There are some very decent folk who campaign for the Palestinians. I don’t feel those who protest outside London’s Ahava cosmetics shop are among them. Every other Saturday, they turn up and picket the store. They stand outside making as much noise as possible, intimidating customers, chanting for the destruction of Israel and disrupting the entire street.
It is not just Ahava that is suffering. So are the neighbouring shops and businesses, none of which have anything to do with the Middle East issue. One neighbouring business has already closed because of the downturn in trade these protests have caused. The protestors are well aware of this side-effect of their actions. Have they stopped, or found a fairer way to make their point? No.
Late last night some vandals threw red paint over the front of the Ahava shop. This is cowardly behaviour by people who creep around in the dark, both literally and metaphorically.
The good news is that the paint was cleaned off, and it was quickly business as usual.We can all do our bit by continuing the buycott principle with Ahava. What an irony it would be if these absurd protestors caused a boost to Ahava takings. Go on, you’re so worth it…
I can’t remember what led the conversation in that direction, but a friend of mine recently said to me – only half joking – “oh yes, because you’re anti-Palestinian, aren’t you?” I said the problem was that many “pro-Palestinians” would be better described as “anti-Israeli”.
I imagine it’s the same with the Ahava haters; they don’t care about Palestine, they just want to have a go at Israel.
They used to do the same thing to Jewish owned shops in 1930′s Germany. Same s**t different anti-semite.
I am so stealing that!
I mean it!
Your velcome !
Well said Chas. In a similar vein, Elder of Ziyon has instituted a “free advertising for victims of anti-Israeli aggression” campaign.
I’m just waiting for these haters to be arrested, prosecuted, and then cleared of any wrongdoing because they were attacking an Israeli (aka apartheid/racist/murdering/Islamophobic* shop). *Delete where applicable
annie – even if they are arrested, they’ll probably get off and even be congratulated and encouraged to do it again – if they get a judge like George Bathurst-Norman: http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=182720 and http://www.oyvagoy.com/2010/07/07/tis-the-season-to-be-silly/
suzanne
I believe that’s what annie was thinking of when she made her comment.
Oof. Sorry, I forgot the link from EoZ:
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2010/08/time-to-buy-ahava-products.html
In Hebrew the word “Ahava” means love. How ironic that those paint tossing cowardly thugs chose to blot out the very meaning of the word both literally and figuratively.
So, let me get this straight: The best way to be pro-Palestinian is to intimidate shoppers in London? Mostly women shoppers at that. How very avant-garde.
What a pity no one knows where they work. I’d enjoy seeing them put through the same ‘demo’ experience they’re subjecting others to. I’d enjoy seeing how their respective bosses would react to such an event, too.
Work??? Do you think that those savages really hold down jobs – unless you consider harassment, intimidation, and hooliganism the foundation of their chosen profession.
Who knows, Steve. Either way, I’d say their behaviour indicates some kind of personal anger issues rather than genuine care for those they deem less fortunate than themselves.
They are bullies. They couldn’t give a toss about the Palestinians, who they know are not helped one bit by this sort of ridiculous behaviour.
Perhaps it might be an idea to take the recently released photos of Gaza, with its malls, beaches and markets, blow them up (size-wise, I hasten to add!)and use them in future pro-Israel demos outside Ahava’s shop? Its about time these photos got a wider audience and, who knows, perhaps these anti-Israel giants of social conscience might have the tables turned on them.
Mr Newkey-Burden’s mention of red paint rang bells. Off I went to my photos from my latest visit to Britain, and there it was: a picture of great blobs of red paint, adorning a large advert for tourism in Israel. Sadly, I am not sure that this brave act of vandalism will lead directly to a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, given that its location, the least used area of Northfields tube station. Nice shade of red, though.