Ugly War: Pro-Palestinian Activists Bully Shut Israeli Beauty Shop
- Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:24am by
Sharona Schwartz
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Boycotters of Israeli products won a round after a two-year harassment campaign in London. AHAVA, the Israeli Dead Sea minerals cosmetics company, announced it closed one of its London stores this weekend.
Ynet News reports even though the shop in trendy Covent Garden attracted loyal customers, it “has also become the center of mass pro-Palestinian protests, prompting the company’s management to give in and shut it down.”
Since 2009, pro-Palestinian activists have been gathering on weekends outside the store, harassing customers and employees. The protesters allege their problem with the company is it being based in Mitzpe Shalem, what they consider “an illegal and criminal settlement in the occupied territories.” Protesters also consider the Dead Sea to be “disputed territory” even though a large swath of its shoreline is not even situated in the West Bank, rather in pre-1967 Israel.
After a window was shattered during a protest, the London Police set up barricades and positioned officers outside the shop, not exactly an inviting scene for business.
From Ynet:
“The shop wasn’t profitable,” AHAVA spokesman told Yedioth Ahronoth. “The protests damaged our image and created negative media coverage. We are a commercial company and we must conduct cost-benefit calculations.”
The paper quotes sources in London saying the store was forced to close after its landlord would not renew AHAVA’s lease. The landlord blamed the noisy protesters for bothering neighboring merchants, who say their sales were badly affected by the commotion.
“On some Saturdays it was a real nightmare being here,” says a salesman in a nearby store. “We couldn’t walk on the street because of the protests and the area looked like a scene of a terrorist attack.”
“We’ll continue protesting against any institution originating in the Occupied Territories until we remove all of them from Britain,” a source in the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said Tuesday. “Getting rid of AHAVA is just the first step.”
Anti-Israel activists from London BDS, the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign” posted photos of the boxed up inventory and AHAVA letters removed from the outdoor sign:
The BDS activists say they are part of the UK’s CODEPINK international “Stolen Beauty” campaign. They posted this text on their website, utilizing one chilling verb:
“The above images are the end result of a successful campaign to cleanse London’s Monmouth Street of Ahava, a notorious retailer of Dead Sea beauty products made from natural resources plundered from the Palestinian people and manufactured on an illegal West Bank settlement.”
It’s unclear if the protesters’ use of the word “cleanse” referred to their intentions to wipe out Israeli business entities, as in religious or ethnic “cleansing,” or was simply a play on words since AHAVA is a cosmetics company.
Despite their claim the boycott revolves around “disputed” or “occupied” territory, the pro-Palestinian activists are targeting Israeli businesses that don’t do any business in the West Bank.
Earlier this month, British pro-Palestinian activists staged a shout-down of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra during its recent London recitals, as reported in The Blaze.
The Philharmonic wasn’t fazed and continued playing. It’s faced worse challenges. During the first Gulf War, its Jerusalem audience wore gas masks as Iraqi SCUD missiles hit Israel. It also played a concert from inside a sealed bomb shelter. In 2006, the orchestra was in mid-performance in Haifa when the first missiles hit the city. Nobody left the hall.
Anti-Israel boycotters hope other businesses show less resilience. They are involved in a worldwide effort to impact both Israeli businesses and academic institutions.
Last week, the Jerusalem Post reported the British labor federation, the Trade Union Congress, reaffirmed its support of the anti-Israel boycott, saying it will “review” its relationship with its Israeli counterpart, the Histadrut.
Though one AHAVA store is now closed, a survey of Israeli boycotts by the Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot concluded the “boycott movement fails to make financial impact but damages Israel’s global image.”
Tactics have included protesters in Rome handing out avocados smeared with a red substance resembling blood to protest the Israeli produce exporter Carmel Agrexco, activists in Paris throwing Israeli products off the shelves and a London coffee shop advertising “no Israeli products are sold here.”
An extensive review conducted by the European Friends of Israel, an organization that liaises between parliamentary groups that work to protect Israeli interests, shows that activities calling for a boycott of Israel took place in almost every European nation over the past year.
And they have made strides in the UK, where the government recommended to businesses to label products made in West Bank settlements and the Golan Heights. The British supermarket chain Tesco added a special extension to its customer service lines to provide information for those wanting to boycott Israeli products. A few months later, it canceled this number after complaints from Jewish groups.
In the U.S., the boycott campaign has focused on universities; however, there are efforts to strike at business too. In 2009, radical and pro-Palestinian activists including CODEPINK pulled Israeli products off of shelves, dumping them in carts and in the aisle at Trader Joe’s in San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh and a few other cities.
The U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel says it was inspired by the historic boycott of South Africa and calls on the international community to “impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel.” Its website shows endorsements from 569 academics working in American universities.
In an effort to counter these protests, on July 11th the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning calls for boycotts. Under the law, any person or organization calling for a boycott of Israel or Israeli settlements can be sued by the targeted company without having to prove any damage. Earlier that day, Glenn Beck spoke at a Knesset hearing focused on international efforts to de-legitimize Israel and how to counter them.
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Comments (74)
Junter
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:44amAnother violent muslim protest… Sharia law is creeping, and there are signs a religious war is coming.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 11:47amJunter,
Where have you been – we are in a religious war. We are using PC terminology to down play this fact
Report Post »eg radical muslims, perverted Islam etc. We are not fighting christians – just muslims There are 1.5 billion muslims in the wold, 2.0 billion Christians and 14 million jews. of the 1.5 billion muslims it is estimated that 100 million are “radical”.
If you mean it will get worse – you are right – If the US/Israel does not take out Iran’s nuclear capability soon all hell will break loose.
jessieH
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:41amWhy not just order it, online?
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 1:28pmEngland – you are sinking fast!
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:14amHow ironic that they neighbors complained about the noise on the Sabbath.
Report Post »DTOM_Jericho (Creator vindicator)
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:56amI noticed that as well. Kinda hard to feel bad for them now.
Report Post »papabear27
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:06amWhile listening to Glenn on the radio just now, we had this idea to go to the AHAVA website and BUY some to the products! Imagine my surprise the AHAVA’s website has been overwhelmed by responses.
So here is the followup idea! Let’s go to the ISRAELI stock market and start buying Israeli stocks and supporting the Israeli economy! We can INVEST in what GOD ALMIGHTY is invested in!
LINK = http://www.tase.co.il/TASEEng/AboutTASE/Overview/
LINK = http://www.ehow.com/how_4728238_invest-israeli-stocks.html
Just my opinion, and I could be wrong!
Report Post »Vindex
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:52amJust got my latest shipment of Israeli products–AHAVA and others. Check out http://www.deadsea-mall.com. They offer free shipping to the USA on orders over $25 although it takes 14 business days.
Report Post »I buy Israeli products whenever possible.
politicaljules
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:40amWherever I stand I stand with Israel.
I support Ahava.
I reject the efforts of code pink to terrorize a peaceful nation. I reject thje efforts of palistinians to terrorize a peaceful nation.
G-d bless Israel and those that stand by her.
Report Post »Remixer
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:46amAbsolutely. We must stand with one of our only true allies. If the Palestinians actually created anything i would boycott them.
Report Post »politicaljules
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:34amI have been looking for a good skin care product and this is a G-d thing that I can support ahava. If they need distributors I would be happy to consider the business venue. We will not bow down to terrorist cowards because we surround them.
Time to support Ahava and let them know that we are with them. Here’s their U.S. website:
http://www.ahavaus.com/
Time to change my family’s buying patterns too. How about you?
Report Post »Remixer
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:56amI agree with the boycott of Israeli good. I personally think the Palestinians should have begun the boycott starting with Israeli influenced Medical saving devices.
Report Post »Uechi
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:33amRemixer let us know when you stop taking hard drugs then you might make some sense. What a friggin idiot. I never heard of Ahava but I now will buying their products. I stand with Israel and against morons like remixer.
Remixer
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:42amDid you even ready my post… Read it again.. I think you might be slow… If the Palestinians boycott Israeli medical devices they would all die…. Get it now!
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:53amGood one. lol
Report Post »Amica
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 1:30pmIt’s ok Remixer, not everyone speaks sarcasm. He read the first line and based his opinion on that. So sad!
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:40amNow the building will be used to store weapons to attack Israel.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:00amThat was probably their intent to be begin with. Or perhaps they intend to put in a mosque there so that they can claim permanent ownership of the property as muslim holy land. These cowardly rascist, communist pigs are a blight upon humanity and they insult every human being by they themselves claiming to be human. What a disgrace to them even though they think that they are disgracing others. They are just too stupid to recognize it.
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:26amAnd it begins…….
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:13am.
Report Post »Why do you need beauty products? Ya’ll run around covered up with a blanket. Maybe you should have gone in shed the blanket and let one of those sales girls put some Foo Foo on you…….
poorrichard09
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:09amWelcome to “Londonistan”-Europe is screwed.
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:50amHow cool! This campagn is legitimate and long overdue. I’m sure the tyranical zionists are looking to change laws about freedom of expression in democracies .Typical that this zionist site will dipict this as anti-semitism when in reality anti-semitism is against arabs this time. israeli settlers are violating the rights of arabs-not the other way around! Kudos for those standing up against israeli settlers.[many of whom are american -too bad they're not more motivated by love for their children and their peaceful lives in the US more then they are motivated by obstinent hateful ethnic cleansing of arabs.Shame on them!]
Report Post »Van Bones
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 12:08pmI thought I smelled a stench. It‘s Rosemary’s baby, ROSE-ELLEN.
Report Post »247Patriot
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:51amTime to support Ahava and let them know that we are with them. Here’s their U.S. website:
http://www.ahavaus.com/
Time to change my family’s buying patterns. How about you?
Report Post »aicardi
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:00amNever heard of the company but I am now one of their best customers, everybody is getting Ahava for Christmas!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:17amNope…their actions DO NOT bring me to support them more than I did! Their actions gave into the “terrorists”! Yeah, all I see here is another PC victory by the palestinian thugs :(
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:30amIf you don’t like the fact that Ahava caved to the pro-palestinian neanderthals, then support another Israeli bath/beauty company. They have great products, probably better than Ahava.
http://www.premier-deadsea.co.il/
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:21amTime to stop traveling to England.
Report Post »pbrenda51
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:27amI had never heard of the company, but will now be buying their products exclusively……going to check out what stores sell it and shop there…….we cannot allow the “useful idiots” to do this to commerce and capitalism…..
Report Post »bread and circuses
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:47amThe vast majority of US jews voted for and still support obama
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 11:41amYou are right. The key is “US Jews”. What kind of Jew this is?????..I do not know. They would vote democrat if the democrats were sending them to concentration camps.
Report Post »Lion of Judah
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 1:20pmNot true at all!!! I am a jew and I now vote Republican.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:31amPRAYING at all times, giving thanks in all things (esp. when we don’t understand why things are like they are), staying “bien pegado” to Christ’s side, preparing, staying ready, knowing GOD IS IN CHARGE we trust HIM and lean on HIM for HIS directions and “orders”. This is the battle and like all battles, it will be horrible. The everlasting good news is: Our GOD WINS.
I stand with ISRAEL and I stand with AMERICA.
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:07amInstead of building houses the Israelis should just build a huge skyscraper in the West Bank and call it a ‘multicultural center’. No reasonable person could possibly be against that, right?
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:05amLooks like the sun is setting on the British empire.
Weak inbred snobs and communists.
Report Post »thunderbolt
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:04amDo Palestinians have any businesses?
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:44amYeah, they do. Guns, bombs and drugs.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:45amOh. They are also adept at human trafficking.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:48amand most of their legit businesses are in Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Report Post »seesred
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:03amI guess pink is the new brown
Report Post »Antknee
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:51amPerhaps palestinian businesses should be boycotted in like manner?
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:03amUhhh…. what do they produce??? (Besides rockets and homicide bombers? They were given producing green houses – they were looted of their piping for the production of rockets.)
Report Post »POdVet
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:12amNot just Palestinian businesses, but ALL Muslim businesses. They are being supported by morons because they have billions to buy them. Eliminate their income, and they will quickly decide they can live with Israel, and force the Palestinians to stop being stupid. We should boycott any business with anything to do with these murdering cretins.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:46amYou boycott them with jail time and/or the barrel of a gun.
Report Post »SageInWaiting
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:50amAnd so it begins…… it ends with ALL nations massed for an invasion of Jerusalem (Zechariah). Between now and then, it gets REALLY ugly. How is YOUR relationship with your God and Maker???
Shana Tova! May HaShem bless you with a SWEET and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:40amAmen!!
Report Post »TrinkaJeff
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:49amTime to order more Ahava. The stuff is GREAT, and it’s just one more opportunity to support Israel. Thanks for the reminder pro-palestine folks.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 7:04amI have the lotion with dead sea salts. Love it!
Report Post »Philo Beddoe
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:45amIs this the same Code Pink that is here in the USA?
The same that is affiliated with SEIU, AFL-CIO and ACORN?
To all the Jews that suddenly are “inspire” by obamDUH’s speech at the U.N.:
THIS MAN DOES NOT HAVE ISRAEL’S BEST INTEREST IN MIND
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:28amCode Pink’s web site has a link to “Help Palestinians”, by suggesting ideas and a schedule for Code Pink acitvities. Check the dates and locations and show them how you really feel.
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:40amSatans continuing attack on Gods people
Report Post »black_hat_feller
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 6:34amWhat’s next, Krystallnacht II ?
Report Post »