8 October 1997

LAW has followed closely the actions taken by the Beit Sahour Trade Committee in response to the boycott of Israeli products and the regulations for its enforcement by the Palestinian Authority. The boycott includes products which have a locally-manufactured equivalent in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Police forces have targeted only certain shops to search and confiscate Israeli goods, but have not enforced the boycott on all shops equally. This practice has angered the shop-owners. In response to these procedures a partial strike was declared in Beit Sahour, on October 7.

LAW supports the boycott of Israeli commercial items but also notes with concern the actions taken by the Palestinian authorities. LAW applauds the self restraint and discipline of the traders in dealing with the problem.

The boycott is meant to include all articles which have local equivalents. But not all items with local equivalents appear on the boycott list, raising suspicions about the role of the Palestinian Authority and its interests, or the interest of some of its members, in the monopoly-selling of some Israeli made products.

LAW supports the legitimate demands of the traders and their right to protest, and demands that the PA and its executive branches halt its selective and arbitrary policies against the traders and enforce the boycott equally.

LAW warns that the situation may escalate in the case that the demands of the traders are not met.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.