[R-G] Palestinians sue Canadian firms for war crimes

[Anthony Fenton]

Palestinians sue Canadian firms for war crimes
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1067001.html

Fri. Jul 11 - 4:32 AM

MONTREAL (CP) — Two Canadian construction firms are being sued for war  
crimes by a Palestinian village that claims its land is being  
swallowed by settlements the companies are helping to build.

The West Bank town of Bilin filed a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court  
this week seeking $2 million in punitive damages from Montreal-based  
companies Green Mount International Inc. and Green Park International  
Inc.

Bilin wants the Quebec court to halt the companies’ construction  
projects and prevent them from marketing their homes to Israeli  
citizens.

"In so doing, the defendants are aiding, abetting, assisting and  
conspiring with the state of Israel in carrying out an illegal  
purpose, the claim reads.

The lawsuit appeals to international and Canadian laws which prohibit  
foreign powers from settling civilians in territory acquired through  
war.

Israel has maintained a sizable military presence in the West Bank  
since the end of the 1967 war and has since been accused of being an  
occupying power.

In the lawsuit, Green Mount and Green Park — both registered to the  
same Montreal-area woman — are labelled as "agents for Israel.

Mark Arnold, the Canadian lawyer for the town, said there is evidence  
suggesting the companies had entered into a contractual relationship  
with the Israeli government.

The companies could not be reached for comment on Thursday. None of  
Bilin’s claims have been proven in court.