Report on IPSC Protest Against Presence of Israeli Products in Blanchardstown

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Wednesday December 09, 2009 22:04

by Freda H and Ronan O'D - IPSC (personal capacity)

On Wednesday 9th December 2009 at 6.30pm members of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and concerned residents of the Dublin 15 area held a peaceful protest against the presence of Israeli-made products in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre despite dreadful weather conditions

Some of the protesters outside the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

On Wednesday 9th December 2009 at 6.30pm members of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and concerned residents of the Dublin 15 area held a peaceful protest against the presence of Israeli-made products in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre despite dreadful weather conditions

The group comprised of local residents, some of whom were originally from Palestine, ISPC members, Anti-War Ireland members and students from NUI Maynooth. They highlighted two products in particular – Danbar toys and Sea Spa beauty products – both of which are made in Israel and exported around the world. Many passersby were aware of the Israeli goods being sold in the Blanchardstown Centre and commended the participants on their action. Some took time out of their evening to join the protest and others expressed their commitment to boycott the two companies which were the feature of the action.

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 are 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.

Freda Hughes, a D15 resident and teacher who was one of the organisers of 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 parents who buy their children Danbar toys over Christmas will not be aware of the implicit support for Israeli policies that results from buying these toys. Therefore I feel that a boycott of all Israeli goods and services is the strongest step individuals and organisations can take in forcing Israel to comply with international law – of which it is clearly in breach.”

Local woman Angela El Kadi spoke of the agressive response she recieved when she asked Sea Spa staff, who are trading in Debenhams, about the origins of the beauty products they sold. “One member of staff in particular became very hostile and accused me of being an uneducated Irish woman. He then went on to verbally degrade the Palestinian people and deny the existence of Palestine itself.”

Ms. El Kadi continued, “There is nothing beautiful about the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. I will encourage my friends and family to boycott Sea Spa beauty products”.

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.

As we reach the end of 2009, 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. We must remember that this is just one element of the unjust and ongoing Israeli Occupation of Palestine.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Calls on Irish people to contact Blanchardstown Shopping Centre management on +353 (0)1 8221356 or by email info@greenpropertyltd.com requesting that the trading licence of Danbar Toys and Sea Spa beauty products is revoked.

Calls on Irish people to not only refuse to buy Danbar Toys and Sea Spa Dead Sea beauty products, but to ask their friends and family to do likewise.

Calls on 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