By IRNA,
London : Anti-poverty charity War on Want has accused a leading British supermarket chain of misleading customers in its claims to have ceased stocking goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
In a statement, Waitrose claimed allegations that it stocked goods from illegal Israeli settlement were “untrue” and asked War on Want to publicise that it had stopped.
But investigations by the anti-poverty charity found the supermarket continued to sell illegal settlement goods, including three types of halva from the company Achva, all of which are clearly labelled as produced in the Barkan settlement in the West Bank.
“It is unacceptable for Waitrose to stock products from illegal Israeli settlements. This makes it complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land,” said War on Want executive director John Hilary.
“Waitrose should live up to its ethical claims and stop stocking any goods from illegal Israeli settlements or it will continue to face protests,” Hilary said in a statement obtained by IRNA.
In recent months, several British supermarkets have faced growing complaints and protests from customers about selling illegal Israeli settlements produce, following the UK government issuing new guidelines on labelling goods.
Protests have include Waitrose’s story at Barbican in central London, where over 50 activists filled their shopping trolleys on March 31 and distributed leaflets calling on shoppers to boycott all settlement goods until Israel complies with international law.
War on Want said it welcomed Waitrose stating that it has stopped sourcing herbs from illegal Israeli settlements under its own brand label, but urged the retailer to stop all illegal sales.
Other leading British supermarkets targeted in the boycott campaign have included Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda, which is owned by the US conglomerate Wal-Mart.
Both Tesco and Sainsbury’s have responded by clarifying that they separately label products as either ‘West Bank (Israeli settlement produce)’ or ‘West Bank (Palestinian produce),’ but insists it is the choice of customers to buy.