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Boycott of Israeli and US companies gaining momentum
The Muslim News
By Shatha Khalil and Abdul Adil
Issue 158
28 June 2002
Throughout the world campaigns calling for the boycott of Israeli goods are
gaining momentum. The boycott is growing in the Muslim world where not only
Israeli goods, companies who support Israel are targeted, but US giants like
Starbucks and Pepsi have also been affected. Israeli academics and artists are
also being boycotted in the Western world
The campaign to boycott Israeli goods is “perceived to be a way to hit back at
‘the Zionist state’ and those governments perceived to be its main backers”
explains Africa Analysis (May 3).
In Lebanon, the religious leader Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah issued a
fatwa on this subject: “All American and Israeli goods and products should be
boycotted in a way that undermines American and Israeli interests so as to act
as deterrence to their war against Muslims and Islam that is being waged under
the pretence of fighting terrorism. This boycott should become an overwhelming
trend that makes these two states feel that their economies are in a real and
actual danger.” Shaykh Yusuf al-Qardawi has also issued a fatwa calling for the
boycotting of Israeli and American products and companies.
The Egyptian Agricultural Professions’ Trade Union (EGTU) has also backed the
campaign. It is boycotting all Israeli agricultural co-operation, production
and fertilisers and aims to take disciplinary action against anyone not
enforcing the boycott.
Further to the actions of the EGTU, consumer power in Egypt has forced J
Sainsbury to pull out of its Egyptian operations after two years. The
Supermarket, which denies any involvement with Israel, is to sell its 100
supermarkets and neighbourhood stores in the greater Cairo area to its minority
local partner, subject to regulatory approval.
Many department stores in Britain last year yielded to the pressure of the
boycott lobby and temporarily removed goods made by Israel from their shops,
however these policies have been short-lived. Selfridges, which had seen weekly
pickets held outside its doors, withdrew goods produced in the illegal
settlements in the Occupied Territories over the Christmas period; however,
they returned them a fortnight later after protests from Jewish customers. The
Store later told The Muslim News: “We do not feel we can take sides in this
political issue.”
Harrods, the largest department store in London, whose owner is the Egyptian
Muhammad Al Fayed, also removed products made in the Occupied Territories;
however, they were re-instated a week later. Instead the store has adopted a
sticker policy informing people where products are made. “By giving our
customers this extra information, we are allowing them to make a more
considered purchase based on their own beliefs and philosophy,” justified Peter
Willasey, the Communications Head of Harrods, to The Muslim News.
American multi-national companies have been greatly affected by the boycott
campaign, many have seen their sales fall by between 20 and 50 percent since
the second intifadah, 19 months ago. Many have tried to win back customers by
offering to donate 20 percent of their profits to Palestinian orphans, while
also advertising in local newspapers and television channels saying the boycott
campaign is hurting local workers. Many have simply denied any connection to or
funding of Israel or its actions.
“Coca-Cola, which has served the Israeli market for 30 years, refused to abide
by the Arab League economic boycott of Israel (which lasted until 1991). For
decades, this cost Coca-Cola the opportunity to sell its products in Arab
countries,” explained The Southern Shofar, the Jewish newspaper of Alabama.
Coca Cola and its Chairman Roberto Goizueta was honoured by the Economic
Mission at the Israel Trade Award Dinner.
However, the Company denies any such involvement, a spokesperson told The
Muslim News: “The Coca-Cola Company does not support political or religious
causes and does not take a stance on issues that do not directly affect the
soft drink industry. We cannot and do not take the side of one country over
another in any dispute.”
Other multi-national companies have also hit back against allegations of
economic support. Marks and Spencer, who supports Israel with $233 million in
trade every year (Jerusalem Report, June 5, 2000), and sells $240 million worth
of Israeli exports annually, told The Muslim News: “People are free to buy
merchandise from anywhere, however the benefit from buying from us is that we
clearly label the origin of the product, allowing people to make an informed
decision.”
In a book on Marks and Spencer, Lord Marcus Sieff - long time Chairman of Marks
and Spencer - wrote that one of the fundamental objectives of Marks and Spencer
is to aid the economic development of Israel (Management: The Marks & Spencer
Way, Weidenfield & Nicolson, 1990).
In 1998, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, of Nestlé, received the Jubilee Award by the
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. This is the highest tribute ever awarded by
the State of Israel in recognition of those individuals and organizations that,
through their investments and trade relationships, have done the most to
strengthen the Israeli economy. Nestle has bought a controlling share in the
Israeli firm Osem, allowing Nestle to sell its products in Israel, including
Nescafe, Perrier, Carnation, Smarties and Kitkat. In a recent report to
investors, Osem-Nestle announced a four-monthly profit of £5.1m (Independent,
June 14).
Nestlé, which has already been subjected to criticism over its dealings with
newborn mothers in the developing world and its promotion of its baby milk
products, including Nido, is now the subject of further fury, with regards its
trade with Israel. In its defence a spokesperson told The Muslim News: “We
invest in Israel as we do in any other country.
Nestlé is a commercial company; we do not make economic decisions based on
political grounds. We want to keep up with the global market as do our
competitors.”
The US companies which are taking the brunt of the boycott in the Muslim world
include Nestle, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Burger King, Starbucks shops,
Kentucky Fried Chicken. Earlier this month, Proctor and Gamble had decided to
close down its factory in Yemen after a media campaign alleging its support for
Israel. However, the Company said the closure was due to downturn of the
economy.
Goods produced by Israel can be identified by their bar codes, which start with
729, while American goods’ bar codes start with 00 all the way to 09.
Many Palestinian, Muslim and other organizations, including the Scottish TUC,
back the campaign.
Additional reporting Sadiqa Abdulla
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-----------------------------------------------------
Lets we 1.6 Billion Muslims, Boycott American and Israeli products and slap
their economy.
Forward this message to as many Muslims as possible
Try to print this article in your local Islamic Magazines.
(For list of American and Israeli companies in your country, visit
www.google.com)
Statistics of the Palestinian losses during 29/9/2000 to 31/7/2004 in Israeli
attack:
No. of Palestinian children(below 18 years) killed: 643
No. of killed females: 239
Total No. of killed people: 3473
Total No. of wounded Palestinians: 41,424
No. of houses completely demolished: 6,757
No. of houses partially demolished: 59,107
(For statistics of children, females and total no. of people killed, in
Palestine, and other parts of the world, visit www.google.com)
Lets we 1.6 Billion Muslims, Boycott American and Israeli products and slap
their economy.
VIEW THIS IMAGES WITHOUT FAIL
Forward this IMAGES AND MESSAGE to as many Muslims as possible, through yahoo
group email, gmail group email, Islamic magazines, etc.
Forward this message to as many Muslims as possible
Try to print this article in your local Islamic Magazines.
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