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So far from the agony of Gaza we all sit feeling helpless, feeling the pain of the Palestinians. What can we do? Go and sit in a Starbucks, drink our lattes and discuss the horrors of it all?
Those of use of good conscience can choose to boycott Israeli products and companies supporting the Zionist entity. Our ethical purchasing decision however is frustrated by the lack of accurate information as to which companies to boycott.
Do we boycott all Jews? Certainly not! The boycott is not directed at any religious or ethnic group, but at companies which support the racist occupation of Palestine. Do not discriminate between the supporters of Israel ~ if a Muslim company is caught collaborating with Israel boycott it just as vigorously as any other company.
People of good conscience all around the world should support the boycott. Trade Unions around the world have called for a boycott of all Israeli goods. Christian groups like Christian Aid have joined the boycott demanding an end to EU ~ Israel trade agreements. Jewish groups such as B'Tselem and Gush Shalom have launched their own boycott campaigns.
In this situation, the boycott of Israeli products and companies supporting Zionism is about ordinary people around the world flexing their right to choose what they buy in order to help bring about an end to racist oppression in Palestine. It’s a peaceful way to pressure Israel, very much like the successful boycott against South African racist apartheid.
The key is to also know which products to boycott to do the most financial harm to our targets. The Zionist entity has its tentacles hooked into numerous markets and economies. We should go for companies which are key supporters of Israel, whose people have been honoured and bestowed awards in recognition of being key supporters.
Multinationals set up in countries not out of benevolence but rather exploitation. Delta Galil ~ the Israeli textile giant whose cloths are sold under the labels GAP, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, BOSS, M&S and DKNY among others ~ has factories in Jordan and Egypt and Palestine. Sweatshop Watch denounced Delta-Galil's exploitation of Arab labour, calling it a "Sweatshop Czar". Is it really a loss to us to see such companies go?
McDonalds was forced to close down most of its operation in the Middle East. Two of Jordan's six McDonald's franchises closed. In Egypt, McDonald's changed its brand name to Manfoods in an attempt to dodge the boycott. The result? At least 175 restaurants closed at a loss of $350 million.
In the face of giants like McDonalds crumbling under the pressure of the boycott, smaller companies steer clear of Israel for fear of being boycotted. Other companies have joined the boycott. In May 2002 an US auto part export company refused to do business with Israel. In a reply to a purchase order from Israel, John Harris, representing Texas Automotive Export wrote:
"We must inform you that Texas Export will not do business with Israeli citizens at this time. We urge you to rein in your military and stop your oppression of the Palestinian people. Your country has lost the respect of the civilized world."
This boycott is not new and has worried the US government and Israel; the US threatened to fine US companies that take part in the boycott. The Department of Commerce has already issued more than $26m in fines and turned down export licenses to companies found supporting the boycott ~ so much for democracy and a right to choose who to do business with!!
At this critical time, the importance of the global boycott of Israel and collaborating companies that give it its life~line cannot be overemphasized. With world markets as uncertain as they are, Israel is counting every penny ~ every penny matters ~ ensure yours don't go to Israel!
It’s essential that others know about the boycott and specifically which companies to boycott. Talk to people about the boycott; with non-Muslims draw the parallels between this boycott
and the one against apartheid in South Africa.
It is late.
Tomorrow I will come back with lists and products and some more ideas to incorporate into boycotting the Zionist entity and its friends.
