Copenhagen Mayor, Sophie Andersen, stated on Saturday her intention to withdraw Copenhagen’s investments from companies associated with Israel. She added that she would propose divesting the city’s investments in companies like “Airbnb” and “Expedia” at the next meeting of the city’s finance committee, as they appear on the United Nations list of companies with ties to settlements in the West Bank.
Copenhagen Mayor commented, “As a major investor, we have a responsibility to ensure human rights. Therefore, I do not believe we should invest in companies associated with illegal settlements.” She clarified that it’s about engaging in responsible and fair investments.
Copenhagen’s investments in companies investing in Israel amount to around 7 million Danish kroner (approximately one million euros). Despite the limited amount and its minor impact on the municipal investment portfolio, the mayor believes the significance and symbolism of the act will be strong in itself to convey the message, stating, “We should form a list of companies the city should not invest in.”
Denmark has witnessed ongoing protests against Israel’s continued war on Gaza. The movement extended to universities, with the University of Copenhagen earlier announcing it would stop investing in companies with business activities in West Bank settlements. The university made its decision amid student protests pressuring the institution to sever financial and institutional ties with Israel.
source: lualuatv
