Buycott vs Boycott

StandWithUs and the America-Israel Chambers of Commerce have declared November 30 to be Buy Israeli Goods day. 

“On Tuesday, November 30, anti-Israel activists in New York City plan to demonstrate and call for boycotts of stores that sell Israeli products.  Their target is Ricky’s because it carries Ahava goods.  But this action in New York is just one of many.  Boycotters have been energetically lobbying other stores across the country and in Europe to drop Israeli products, from local co-ops to Costco and Trader Joe’s.” (Link: www.standwithus.com/app/iNews/view_n.asp?ID=1665)

Anyone who supports Israel’s right to exist can make a difference in their economic and political survival by shopping at these targeted stores or by taking a moment to send a supportive comment to the companies. Here are some contacts just to say: ‘Please keep Israeli products on your shelves!’

www.costco.ca/Service/FeaturePageLeftNav.aspx?ProductNo=10045080&topnav=&whse=BCCA⟨=en-CA

www.traderjoes.com/about/general-feedback-form.asp

www.ahavaus.com/site/privacy.html

www.standwithus.com/BDS/

Why support Israeli products? We are now witnessing a time in our history where global communications play an immediate and major role in influencing public opinion; and access to the world stage is made easy for anyone with a computer. As a result, a few can affect the many in just one moment, often with dangerously twisted information or half-truths. The Anti-Israeli/Pro-Palestinian crusades are being advanced this way by radical groups who are skilled at using the technology, misinformation and intimidation as ‘peaceful weapons of war’.

This is evident in the networking ability of small radical Pro-Palestinian groups who combine with other small radical Pro-Palestinian groups and unite under the umbrella of a larger organization. For example, the Palestinian BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions) Campaigns that are bringing together groups like ‘Palestinian Solidarity Campaign’ (PSC), ‘CodePink’, ‘BrooklynFor Peace’ to boycott stores that sell Ahava products from the Dead Sea, as well as Trader Joes and Costco who sell Israeli food products.

Then there is the ‘banner’ Pro-Palestinian organization ‘USToGaza’ that is rallying different groups to endorse and raise money to send a US Boat to Gaza to break the Israeli blockade. And let’s add to the list the ‘War on Want,’ a British charity that is currently waging a ‘peaceful war’ against Israel’s largest telecommunications group, Bezeq by trying to force BT Group to end their alliance.

We should also look at how some Middle Eastern governments are attempting to reinterpret biblical history, site by site, with the goal to discredit Israel’s right to exist.  This rewritten declaration of historical rights is quickly seized upon and propagandized thru mass communication. Historical Jewish sites like ‘Rachel’s Tomb’ and ‘The Western Wall’ are now being claimed to originally be part of Muslim mosques, and East Jerusalem is being called a ‘settlement.’ These claims are fodder for radical leaders to use as Pro-Palestinian propaganda around the region and to influence global public sentiment.

Although the Palestinian government does not publicly support these groups, they certainly endorse the concept and methods that are used. The facts are that over the past years, these combined attacks are gaining enough of a voice that they now have raised the awareness of the Israeli government and some Pro-Israeli supporters. Besides the Israeli government writing laws against these actions, to date there has only been a few groups of counter-protestors or community and corporate leaders speaking out against these extremist groups. These Anti-Israeli actions, which are usually dismissed by most people as foolish theatrics, is becoming more than that. The disruptions to businesses, the demands on corporations, the protests against governments with Israeli relationships, and the actions against individuals supporting Israel are all weapons of ‘peaceful intimidation.’

And let us not forget to mention the hate crimes in the US and the increase against Jews around the world. This year’s documentation shows that of the over 1500 reported hated crimes, under 7% have been against Muslims while over 67% were against Jews.

These mounting attempts at targeting Israel and Jews will continue to have impact as long as people who do not support these bullying tactics remain silent, or dismiss them as foolishness, not to be taken seriously. Contrary to the silence is the need for more involvement: more public outrage against these threats to Israel’s right to exist; more leaders and individuals to speak out and make calls to show their support to the companies and shops that refuse to bend to these radical demands; more public knowledge of historical facts and the exposure of recent archeological finds from the region; more Pro-Israeli groups uniting with ‘buycott’ campaigns; and more people to plan a visit to Israel.

Just don’t remain silent! Let November 30th be the beginning of a global ‘buycott’ for Israel.