PA ministry removes photo of officials with Israeli drinks

Many Israeli products are popular among Palestinians, including many PA ministries and institutions.

JANUARY 22, 2019 12:44

Updated: JANUARY 23, 2019 06:18

PA President Mahmoud Abbas (C) at a meeting for the Central Council of the PLO, in Ramallah, March 4, 2015 (photo credit: REUTERS) — PA President Mahmoud Abbas (C) at a meeting for the Central Council of the PLO, in Ramallah, March 4, 2015

(photo credit: REUTERS)

The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Labor has removed from its Facebook page a photo in which Israeli-made beverages were served to participants of a meeting of its senior officials.

The decision to delete the photo came after several Palestinians took to social media to condemn the ministry of violating its own policy of boycotting Israeli products.

After widespread protests, the Palestinian Ministry of Labor removed a photo from its Facebook page of a meeting with Israeli Tapuzina drinks on the table. Activists said the ministry itself had previously called for boycotting Israeli products. (AMAD) pic.twitter.com/wuSgob6z7i
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) January 22, 2019

Many Israeli products are popular among Palestinians, including among many PA ministries and institutions.

The controversial photo, in which PA officials are featured sitting around a table that has on it several juice bottles, was also posted on the Ministry of Labor’s official website two days ago.

“How can we call on the world to boycott Israeli products while we are purchasing and even promoting them,” commented Facebook user Nasser Ayyash. Others posted a screenshot of the photo which was deleted by the ministry and said it was a sign of the PA’s hypocrisy regarding the boycott of Israeli products.

They pointed out that the ministry itself had previously called for boycotting Israeli products.