Google's shareholders get an 'Israel request': We believe this proposal is ...
Jewish advocacy groups are urging Google-parent Alphabet shareholders to reject a proposal set for a vote at the company's annual meeting, which demands an investigation into whether Google's cloud services, particularly those involved in Israel's
Project Nimbus
, contribute to human rights abuses in conflict zones. According to a report in New York Post, the
Google
's annual shareholders meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2025, when the proposal will be put to vote.
The proposal targets Alphabet's contracts with the Israeli government, including Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud initiative with Amazon that serves both civilian agencies and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the
Anti-Defamation League
(ADL), told the Post, 'Proposal 9 offers the pretense of concern for human rights when in fact it is a thinly disguised ploy to weaken Israel's national security — and to undermine its right to defend itself — by pressuring Alphabet to withhold vital technology that supports the country's self-defense capabilities.' He added 'We believe this proposal is closely aligned with the objectives of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, whose goal is to delegitimize the State of Israel.'
What Google's board has advised shareholders on the proposal
The measure calls for an independent report to assess if Alphabet's services contribute to human rights harms in 'conflict-affected and high-risk areas.' Alphabet's board has advised shareholders to vote against it, per the company's proxy statement. Critics, including JLens, a Jewish investment advisor managing over $2 billion in assets, argue the proposal misrepresents Project Nimbus by framing it as a military project while ignoring its civilian uses in Israeli healthcare, finance, education, and transportation. Ari Hoffnung, JLens' Managing Director, told the Post, 'Alphabet's shareholders should see this proposal for what it is: an attempt to misuse the proxy process to advance a divisive political agenda that has no place in corporate governance.'
Protests at Google over project Nimbus
JLens has filed a formal opposition with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Post notes that Alphabet faced backlash after firing 28 employees in April 2024 over protests against Project Nimbus and criticism for acquiring Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, with BDS-aligned groups targeting Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian. The vote follows the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 and saw hundreds taken hostage, heightening concerns about restricting technology critical to Israel's civilian safety and infrastructure. Alphabet did not respond to the Post's request for comment.
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