Statement DWARS Utrecht on EBS

The genocide in Gaza being carried out by the Israeli state is unfortunately only part of a longer story of oppression of the Palestinian people. In 1948, the Israeli state was established in territory where Palestinians had lived for centuries, and more than 750,000 Palestinians had to flee from their own habitat. Since the establishment of the state of Israel, the Palestinian people have not been safe. This applies to Palestinians living in Gaza but also Palestinians living in the West Bank.

As DWARS Utrecht, we will always speak out against human rights violations, which is why DWARS Utrecht is very concerned about the possibility of the Israeli bus company EBS coming to Utrecht. EBS is part of the Israeli Egged Group, which is a bus company that transports people by bus in many countries. It is the second largest bus company in the world. However, this company also runs segregated bus services where Palestinians are banned. The company also provides transport to, from and between illegal settlements in the West Bank. In doing so, the company is guilty of supporting the apartheid state of Israel and thus human rights violations.

The only shareholder of EBS is Egged, if EBS makes profits this means Egged gets these profits. Therefore, if the province of Utrecht allows the bus company EBS to run buses in Utrecht, the province of Utrecht supports this human rights violating organisation. That is why DWARS Utrecht, Bij1, BDS Netherlands, USP and Workers for Palestine say: ‘No EBS in Utrecht!’

Therefore, support this petition:
https://wings.bij1.org/petitions/geen-ebs-in-utrecht