Dutch pro-Palestinian organisations are urging Dutch Muslims not to eat Israeli dates during the upcoming Ramadan season.

Muslims fast during the daytime in the month of Ramadan, and dates are usually the first food to be eaten after sunset.

However, most of these dates are produced in Israeli occupied territories and therefore the fruit should be boycotted, according to the organisations that have joined forces in the Dutch BDS Platform.

Actions
BDS is an international movement which originated in the Palestinian territories. The abbreviation stands for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – the actions that should be taken against Israel, the movement’s founders say.

The Platform is targeting Dutch shops and supermarkets with leaflets and posters, asking their owners to stop selling Israeli-produced fruits. Shops that take part will be recognised as an “Israeli Apartheid-free zone”.

Unaware
Kristel de Wit of the BDS Platform says most Muslims in the Netherlands may be unaware that the dates they eat are actually produced in the Israeli-occupied territories. “The boxes in which the dates are sold don’t say they were produced in Israel. Some even suggest the dates were produced in South Africa. We think most Muslims don’t realise that”.

Listen to an interview with Ms De Wit here (story continues below):

BDS is not specifically targeting the date industry, says Ms De Wit. “This is mainly a campaign to raise awareness. We want people to know about it and to make a moral choice whether they want to spend their money on companies that profit from an occupation”.

According to Ms De Wit, a small number of shop owners have already decided to take the Israeli dates from their shelves, but no supermarket chain has so far made this decision.

European tour
Palestinian activist Hazem Jamjoum is currently touring Europe to promote international BDS actions. He supports the “Don’t buy Israeli dates” campaign, but he feels the boycott should not be limited to dates or other fruits only.

“We have called for isolating the Israeli regime since 2005”, he notes. “We leave it up to activists in their own countries like the Netherlands to decide what they think makes the most sense in their region. We don’t differentiate between products made in the occupied territories or in other parts of Israel because it’s the same regime that’s committing the crime”.

Criminalise
Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities have begun to “criminalise” the calls for a boycott, according to Mr Jamjoum. “They’re working on legislation to make these activities illegal. The drafts of these laws also include consequences for international citizens by banning them from entering or freezing any assets they may have in Israel”.

Dignity
Some people argue that a boycott may result in Palestinians losing their jobs – and they may need these jobs the most. “There is some truth in that”, Mr Jamjoum acknowledges, “but it should be noted that every Palestinian workers’ organisation has placed the demands for this boycott. In the short term these people may lose their jobs and livelihoods, but they also recognise and hope that through this international solidarity they can actually get their rights and dignity back”.