A Jewish rights organization is urging shareholders of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to reject proposals that would prompt an investigation into the impact of its cloud services—especially those used in Project Nimbus in Israel—on human rights in conflict areas.
This proposal will be up for vote during Alphabet’s annual shareholders meeting scheduled for June 6, focusing on a technical agreement with the Israeli government, which includes services utilized by both civilian sectors and the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
“Proposition 9 is essentially a veiled attempt to jeopardize Israel’s national security and its right to self-defense by pressuring Alphabet to withhold vital technologies necessary for the country’s defense capabilities,” stated Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.
The organization believes this proposal aligns with the objectives of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, which seeks to delegitimize the state of Israel.
The proposal calls for an independent third-party report to evaluate whether Alphabet’s products and services contribute to human rights abuses in “high-risk regions affected by conflict.”
Particularly, it draws attention to Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud initiative with Amazon that has faced criticism from anti-Israel activists and protesters.
Alphabet’s board of directors has joined the ADL in encouraging shareholders to oppose the measure, as announced in a power of attorney before the meeting.
Critics assert that the proposal misrepresents the nature of Project Nimbus, portraying it exclusively as a military project while overlooking its broader applications across various government ministries.
JLENS, a registered investment advisor that represents over 300 Jewish institutions, has also voiced opposition to the proposal.
This group advocates for shareholder actions that promote Jewish values and sees the proposal as politically motivated and anti-Israel.
“Alphabet shareholders need to recognize this suggestion for what it truly is. It’s an underhanded maneuver to exploit the proxy process to promote a divisive political agenda unrelated to corporate governance,” they argued.
“Proposition 9 not only mischaracterizes Project Nimbus but also endangers shareholder value by injecting geopolitics into decisions regarding legitimate and commercially viable partnerships.”
JLENS has filed a notice of exemption solicitation with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the proposed measure.
This concern comes in the context of a terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and numerous hostages being taken to Gaza.
Both ADL and JLENS contend that limiting access to Alphabet’s technology in unstable regions undermines private safety and critical infrastructure.
Alphabet is under mounting scrutiny regarding its partnerships with Israeli entities.
In April 2024, the company terminated 28 employees following an internal protest against Project Nimbus.
Earlier this year, Alphabet also faced backlash after acquiring Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, a deal criticized by BDS advocates.
A protest targeting Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian included claims that he was profiting from genocide.
