Boycott Israeli Potatoes

In South Africa, an international boycott played a significant role in ending apartheid. You can help defeat the brutal apartheid system that Israel is imposing on the Palestinians.

We think of the common potato as being part of Irish history. We may imagine that all potatoes sold in Irish shops are grown in Ireland. However, many Irish shops and supermarkets, including Dunnes Stores, Tesco and Marks & Spencer sell Israeli Potatoes, rather than Irish spuds. The profits from, and taxes imposed on, these goods help Israel to maintain and expand its 41-year old illegal occupation of Palestine. For example, the largest exporter of fruit and veg, Carmel-Agrexco, is half owned by the Israeli State.

On top of this, often the potatoes are grown by illegal settlers using stolen Palestinian water – many precious West Bank water aquifers are under Israeli military control with Israel deciding who gets the water, and when. Israeli settlements in the West Bank never face water shortages while it is an all too common feature for Palestinains despite water coming from exactly the same sources.

To add insult to injury – along with orchards and olive groves – Palestinian arable agricultural lands are often targets of destruction by both the Israeli military and illegal settlers. In addition those Palestinians trying to export perishable good regularly face obstacles and/or the destruction of their produce by the occupation forces.

Almost all ‘organic potatoes’ on sale in Irish supermarkets at this time of year are from Israel and the IPSC asks you – as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people – not to purchase them and to complain to the management about their continued presence on Irish shelves. You should also be on the look out for out of season New Potatoes which are also usually of Israeli origin.

Reports & Photos from previous boycott events:

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83825
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83517
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83318