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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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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
Sports Boycott
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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