Apple Employees and Shareholders Accuse Company of Supporting Israeli Army and Settlements
A group of Apple employees and shareholders have written an open letter to the company, expressing concerns that Apple’s employee donation program is supporting organizations tied to the Israeli army and illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The letter, signed by 133 individuals, calls for an immediate investigation and demands that Apple halt donations to these organizations.
The controversy centers around Apple’s employee donation platform, Benevity, which allows employees to donate to non-profit organizations and receive matching contributions from Apple. The list of eligible organizations includes groups that support the Israeli army and settlements in the West Bank, such as Friends of the IDF, HaYovel, One Israel Fund, the Jewish National Fund, and IsraelGives.
Apple’s management has not responded to questions about the matter, but critics argue that the company’s donations may be supporting organizations that violate international human rights law. Diala Shamas, a senior attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, notes that US laws against financing activities that violate international human rights law are not adequately enforced, leaving it to companies and individuals to ensure their contributions do not support illegal activities.
The conduct of the Israeli army has come under scrutiny due to allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, and other abuses against Palestinians. Friends of the IDF, a charity listed on Apple’s matching donations list, claims to have transferred $34.5 million in donations to the Israeli army in the first weeks following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. IsraelGives, another listed organization, received over $5.3 million in donations within two months to support “military, paramilitary, and settlement” activities in the West Bank.
Apple’s corporate commitment to respecting internationally recognized human rights frameworks, including the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, seems at odds with its support for these organizations. The UN Human Rights Office has repeatedly condemned the Israeli army’s atrocities, and Israel faces international condemnation for its continued offensive on Gaza.
The controversy highlights the need for companies to ensure that their donations do not support organizations engaged in illegal activities. Apple employees and shareholders are demanding that the company take responsibility for its donations and ensure that they align with its stated commitment to human rights. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Apple’s response to these allegations will be closely watched.
