Tel Aviv still has a pavilion at the conference, with an Israeli delegation participating “under tight security,” according to a report.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to cancel his participation in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku due to “security concerns,” his office said on Saturday.
A statement reported by Israeli Channel 12 noted that “in light of the security situation assessment and for security concerns, President Herzog has decided to cancel his trip to Azerbaijan to attend the climate summit,” the Anadolu news agency reported.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog cancels his participation in the COP29 climate change conference in the Azerbaijani capital Baku due to ‘security concerns’ https://t.co/IEqbVkf8tT pic.twitter.com/fJSplo4YEq
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 17, 2024
The statement did not provide details on the “security concerns,” Anadolu said, adding that Herzog’s visit was planned to last only a few hours.
COP29 began in Baku, on November 11 and will be held until November 20, with Herzog’s participation having been scheduled for the last day.
Israeli Presence Confirmed
However, three Israeli ministers “representing the environmental protection, energy, and transportation ministries and dozens of officials are still attending the conference,” the Times of Israel reported.
Activists mobilized outside the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, in Azerbaijan to demand a global energy embargo on Israel. pic.twitter.com/d5yzsgfJSn
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) November 16, 2024
“Israeli figures are also taking part in events outside the pavilion,” amongst them several interfaith sessions.
The report quoted the Israeli Foreign Ministry climate envoy Gideon Behar as saying: “We attribute great importance to our participation at COP,” adding that “We cannot (give the impression) that the war has closed us off. We are part of the international community … and have solutions and technology to offer.”
Fuel Companies Slammed
Protests have been held against Israel’s participation at the COP29 conference, with demonstrators demanding a global energy embargo on Israel, according to reports.
Protesters held a banner reading “Stop Fueling Genocide” and posters reading “Defund Genocide!”
Today at #COP29 experts from @FoePengon @TippingPointorg & more exposed how fossil fuel companies enable & profit from Israel’s genocide in Gaza, fueling colonialism, & continuing a long history of the industry’s complicity in mass atrocities worldwide. https://t.co/27YiHjEeGj pic.twitter.com/X3AgiZfLph
— Oil Change International (@PriceofOil) November 14, 2024
Organizations participating in the conference also highlighted how major fossil fuel companies enable and profit from Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“The fossil fuel industry is culpable in death and destruction around the world, not only through the climate crisis they cause but through the violence they fuel,” Oil Change International said in a statement on Thursday.
“Investor-owned and private oil companies supply 66% of oil to Israel- more than a third (35%) of that from major oil companies like Chevron, Shell, and BP- despite genocide warnings from the International Court of Justice,” the statement added.
It further noted that “BP is among the top corporate suppliers of oil to Israel. It operates and is the largest owner of the BTC pipeline, which transports Azeri oil that is ultimately sent to Israel. “
I love how COP29 is hosted in Baku, in Azerbaijan — the country whose exports are 90% oil and gas— and its fuel fills up the Israeli tanks and planes that ravage Gaza. In exchange for weapons from 🇮🇱
Want to help the environment? Stop Western wars. Otherwise you’re not serious.
— Richard Medhurst (@richimedhurst) November 15, 2024
Mohammed Usrof, who represented the Palestinian Youth Climate Negotiation Team, said at the conference: “The complicity of international corporations and governments in fueling Israel’s war machine represents the latest chapter in a long history of fossil fuel companies enabling genocide and mass atrocities.”
He added: “Every shipment of oil to Israel carries the weight of Palestinian lives.”
(PC, Anadolu)
