Major UK supermarket chain to stop sourcing Israeli products
LONDON: One of Britain's largest supermarket chains will stop sourcing Israeli products following a sustained Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
The Co-operative supermarket said the decision was made due to Israeli human rights abuses and violations of international law. It comes into effect this month.
In May, a motion at the Co-op annual general meeting calling for an end to trade with Israel received overwhelming support. The supermarket board's decision covers 17 'countries of concern,' including Israel.
Co-op will now launch a phased approach to begin removing products sourced from the 17 countries.
The BDS campaign, led by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, saw the Co-op board commit to a 'sourcing policy aligned with established co-operative values, upholding human rights and the rule of law to promote fair trading and peace.'
The supermarket will now avoid sourcing products from countries where 'there is consistent behavior which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law.'
Through the new policy, Co-op believes it 'can make a difference directly or indirectly to those affected and would alleviate suffering.'
Israel is a major exporter of fruit and vegetables to the UK, and its products are widely stocked at British supermarkets, including as ingredients in larger items.
A number of Israeli farms operate facilities in the occupied West Bank, in settlements that are illegal under international law.
PSC hailed Co-op's decision as a 'major victory.' It follows the 'Don't Buy Apartheid' campaign that the organization conducted this year, urging a widespread boycott of Israeli products in British shops, restaurants and venues.
Ben Jamal, PSC director, said: 'This is a seismic victory for the Palestinian solidarity movement in this country, which demands that the government, institutions and corporations end all economic, political and military support for the state of Israel, which is conducting a live streamed genocide in Gaza after decades of military occupation and imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians.
'The Co-op, as befits its history, has shown great moral courage and ethical principle in deciding that it cannot ignore voices from the British public calling out Israel's gross human rights abuses and violations of international law — and even more importantly, it cannot economically support that regime through doing business in Israel.
'This beacon of leadership must now be taken up by all other supermarket chains which continue to sell Israeli goods, despite knowing they are supporting its war crimes.'
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