Rami Levy sues UN for defamation after placement on settlement 'blacklist'

While the UN has immunity in general, Shurat HaDin claims that this case is an exception as the UN violated its charter and practiced "pure racism on the basis of nationality and religion."

AUGUST 17, 2020 18:15

Israeli soldiers walk past Rami Levy chain store in the Israeli Sha'ar Binyamin Industrial Zone in the West Bank (photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) — Israeli soldiers walk past Rami Levy chain store in the Israeli Sha'ar Binyamin Industrial Zone in the West Bank

(photo credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

Rami Levy, the Israeli supermarket and cellular-service company, is suing the UN Human Rights Council for defamation after it was placed on the UNHRC blacklist of companies doing business in Jewish areas of the West Bank, Golan Heights and east Jerusalem.

Rami Levy filed a NIS 280,000 suit through the NGO Shurat HaDin against the UNHRC.

“The purpose of the list is to bring about an international boycott of these companies, with the companies including the supermarket chain ‘Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing’ and the cellular network ‘Rami Levy Communications’ under the ownership of businessman Rami Levy, which run operations in the West Bank,” Shurat HaDin (Israel Law Center) said Monday in a statement.

The suit, filed with the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, claims that operating in Judea and Samaria does not constitute a violation of Palestinians’ rights; in fact, it does the opposite and “does good with them,” as both Jews and Palestinians are employed equally by Rami Levy.

The blacklist includes 112 business entities, 94 in Israel and 18 in six other countries, for which reasonable grounds exist to conclude they have ties with Israeli settlements. The other countries are the US, UK, France, the Netherlands, Thailand and Luxembourg.

“It can be said that the plaintiff companies improve the rights of Palestinians and their financial well-being immeasurably,” Shurat HaDin said.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the average Palestinian worker earns an estimated salary of NIS 2,200 in the PA, while Rami Levy employees earn up to three times that.

While the UN has immunity, Shurat HaDin said this case is exceptional because the UNHRC had “blatantly deviated” from its purpose and mission and practiced “pure racism on the basis of nationality and religion.”

The NGO found that only Jewish-owned companies were on the list, while Arab-Israeli owned companies were not included. It provided a list of 11 such companies.

“I believe in true coexistence,” company owner Rami Levy said. “All of the workers in our market chain are employed regardless of differences in religion, race or nationality and are equally entitled and even earn three times higher wages than the average wage in the Palestinian Authority. We are happy to serve all customers regardless of religion, race and nationality, and we will continue to do so.”

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The blacklist is a “blood libel,” said attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, president of Shurat HaDin.

The publication of names of the Israeli businesses aims solely to “harm their good names and hurt them financially through boycotts” in a number of ways, including “degrading the plaintiffs and their employees for their religion, nationality and place of residence, and all that entails,” the suit says.

This constitutes a violation of Israel’s Defamation Law, Shurat HaDin said. It demanded that the companies receive compensation.

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.