Because of the war in Gaza: Israeli dates are boycotted abroad

Every year, at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, there are calls abroad for a boycott of Israeli dates. The connection between dates and Ramadan is not accidental; during fasting, the consumption of dried fruits increases sharply, and opponents of Israel are doing everything to prevent the faithful from eating the products of the “Zionist entity.”

This year, against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, pro-Palestinian organizations actively joined the campaign. As it became known on Wednesday, March 13, the main argument of ideological fighters against Israeli dates is that the fruits were grown in “settlements in the occupied territory of the Jordan Valley.”

Pro-Palestinian activists are posting detailed instructions on social media explaining how to determine the Israeli origin of dates. The fact is that on large packages intended for sale in markets, the country of origin is not always indicated. Activists argue that the Israelis are deliberately using a trick to increase the volume of date exports and avoid a boycott.

The British organization Friends of Al-Aqsa, known for its support of Hamas, has been actively participating in the campaign for several years now. This year, she published a video that clearly explains the Zionist nature of the dates sold at Aldi with the label “Made in South Africa.”

The campaign for a boycott of dates takes place against the backdrop of a global campaign that began in October 2023, whose participants demand not only the “cancellation” of Israeli products, but also a boycott of companies that cooperate with Israel.

Israeli date exporters have canceled an overseas advertising campaign, fearing it would cause “negative interest” in their products, The Marker reported. The publication quotes an exporter who frankly said: “Today, a foreign consumer, seeing the inscription “Made in Israel” on a product, will think twice about whether this product is worth buying.”

The Marker’s material was picked up by Arab bloggers and circulated on social networks. The Qatari television channel Al Jazeera called the date boycott campaign “the opening of a new front against Israel.” The Turkish TV channel TRT aired a video with instructions on recognizing Israeli products. The video said: “There is nothing worse than breaking your fast after fasting with an Israeli date.”

Apparently, the campaign organizers are unaware of the role that date production plays in the Palestinian economy. About 5,000 residents of PA work on date plantations, collecting and processing the fruits is their source of income. Hundreds more Palestinians are employed in packing houses and in plantation maintenance work. Therefore, any attempt at a boycott strikes primarily at those whose interests the “fighters against the Zionist occupation” care about.