Corporate engagement: background, criteria and timeline

Background

As a means of pursuing peace and the common good of Israelis and Palestinians, the 2004 General Assembly adopted a seven-part resolution that affirmed its longstanding opposition to the Israeli occupation and took action to demonstrate the depth of its conviction, instructing Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to start a process of "phased selective divestment" consistent with General Assembly policy on responsible investing.

Criteria for selection of companies to engage

In November 2004, MRTI established criteria to guide the process of phased selective divestment. These criteria will guide MRTI as it decides which companies to engage:

1. Multinational corporations that provide products or services to or for use by the Israeli police or military to support and maintain the occupation;
2. Multinational corporations that provide products, services or technology of particular strategic importance to the support and maintenance of the occupation;
3. Multinational corporations that have established facilities or operations on occupied land;
4. Multinational corporations that provide products or services, including financial services, that contribute to the establishment, expansion or maintenance of Israeli settlements;
5. Multinational corporations that provide products and services, including financial services, to Israelis or Palestinians who support or facilitate violent acts against innocent civilians;
6. Multinational corporations that provide products or services, including financial services, that support or facilitate the construction of the separation barrier.