Author: Palestine Just Trade

Palestine Just Trade is the agent for Ashkar Winery and Taybeh for Canada.  Both wineries are owned by Palestinians. The LCBO has purchased products from Ashkar Winery and Taybeh.

On January 12, the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem released the report, “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid.”

The report states that “all Palestinians living under Israeli rule are treated as inferior in rights and status to Jews who live in the very same area.” Previously focused only on the occupied territory, B’Tselem demonstrates in this report that apartheid also applies to “Palestinians who live on land defined in 1948 as Israeli sovereign territory,” outlining that they “do not enjoy the same rights as Jewish citizens by either law or practice.”

Palestine Just Trade stands against policies of the state of Israel that result in discrimination and apartheid against Palestinians. Palestine Just Trade supports the Palestinian call to use non-violent tactics to bring pressure on the Government of Israel to end its policies of discrimination and apartheid against Palestinians.

Palestine Just Trade supports the Palestinian call:  i) to end the occupation, ii) for equality for Palestinians who are citizens in the state of Israel, and iii) for the right of return of Palestinians.

This includes challenging the racist and discriminatory policies of the State of Israel, whose laws, crowned by the Jewish Nation-state law (2018), privilege Jews over non-Jews, and systematically discriminate against Palestinian Arabs.

No company, person or product is boycotted because they are Jewish, for that would be anti-semitic and unacceptable. However, no state or person can escape criticism simply because they are Jewish.  Practices and laws that favor Jews over non-Jews should be rejected.

For supporters of the state of Israel who applaud its discriminatory laws and policies, to demand that BDS* tactics boycott Israeli corporations “equally” is hypocritical.   

Palestine Just Trade denounces anti-semitism, and all forms of discrimination, and stands against any conflating of Israel and Judaism. Anti-Zionism is not anti-semitism.

Palestine Just Trade Inc. was established in 2018 to bring distinctive, quality Palestinian products into Canada on the basis of “just” trade and the message of “just peace” respecting international law and human rights.

*The BDS movement employs nonviolent tactics (Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions) to bring pressure on the Government of Israel to end its policies of discrimination and apartheid against Palestinians.  As a movement BDS upholds three political goals: End the Occupation, Equality for Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, and Right of Return for Refugees.  BDS leaves it up to each local group or individual to choose their own political goals, and the actions or campaigns to support.  Some local groups only boycott products made in Jewish-only settlements in the West Bank, but not those made inside the state of Israel. Others concentrate on boycotting companies which profit from the occupation and the Wall.  Most campaigns have concentrated on corporations which benefit from the occupation, or directly participate in it, like Caterpillar, HP, and others.