King’s College, Cambridge, which adopted a new divestment policy last month, has been warned that the policy requires it to divest from many major companies operating in Western Sahara and Cyprus.

The College has stated that by the end of this year, its “financial investments will exclude companies that… Are involved in activities generally recognised as illegal or contravening global norms, such as occupation”  

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has pointed out to the Provost of the College that many major companies have operated in illegally occupied territories, such as Northern Cyprus and Western Sahara. According to reports by the Kohelet Policy Forum,[1] these companies include Orange, Credit Agricole, Santander, Siemens, Veolia, Eurochem, BNP Paribas, AXA, Renault, Vodafone, Allianz, Adidas and Coca Cola.

UKLFI has asked the College to clarify whether it intends to divest by the end of this year from all companies supporting and sustaining illegal occupations of Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara and other illegally occupied territories; and if not, why not?

UKLFI also pointed out that the characterisation of Israel’s presence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank as “illegal” is disputed. The majority Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of 19 July 2024 is not binding and there were strong dissents on this point by four of the Court’s judges. The majority Opinion was premised on false information and several of the judges should have recused themselves because of their apparent bias.[2]

UKLFI asked whether the College has made or intends to make any independent assessment of the factual and legal issues regarding this matter.

In addition, UKLFI drew the College’s attention to extensive research over many years at US universities which found that BDS activity against Israel is closely connected with the targeting of Jewish students and staff for harm. For example, it was found that

“The best statistical predictor of anti-Jewish hostility, as measured by actions that directly target Jewish students for harm, is the amount of BDS activity”.

This research accords with the historical experience of the Jewish people, in which economic discrimination and exclusion have repeatedly led to further persecution. Discriminatory divestment targeting only the Jewish state is liable to exacerbate the adverse impact of the new policy on Jewish and Israeli students.

UKLFI has reminded the College of its obligations under sections 29(6) and 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as well the fiduciary duties of trustees and managers of investment funds and those giving them instructions.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UKLFI commented: “Kings’ decision to give in to the organisers of the illegal encampment may have larger consequences than they foresaw. They may find that complying fully with their new policy would be in breach of fiduciary duties, while complying partially with it would contravene the Equality Act.”

 [1] https://www.whoelseprofits.org/documents/WhoElseProfits_online.pdf; https://www.whoelseprofits.org/documents/WhoElseProfits-e-version.pdf

[2] see https://www.uklfi.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ELNET-UKLFI-Submission-to-ICJ-Case-No-196-final.pdf at paragraphs 10-11, 22-23.