Sheinbaum Suggests Investigating Mexican Corp Linked to israel’s Land Theft in Palestine

Mexico City. President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said this Friday that the actions of the Mexican company Orbia Advance Corporation, which owns 80 percent of the shares of the Israeli firm Netafim, should be investigated. Netafim was singled out in a recent UN report for collaborating with Israel’s territorial expansion in Palestine. She added that, in light of the UN’s accusations, the Mexican firm should express its opinion.

During her press conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum responded to a question about the report prepared by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, which accuses the company, majority-controlled by Orbia, of facilitating the occupation of Palestinian territories and the depletion of their natural resources through drip irrigation systems. “We know it’s a company that has work there, but to classify it as such would require an investigation and the company itself would have to give its opinion,” the president stated.

The report, titled “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide,” published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlights that technology developed by Netafim—now majority-controlled by Orbia—has been used to expand Israeli crops in the Jordan Valley, while Palestinian farmers face severe restrictions on access to water. According to the report, 93 percent of Palestinian land in the region lacks irrigation systems, which has forced many families to leave their land.

Asked whether Mexico supports Rapporteur Albanese, who recently faced sanctions from the U.S. government, Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s traditional stance in favor of a two-state solution: Israel and Palestine. “We are against war; that has always been our position,” she said.

For his part, Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente stated that Mexico participated as an observer in the recent Hague Group meeting held in Colombia, where Albanese called on countries to take measures to halt the occupation. “Our position is consistent with what we have historically defended: the existence of two states with secure borders that coexist peacefully,” he emphasized.

De la Fuente added that Mexico will vote again in favor of this solution at the next session of the United Nations General Assembly, and that Ambassador Héctor Vasconcelos will endorse this position. He also stated that the country is willing to contribute as a mediator in the conflict: “Mexico is a reliable country in the world of multilateralism and can help build dialogue between the parties.”

Both officials reiterated that, even in the face of irreconcilable positions, it is essential to keep diplomatic channels open: “You can be against one of the parties, but keeping them at the table is essential for dialogue to remain an option,” the foreign minister concluded.