Boycott Israeli Goods

Source: http://www.ipsc.ie/campaigns/consumer-boycott

Individual consumers can show their opposition to Israel’s Apartheid policies against the Palestinian people and violations of international law by participating in a consumer boycott of Israeli goods and services. A boycott can also put pressure on companies whose exports are linked to some of the most evident aspects of the Israeli occupation and apartheid.

The Israeli barcode starts with the numbers 729. However, it doesn’t necessarily appear on all Israeli products so be sure to always check the label for country of origin.

Supermarket products

Jaffa oranges were famous for centuries before Israelis successfully colonised the Palestinian name along with the city of Yafa. The Israeli agricultural companies Mehadrin (Jaffa) and Carmel-Agrexco export fruit and vegetables for sale to Europe. Much of this produce is grown on confiscated Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley. Apart fromoranges, other examples of fruit exported by these, and other, companies are grapefruits, peppers, avocados,grapes, figs, and passion and sharon fruits.

Dates from Israel come in many brands and are particularity popular during the holy month of Ramadan.

Israeli new potatoes are all too often seen in the spring before Irish potatoes are available. Carrots are also exported from Israel.

Tivall is an Israeli company that produces vegetarian foods.

Herbs, such as basil, dill, tarragon, parsley, sage, rosemary, mint, chives and others are commonly sold.

These goods are widely available in big chainstores such as Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Supervalu, Superquinn, Aldi and Lidl.

Hardware and homeware products

Most Stanley/Black&Decker Toolboxes and plastic organisers are made in Israel. Plastic saw horses are also often available.

Keter exports a wide range of large plastic products from Israel. These include shelf storage bins, garden sheds,outdoor storage boxes, dog kennels and composting bins.

These plastics can be found in Woodies, Chadwicks, Heitons, Davies and Cork builders providers (all part of the Grafton Group), Homebase, (part of the Home Retail Group), Argos, B&Q and many other hardware, builders’ providers and tool shops.

Sodastream, appliance for home-making carbonated drinks is a product manufatcured in the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim in occupied Palestine. These products can be found in Dunnes Stores, Harvey Norman, Argos, Cleary’s, Brown Thomas, DID Electrical and others.

Lees Carpets are made by the Israeli company Carmel Carpets in the illegal industrial settlement zone of Barkan in the West Bank.

Beauty Products

Dead Sea beauty products come in many brands including, Ahava, Dead Sea Magik, GADI21, -417, VivO, Nevoand Sea Spa Skincare. YesTo, formerly an Israel-based company which has since ‘relocated’ to the US, uses Dead Sea minerals in many of its products. They can be found in Holland & Barrett, Nourish and pharmacies. In addition they are often marketed by Israelis at large shopping centres including; Dundrum, Jervis Street, Liffey Valley and others.

Any theft by the Israeli state or companies of natural resources from the Palestinian section of the Dead Sea constitutes War Pillage under the terms of the Geneva Convention. Ahava is one company that is guilty of this, being based in the illegal settlement of Mitzpe Shalem on the Dead Sea.

MoroccanOil is an Israeli company that manufactures argan oil-based hair care products, which can be found in Peter Marks and other hair salons.

The Israeli brand AMAV is distributed in Europe by George Prentice Associates (GPA), Kildare. They market a range of “activities” type craft boxes (plastic!) and Art Easels for children These are available at major toy retailers, Hamley’s, Smiths and Art & Hobby.