Palestinians call for boycott of new Israeli-Palestinian mall

Palestinian activists have called for boycotting the first Israeli-Palestinian shopping mall, which was built by supermarket chain owner and developer Rami Levy in the industrial zone of Atarot, north of Jerusalem. The mall, which is expected to open soon, cost NIS 200 million and has more than 50 businesses.The activists took to social media and other platforms to call on Palestinians to boycott the new mall and other shopping centers in Israel. They also distributed leaflets in east Jerusalem that said that boycotting Israeli commercial centers was a “religious, national and moral duty.”The new mall, the activists claimed, is part of an Israeli scheme to Judaize Jerusalem and destroy its Arab economy. “By purchasing Israeli goods, we are funding the Israeli occupation,” read a statement issued by a group called the National and Islamic Forces in the Occupied City of Jerusalem.The statement warned that by doing business with Israelis, Palestinians would be “contributing to the siege of Jerusalem, solidifying the city’s isolation, and detaching it from its surrounding environment.”The statement was published by the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency Wafa and its ruling Fatah faction, a sign that the PA endorses and supports the call for boycotting the new mall.Economic normalization with Israel, the statement said, “is an act of intentional treason.” Despite the call for boycotting the new mall, some of the Israeli chains, including Cafe Greg and Crazy Line, have taken Arab franchise holders.However, the boycotts urged the Arab residents of Jerusalem to confront Israeli “schemes to destroy the economy of Jerusalem. We are confident that the occupier won’t find a partner in its plan to besiege the city and destroy its economy.”‭‮ Economic normalization with Israel, the statement said, “is an act of intentional treason.” It urged the Arab residents of Jerusalem to confront Israeli “schemes to destroy the economy of Jerusalem. We are confident that the occupier won’t find a partner in its plan to besiege the city and destroy its economy.”Despite the call for boycotting the new mall, some of the Israeli chains, including Cafe Greg and Crazy Line, have taken Arab franchise holders.