MKs call for boycott of companies building Rawabi

48 lawmakers sign letter accusing companies of "selling soul of Zionism"; MK Henin says gov't also represents opposition to settlements.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Al Rawabi 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Al Rawabi 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
A petition calling for a boycott of 20 companies who, in building contract stipulations, agreed not to purchase goods produced in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, was signed by 48 MKs and circulated by the Land of Israel Lobby on Monday.
Among the politicians who signed the petition were over a dozen Kadima MKs, including faction chairwoman Dalia Itzik. The MKs said in the circulated document: "Israeli companies sold the soul of Zionism and national solidarity for a handful of dollars."
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The 48 MKs addressed cabinet ministers in their call to end cooperation with the companies involved in building the new Palestinian city of Rawabi, for which they signed the controversial contracts.
MKs Ze'ev Elkin and Arye Eldad said, "The Israeli companies supply products and services for the establishment of the Arab city of Rawabi, they agreed to sign an agreement and by doing so, joined the Palestinian boycott of products and services originating in what they refer to as, 'Occupied east Jerusalem, the Occupied West Bank, the Occupied Gaza Strip, and the Occupied Golan Heights.'"
The letter called on the ministers, "regardless of factions, to refrain from engaging in any business from now on with the companies who signed this shameful agreement, which is cooperation with Palestinian economic terrorism."
Last week, the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel asked the attorney-general and the Finance Ministry to amend the law regulating governmental tenders, so that companies boycotting settlement products would be banned from bidding for government projects.
Responding to the letter, MK Dov Henin (Hadash) said, It is the right of Israelis and Israeli companies to not purchase supplies from the settlements without their government boycotting them."
"The government belongs not only to the settlements but also to their opponents," Henin said.