailer offers free shipping to settlements on the occupied Palestinian territory.

Customers who select “Palestinian Territories” as their address, however, are subject to shipping and handling fees upwards of $24.

Israel plans 9,000 new settler units in East Jerusalem al-Quds: Watchdog

The Israeli regime reportedly plans to build 9,000 settler units in the occupied east Jerusalem al-Quds.

More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

According to human rights groups, incidents of sabotage and violence by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and their property are a daily occurrence throughout the West Bank.

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