Barclays: Banking on Apartheid
Militarised violence against the Palestinian people is a central feature of Israel’s occupation and apartheid regime – including the illegal Apartheid Wall, demolitions of Palestinian homes, brutal armed crackdowns on Palestinians protestors, and indiscriminate bombing campaigns of the Gaza Strip.
This system is maintained through the involvement of governments and business enterprises around the world. Financial institutions in the UK provide investment, loans, and other financial services to companies supplying Israel with weapons and military technology used to oppress Palestinians.
We’ve uncovered that Barclays Bank holds over £1 billion in shares, and provides over £3 billion in loans and underwriting to 9 companies whose weapons, components, and military technology have been used in Israel’s armed violence against Palestinians. By providing investment and financial services to these arms companies, Barclays facilitates the provision of weapons and technology for Israel’s militarised repression of Palestinians.
Alongside War on Want and Campaign Against Arms Trade, we're calling on Barclays Bank to #StopBankingOnApartheid
Barclays are still banking on apartheid
Barclays propped up apartheid in South Africa. But inspiring anti-racist campaigning forced the bank to withdraw.
Today, Barclays invests £1bn+ in companies arming Israeli apartheid. Once again, we’re calling on Barclays to stop banking on apartheid. Watch below to find out more.
Protesters descend on Barclays branches across Britain
Southampton
On Saturday 23 September hundreds of protesters descended on more than 25 Barclays branches across Britain to demand the bank divests from arms companies supplying Israel with weapons used in its brutal attacks on Palestinians, as part of a national day of action calling on Barclays to #StopBankingOnApartheid
We will continue to protest at Barclays branches until it ends its complicity in Israeli apartheid!
If you’re a Barclays customer join the campaign by handing in our template letter at your local branch. If you’re a member of the public send an email to Barclays’ senior management here.
Barclays under pressure to stop banking on apartheid
On March 25 2023, we ramped up the pressure on Barclays bank to end its complicity in Israeli apartheid, with over 35 actions taking place across Britain.
See pictures from the day of action below.
Brighton
The actions took place just after the world marked the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, remembering those killed resisting white minority rule in South Africa. During that time, Barclays was a key target of anti-apartheid campaigners worldwide because of its financial links with the apartheid regime.
Palestinians have called on us to revive this history, and stand in solidarity with their anti-apartheid struggle, by pressuring Barclays bank to divest from companies facilitating Israel’s colonial violence.
Watch: Campaign Launch Webinar
Catch up on our campaign launch event to learn more about Israel’s repression of Palestinians struggling for liberation, and learn more about we can take action to demand Barclays end their complicity in injustice.
Our research has uncovered that Barclays Bank provides hundreds of millions of pounds worth of investment, loans, and other financial services to companies supplying Israel with military technology used in the repression of Palestinians – including investments in Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems. Elbit Systems specialises in the production of military technology, surveillance systems, and military drones – used to brutalise Palestinians in Israel’s repeated bombardments of the Gaza Strip. Barclays is therefore aiding, and directly profiting from Israel’s occupation and apartheid regime.
Speakers: Ben Jamal, (Chair), Asad Rahman, Budour Hassan, Fiona Ben Chekroun
Resources
- Barclays Banking on Apartheid Report. Download here.
- Barclays Customer? Use our template letter and write to your local bank manager. Download here.
- Barclays: Don’t Bank on Apartheid Leaflet. Download here.
- Barclays: Don’t Bank on Apartheid Placards. Download here.
- Barclays: Don’t Bank on Apartheid Stickers. Download here.
Order print resources by emailing info@palestinecampaign.org.