Report from the IPSC's Boycott Israeli Goods National Day of Action - Sat 16th Jan

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday January 20, 2010 16:37 by Kev - IPSC (pers cap) info at ipsc dot ie

On Saturday, January 16th, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and supporters held boycott actions across the country, asking shoppers not to buy Israeli goods in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are still being starved by the Israeli government. Along with the IPSC, the following groups supported the Boycott Day of Action: Anti-War Ireland, éirígí, Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS), ICTU Trade Union Friends of Palestine, Irish Anti-War Movement, Palestinian Rights Initiative, Sinn Fein and UNITE Trade Union.

Banner Drop, Ha'penny Bridge (photo courtesy of éirígí)

Protests and actions were held in Dublin, Cork, Arklow, Belfast, Letterkenny, Donegal, Sligo, Limerick and Newry. It is intended to build and continue the boycott in the coming months - including two actions in Kilkenny and Wexford this coming Saturday 23rd Jan - please see the http://www.ipsc.ie for more info about these actions.

According to Freda Hughes, spokesperson for the IPSC, "The boycott campaign against apartheid South Africa had an enormous effect in terms of isolating that regime internationally and ultimately it assisted in its downfall. We are hoping that this new international campaign will have the same impact on Israel, which practises blatant apartheid against the Palestinian people. It is up to every Irish consumer to make a choice - does ones support human rights by refusing to buy Israeli goods or does one support Israel and give money to their war economy? It is as simple as that."

Dublin

In Dublin, activists from the various groups gathered at the Spire on O’Connell St. for a brief rally before breaking off into three groups. These groups moved to the targeted shops/outlets across the city centre; Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Tesco on Parnell Street and Marks & Spencers on Grafton Street all of which sell Israeli products on their premises.

Earlier in the day, activists from éirígí hung a huge "Boycott Israeli Goods" banner across the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin, as well as outside the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

Cork

A large number of Palestine solidarity activists gathered in Cork city centre today to stage pickets outside stores that sell Israeli produce. This was part of the national boycott Day of Action, with similiar protests held across the country. Pickets were held outside Tescos in Paul Street Shopping Centre and outside the Merchant's Quay Shopping Centre which contains a couple of shops, including Marks and Spencers, that sell Israeli goods.

The reaction from people on the street was uniformly postive and the Cork IPSC intends to continue and build the boycott campaign in the coming months.

Limerick

Members of the IPSC in Limerick handed out hundreds of fliers to shoppers in the city centre on Saturday afternoon. The fliers contained information about the range of Israeli goods on sale in various shops in Limerick. They also visited a number of supermarkets including Dunnes Stores in Henry Street and Tesco in Arthur’s quay where they gave fliers to the staff asking them to support the call to boycott produce from apartheid Israel.

Letterkenny

An éirígí-organised Boyoctt Israeli Goods demonstration drew a large and enthusiastic attendance from local people. There were also banner drops around Donegal and Sligo. )

Belfast, Newry & Arklow

In Belfast, Newry and Arklow members and supporters of the ISPC handed out thousands of leaflets in the town centres calling on people to boycott Israeli goods

What is the boycott?

The boycott of Israeli goods is a peaceful way to get Israel to stop the occupation of Palestine, and obey international law. Palestine is suffering from relentless Israeli attacks and experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe now. As with South African Apartheid, ordinary people have the power to stop injustice. Please do your bit. Don't buy or sell Israeli products or services. Israel is a export orientated economy, and Europe is Israel's largest trading partner, so even the threat of boycott has been effective in getting Israel to rethink its behaviour. More pressure on Israel will alleviate the terrible oppression the Palestinian people suffer.

Who supports the boycott?

171 organisations representing Palestinian civil society have called on people around the world to help them and support the boycott. Many human rights groups and trade unions around the world including Irish unions and ICTU have supported this call for boycott. There is even a growing movement inside Israel called ‘Boycott From Within’.

Many more pictures can be viewed at the following link: http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/displayRe...D=275

Other reports can be read here:

IPSC - Dublin: http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/displayRe...D=271
IPSC - Newry: http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/ipsc/displayRe...D=274
IAWM - Dublin: http://irishantiwar.org/node/721
éirigí - National: http://eirigi.org/latest/latest160110.html

Rally in Dublin (photo: Freda Hughes)

Leafletting in Arklow (photo courtesy of éirígí)

Rally in Letterkenny (photo courtesy of éirígí)

Leafletting in Cork (photo courtesy of éirígí)