The Boycott, Sanctions & Divestment (BDS) effort by Israel’s enemies has scored a victory in Israel as G4S has signaled it is closing its Israel operation amid concerns its five-year contract with the EU may be scrapped following pressure from elected officials promoting the BDS agenda. The closure will result in the elimination of a staggering 8,000 jobs.

G4S is a € multi-billion Anglo-Danish company and it is one of the world’s largest private security firms. It was awarded a contract in 2011 to guard and provide surveillance and access-control services for EU buildings in Brussels. The “euobserver” reported some 38 euro-deputies from all the big political groups now oppose renewing the contract in the lead up to a new tender next year.

In December 2015 a letter was sent to EU President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Foreign Minister Frederica Mogherini stating “By helping Israel to run five prisons and ‘interrogation centers’, G4S Israel participates in Israel’s use of torture and mass incarceration of more than 6,000 Palestinians.”

G4S officials will not acknowledge the decision to shut down in Israel is the result of BDS efforts but blames the decision on losing money, which is attributed to the BDS campaign against the company’s Israel operation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)