In September 2025, Just Peace Advocates, Al-Haq, and Coalition du Québec URGENCE Palestine published a press release regarding a report that WSP was leaving Israel. That original report stated that WSP claimed this “is part of an organizational change to close offices in small countries and that it will continue to support the projects to which it has committed, first and foremost the Tel Aviv metropolitan region Metro.” No official announcements would follow from WSP regarding this alleged sale.
Then, in November 2025 we finally heard from WSP. When asked the following:
“In September, multiple news sources reported that WSP is closing its office in Israel. Is this accurate? If yes, will WSP continue any operations in Israel?”
WSP responded: “[I]n the ordinary course of managing its business portfolio, WSP completed a transaction to sell its Israeli business to the local management team. WSP has no projects in Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
In addition to our own contact, WSP also provided a response to Oxfam-Quebec, in relation to their new report on settlement trade from Quebec-based entities. Just Peace Advocates was pleased to provide research for the report: Trade with the Settlements: How Quebec Economic Actors Enable Israel to Pursue its Illegal Occupation Policy.
Based on the information from WSP, we identified what we presume is the local management team on various Israeli business sites, including Israel’s official business registry. The new company (or “local management team”) is called “WSP Consulting Engineers Israel Ltd” and was incorporated on September 7, 2025. Despite extensive research and asking WSP directly, we have been unable to confirm whether there is any official business relationship between these two entities.
WSP has clearly stated it “sold its Israeli business”, yet, “WSP in Israel” continues to advertise, hire, and report on their projects, all under the WSP name and logo. This leaves us with some questions:
- Did WSP sell 100% of its Israeli business to the “local management team”?
- If so, is there a business relationship with this team?
- If not, why are they allowed to continue using the WSP name and logo?
- Is the “local management team” maintaining contracts for the Jerusalem Light Rail?
Regardless of these answers, some things remain true:
- WSP is accountable under international law for its participation in the Jerusalem Light Rail and Tel Aviv Fast Train, two projects that supported the maintenance/expansion of illegal settlements in occupied Palestine.
- WSP has committed in its own human rights policies to address human rights violations where they occur:
- “We investigate and assess any concern that a business partner has violated human rights and act if a violation is found;” and
- “We are prepared to end any business relationship where our integrity could be questioned;” and
- “We investigate allegations of human rights violations, illegal behaviour or non-compliant conduct [in our operations] and act to remediate the impact.”
Therefore, unless they take further action, they have not done their due diligence. If WSP has in fact stopped their occupation projects, they must provide remedies now!
