Iceland boycotts Israeli imports in solidarity with Palestine

[Tokyo Rose 1,475]

A Palestinian man scuffles with Israeli border policemen as they clear a protest on land that Palestinians said was confiscated by Israel for Jewish settlements. (Reuters)

 

Iceland’s capital city council members on Wednesday voted to boycott Israeli imports to the country to demonstrate their support for Palestine. 

The Reykjavik municipality passed the motion to ban Israeli imports “as long as the occupation of Palestinian territories,” Iceland Magazine reported.

Council members said the boycott was symbolic of Icelandic support for Palestinian statehood and a condemnation of Israel’s “policy of apartheid.”

Israel’s foreign minister condemned the move, calling the ban a “volcano of hatred,” in reference to volcanic activity on the European island nation. 

“For no reason or justification, except hatred for its own sake, calls of boycotting the state of Israel are heard,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We hope someone in Iceland will come to their senses and end the one-sided blindness fielded against Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.” 

The Icelandic ban comes as Israel battles the EU’s push to label products from its settlements. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently evoked Nazi Germany to criticize the EU’s potential labeling motion. 

Many Europeans consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law and a threat to finding peace in the Middle East.

Source

[TiphEret 1,320]

I didn't know democracy could have at the same time apartheid in their country! 

[Didymus 34,380]

"Many Europeans consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law"

lol, it just is.

I agree tbh. I mean, it's not even products from Israel, it's products from those settlements that should be labelled, meaning: those products are illegal under international law and shouldn't even have been made. Just because the U.S. and Europe are too ****ing corrupt to grab Israel by the neck and give it a good spanking doesn't mean we should just grab a lawn chair and watch. I think it's great that Iceland strikes back against Netanyahu's display of absolute stupidity with an even harsher policy of banning all Israel products.

I'd love more public initiatives on a national level that might find its way upwards to overarching entities that can finally have an impact on what goes on up there.

[Luc 4,776]

"Many Europeans consider Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law"

lol, it just is.

I agree tbh. I mean, it's not even products from Israel, it's products from those settlements, meaning: those products are illegal under international law and shouldn't even have been made. Just because the U.S. and Europe are too ****ing corrupt to grab Israel by the neck and give it a good spanking doesn't mean we should just grab a lawn chair and watch.

I'd love more public initiatives on a national level that might find its way upwards to overarching entities that can finally have an impact on what goes on up there.

Corrupt? A better word is diplomatic  

[Didymus 34,380]

Corrupt? A better word is diplomatic  

When you sit back and do nothing when a member of an international entity consistently breaks international laws, even after several "diplomatic" urgings and warnings, there must be something else going on. And what is going on is that the U.S. and Israel are nuclear allies and Europe is too frightened (and probably rightly so) to go against the U.S. and drag Netanyahu in front of a tribunal.

[RAMROD 117,002]

So, what are Israeli imports?

Oil? Diamonds? Another kind of minerals?

 

[lego 44,165]

“For no reason or justification, except hatred for its own sake, calls of boycotting the state of Israel are heard,”
 

“For no reason or justification, except hatred for its own sake...

 

“For no reason or justification...

 

 

 

Great Iceland, rest of the world take notes.

 

[Tokyo Rose 1,475]

So, what are Israeli imports?

Oil? Diamonds? Another kind of minerals?

 

I found this graphic on Google;

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Israel_Export_Treemap.jpg

 

[Ronlop 6,882]

"Council members said the boycott was symbolic of Icelandic support for Palestinian statehood and a condemnation of Israel’s “policy of apartheid.”

"policy of apartheid"

MESS

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding of what Apartheid is.

People who consider Israel's current policy as an Apartheid simply don't know what a true Apartheid is. And when you see those exact same people rant about Israel's policy, yet say nothing about Iran's policy, Syria's policy (before what happened), Saudi Arabia's policy, etc ; you can't blame Israel for thinking that there is an unjustified hatred ( & yes, even anti-semitism) towards the country. 

 

 

 

[lego 44,165]

lol

Pulling the usual card.

 

 

 

They simply don't know what apartheid is. 

 

[hmm 979]

"Council members said the boycott was symbolic of Icelandic support for Palestinian statehood and a condemnation of Israel’s “policy of apartheid.”

"policy of apartheid"

MESS

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding of what Apartheid is.

People who consider Israel's current policy as an Apartheid simply don't know what a true Apartheid is. And when you see those exact same people rant about Israel's policy, yet say nothing about Iran's policy, Syria's policy (before what happened), Saudi Arabia's policy, etc ; you can't blame Israel for thinking that there is an unjustified hatred ( & yes, even anti-semitism) towards the country. 

 

 

 

It's completely wrong to say that people are silent on Iran and Saudi Arabia, particularly the former which is constantly under international scrutiny.  Deservedly of course and Saudi Arabia is one of the most vile regimes on the planet right now but that doesn't excuse Israel from blame for its actions and inactions. 

-

This is an interesting article on an Israeli living in Iceland's view of the boycott, particularly his recognition that "Iceland is a country which values humanitarianism above all else, to the point of naivety," and "There is a lively debate here surrounding the situation in Israel, and it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, but more to do with the fact that there is a side which is perceived to be weaker than the other, and they usually side with the underdog". 

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4701735,00.html 

[TiphEret 1,320]

"Council members said the boycott was symbolic of Icelandic support for Palestinian statehood and a condemnation of Israel’s “policy of apartheid.”

"policy of apartheid"

MESS

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding of what Apartheid is.

People who consider Israel's current policy as an Apartheid simply don't know what a true Apartheid is. And when you see those exact same people rant about Israel's policy, yet say nothing about Iran's policy, Syria's policy (before what happened), Saudi Arabia's policy, etc ; you can't blame Israel for thinking that there is an unjustified hatred ( & yes, even anti-semitism) towards the country. 

 

 

 

What is Apartheid then? And why do you consider it isn't happening in Israel? 

[Didymus 34,380]

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding of what Apartheid is.

First of all, why ignore the first reason for their support? Do you agree that Palestine should be a state then?

But cackling at you pretending that this is the first time people think of apartheid when they see Israel's actions. It might come as a surprise that the subject even has its own Wikipedia page referring to discussions about the topic as far back as the 60's. Actual studies have been conducted about it.

Legally speaking Israel's conduct is 100% apartheid when compared to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (and yes, I know that this Convention mentions genocide and Israel, though of course that's a whole other controversy, doesn't apply this now, but genocide was never a part of widely known apartheid policies either so that doesn't count).

Basically Netanyahu has already admitted he supports apartheid when he, a few months ago, proposed that Arabs should become second rate citizens in Israel. That alone is pure apartheid which in any case legitimizes an international outrage against that specific figure.

[Didymus 34,380]

Oh, I forgot to add the link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_and_the_apartheid_****ogy

Edit: @Admin stop being a prude and fix this **** it's really annoying. All over a perfectly technical term that's not even NSFW.

[Melech 9,900]

When you sit back and do nothing when a member of an international entity consistently breaks international laws, even after several "diplomatic" urgings and warnings, there must be something else going on. And what is going on is that the U.S. and Israel are nuclear allies and Europe is too frightened (and probably rightly so) to go against the U.S. and drag Netanyahu in front of a tribunal.

Lets not act like Israel gets nothing. Israel gets the most condemnations in the UN.

 

I agree with banning Settlements products, but highly disagree with banning Israeli products. How are Icelandic Jews now to get Israeli products?