Today: September 10, 2010

 

Buycotting Israel

Posted: Tue 24th November 2009 2.15 PM  | Author: Sam Hailes

Anti-Israel activists in Canada will be celebrating the United Nations' International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People this Saturday by picketing the country's MEC stores (Mountain Equipment Co-op), a 2.9 million member strong retail cooperative, that sells outdoor gear and clothing. But supporters of Israel are hitting back with increased efforts to promote a "buy-cott" of Israeli goods.

Each year, groups in Canada target a different business that buys from Israel. The groups, under an umbrella organization called the "Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign," have targeted MEC this year because some of the products it sells are made in Israel, by a company called Source Vagabond.

The Canada- Israel committee has set up the Buycott Israel campaign to "support Israel by encouraging the purchase of products and services from Israel"

In one recent incident in Toronto, the group says, anti-Israel groups began a campaign against Israeli wines before Passover. In response, the group said, "the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto led the way in a Buy-cott drive to purchase as much Israeli wine as possible. E-mails were sent out to thousands and the pro-Israel community mobilized to counter the boycott, with their wallets and purses. The result? Within half an hour, the liquor store at which the protestors called for a boycott was completely sold out of Israeli wine."

The group has also reported on similar successes globally. For more click here.

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