NGO report ties Oxfam to designated terror organization
A newly-released report by Shurat HaDin, an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO), accuses Oxfam, a British NGO that is supported by a number of sovereign governments around the world, of having ties with the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which has been designated a terror organization in the United States, Britain and the European Union. Oxfam loudly
fired actress Scarlett Johansson as their spokesperson in January after Johansson took a position as spokesperson for SodaStream, an Israeli company that maintains a factory in Maaleh Adumim, which is in Judea.
For both political and propaganda reasons,
many terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas have
operated social service branches since their inception. The
PFLP has done the same for decades.
Oxfam has strong connections to two of these organizations:
The Union of Health Workers Committees (UHWC), which
provides medical services; and the Union of Agricultural
Workers Committees (UAWC), which deals with land ownership and agricultural issues. The UHWC and the UAWC deny
any connections to the PFLP. In the past, however, both have
acknowledged that they were founded as part of the PFLP and
share personnel with the terrorist group. There is, we believe,
conclusive evidence that they remain branches of their parent
organization, despite attempts to conceal these ties.
Oxfam’s connections to UHWC and UAWC have been publicly
acknowledged by the NGO. Oxfam has described both groups
as “partners” in its activities in both Gaza and the West Bank,
and proudly stated that Oxfam works “very closely” with them.
This closeness was recently reaffirmed by the signing of a new
agreement under which Oxfam pledged to continue funding
the UHWC. Oxfam has also issued many press releases and
calls for action that endorse both groups and even solicit
publicity for them.
A press release issued in 2008, for example, cited “Al-Awda
hospital in Jabaliya, run by
Oxfam’s partner,
the Union of
Health
Work Committees” (emphasis ours). More recently, a 2012
“media
advisory” regarding health issues in Gaza stated, “Oxfam’s
partner
UAWC is working to get emergency assistance to
those most at
risk. UAWC is available for interviews in English” (emphasis ours).
...
The group acknowledges 17 individual branches, coordinated
by the organization’s International Secretariat. Its branches
“are based in: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Quebec, Spain and the United
States” as well as “advocacy offices” in “Brussels, Geneva, New
York, Washington DC and Brasilia.”
Since 1942, Oxfam has risen from a small, single-issue
organization to one of the largest, wealthiest, and most
influential NGOs in the world. According to its
2013 annual
report
, Oxfam enjoyed revenues last year of almost a
billion
Euros, the lion’s share of which comes from “institutional
fundraising,” the UN, the EU, and other governments. Although
it bills itself as a charity and often requests personal donations
,
only 40 percent of its revenue comes from “public fundraising.”
...
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian nationalist organization based on communist ideology.
It has engaged in terrorism since its inception. Formed in 1967
following the Six Day War, it quickly became one of the largest
parties in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and
has attracted both violently militant terrorists and a strong
intellectual following among both Arabs and the European
extreme Left. Throughout its history, it has consistently
rejected Israel’s right to exist and advocated its replacement
with an Arab state. Although it has sporadically supported negotiations with Israel, it
currently opposes talks or a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
Read the whole thing.
I'm shocked.... Just totally shocked.... (NOT).
By the way, I had forgotten, but Scarlett Johansson was not the first spokesperson fired by Oxfam for ties to a company in Israel. That honor goes to
Sex in the City's
Kirstin Davis.
And the picture at the top of this post? It's an Oxfam billboard from the baggage claim area at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. Haven't been there recently, but a friend snapped the picture last week.
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, designated terror organization, Oxfam, PFLP-GC, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Scarlet Johansson, Shurat HaDin, SodaStream
London Museum of Natural History tells BDS'ers to buzz off
On Wednesday, I reported that the London Museum of Natural History is under pressure to boycott a research project that includes Israel's
Ahava Cosmetics company. If any of you are visiting London in the near future, you should go to the museum and thank them for having the courage to stand up to the BDS movement. In fact, you might want to give each museum employee an Ahava cosmetic product. The Museum has
told the BDS'ers to buzz off.
On Thursday, Prof. Ian Owens, the museum’s director of science, said that the museum will not heed to any boycott calls and that it is dedicated to expanding and sharing knowledge. Academic freedom is an important principle in pursuing this goal, he said.
“In this respect we are in broad alignment with the wider UK academic community. We work within the legal and policy boundaries established by politicians and policy makers, and would not participate in any academic or educational boycotts that could restrict academic freedom,” he said.
...
The museum’s project involves 11 partners, including Imperial College London and King’s College, and goes through a European Union funded project called NanoRetox.
It is a four year collaboration with a budget of 300,000 euros. However the collaboration began in 2008 and will be completed at the end of 2012.
The Museum is lead partner in the project, which is working to identify the potential risks posed by engineered nanomaterial to the environment and human health.
Owens said that this is an area of scientific interest because, although nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of modern life, there are concerns about its potential for harming humans and the environment.
“To carry out this work we have assembled a team of experts from across the EU and the US whose combined expertise can address the toxicity of nanoparticles in a systematic way,” Owens said.
The director of science said that Ahava/Dead Sea Laboratories have proven to be an expert in this area and approved as a partner by the European Commission.
“When our research leaders were putting together the NanoReTox project they were missing expertise in specific nanoparticle techniques and analysis. Ahava DSL, who are based in Israel and have activities in the Occupied Territories, were found to offer this expertise through the EC research partner-finding scheme.
“As with our other collaborators on this project, the EC approved Ahava DSL as a partner when the contract was issued to the Natural History Museum. NanoRetox is funded by the EC within the Seventh Framework Program (FP7),” he said.
Owens said that two other UK-based organizations are also involved with Ahava DSL in two other FP7 projects.
Good for them!
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, BDS, Londonistan
Academic freedom with love
The Ahava cosmetics company is being targeted in England again. This time, it is only indirect. The London Museum of Natural History has come under fire for
partnering with Ahava to study nanoparticles.
More than a dozen scientists, some from leading British universities, wrote an open letter with film-makers Mike Leigh and Ken Loach calling on the Natural History Museum in London to stop working with Israel's Ahava, which makes skincare products from Dead Sea minerals.
The group said Ahava works on Israeli-occupied land on the West Bank, "where it extracts, processes and exports Palestinian resources to generate profits that fund an illegal settlement."
The company denies that claim and says it takes minerals from Israeli waters.
Ahava is based in Israel but has a center in Mitzpe Shalem, an Israeli settlement close to the shores of the Dead Sea.
...
London's Natural History Museum is a lead partner in the four-year study, funded by the European Commission, into nanomaterials, substances at the atomic scale which are used in a range of industries.
The project, called NanoReTox, aims to identify potential risks to the environment and human health posed by the tiny man-made materials.
Ahava and nine other research bodies are also taking part, including the United States Geological Survey, Kings College London and Imperial College London.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners have previously targeted shops around the world that sell Ahava's skin products.
The Natural History Museum's Director of Science Professor Ian Owens said Ahava were experts in the analysis of nano-particles and had been approved as a partner by the European Commission.
"We work within the legal and policy boundaries established by politicians and policymakers, and would not participate in any academic or educational boycotts that could restrict academic freedom," Owens said in a statement.
These people seem to be willing to kill themselves to avoid working with Israeli companies. Sometimes, I wish they would.
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, BDS, Londonistan
Ahava closing up shop in London
The Ahava cosmetics company has
closed up shop in Covent Garden, in the center of London's theater district.
Owners of the surrounding stores in Seven Dials complained to the landlord Shaftesbury PLC that the repeated protests were affecting their business. A pro-Israeli group also held fortnightly counter- demonstrations, which attracted renewed controversy when members of the English Defence League turned up, unasked, and joined in the demonstrations in support of Ahava.
Shaftesbury PLC eventually refused to renew Ahava's lease.
Lawyer Anthony Julius of Mishcon de Reya, who is also chairman of the JC, confirmed that he had held preliminary discussions with Ahava about trying to seek an injunction against the protests, but he said that the company did not follow through.
It had been thought that the store would seek new premises in north London, but Ms Haroush now says they have no concrete plans to do so, despite telling the JC in March that it was very important to the Israeli company to have a presence in the UK. "It's not just about making money," she said.
Jonathan Hoffman, co-vice chair of the Zionist Federation, has led counter-demonstrations in support of the shop every fortnight for the last 15 months.
He said: "The closure of the shop is very bad news but it has to be said that Ahava has done little to help itself in the face of a sustained campaign of hate against it. Neither has there been any support from politicians for a legitimate business, which was hounded out of London, as if it were Berlin in the 1930s.
"The aim of the delegitimisers in the UK is nothing less than a complete eradication of Israeli-owned businesses and Israelis."
One has to wonder why the company gave up. Unfortunately, the way the company folded in London has led to
other attacks on it (Hat Tip:
Will). Yes, from the same crew that worried about
animal casualties from 'Palestinian' terror attacks but could not care less about humans.
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, Londonistan
Ripping BDS in Australia
Here's a great editorial from the Australian
condemning the tactics of BDS protesters against Max Brenner Chocolates in Melbourne.
The BDS movement has every right to express its point of view but for any student of 20th-century history there is something deeply offensive about targeting a Jewish-owned business. Last month's protests outside the Melbourne Max Brenner store led to 19 arrests. Australians are overwhelmingly uncomfortable about such tactics, whatever their views about a Palestinian state.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
The BDS movement has surely lost its bearings when it likens this ridiculous protest to the actions of those who supported anti-apartheid boycotts against South Africa. Imposing internationally-backed sanctions against a rogue, racist state is one thing.
The right of Melburnians to enjoy a fine cup of chocolate without running the gauntlet of a righteous, threatening mob is quite another.
Indeed.
Will others speak out against the offensiveness of BDS? How come no one came to the defense of
Ahava in London?
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, BDS, Londonistan, Max Brenner, Melbourne
Ahava forced to move out of swanky London neighborhood
Pro-'Palestinian' thugs have forced the Ahava cosmetics store to
move out of London's swanky Covent Garden neighborhood.
The owner of the shop, currently in Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, is looking for other sites after owners of neighbouring stores complained to the landlord following protests.
Supporters claim it has been "chased out" of its location by regular "noisy and intimidating" demonstrations.
A spokeswoman for Shaftesbury PLC, which owns the property as well as several others in the Seven Dials area, said: "When Ahava's lease expires in September, we will not offer them a new one."
Pro-Palestinian protesters have been demonstrating fortnightly outside the shop, which opened in April 2007, for more than two years. A counter group of pro-Israeli supporters also demonstrate outside.
Police were drafted in to control the protests and set up a meeting last October between the protesters and other shop managers.
Last week, four demonstrators stood trial for aggravated trespass after they chained themselves to a concrete block inside the store last year.
Colin George, manager of clothes shop The Loft, next door to Ahava, said: "I'm pleased Ahava is leaving. It's brought the street down. I've complained to the landlords, as has everyone here. Everyone would like them to leave. I wish they had left two years ago.
"Protesters are just going to follow them around, wherever they go. Maybe they should be an online business instead."
...
Richard Millett, who attends the counter-demonstrations, said: "Maybe the neighbours could have had a more positive role and spoken to the protesters, rather than take it out on Ahava.
"It's sad that this country will allow a lawfully trading shop to be chased out because of the politics of people who disagree with Israel's basic existence."
Isn't it great how commerce is free in Britain? What could go wrong?
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, British anti-Semitism, Londonistan
Boston Buycott a huge success
Last Thursday, I told you about a Buycott Israel event in Boston that was meant to counter an anti-Israel shutdown of an Ahava cosmetics store. I asked that those who could please support the buycott. Now, I am pleased to tell you that the Buycott was a huge success (Hat Tip:
Lance K via email).
Dec. 13, 2010
Dear Fred,
We're pleased to report another BUYcott Israel success story! Ahava products sold out at Lord and Taylor in Boston this weekend.
Congratulations to Israel supporters in Boston and across the U.S. who participated in this BUYcott Israel event. BDS fails...again!
Sara Saber-Freedman
Executive Vice President, Canada-Israel Committee,
for the BUYcott Israel Team
Great news!
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, Boston, boycott divest sanction, Buycott Israel, Lord and Taylor
Buycott alert for Boston
There's a buycott of Ahava products taking place in Boston on Thursday (Hat Tip:
Lance K).
Code Pink is organizing a boycott of Israeli products at Lord & Taylor (760 Boylston St, Boston, MA) this Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010, 1:00 - 2:00 pm. The boycott is aimed at Ahava products. Please join AJC Boston for a BUYCOTT.
Hurry down to Lord & Taylor at any point this week or meet up with AJC Boston TOMORROW, Thursday, December 9th at 1:00 p.m. to buy as many Ahava products as you can - it's great for gifts! Please let us know if you plan to join us by emailing Boston@ajc.org.
“Our collective response to the haters of Israel is to shop,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris, who led a large Buycott group to Ricky’s, a store in New York’s Union Square, last week. Major retailers across the country have been subjected to protests by the anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement.
“Hanukkah, when we celebrate our freedom as Jews, is the perfect time to show our support for Israel by purchasing Israeli products,” said Harris. “We need to speak out and act. Shopping for Israel is the right thing to do."
"By the way, I can't help but wonder if the anti-Israel boycotters, for consistency's sake, also ensure before using their computers and cell phones, or seeking life-saving medical care, that there are no Israeli products or innovations involved,” Harris said.
Hundreds of AJC activists across the country, including in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, among other locations, continue to organize groups to visit Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other stores to buy Israeli products.
“This is a dynamic demonstration of solidarity with Israel,” said Harris. “But this is not a one-day event. Our commitment to buy from Israel is ongoing, as part of our global effort to mobilize support and understanding for the Jewish state.”
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, Boston, boycott divest sanction, Buycott Israel, Lord and Taylor
Massive buycott day November 30 in New York City and elsewhere
An organized campaign to
buy Israeli products is planned for the New York City area and anyplace else you are located next Tuesday, November 30.
On Tuesday, November 30, anti-Israel activists in New York City plan to demonstrate and call for boycotts of stores that sell Israeli products. Their target is Ricky's because it carries Ahava goods. But this action in New York is just one of many. Boycotters have been energetically lobbying other stores across the country to drop Israeli products, from local co-ops to Costco and Trader Joe's.
The pro-Israel, pro-peace community urges you to join a counter campaign. We are making November 30 a BIG (Buy Israeli Goods) Day. Let us show anyone that calls for boycotts of even one or two stores, that it will always be met with a much larger counter-movement to buy Israeli goods.
StandWithUs and the America-Israel Chambers of Commerce calls on schools, college campuses, synagogues, community organizations, and individuals to designate Tuesday, November 30, as the day to actively Buy Israeli Goods. Go to your local stores and request Israeli products. Whenever a boycott is called, respond by purchasing the very Israeli goods that are being targeted and let store managers know they should keep them well-stocked on the shelves.
The holiday season is fast approaching. When you go holiday shopping, choose presents from the wonderful array of Israeli-made items, from fine Israeli wines to the high quality Ahava beauty products, Israeli jewelry, shoes and clothing lines, and of course, food. Select Sabra or Tribe hummus, great Israeli wines and Osem cookies to grace your holiday party.
We must defeat the boycotters who advocate destructive instead of constructive measures, who undermine hopes for peaceful co-existence, and whose only goal is to defame, cripple and damage Israel.
We can defeat them if we join together. The very date, November 30th, should encourage us. It comes the day after the 53rd anniversary of the UN Partition Resolution when the effort, against all odds, to restore the Jewish State was endorsed and recognized by the international community. It also comes just as Hannukah is approaching when we celebrate the Maccabees who also restored Jewish independence, and who were a few who triumphed over the many. We can do the same, and shine a light on Israel for all people of good will.
On November 30th, go shopping for Israel no matter where you live. Buy for Israel. Buy for peace. Be a big part of this BIG (Buy Israeli Goods) Day.
Continue reading
here.
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, Buycott Israel, Osem foods
Ahava store in London shut down again
The Ahava cosmetics store in London's Covent Garden district (near the theater district if I recall correctly) was
shut down on Monday by pro-'Palestinian' 'activists' for about two hours. Ahava's factory is located along the coast of the Dead Sea in an area that the 'Palestinians' are trying to claim for their recihlet. On Sunday, the London Jewish community held a buycott for the store, which reuslted in significantly higher sales than usual. The picture is from a similar 'event' in October.
Pro-Palestinian activists blockaded an Ahava store in London's Covent Garden on Monday, resulting in temporary closure of the store.
Two activists reportedly locked themselves to a cement-filled barrel at the entrance to the property. Police were called to the store, and the two were subsequently arrested on charges of aggravated trespassing, and taken to a central London police station.
On Sunday, the Jewish community organised a "Buycott" Ahava campaign in support of the store and in response to protests by anti-Israel activists calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. Advertising the event on Facebook, customers received a 10 percent discount and Ahava said that they enjoyed a huge increase in business.
...
In August, a group of anti-Israel protesters who chained themselves inside the same store the previous year were acquitted and cleared of all related charges after the store manager failed to attend the court hearing.
Someone please make sure that the store manager shows up in court this time.
Labels: Ahava cosmetics, Buycott Israel, Covent Garden, London
