Security firm to stop supplying West Bank

An Israeli security firm owned by a Danish company announced that it will stop supplying equipment to the West Bank.

Hashmira, which is owned by G4S, made the announcement last weekend.

According to Who Profits, a project of the Coalition of Women for Peace, the technology division of the company has provided equipment for Israeli-run checkpoints and terminals in the West Bank and Gaza, including scanning machines.

Hashmira installed a security system for the West Bank district police headquarters in an area near Ma’aleh Adumim, as well as a central control room and defense system at Ofer Prison, near Ramallah.

The city of Copenhagen had said it would reconsider further investments in the company because of its operations in the West Bank.

When G4S acquired Hashmira in 2002, it withdrew most of the company’s security guards from the West Bank following public pressure, according to Haaretz.

Hashmira is the second largest security company in Israel, with thousands of government, factory, office building and shopping center contracts.

The company said it would take into account its “contractual obligations” as it divests itself from the West Bank.

“We have concluded that we, to ensure that our business activities are in line with our ethical trading policy, will work to get out of a number of contracts in the area,” wrote G4S legal director Søren Lundberg.