Palestine Israel One Country: Say NO to apartheid

Enjoy this partial list, its where the fun begins, because BDS is about supporting Palestinian products, and supporters of Palestine: 

1.      Palestinian Olive Oil.  Makes a great host/ess gift, for when you are invited to a holiday party. More and more stores are carrying Palestine Olive Oil, but you can always order it online, try http://www.etsy.com/listing/65019046/hurriya-palestinian-fair-trade-olive-oil or  http://shop.olivebrancholiveoil.com/3-Bottles-of-Extra-Virgin-Olive-Oil-127.htm 

2.      Nabulsi soap:  all-natural traditional soap made with Palestinian olive oil.  For just $15 you can get a four-bar collection that supports Project Hope in Nablus from Zatoun, see http://zatoun.com/soap_nablus.htm.  Also try Al-Ard's soaps, they are irresistable and perfect as stocking stuffers, you won't be able to resist buying some for yourself.

3.      Canaan Fair Trade products.  One favorite is the Sun-Dried Tomato Caper Spread.  How about a case of six bottles for only $48?  Your friends will thank you!  In the Seattle area, your friendly Olympia Co-op, which deserves all the good business it can get, carries many of their products. https://www.canaanusa.com/shop/olives/

4.      Anything from LUSH—they have long supported Palestine publicly.  Their Gingerbread House Tin goes for $27.95 and is filled with four scrumptious holiday bath treats: Cinders and So White Bath Bombs, Candy Mountain Bubble Bar and, of course, their  Gingerbread House Bubble Bar, with its frosty, sprinkled roof and cinnamon stick chimney. Simply irresistible. Re-use the tin afterwards for all kinds of fun things including a piggy bank.  See www.lushusa.com/shop

5. Have a jewelry lover on your list?  Give them this handcrafted Petite Palsetine necklace, and let them know that a portion of the proceeds goes to support students in Hebron.  For only $43, you can afford to buy one for yourself too.  See http://www.etsy.com/listing/56795347/petite-palestine-necklace  and http://www.etsy.com/listing/56544664/deluxe-palestine-necklace-in-sterling

6. Subscriptions to Make/Shift, a magazine that is not PEPpy (Progressive Except for Palestine)  http://www.makeshiftmag.com/subscribe.htm  

7. Do you know someone who loves handmade candles?  This is an anti-Zionist Channukah/ shabbat/ havdalah fair trade beeswax candle business, which is in full support of the PACBI's call for BDS, they also donate 10% of all  profits to the Stop the JNF campaign, see  http://www.narrowbridgecandles.org/purpose.html

8. Williams-Sonoma sells Palestinian Maftoul, a great $10 gift with the message  "A specialty of Palestine, this organic couscous, known as Maftoul, is handcrafted by a women’s cooperative on the West Bank. The result is a wholesome and complex grain for creating flavorful side dishes and salads."  Ask your local store, or get it online delivered to your door.  

9. Palestinian embriodery, through Sunbula, a non-profit group that helps women in Gaza and the West Bank through traditional crafting.  Their embroidery creations are exquisite!  

 10. Give the gift that can be shared for years to come.  For $20 you can sponsor four olive trees in Palestine, and the personalized certificate can be created for that extra-special person on your shopping list. See http://zatoun.com/order.htm 

11. Finally, whatever you buy, "bag" it in this new BDS tote bag, and part of your $14 will go to support the USACBI.  See http://palestineonlinestore.com/shop/boycott-israel-bag/ 

What NOT to buy:

 1.       First, there are the obvious ones, that say “Made in Israel.”  Such products include Soda Stream, Naot shoes, TJ Maxx's large selection of jewelry made in Israel, Israeli Wines, Dorot frozen herbs (the mini-cubes of garlic, cilantro, and basil, mostly at Trader Joe’s) Check the label, and put them back on the shelf. Avoid items on the "buy Israeli list by the Jewish Federation.

 2.      Then there are the tricky ones… They do not say “Made in Israel,” but they are complicit in Israeli occupation and apartheid.  Some are very well known, along with the reasons why we should boycott them:  Osem, Motorola, Sabra and Tribe Hummus,  Ahava beauty products, and Victoria’s Secret.

3.      Also, you may think you’re buying an “Arab product” when you buy a Land’s End sweater or Tshirt that says “Made in QIZ Jordan,” but the initials QIZ tell a different story:  Qualifying Industrial Zones are joint Israeli-Jordanian (or Israeli-Egyptian) business ventures to normalize relations between these countries.  Check out this article about them on Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualifying_Industrial_Zone

Here is a link to a partial list of products to boycott, compiled by our allies at the Seattle Palestine Solidarity Committee:  http://www.palestineinformation.org/SomeProducts.htm

-Complied by Nada Elia, USACBI and ammended by Gaelic Neilson