Caterpillar

Caterpillar supplies the Israeli army with weaponry used to commit violations of international law. For example, Caterpillar designs armoured bulldozers for the IDF for the specific purpose to demolish Palestinian homes, factories, agricultural land and civilian infrastructure, including water pipes and networks on Palestinian territory assigned by the UN, thus violating international law. These armoured bulldozers continue to be manufactured and supplied to this date.

In 2003 a Caterpillar armoured bulldozer killed American activist Rachel Corrie, who attempted to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home by acting as a human shield. The bulldozer continued regardless, resulting in her tragic death.

The UN Human Rights Council list has included caterpillar in their Blacklist of companies. This list is due to be published in Early December.

The University of Manchester holds around £2,114,435.97 worth of shares in Caterpillar

Allianz

Allianz is the largest investment subsidiary of Elbit Systems, a company who supply military equipment, including drones, to the IDF.  Founded in 1967, the Israeli company Elbit has become one of the world’s premiere “security and defence”, firms, specialising in military electronics, surveillance systems, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs or “drones”), and military systems. Elbit System is built on the backing of the Israeli Ministry of Defence Research Institute and has profited greatly from supplying the Israeli military with a variety of equipment used to sustain the occupation and oppression of Palestinians.

Such drones were used extensively in the Gaza invasion of 2014, murdering over 2200 Palestinians, including 500 children and injuring over 11000.  They produce the drones used in the wars and attacks against Gaza and Lebanon and provide equipment for the Israeli Merkava tanks. Elbit is instrumental in the building of The Israeli Apartheid Wall, which is crippling Palestinian communities by isolating them in ghettos. This has provided a massive source of revenue for Elbit. Elbit Systems profits and supplies war crimes, violations of international law. Thus, Allianz sustains and profits Israel’s war crimes and human rights violations.

The University of Manchester holds £2,853,242.44 worth of shares in Allianz.

General Motors

General Motors provide baggage scanner vehicles to Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank. They have also been directly involved in licensing a garage which operates in the illegal settlement of MishorEdomim. This garage has a record of employing Palestinian workers in exploitative conditions.

Furthermore, GM has openly advertised their ‘driverless car’ at the Israeli Defence Force 8200 signal intelligence unit. The IDF have violated the law several times, and in doing so, perpetuated ethnic cleansing and apartheid regime of the Palestinian population. GM supplies to projects and governments that deliberately disregard international rights conventions, leading to abuses including the intimidation and murder of human rights defenders.  

The University of Manchester holds around £2,303,020.48 worth of shares in General Motors.