ASB Divests from Motorola Solutions: A Step Toward Justice for Palestinians
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand has applauded ASB’s recent decision to divest its KiwiSaver funds from Motorola Solutions, Inc., marking a significant victory for those advocating against Israel’s systemic oppression of Palestinian people.
This move comes after years of relentless campaigning, with ASB previously investing millions in Motorola Solutions—a company identified by the United Nations as playing a role in supporting illegal Israeli settlements. Motorola provides technologies and services that contribute to the infrastructure needed to maintain these settlements, further entrenching the illegal occupation.
“We welcome this decision by ASB. Companies worldwide have a fundamental duty to respect human rights across their operations,” said Jacqui Dillon, Executive Director of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand. "This is an important step towards justice and accountability, but it is only part of the journey."
The campaign to end ASB’s investment in Motorola was spearheaded by Justice for Palestine through their "Don’t Bank On Apartheid" initiative, which garnered widespread support. "We want to acknowledge the dedication of this campaign and the tireless efforts of everyone involved," Dillon added.
Amnesty International joined this push over a year ago, and earlier this month, announced it was shifting its own banking services from ASB, in protest of their continued investments in Motorola Solutions.
In 2022, Amnesty released a pivotal report, Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians, detailing a system of oppression that amounts to apartheid—a crime against humanity. This apartheid system is supported by various international companies and organizations that provide critical services to Israeli authorities, helping them expand and sustain illegal settlements.
Jacqui Dillon emphasized that while ASB’s divestment is a positive step, it should not be seen as the end of the matter. "We strongly encourage ASB, along with other financial institutions and KiwiSaver providers, to remain vigilant and to uphold their human rights obligations moving forward."
The growing recognition of the ethical issues surrounding investments that sustain Israel’s apartheid regime is prompting companies globally, including in Aotearoa, to reassess and divest from such entities. "Ending human rights violations requires collective action," Dillon concluded. "The struggle against apartheid and genocide is ongoing, and there is still much to be done."