<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
<div id="toolbar" class="toolbar-container"> </div>
<div class="container" style="--line-height: 1.6em;" dir="ltr">
<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element"> <a
class="domain reader-domain"
href="http://english.pnn.ps/2021/10/05/human-rights-organizations-call-on-paypal-to-end-its-digital-discrimination-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/">english.pnn.ps</a>
<h1 class="reader-title">Human rights organizations call on
PayPal to end its digital discrimination in the occupied
Palestinian territory<br>
</h1>
<div class="meta-data">
<div class="reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">October 4, 2021<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="content">
<div class="moz-reader-content reader-show-element">
<div id="readability-page-1" class="page">
<div>
<p>Bethlehem/PNN/</p>
<p>Human rights organizations have joined together to tell
PayPal to stop denying its services on discriminatory
grounds to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian
territory (oPt), including the West Bank and Gaza.</p>
<p>The coalition has sent a letter to Paypal to request
that the company brings its policies in line with
international human rights law and to request that the
company engages directly with Palestinian civil society
representatives to work together towards a sustainable
solution.</p>
<p>Despite international pressure, PayPal still refuses to
operate in the oPt while providing full access to users
in Israel and illegal Israeli settlements in the West
Bank. As a population living under prolonged military
occupation, Palestinians face extreme restrictions on
imports, exports, and movement as a result of Israel’s
discriminatory laws, policies, and practices in the West
Bank and more severely so in the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Palestinians rely on digital accessibility for economic
development and access to the global economy. The
ability to use digital payment platforms is crucial for
Palestinian entrepreneurs, businesses, and freelancers,
to access regional and international customers.</p>
<p>Nadim Nashif, Director of 7amleh, which defends
Palestinian digital rights, said, “Our research has
shown that the Palestinian market is ready for PayPal.
By excluding Palestinians from its service but allowing
illegal settlers, PayPal directly emboldens the Israeli
occupation and further entrenches its devastating
effects on the Palestinian population and their
economy.”</p>
<p>PayPal claims that its policy against Palestinians is
based on its “Prohibited Countries” policy which labels
Palestine and other countries as “High Risk and
Conflict-Affected Areas,” in which PayPal has no ability
to operate. However, Palestine has already implemented
the regulatory frameworks necessary for accessing
electronic payment systems. This includes the
“Electronic Transactions Law” which facilitates
electronic transactions and establishes measures to
combat money laundering and fraud.</p>
<p>PayPal’s policy contributes to the Israeli campaign of
delegitimization and de-platforming of Palestinian civil
society and businesses. Furthermore, the request of the
human rights organizations is in line with the UN
Working Group on Business and Human Rights guidance on
the rights and obligations of business enterprises under
international humanitarian law. The guiding principles
warn that if a “business finds (either through its own
due diligence or other means) that it has caused or
contributed to an adverse human rights impact, it has a
responsibility to actively engage in remediation, either
by itself or in cooperation with other actors”</p>
<p>The coalition called on the international community to
condemn PayPal’s discriminatory policies and to join
Palestinians in this campaign to pressure PayPal to
extend its services to Palestinians in the occupied West
Bank and Gaza Strip.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 415
863-9977</div>
</body>
</html>