Boycotting For Gaza

One of the ways in which we at student level in a European country could help out is by boycott Israel products and brands that help boost its economy over the past decades.

Sheikh Yusuf Qardawi

“Each riyal, dirham …etc. used to buy their goods eventually becomes bullets to be fired at the hearts of brothers and children in Palestine. For this reason, it is an obligation not to help them (the enemies of Islam) by buying their goods. To buy their goods is to support tyranny, oppression and aggression.”

With the fashion show that targets women, ladies, sisters, mothers aunts or at least those who will be these group of people in the future

“Our sisters and daughters, who control the houses, have a role to play in this matter, which may be more important than the role of the man, because women supervise the needs of the house, and buy what must go inside the house. She is on hand to guide the boys and girls. She plants the Jihadic spirit in the children, and educates them in what they must do for their Ummah and its causes, and what they must do to the Ummah’s enemies, especially in the area of boycott. When the children understand this they will carry on the boycott enthusiastically, and later will lead the parents.”

We hope that the fashion show will promote the boycotting of famous but unknown to public of brands and most importantly designer labels that have been supporting Israelian economy until what it has become today strong and sustaining its occupation in Palestinian land

Examples of brands and designer labels

(Source: http://www.inminds.com/boycott-brands.html)

With the daily massacre of Palestinians occurring before the eyes of the world, the need for a coordinated boycott has never been stronger. The boycott of Israeli products and companies supporting the colonial state is about you and other ordinary people around the world using your consumer power to help bring about an end to the oppression in Palestine. Boycotting Israel is a peaceful means of putting international pressure on the colonial state. History has shown us that Boycotts can be successful if carried out successfully. The successful boycott against South Africa was one of the key factors that led to the collapse of racist apartheid in the country.

There are of course many dimensions and facets to a boycott. During apartheid South Africa the successful boycott included everything from companies to academics. Very few of us have the power to boycott everything that provides support to apartheid Israel. Nonetheless, we all have the power to spend our money where we please. Our boycott is thus directed at all companies that continue to support the colonial occupation of Palestine.

The ‘Boycott Israeli Apartheid’ Campaign will only be as successful as you make it. Whilst it is easy for one to lose hope and underestimate his/her individual consumer power, together we can be a real force for change. Trade Unions around the world, including the UK’s biggest trade union UNISON, with its 1.4 million members, have called for a boycott of all Israeli goods.

Quite simply, companies rely on revenue from customers for profit. The fewer customers they receive, the less profit they will make. It really is that simple. These very companies we aim to boycott prop up the Israeli economy and thus fund the entities war machine. Quite simply a strong Israeli economy translates into a strong Israel. The greater the number of individuals like yourself partake in this boycott, the more effective it ill be. Christian organisations such as Christian Aid have also joined the boycott, demanding an end to trade agreements between the European Union and Israel.

In the past many have argued that partaking in the boycott is pointless, as we contribute to the Israeli economy as British taxpayers. Whilst unfortunately this is true, and provides evidence of the West’s blind and total support for their colonial offspring, it should not be an excuse for us not to do anything. Many of the companies we will target have been honoured in recognition of their key support for the Zionist State. If we can successfully campaign against the large companies then the support of smaller companies for Colonial Israel will, God Willing, dissolve.

With the daily massacre of Palestinians occurring before our very eyes, the importance of a coordinated boycott cannot be overemphasised. Next time you spend your money, THINK!