• MB News
  • July 5, 2008
  • 7 minutes read

Int’l union of architects studies proposal to withdraw Israel’s membership

Int’l union of architects studies proposal to withdraw Israel’s membership

NAZARETH, (PIC)– The Israeli Yediot Ahronot newspaper on Friday reported that the international union of Architects was pondering a proposal to boycott Israeli architects and to expel them from the union over their involvement in the construction of settlement outposts in occupied West Bank.


 


The union, comprised of more than 1 million architects from 116 countries worldwide, is holding its annual world architecture meeting in the Italian city of Turin, in the presence of 8,500 delegates from across the world.


 


According to the newspaper, the proposal was tabled by many architects including Palestinians, British and Israelis.


 


The submitted proposal calls for expelling Israel from the union and states that the Israeli architects are lending a hand to the violation of international law by helping build settlement units on confiscated Palestinian lands.


 


The proposal, which will be discussed by the union”s general assembly on Friday and Saturday, underlines that the Israeli architects” activities constitute a violation of professional ethics and the union”s treaty. It also says that through building settlements, Israeli architects are serving the occupation and perpetuating it.


 


The proposal highlights further that Israel“s architects are helping the Israeli government continue to practice a policy similar to South Africa“s past apartheid policy; besides, they are establishing infrastructure for the occupation.


 


Zionist architect Yitzhak Lipovetzky-Lir, the representative of Israel“s architects, is working hard on thwarting the boycott initiative, the newspaper said.