Israeli firm to move from settlements following BDS pressure

Ahava, an Israeli cosmetics company, is to relocate its factories and offices from an illegal settlement in the occupied West Bank, Arab48.com reported on Sunday.

The company, which is currently based in the illegal settlement of Mitzpe Shalem, closed one of its shops in London in 2011 following a BDS campaign. The cost of relocating would be over 10 million Israeli shekels ($2.5 million).

BDS has been carrying out activities against Ahava in the UK, Spain, US and several other EU countries.

Affected by the boycott, Ahava closed two of its seven branches in Israel after a reduction in sales. Israeli economic newspaper The Globes said Ahava’s plan to relocate away from settlements came after it decided to expand its work abroad.