Pro-Palestinian activists are claiming victory after water-cooler company Eden Springs shut down its East of Scotland branch.

PRO-PALESTINIAN activists are claiming victory after water-cooler company Eden Springs shut down its East of Scotland branch.

Groups such as the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) say that their efforts to boycott the company have cost the company vital contracts.

Organisations that have boycotted the compnay include East Lothian and West Lothian Councils, Caledonian MacBrae Ferries and various colleges and universities around the country.

SPSC claim the company has unethical links to Israeli firms which source their water from the disputed Golan Heights region of Syria.

In 2007 the Student’s Association’s General Meeting voted to boycott the company because of these perceived links; however the motion was opposed by students saying that Eden Springs is a British company which sources all of its water in the UK.

Eden Springs declined comment on the closure of their East of Scotland branch when contacted by Student, but it is understood that they partially blame the shutdown on the current financial crisis.

Mick Napier, chair of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “This boycott campaign is in response to the appeal from Palestinians, and is supported by the main Israeli peace group, Gush Shalom, who oppose Eden Springs’ violations of international and human rights law in the occupied Golan Heights.”

A campaign to get the City of Edinburgh Council to boycott the company ran aground earlier this year.

Liberal Democrat and SNP groups in the council opposed the move on the grounds that it might be illegal. The council’s Labour group voted in favour of the motion.

The Scottish Trades Union Council and Heriott-Watt University are among other institutions which have boycotted the company.

SPSC quotes anonymous ‘industry insiders’ as saying that the series of boycotts was responsible for the loss of contracts to provide water coolers around Scotland. The contract with the City of Edinburgh Council alone is worth over £100, 000.

Israeli peace activist group Gush Shalom also called for the boycott, but Eden Springs have highlighted in the past that they are a UK organisation which employs over 200 people in Scotland.

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small steps................ Sarah (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 02:00:12 60 years after the state of Israel was built on land ethnically cleansed of its Palestinian owners, a majority of Palestinians are refugees, most of whom are stateless. Moreover, Israel's entrenched system of racial discrimination against its own Arab-Palestinian citizens remains intact. 4 yrs after the historic Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which found Israel’s Wall built on occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal, Israel continues its construction of the colonial Wall with total disregard to the Court’s decision. 41 years into Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan Heights, Israel continues to expand Jewish colonies. It has unilaterally annexed occupied East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights and has now annexed large parts of the West Bank by means of the Wall. Reply 0   1

james (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 02:05:52 :woohoo: As a PROUD Scot i love our values of democracy, and just society. :lol: surely our generation can make sure Israel abides by international law- even through the economic pressure of a boycott :idea: Reply 0   2

james (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 02:10:59 B) :P :silly: :lol: :woohoo: thank goodness we are no longer endorsing illegal activities by Israel!!! :woohoo: great news guys Reply 0   1

Anonymous (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 02:11:36 :lol: Reply 2   0

Lord John Squire (149.254.219.xxx) 2009-02-12 00:30:18 Nice one. Middle class pricks closing Scottish bottling plants, during the biggest recession for decades. Bet the mummy and daddy that pay your fees dont work there though, do they. whoopss :dry: Reply 2   0

Anonymous (92.233.159.xxx) 2008-12-03 04:43:31 Palestinian society? what does Eden springs, in the Golan Heights (annexed from Syria) have to do with Palestine? Just goes to show people are willing to jump on the band-wagon and criticise Israel without having the faintest idea what it is they're condemning! So, yay! A water-company from Israel has closed down a branch in Scotland. Congratulations on the success Reply 3   0

masked anti-semitism Dan (128.255.234.xxx) 2008-12-03 10:03:35 Sadly, pro-Palestinian groups are hijacking situations (well, it was once airplanes) and promoting hate with boycotts against Israeli companies. Oh, did we forget who had the most success in boycotting Jewish businesses? Yes, it was the Nazis! So now we follow these "caring" and "righteous" Muslim groups to hurt Jews...hmmm...yes, sounds like an anti-Semitic bandwagon to me. Reply 1   1

be SENSIBLE!!!!!! Miles k (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 23:07:09 You have to look at this sensibly and rationally. There is a BIG difference between being anti-Semitic(racist against Jews) to being critical of the Isreali government (such as its war crimes and violation of international law) After WW2 it is our duty to hold country's/companies/political leaders/governments responsible for their unethical policies. We can validly criticise the french government and the unethical practices of a french company. But that does not mean one is anti-French and racist. We can validly criticise the US government or the unethical practices of a Swiss company such as nestle. But that does not mean one is anti-American or anti-swiss. In fact championing the weak and oppressed shows that as freethinking individuals- have compassion for all humanity regardless of race + religion. Reply 0   1

Oxfam POV Anonymous (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 23:16:13 u mite be interested in what Oxfam had to say..... According to Tony Berg from Oxfam, water plays an important part in the Israeli military occupation- "We've just finished a really big water tank that would serve half a village in El Boursh and now the Isreali defence forces have announced that they will destroy it, because they need land that is officially Palestinain to build a wall. "So that whole village this summer will again be without clean drinking water." Reply 1   1

go OXFAM!!! Anonymous (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:32:59 at least there is some sense- yeah oxfam does great work around the world!! Reply 0   0

Fran (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 23:21:21 Don’t reward a company that is involved in violations of international law with contracts Reply 0   1

Fran (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 23:24:13 Eden Springs extracts the water resources from the Golan Heights – the 1949 Geneva Convention prohibits such ‘pillage’ Israeli Human Rights Group, Btselem says Illegal utilization of water resources - Article 55 of the Hague Regulations limits the right of occupying states to utilize the water sources of occupied territory. 'The use is limited to military needs and may not exceed past use.' Eden Springs is thus in clear violation of international law. Reply 0   1

scottish water just tastes fine for me- those cale mr amnesty international (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-03 23:55:42 hangabout mate We don’t need to buy water from an Israeli company – Scotland has enough of its own!!!! (and its the best in the world -well according to me- with the great scottish highlands and :lol: that- aye... :woohoo: ) more seriously though...... Israel’s use of water resources as a weapon against the Palestinians is condemned by Amnesty International (see, e.g. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE1505720 07 ) Reply 2   0

Eden Springs rocks! Dan (128.255.234.xxx) 2008-12-04 02:28:38 Do you people know anything about the company you easily bash here? This company contributes evenly to both Arab and Jewish cultural events around Israel and is a major employer of Arab (non-Jews). Sure, feel better now but when poor Arabs you seem to care about so much are unemployed in the Israeli Golan you can easily wipe the evil grin that accompanies you joy over Jewish Israeli companies hurt by your hate-driven boycott. Reply 0   0

Criticizing Zionist war criminals does make one an m.king (212.240.156.xxx) 2008-12-04 13:52:05 Israeli Golan hieghts, you means stolen land, like they stole Palestinian land Criticizing Zionist war criminals does make one an ant-Semite, does criticizing the KKK make one a anti-white? Zionists always think they can ignore International Law by calling everyone an anti-Semite :P Reply 0   0

full stop ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:02:36 Eden Springs- an international law violator -full stop! Reply 2   1

S (82.41.207.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:22:47 If anyone bothered to investigate the company before making pitifully spurious assertions they would find out that Eden Springs UK does not source ANY water from Israel but has other sources in the UK. Moreover, the company for much of its existence was owned by Danone Switzerland. So links between the water drunk in Edinburgh and the Israeli / Arab Conflict are a best tenuous. People on the forum might also like to add that Israel did not "annex" the Golan Heights from "Palestine" but from Syria (geography lesson anyone?) They might also like to note that the Golan Heights is incredible important for Israel's strategic defence. Lest it be forgotten that ALL neighbouring countries declared war on Israel on being founded. Syria and other hostile countries brought about two further pan-regional conflicts in 60s/70s. Finally, everyone keeps mentioning "international law" but although they are so "clu... Reply 1   1

clear things up Ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:37:25 Eden Springs UK sources their water locally. We call for a boycott of Eden Springs UK because its parent company Eden Springs Ltd operates in the Golan Heights, territory illegally occupied by Israel, where it 'pillages' water resources for profit. Any company or institution that does business with Eden Springs UK is in effect supporting illegal settlements as well as Israel's violation of human rights and international law. Reply 1   0

what is Een springs? Ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:38:20 Eden Springs Ltd (also known as Mayanot Eden) is an Israeli company that bottles, markets and distributes mineral water. Since the 1990s Eden Springs Ltd has expanded throughout Europe. In the UK the company operates as Eden Springs UK Ltd whose primary business is the provision of bottled and plumbed in water coolers supplied to offices, city council premises and universities. Reply 2   0

is eden springs israeli owned? Ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:39:40 Eden Springs UK Ltd was part of what was 'Danone Springs of Eden', a joint venture between Groupe Danone and Eden Springs Ltd (Mayanot Eden). In July 2007 Eden Springs Ltd took over full ownership. Update: In December 2007 Eden Springs Ltd (Mayanot Eden) announced that Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is investing in their European company, now known as 'Springs of Eden', in return for 28% of the subsidiary. Eden Springs Ltd (Mayanot Eden) continues to own 72% of Springs of Eden. Och-Ziff was founded by Daniel Och, who is currently the company Chief Executive Officer. Och is a billionaire (listed in Forbes magazine as one of the top 400 richest Americans), a philanthropist who is a main contributor to the Birthright Israel organisation - he is also on the board as treasurer of the organisation. Birthright Israel provides free trips to Israel for young Jews, with the purpose of making the next generation of pro-Israel... Reply 1   0

How is Eden Springs complicit in violations of int Ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:40:49 Eden Springs Ltd (Mayanot Eden), the parent company of Eden Springs UK, markets and distributes mineral water and is listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange. In Israel its water is sold under the brand name of Mei Eden. The company extracts this water from the Salukia spring in the Golan Heights and has a bottling plant in Katzrin, also in the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights is Syrian territory illegally occupied by Israel since June 1967. The UN condemned Israel's actions in illegally occupying the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights and in Security Council resolution 242 emphasised "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war" and affirmed that a just and lasting peace can only be established when there is a "withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied". “Illegal utilization of water resources - Article 55 of the Hague Regulations limits the right of occupying states to utili... Reply 1   0

B'tselem - the Isreali human rights group!!! Ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:41:52 “Illegal utilization of water resources - Article 55 of the Hague Regulations limits the right of occupying states to utilize the water sources of occupied territory. The use is limited to military needs and may not exceed past use. Use of groundwater of the Occupied Territories in the settlements does not meet these criteria and therefore breaches article 55.” B’Tselem www.btselem.org Reply 0   1

INTERNATIONAL LAW!!!! dev (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:43:12 yeah... Eden Springs Ltd bottles, markets and distributes the water from the Golan Heights, an illegally Occupied Territory, for profit and so is directly complicit, with the state of Israel, in the violation of international law. not COMPLICATED!!! Reply 0   1

S (82.41.207.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:29:22 "clued up" on the UN resolutions they omit to use the language of international organisations. So can't have it both way. Palestine refers to the entity which ceased to exist in 1947, the Palestinian territories denote the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Hence, withdrawl from Palestinian Territories means a return to the 1967 borders and Palestine means the destruction of the state of Israel. Again, get a good dictionary a look up the word zionist, it has be quoted out of context on this forum. People concerned with not being anti-Semitic should take a look at the All Parliamentary Enquiry into Anti-Semitism, some of the comments on this website do violate it. Very finally, before making accusations and forming opinions it would be wise to have some information. Ratio of allegation / informed opinion is about 10:1 on this forum Reply 0   0

Is Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights recog ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:44:49 On 14 December 1981 Israel's parliament, the Knesset, illegally annexed the Golan Heights by passing the Golan Heights Law which put the illegally occupied territory under Israeli law, jurisdication, and administration. The UN Security Council responded on 17 December 1981 by passing resolution 497 which reaffirmed "the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions" and decided that "the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect". The UN has never recognised Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and has always referred to the area as "the Syrian Golan Heights". Reply 0   0

ivor (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:49:01 It is very sad that you can call your fellow Jews anti-Semitic. You don't speak for all Jews. At least at uni at least rationality can prevail. Reply 0   0

I AGREE jeff (82.41.29.xxx) 2008-12-05 14:57:26 i agree with Ivor. Congo, Darfur, Palestine, Syria, Golan heights, or anywhere in the WORLD- if its oppression, a military occupation, violating natural resources so the indigenous population of innocent civilians suffer then jolly well will care about it!!! jjp: http://www.jewsforajustpeace.com/ Reply 2   0

anon (78.150.247.xxx) 2008-12-08 09:42:51 i work for edensprings and this closure of the scottish office was based purely on the current climate. Eden have not lost any such contracts mentioned here and we are a very profitable business and arer continuing to service the whole uk as the number 1 in our field! Reply 3   1

do any of the righteous here protest against Pales michelle (77.126.85.xxx) 2008-12-14 19:45:04 For those so concerned with water, were you ever bothered when Palestinian Islamic terrorists blow up little kids on buses or commit other massacres? The fact that the Palestinians are in a mess is entirely of their own doing. If they wanted peace they could have had it decades ago. they voted for Hamas - wich indicates precisely their terrorist preferences. Israel is just ni its responses to Islamic terorr. Reply 1   0

Erm.... James Gunn, student of Borough (86.167.130.xxx) 2009-02-15 20:19:11 How exactly could they have had peace years ago facing permenant persecution and violent, increaasingly bloody bullying from the Israeli forces? Have you ever heard of the Nakba? I suggest you look it up. :angry: Reply 0   1

Dek (217.44.72.xxx) 2009-03-12 13:01:35 Ok so you do not like Eden springs because of them being linked to Israel but these good decent guys that work here pay their taxes. Have these intelligent student types with too much brains and not enough common sense not noticed that we`re in the middle of a recession right now and that there are companies shutting down all over the place? But still you are trying to shut down more companies employing over 200 people. If this were to shut down this would affect the company that makes the water coolers too, this will affet the plastic companies, in fact this could cause a ripple to loads of companies which supply Eden with products. Also to these students, i take it when your out on the town drinking at the end of the night when you get your kebabs etc you take note to the ethnic background of whom you are buying them from because you would not like to be a hipacrip would you?. If you decide to boycot all of these places, ... Reply 0   0

Anonymous (86.156.206.xxx) 2009-03-15 10:46:05 It just goes to show you can't be too careful! Reply 0   1

redundant big dave (92.236.240.xxx) 2009-04-03 18:02:06 thanks to all these do good students, i have been made redundant from my job with eden, lets get 1 thing strait i,m scottish don,t get involved in politics,but i suppose when my son or daughters need new shoes etc i,ll be able to comfort them with the fact that the palestinians are happy i,m unemployed but it will be okay for them to blow innocent people up , what a bunch of hypcrites who visit mcdonalds kebab shops etc hope your proud of your yourselfs Reply 1   0

edinburgh council getitrighpyat (92.236.240.xxx) 2009-04-09 15:42:22 well thats eden now lost the edinburgh council water cooler contract, glasgow city council is due for a decision on theres, lose that one and it could be curtains for them Reply 0   0

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