A reminder to boycott dates grown on stolen Palestinian land Dear Email, We’re reaching out to you to announce the relaunch of AMP’s annual flagship project, the National Israeli Date Boycott Campaign. We have a lot to share with you throughout the campaign and we’ll start with this reminder today. Dates are considered the “black gold” of Palestine. They are an important natural product of Palestine’s pure and blessed land. With the holy month of Ramadan just two months away, this “black gold” is especially sacred due to the Muslim ritual of breaking fasts with them. But the Israeli colonial enterprise has produced its own industry of dates in a manner that is much more sinister. Israeli date farms profit off of theft and abuse. They are predominantly grown in illegal Israeli settlements and are grown using stolen natural resources like water. Palestinian laborers, who are often forced by economic necessity to work in these illegal settlements, are forced to work in grueling physical conditions. Israeli labor laws are scarcely enforced when it pertains to Palestinian workers, leaving these Palestinians underpaid and un-compensated for their back-breaking work. We need to act now! Join us by signing this pledge to boycott Israeli dates |
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Since 2011, AMP has led the national boycott of Israeli dates as a response to Palestinian civil society’s call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel. We are calling on the American public to boycott six Israeli date brands: Hadiklaim, Mehadrin, Delilah, Carmel Agrexco, Jordan River, and King Solomon. Watch out for these brand names, and for labels such as “Made in the West Bank” or “Made in the Jordan Valley.” Dates with these labels are almost always made on Israeli settlements–the Israeli date industry often uses these vague labels to conceal their true origin. Be sure to always check the label to avoid accidentally purchasing Israeli Occupation dates. The boycott is enormously effective; Israeli dates imports have dropped dramatically over the years. According to recent data, the market share of US imports of Israeli dates has dropped to 16.5% for the market year 2020/2021 compared to 25% in 2015. That’s why it’s imperative that we keep going and continue amplifying the boycott call.  |
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Here’s what you can do now: 1. Sign our pledge to join in solidarity with this boycott of Israeli dates to support justice for the Palestinian people. 2. Download the campaign poster here, print it, and share with your local stores. 3. Follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) to stay updated and share our campaign posts using hashtags #BoycottIsraeliDates and #CheckTheLabel 4. Find alternative date companies that you can buy from! Palestinian dates are often labeled “Grown in Palestine,” and there are a plethora of Algerian, Tunisian, Emirati, and Californian varieties to choose from.
Special thanks to our national partners, Young Muslims (YM) and ICNA Council for Social Justice. We are incredibly grateful for their support. |
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