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Boycott
Israel
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What is the boycott?
The boycott of Israeli products and companies supporting the
zionist entity is about ordinary people around the world using
their right to choose what they buy in order to help bring about
an end to oppression in Palestine. Its a peaceful means of putting
international pressure on the racist state of Israel and follows
in the footsteps of the successful boycott against South African
racist apartheid.
2.
Are you boycotting all Jews?
Certainly not! The boycott is not directed at any religious or
ethnic group, but rather it is directed at those companies that
are supporting the racist occupation of Palestine. A quick glance
at the boycott list will testify to this. We do not discriminate
between the supporters of Israel - if a Muslim company is caught
collaborating with Israel we will boycott it just as vigorously
as any other company.
Muslims & Jews united against zionism at the
recent Quds Day rally
3.
Who supports the boycott, what do our Ulema say about it?
People of good conscience all around the world support the boycott.
Trade Unions around the world, including the UKs biggest trade
union UNISON with its 1.4 million members, 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.
And Jewish groups such as B'Tselem and Gush Shalom have launched
their own boycott Israeli goods campaigns.
Among Muslims, every leading Ulema from every school of thought
is united in this and has given clear fatwas in support of the
boycott. A few examples from different schools of thought are
provided on the following page:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-fatwas.html
4.
Are you sure these companies support Israel?
Many people wanting to boycott Israeli products and companies
supporting the zionist entity have been frustrated with the lack
of accurate information as to which companies to boycott.
To this end we have carried out extensive research to identify
the guilty companies. All our findings are backed with references
so that you can independently check the facts and understand exactly
how each company is contributing its support to Israel.
On our website we have dedicated a whole page per company. Each
page is divided into three sections -
(1) the company's product list,
(2) research findings and
(3) reference/additional info section.
You can see the evidence against a company given in the research
findings section and next to each piece of evidence is a reference
number which you can look up in the reference section to find
out the source for the evidence - most items are sourced back
to Israel's own newspapers and journals.
5.
Surely wherever we spend our money, even our taxes support Israel,
so why pick on these companies?
Whilst it is true that the cancerous zionist entity has got its
tentacles hooked into numerous markets and economies - sucking
each one to nourish itself, but this is no excuse for us not to
do anything. The companies on our list are chosen for being the
major supporters of Israel - those that Israel itself has honoured
and bestowed awards upon in recognition of being its key supporters
in the world. If we can successfully campaign against these then
the support of the others will, inshallah, evaporate.
6.
These companies operate in Muslim countries providing Muslims with
Jobs - isn't boycotting them going to harm ourselves?
It is true that most of the companies on the list have operations
in Muslim countries and employ Muslims who would loose their jobs
if the companies collapsed or pulled out. But we have to look
at this as a opportunity, not a loss.
Take the example of Coca-Cola in the middle east, the boycott
has hit them so hard that their sales are down 60%. This has created
an opportunity for a Muslim alternative, ZamZam Cola of Iran,
which is owned by the religious charity the Foundation of the
Dispossessed, to take Coca-Colas share of the market. Zam Zam
Cola is struggling to keep up with demand - it exceeded all expectations
by selling four million cans in its first week. It is now planning
to expand by build factories in the gulf states, helping provide
local employment. And for the first time even European countries
like Denmark, are importing ZamZam Cola.
Similar success stories can be told of Sainsburys closer in Egypt
in April 2001, which resulted in a blossoming of local stores
which would not have otherwise survived in an unfair market monopolised
by a foreign giant.
Also lets not forget that the reason why the multinationals have
set up in Muslim countries is not out of benevolence for us, but
rather exploitation. Take the example of Delta Galil - the Israeli
textile giant whos cloths are sold under the labels GAP, Banana
Republic, Calvin Klein, BOSS, M&S and DKNY among others. The
Israeli company has factories in Jordan and Egypt in addition
to Palestine. Their treatment of workers is such that Sweatshop
Watch has denounced Delta-Galils exploitation of Arab labour,
calling it a "Sweatshop Czar". Is it really a loss to
us to see such companies go?
7.
Does the boycott work?
Oh yes! For example, one of the companies hardest hit by the
boycott is McDonalds.
McDonalds is a "major corporate partner" of the Jewish
United Fund. In its own words, the Jewish United Fund "works
to maintain American military, economic and diplomatic support
for Israel; monitors and, when necessary, responds to media coverage
of Israel." Also, McDonalds chairman and CEO Jack M. Greenberg
is a honorary director of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce
and Industry.
McDonalds has 80 resturants in israel,
providing employment to 3000 israelis.
McDonalds has just announced it is closing down its operation
in the middle east due to loss of revenue as a direct result of
the boycott (Oct 2002), and is replacing Greenberg as its chairman
and CEO (Dec 2002). Since the launch of the boycott campaign,
two of Jordan's six McDonald's franchises have closed due to lack
of business. In Egypt, McDonald's decided to change its brand
name to Manfoods this past March, in an attempt to dodge the boycott.
It had no effect and Egyptian police forces were ordered to guard
the entrances to McDonald's restaurants, after stone throwing
incidents took place. A total of 175 restaurants will be closed
at a loss of $350 million.
In the face of giants like McDonalds crumbling under the pressure
of the boycott, smaller companies are weary of supporting Israel
and are steering clear in fear of being boycotted.
Amidst calls for a boycott of Amazon.com, the internet bookstore
Amazon.com terminated its association with the Jerusalem Post
(Nov 2002). It was revealed that the Jerusalem Post was donating
its slice of the profits derived from the amazon.com partnership
to Israeli soldiers returning home after committing massacres
and other abuses of human rights on the occupied territories.
| Their advert, which appeared on most of their
pages, read "Buy Amazon.com & Support Israel".
Inundated with complaints, amazon.com severed its ties to
the Jerusalem Post, demanding they remove all the adverts
and vowed not to hand over any more profits. |
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Other companies, disgusted by Israel's treatment of the Palestinians
have themselves actively joined the boycott.
In May 2002 a 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,"
the letter said. "Your country has lost the respect of the
civilised world," it concluded.
The success of the boycott has so worried the US government and
Israel, both afraid that companies will abandon Israel, that just
last week 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 licences to those
companies found supporting the boycott - so much for democracy
and a right to choose who to do business with!
8.
Can the boycott really effect the Israeli economy?
Israel's economy is on the verge of total collapse with no sign
of recovery despite cash injections from uncle Sam. Just last
month (Oct 2002) Sharon begged Washington for $10 billion in emergency
aid. Inflation is sky rocketing - even the official figure is
over 4 times the government target. VAT has just been raised as
have fuel bills and all basic living costs like food and rents.
Unemployment is soaring and salary cuts are the order of the day.
This has resulted in a series of crippling general strikes -
the last one bringing the country to a standstill - flight in
and out of Israel had to be suspended, radio and television broadcasts
stopped and health workers only dealt with emergencies. The streets
are piling up with uncollected garbage.
Foreign investment, a life-line for the zionist state, has also
dried up. Figures reveal that investors have lost $5 billion of
the $6.5 billion invested in Israel between 1999-2001. No one
is prepared to invest any more.
The Israeli government is so short of money that its cost cutting
includes shutting down several embassies and consulates around
the world!
At this critical time, the importance of the global boycott of
Israel and of the collaborating companies that give it its life-line
cannot be overemphasised. Israel is counting every penny - every
penny matters - ensure yours don't go to Israel!
9.
Is there a printable list of the companies and brands to boycott?
Yes there is a leaflet designed for printing available for download
on the following page:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-leaflet.html
Also there is an e-card with the logos of the companies to boycott
which you can send to all your friends. Its available at the Islamic
Card Centre:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/cardcentre.html
10.
What else can I do to help?
1.
Tell Others
Its essential that others know about the boycott and specifically
which companies to boycott. Make a point of printing a 100 copies
of the leaflet mentioned above[8] and give them out in your community
- at Jummah prayers or other gatherings. Talk to people about
the boycott, with non-Muslims draw the parallels between this
boycott and the one against apartheid in South Africa.
We are grateful to the many individuals and groups around the
world who have already helped in spreading the boycott. A few
examples come to mind:
- A Muslim group in Bosnia carried out a huge poster and leaflet
campaign, with activists distributing 40,000 leaflets in Austria,
Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Yugoslavia. Their success has
drawn the attention of the zionist Simon Wiesenthal Centre [April
2002].
- Just recently [December 2002] a similar leaflet campaign advertising
our website and the boycott has been carried out in Australia
resulting in newspapers articles and tv and radio coverage - we
have been labelled as "preaching anti-globalisation"
by one paper!
- In Hong Kong a boycott advert with our website has been placed
in one of the Chinese newspapers. A reader sent us a copy.
- Crescent International have been placing, without cost to us,
boycott adverts with our web address in most issues of their paper.
They even designed the advert themselves - we only found out when
we received our copy of the paper.
- A few Muslims in Birmingham got together and paid for the printing
of 10,000 colour boycott leaflets (which they approached us to
design). The leaflets were distributed through out the UK.
- One school has seen the importance of the role of children in
keeping a family away from boycotted products, and has taken the
initiative of giving each of its 500 pupils a copy of our boycott
leaflet.
- Many Muslim and non-Muslim websites now carry our banner and
boycott news ticker.
2.
Write Letters
For a boycott to be effective, it must be followed up with a
letter writing campaign to inform the companies that we are boycotting
their products until they stop collaborating with Israel. See
our letter writing campaign page for sample letters and advise
of letter writing.
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-letter-campaign.html
3.
Picket
More and more individuals are beginning to take direct action
against companies that support Israel. On form of direct action
is to picket the guilty companies.
| Picketing is a form of public protest and aims
to draw attention to the realities of Palestinian suffering
by exposing those that help to sustain it. It embarrasses
those shoppers that know they shouldn't be shopping there,
informs those shoppers that are not aware of the moral objections
as well as irritating supporters of Israel generally. |
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The companies themselves become aware of the protests and news
of pickets goes all the way to the top. See our guide on picketing
to find out if there a picket near you and how to join it. The
guide also includes tips on setting up your own picket and legal
FAQ on what your rights are when picketing.
http://www.inminds.com/picket-page.html
4.
Other boycotts
The boycott of Israel is much more than just an economic boycott.
Support the sports and cultural boycotts. For more information
see:
Cultural Boycott:
http://www.inminds.com/cultural-boycott-of-israel.html
Sports Boycott:
http://www.inminds.com/sports-boycott-of-israel.html
Sports Boycott
in action - activists liberate the pitch!
At a recent Scotland Vs Israel
football match it was revealed
that 21 of the 22 man israeli football squad were serving soldiers,
no doubt war criminals returning from Jenin.
Related Item
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Recently Sister Sukeina of Innovative Minds gave a short
talk on the Boycott Campaign at a Muslim youth programme.
She covers some of the points mentioned above.
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