Al-Haq is pleased to announce that it has lodged a criminal complaint against a Dutch private rental company, Riwal, for its involvement in the construction of the Annexation Wall, ‘the Wall,’ and illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank. Al-Haq instructed Liesbeth Zegveld of Bohler advocates to lodge the complaint in March 2010, on the basis of documentation collected by Al-Haq and partner organisations.

The complaint asserts that Riwal is complicit in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity- offences contrary to Holland’s International Crimes Act- through its supply of mobile cranes and aerial platforms for the construction of settlements and the Wall in several locations in the Occupied West Bank. The complaint is currently being considered by the Prosecutor’s office.

On 13 October 2010, the Dutch National Crime Squad conducted a search of Riwal’s offices in the Dutch town of Dordrecht under their statutory powers of investigation. The Prosecutor has yet to make a decision as to whether to pursue the complaint further.

Riwal machines were used in the construction of the Wall in the villages of Hizma and Al-Khader and in a settlement near the village of Bruqin. Statements made by Riwal during the period suggest the company knew its equipment was being used in this way.

The complaint is part of Al Haq’s on-going efforts to ensure accountability for the many corporations that are complicit in violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and whose activities facilitate the commission of international crimes by the Israeli authorities. Al Haq hopes that the Prosecutor’s investigations will lead to a prosecution of Riwal.

For more information about the case, please contact:

• Shawan Jabarin of Al-Haq at 00972-599-522-701 for Arabic,
• Wesam Ahmed of Al-Haq at 00972-599-964-184 for English and Liesbeth Zegveld at 0031 20-344-6200.