Palestinian Village Sues Canadian Contractors

Why go half-way across the world to try to stop construction? If the village was really in the right then they would've taken this suit to an Israeli court. National Post

In a lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court Monday, the village claims that the companies are acting as an agent of the state of Israel. It wants $2-million in punitive damages, as well as an immediate order from the Canadian court that would stop construction. If the order is successful, Bil'in will petition the Israeli Court to enforce it in the West Bank.

"What we're endeavouring to do is quite unprecedented in Canada. We hope the Canadian court will take jurisdiction over this Canadian company that's registered to do business in Quebec but is carrying on business in the Middle East on the occupied territories," Mark Arnold, Canadian counsel to Bil'in, said yesterday.

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Bil'in -- a flashpoint in the Middle East conflict that has been the site of numerous protests, including one earlier this week -- alleges that Green Park International Inc. and Green Mount International Inc., both registered corporations in Quebec, are building illegally on lands under the jurisdiction of the village.

The suit also alleges that the companies are marketing and selling condominium units to Israeli civilians, "thereby creating a new dense settlement neighbourhood on the lands of the Village of Bil'in. In so doing, the defendants are aiding, abetting, assisting and conspiring with the State of Israel in carrying out an illegal purpose."