Palestine Solidarity Activists To Protest Presence of Israeli Products in Blanchardstown Centre

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Tuesday December 08, 2009 16:10 by Freda H - IPSC (pers cap) info at ipsc dot ie

On Wednesday 9th December 2009 at 6.30pm members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and concerned residents of the Dublin 15 area will hold a peaceful and unobtrusive protest against the presence of Israeli-made products in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

The activists will be highlighting two products in particular – Danbar Toys and Sea Spa beauty products – both of which are made in Israel and exported around the world.

Danbar Toys are remote control RC vehicles, some of which are based on Israeli military weapons, including a miniature Apache helicopter. They are trading in a temporary unit on the lower level of the Centre, next to the fountain.

Sea Spa sell beauty products made from Dead Sea minerals, which are produced in illegal Israeli colonial settlements in the West Bank. They are trading in the Debenhams shop in the Centre.

We are fast approaching the first anniversary of Israel’s winter attack on Gaza (Operation Cast Lead) which left over 1,400 Palestinians dead (over 400 of whom were children), thousands injured and homeless. The assault also destroyed the social and economic infrastructure of the tiny coastal strip, home to 1.5m forcibly impoverished people, who continue to exist under a brutal medieval-style siege imposed by the Israeli state.

Freda Hughes, a D15 resident and teacher who will be taking part in the protest, said: “It is disgraceful that Israeli companies who profit from Israel’s Apartheid regime and its abuse of Palestinian human rights are being allowed to trade in my local shopping centre. Particularly offensive is the availability of miniature Israeli military toys – the full sized versions of which killed over 400 children in Gaza this time last year.”

Ms. Hughes continued: “My own daughter is somewhat aware of the situation in Palestine, however many children who will enjoy playing with their new Danbar toys over Christmas will not be aware of the implicit support for Israeli policies the buying of these toys ensures. Therefore I feel that a boycott of all Israeli goods and services is the strongest step individuals can take in forcing Israel to comply with international law – of which it is clearly in breach. ”

Why a Boycott?

In the 1980s an international boycott campaign played a significant role in the defeat of the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Today, Palestinians face serious war-crimes and continual denial of their human, civil, national and political rights. Taxes and revenue from Israeli produce sold abroad contribute to the perpetuation of these injustices. The International Boycott Campaign - supported by Palestinian civil society and progressive Israelis - can help bring an end to this slaughter and force Israel to end its crimes and to comply with International Law.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

· Calls on the Irish people to boycott all Israeli goods and services.

· Appeals to Irish companies not to trade with or invest in Israel, or to engage in contracts with Israeli companies.

· Appeals to the Irish government to cease its purchase of Israeli military products and services, to call publicly for an international arms embargo against Israel, to demand publicly that Israel reverse its illegal occupation, annexation and settlement of Palestinian land in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and to demand publicly that the Euro-Med Agreement under which Israel has privileged access to the EU market be suspended until Israel complies with international law.

To find out more about, get involved in, or donate to the IPSC, please see our website at http://www.ipsc.ie

ENDS