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Abigail Disney, philanthropist, filmmaker and great-niece of the legendary Walt Disney, has publicly forsaken her share in her family’s profits from an Israeli enterprise she claimed is exploiting “occupied natural resources”.
She donated her profits and funds equal to the worth of her shares in Ahava, the Dead Sea minerals cosmetics firm, to “groups working to end this illegal exploitation”. Her decision to renounce her fortune from the firm was seen as a high-profile boost to people supporting the Palestinian cause and people campaigning against trade with Israeli companies in occupied territories.
Ahava’s headquarters lie in Israel while the company’s main factory lies in the Jordan Valley settlement Mitzpe Shalem.
The Israeli non-governmental, anti-occupation organization “Who Profits” had received confirmation from the Israeli army under the Freedom of Information legislation that the firm is licensed to withdraw mud from the coast of Dead Sea along the West Bank. Shamrock Holdings, which is owned by Disney, is reported to have around $12 million invested in the company.
In her statement, Abigail Disney said that Ahava’s activities were in “direct contravention” of both the Geneva Conventions and the 1907 Hague Convention because they exploit resources in the occupied territories. Settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal in most international community and under international law.
Ahava is a popular Israeli brand that exports skin care products made from Dead Sea mud and minerals. They are also sold in the company’s stores in several nations, including Hungary, Germany, Singapore and the Philippines.
Abigail Disney, in her statement, said, “Because of complicated legal and financial constraints I am unable to withdraw my investment at this time but will donate the corpus of the investment as well as the profits accrued to me during the term of my involvement to organizations working to end this illegal exploitation”.