Israel Matzav

German National Railways withdraws from Jerusalem-Tel Aviv rail project

Bowing to a campaign led by a self-hating Jewish Israeli (of course!) the German National rail company Deutsche Bahn has withdrawn from its supportive role in the construction of a high speed rail line between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The rail line is designed to cut travel time between the two cities to 28 minutes by 2017.

According to a report in Der Spiegel, Germany’s Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer told Deutsche Bahn CEO that the project was politically “problematic” and violated the “terms of international law.”

The German government indicated back in December that it was nervous about the project after German MP’s began questioning it. In a letter dated March 14, 2011 and obtained by Change.org, Germany’s Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs Enak Ferlemann wrote to MP Inge Höger:

“The German government has pointed out that for German foreign policy, the Israeli state railroad project traversing occupied territory, is problematic and potentially a violation of international law... In the meantime the management of DB International has also confirmed in writing that, in regards to this politically very sensitive project, DB International would be engaged in no further activities.”

...

An international campaign calling on Deutsche Bahn to withdraw from the project was launched after “Who Profits” released a report detailing the involvement of European and American companies in the construction of the rail line. Who Profits is an on-going grassroots investigation effort by activists in The Coalition of Women for Peace, a leading Israeli feminist peace organization, dedicated to exposing companies and corporations involved in the occupation so as to promote a change in public opinion and corporate policies and eventually lead to an end to the occupation.

Meirav Amir, Coordinator of Who Profits, celebrated the German government’s decision.

“I want to congratulate the German government for making such a clear and bold statement about the illegality of this train route under international law,” she said. “It’s encouraging to see a government abide by their own treaties and adhere to international law, and we call on other European governments to follow suit in making sure that companies in their countries abide by international law.”

I've discussed the train's route before here.

Forbes quotes Israel Railways spokesman Liran Gordon as saying that Deutsche Bahn played a 'minor role' in the project, and that its withdrawal won't affect the 2017 launch date.

Israel Radio reports that the areas in question were no-man's land before 1967, and not Jordanian territory. The picture of the rail connection construction at the top was taken from a portion of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway which is similarly situated. I wonder how all these 'activists' get from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

Labels: 1949 armistice lines, Deutsche Bahn, high-speed rail line, Jerusalem, Latrun, Tel Aviv, Who Profits

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:32 PM