Palestinians to boycott Israeli food products - Daniel Siryoti and Shlomo Cesana

by Daniel Siryoti and Shlomo Cesana

Ramallah-backed Palestinian committee instructs grocers across West Bank cities to ban products by Tnuva, the Strauss Group, Osem, Elite, Prigat, and Jafora-Tabori as of Wednesday • Palestinian grocers decry move, warn black market may form.

A national Palestinian committee announced Monday that it has instructed stores across the West Bank to ban products by six major Israeli companies as of Wednesday. Palestinian media named Tnuva, the Strauss Group, Osem, Elite, Prigat, and Jafora-Tabori as the companies the committee seeks to boycott. 

The ban is meant as a countermeasure to Israel's decision to withhold tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. The decision to suspend the funds was made in early January following Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' application for International Criminal Court membership. 

The committee, which represents all Palestinian factions and has been endorsed by Abbas, has reportedly informed grocers in Palestinian cities across the West Bank that they must cease selling Israeli products within two weeks, and that if they are unable to unload their stock, they must return the products to their Israeli suppliers or destroy them.

A senior Ramallah source told Israel Hayom that the committee's decision was not binding, as Abbas had not issued a presidential decree to that effect. Nevertheless, the Palestinian president supports the boycott, the source said.

Palestinian grocers, however, warned that such a ban would hurt local consumers. 

"All that will happen is that a black market will develop for these products. They will be overpriced, and no tax will be paid on them. Also, anyone who can will just go to the Israeli stores in the settlements to buy them. This move can only backfire," one Palestinian grocer said.

Meanwhile, congressmen Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) and Juan Vargas (D-Calif.), have presented a bipartisan bill seeking to prevent the U.S. from pursuing trade ties with companies that boycott Israeli goods. The bill is the product of a past initiative by former Israeli Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren, who is currently vying for a Knesset seat as part of the Kulanu party.

The bill states that companies that support anti-Israel sanctions will be barred from participating in U.S. government tenders, and that the U.S. will not pursue trade and commercial ties with nations that boycott Israel or Israeli products. 

The bill also seeks to mandate any company with shares traded on U.S. stock markets to sign a full disclosure affidavit on whether it boycotts Israel in any way.

Daniel Siryoti and Shlomo Cesana

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=23431

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