#StopArmingIsrael

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and to get closer to God. The end of each day of fasting is marked by having iftar, the meal to end the day’s fast. Iftar usually begins by eating a date.

Unfortunately, without realising, many Muslims break their fast with an Israeli date. Breaking the fast with an Israeli date does not fit with the values of justice and fairness that Muslims try to instil within themselves during Ramadan.

Please remember to #CheckTheLabel to make sure that you’re not breaking your fast with Israeli dates. Dates labelled as from the West Bank and Jordan Valley will have been grown in illegal Israeli settlements on land stolen from Palestinians. You will be buying into the occupation and apartheid of Palestine (and that doesn’t taste good!)

Illegal Israeli settlements are a key part of Israel’s illegal occupation. Palestinians are forcibly removed from their homes or their homes are demolished. The ongoing building of these settlements violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and has been widely criticised by the UN.

As a part of the process of colonisation of Palestine, Israel takes over Palestinian land, sets up companies on that stolen land and they then employ some Palestinians who have no option but to work there since Israel has taken away the opportunity for them to work for themselves. Palestinians would rather have their land back and than have called for a boycott of Israeli goods.

What can you do?

1) When shopping this Ramadan, #CheckTheLabel on the packaging for the ‘origin of’/’produce of’ is. If it’s from Israel, the West Bank or the Jordan Valley, choose another option.  Also boycott dates from Israeli companies shown in the image below.

To confuse the customer, some Israeli brands have labelled themselves as ‘Produce of Palestine’. Our research, at present, can only verify genuine Palestinian brands: Yaffa, Zaytoun, Holy Land, Al’Ard

2) Email the Foreign Secretary urging the British government to ban trade with Israeli settlements.

The UK government repeatedly condemns Israeli settlements, but it still trades with them! The UK is Israel’s second largest market for dates – worth £28m in 2020. The average British person consumes over 20kg of dates in their lifetime – so make sure you’re not buying into occupation and apartheid.

You can email the foreign secretary above.

These simple actions are a powerful way to stand up for justice and against occupation and apartheid.

 Central Bottling Company (CBC) is an Israeli manufacturer and distributor of soft drinks, dairy products and alcoholic beverages.

Coca-Cola profits from the occupation by working with CBC which sells its drinks in Israel. CBC has a Coca-Cola factory in Atarot illegal Israeli settlement. Israeli settlements are built on land stolen from Palestinians and are illegal under international law as they violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which bans an occupying power from transferring its population to the area it occupies.

Currently, there are between 600,000 and 750,000 Israeli settlers living in at least 250 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

By having it’s Israeli franchise in an illegal settlement, Coca-Cola ignores international law and profits from the illegal occupation.

FOA is calling for Coca-Cola to cut ties with CBC.

Buying from companies which work in settlements such as Coca Cola means we as consumers are turning a blind eye to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

Here are questions we posed in 2014 when a Coca-Cola factory was opened in Gaza. These questions are completely relevant today. 

Some questions to ask Coca-Cola:

1. Where are these construction materials being purchased? We believe it’s Israel so isn’t Coca-Cola simply supporting the Israeli economy to a far greater tune than the Palestinian economy?

– Raw materials such as sugar will be purchased from Israel, thereby enriching the Israeli economy.

2. How much water is required to run the bottling plant and where will water come from?

– Palestinians in Gaza face a chronic shortage of freshwater, and rely on desalination plants. Reports from around the world show that communities living around Coca-Cola bottling plants are adversely affected by water shortages due to Coke’s demands on the water infrastructure.

– The World Bank has reported on the dire state of the water and sewage infrastructure in Gaza following Israel’s various attacks. Access to water is limited on average to 6-8 hours for 1-4 days a week for the population of Gaza.

In light of these statistics, how does Coca-Cola plan to operate its factory? And will the factory divert vital resources from Palestinian families, while drawing a profit from its products?

3. Where will the factory’ electricity supply come from?

-The only power plant in Gaza is only able to supply 30% of the population intermittently, leaving 1.2million Palestinians in darkness. Hospitals continue to run on emergency generators.

4. Will Coke be given preferential access to water and electricity, which will disadvantage Palestinian civilians and hospitals?

-The indications are that it will, and this is indicated by the passage of materials into Gaza to build the factory, while essential building materials for hospitals are barred.

5. As predicted Israel has now bombed the factory during the May 2021 bombardment on Gaza.

 What guarantees has Israel provided that it won’t bomb the Coca Cola factory? Israel has a track record of destroying businesses in Gaza. Before the blockade in 2006, 3,600 factories operated in Gaza. Now, there are less than a hundred.

– Israel bombed a biscuit factory in Gaza which employed 450 people, leaving them unemployed. Can Coca Cola guarantee that its 400 workers won’t be left in a similar position?

6. Coke’s investments in the West Bank and Gaza are dwarfed by its economic activity in Israel. At present, Coca Cola is profiting from the occupation by abiding by Israel’s occupation regime.

‘If Coca-Cola is serious about investing in the Palestinian economy, it will call for a lifting of the siege on Gaza so that its operation there can really flourish and provide Palestinians with more than jobs, but with future economic prospects – as it is doing for Israel.’ said Shamiul Joarder, Head of Public Affairs at FOA.

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