Dead Sea products scam have stolen from more than just the impaired

7th July 2014

A Campbell Live exposé on the deception used to sell Dead Sea Spa products at mall kiosks has shocked the nation, but many more would be appalled to find the products are part of a bigger industry which profits off a brutal military occupation of Palestinians and sustains illegal Israeli settlements, says Students for Justice in Palestine spokeswoman, Hela Rahman.

“Kiosks have been removed from malls up and down the country after the popular current affairs show, Campbell Live, revealed that Dead Sea Premier salespeople scammed tens of thousands of dollars off the elderly and impaired. When we take into account the international campaign against Dead Sea products from Brisbane to San Francisco however, it comes as less of a surprise that Dead Sea Premier would use such unethical sales tactics.”

“Dead Sea Premier’s deep disregard for ethics starts well before these products reach the mall kiosks at your local Westfield.”

“Dead Sea Premier use mud from the Dead Sea in their products, this is excavated in an occupied area, and thus it exploits occupied natural resources for profit, which is a violation of international law under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Furthermore, the company’s factory is also based on an illegal Israeli settlement. We as consumers are misled as the products are labelled as having ‘Israeli origin’, when in fact the fact they are produced on illegally occupied Palestinian land.”

“In 2011, SJP hosted a series of peaceful actions outside Dead Sea Premier kiosks in Auckland to highlight this ugly reality to members of the public. We continue to urge commercial spaces and companies such as Westfield to support a just and sustainable peace for Muslims, Jews and Christians in Israel and Palestine by joining the boycott. This can be done, very simply, by not doing business with retailers and products which profit off occupation and violations of international law.”

“The call for the boycott of Dead Sea Premier is just one of many, and is part of an international movement. In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel as part of a non-violent campaign to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Individual consumers can show their opposition to Israel's occupation by participating in a boycott aspect.”

“While we are glad to see Dead Sea Premier will no longer be profiteering off occupation here in New Zealand, there many other Israeli products on our shelves which share the same muddy origins; SodaStream, La Mamma and Yes to Carrots beauty products, to name a few.”

“The of boycott of these products is not about being against individuals; it is about being against policies and practices that destroy hope for a just settlement to the conflict, and we urge people of conscience to join us,”

ENDS

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