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Pressure mounts on South Africa's Woolworths to end ties with Israel

October 23, 2014 at 2:43 pm

The Palestine solidarity and human rights organisation Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South Africa) will be taking part in this month’s National Day of Action against Woolworths alongside COSATU, the ANC Youth League, the National Coalition 4 Palestine and other civil society organisations. Woolworths has come under pressure from consumers, trade unions and political parties to end its ties with Israel. In recent weeks, a growing number of public figures have come out in support of the #BoycottWoolworths campaign, including anti-Apartheid veteran Denis Goldberg, freestyle footballer Ashley Mkhize and TV actor Thato Molamu.

A successful National Day of Action against Woolworths was held on 27th September with protests, flash mobs and till jams taking place across South Africa. The company has threatened to take peaceful protesters and activists to court. It has thus far refused to meet with concerned consumers, opting instead to take an arrogant approach to members of the public who are calling on Woolworths to respect human rights for Palestinians. BDS South Africa says that it is, therefore, being “forced to intensify” its actions against Woolworths.

Modelled on and once owned by Britain’s Marks and Spencer, Woolworths is being called upon to take the lead in ethical retail business; respond to the wishes of consumers; be on the right side of history in opposing what has been termed “Israeli apartheid”; respect the international boycott of Israel; and bring to an end its 12 million Rands’ ($1.1 million) worth of trade with Israel.

According to BDS South Africa, Woolworths sources products and produce from Israeli companies including pretzels, couscous, matzos, coriander, figs, lychees, plums and mangoes. The human rights organisation Who Profits says that almost all of Israel’s agricultural companies have illegal operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Sources within Woolworths have indicated that the company is feeling the impact of the campaign in terms of PR and income.

Woolworths has been selected by BDS South Africa as the focus of its campaign in part because the company claims to be “ethical”. Campaigners argue that if that is the case then it should not trade with a country like Israel which abuses human rights and ignores international laws and conventions. “We call on Woolworths to respect the Palestinian boycott of Israel, take the lead in this respect and end its trade relations with Israel,” said a BDS South Africa spokesperson. “It should set an example for other South African retailers.”