Activism and BDS Beat 24 November 2011
“This November, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the broadest Palestinian civil society coalition, is joining its partners in Europe in calling on solidarity organisations, trade unions, NGOs, and people of conscience across Europe to participate in Take Apartheid off the Menu!, A European Day of Action Against Israeli Agricultural Exporters,” according to a statement by the BNC.
A number of actions in Europe are being planned for this weekend in nine different countries. A map shows where the actions are being planned and will be updated from Saturday evening onwards. Also follow the #apartheidoffmenu on Twitter for updates.
The wave action this weekend comes on the heels of a major victory for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement — the liquidation of Israeli settlement export company Agrexco. The company has been a key target of the BDS movement.
Agrexco is a partially state-owned Israeli exporter responsible for the export of a large proportion of fresh Israeli produce, including 60-70% of the agricultural produce grown in Israel’s illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). In a translation of the court documents on the liquidation process that the BNC obtained, it is clearly stated that Agrexco acted as an arm of the Israeli state, effectively providing state subsidies to the agricultural sector. The documents indicate criticism of the government for allowing the company to default on its debts and also warn that Agrexco is a primary Israeli symbol and that its downfall is likely to have great implications.
The call for a European day of action against Agrexco on 26 November 2011 was one of the outcomes of the first-ever European Forum Against Agrexco held this summer.
Targeted produce export companies also include the Mehadrin Group, AdaFresh, Arava Export Growers, Beresheet, Hadiklaim, Shamir Salads and Jordan Plains Development Corporation.
