Kol Yisrael radio reported yesterday that three businesses located in the settlements plan to move to an industrial park within northern Israel so as not to become caught up in the European campaign to target settlement products. The report noted that there are 70 such businesses within the current settlement industrial area which employ 5,000 workers. BDS is having an impact.
Even Israeli President Shimon Peres understands, according to Ben Caspit in Maariv, that:
Time works against us. He worries about a quickening deterioration and tightening economic boycott against Israel, the total loss [to Israel of former allies] of the Arab world, collapse of the peace process and American alienation [from Israel].
He apparently does have moments of lucidity despite his performance at Davos with Erdogan.
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- Bernard Avishai: Targeted Sanctions, Yes; Boycott and Divestment, No (themagneszionist.blogspot.com)
Sadly, it’s not just the Green Line. The blockade and war crimes against those suffering in Gaza keep me far away from Israeli products.
Perhaps, if ever, the Israeli government allows commerce in agriculture between Israel and Gaza/Palestine to continue once again, I might buy an orange.
It would take a great deal more than lifting the blockade or even stopping the war crimes to induce me to buy any product connected with Israel, and I try to educate others as well. One of my colleagues used to bring “Sabra” hummus (or should I say huhmuss) once a week to share with us, and one day I told her that this product was produced under conditions that exploited an occupied population, that I would not eat any of it, and I would appreciate if she would choose another brand. She was DEEPLY apologetic, and never brought that stuff back. I was surprised at how fervent she was in her regrets, and reassured her that she had no way of knowing unless someone like me told her. That brand is pretty mediocre huhmuss anyway, and not even remotely worth the calories.
There’s so much bad hummus in the States. There was just an article in the NYT about a Minneapolis company, HolyLand which is making flavored hummus. Disgusting. We have a local Greek restaurant which makes fabulous hummus. I unfortunately haven’t eaten hummus in an Arab country. But the hummus here runs rings around Israeli hummus. It’s been a long time since I ate in Israel & perhaps food quality is improved.
For what it’s worth, there is a breaking news banner running on Haaretz as I write this that says “Israeli exports shrank 4.5% in April and May.”
I think that’s worth quite a lot! Thanks Ilene.
Did you see that one of the Israelis appointed to the inquiry is over 90, confined to a wheel chair, and has a round the clock carer? They say he is lucid, but how would any of them be able to tell?