EFF statement on Woolworths removing an Israeli imported product from its shelves
17 November 2023
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes the decision by Woolworths South Africa to remove a product that is imported from Israel from its shelves across South Africa. This decision comes after the principled call by the EFF for Woolworths South Africa to remove all products sourced from the Apartheid Israeli State, at a picket outside the Israeli Embassy on Monday, 23 October 2023.
Following the calls by the EFF for Woolworths South Africa to remove products of Israeli origin from its outlets, on the basis that Israel is involved in a genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people, the denial of humanitarian aid to Palestinians and the massive bombardment of Palestinian hospitals and evacuation routes out of Gaza, the EFF has had engagements with Woolworths in order to outline to them the importance Of not financing a regime that is engaged in gross human rights violations.
On the 25th of October 2023, the EFF officially wrote to Woolworths South Africa, outlining our demand that they remove all products Of Israeli origin from their shelves, emphasising that continued trade relations with Israel by Woolworths constitutes the financial support Of the genocide Of Palestinian people. Woolworths duly responded to the letter from the EFF, requesting a meeting to reflect on the demands made in the defence of Palestinian lives.
On Wednesday, 08 November 2023 a delegation of the EFF led by the Secretary General Marshall Dlamini met with the Woolworths executive in South Africa, to further affirm our position with regards to the ongoing genocide being practiced upon Palestinian people by Israel. The EFF was adamant that Woolworths, as a stakeholder in South Africa, a nation that shares a common struggle and history of solidarity with Palestine, cannot continue economic relations with Israel, and essentially fund the war on innocent Palestinian women and children.
It follows this engagement, that Woolworths has resolved to cease the sale of the sole product they traded in which was imported from Israel, proving once again that the EFF remains forthright and committed to the cause Of Palestinian people.
Regardless Of Woolworths publicly stated motivations, their removal of the product is in fact, whether intentional or not, an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and for this we applaud them. This comes after the EFF called on McDonald's South Africa to distance itself from the acts of their counterparts in Israel, who callously resolved to feed the terrorist soldiers Of the Israeli military, and McDonald's duly complied.
The EFF reaffirms its call for global solidarity with Palestine, and this must come in the form of sanctions, and cutting all economic, diplomatic, and research and innovation ties with the Apartheid Israeli State. We are confident that the motion to close the Israeli Embassy in Parliament which was proposed by the EFF will pass, and the murderous Israeli regime will be isolated, shamed, and pressured to stop its genocide and colonial invasion of Palestine.
Issued by Sinawo Thambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 17 November 2023
