This posting - for all its merits - is factually incorrect. Nazareth Elite [or Nazareth Illit as it is spelled by Israely bureaucrats] is not a settlement. But a town in Israel [within Israel's 1967, Internationally recognised borders]. The word 'settlement' is predominantly used to refer to the, illegal under international law, Jewish only towns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, such as Ma'ale Adumin, Efrat, Ariel, Itamar in the West Bank and Gush Katif in Gaza as well as those in East Jerusalem like Pisgat Ze'ev and Har Homa. The term 'settlements', used in this posting is, therefore, misleading. I do not doubt that Nazareth Elite/Illit is built on Arab land confisacted by the Jewish Land Commission. However, the town is not illegal under international law, this by no means negates the racist Israeli governments present or past of responsibility for robbing the Palestinians inside 1948 Israel of their land, in fact more should be done to highlight the plight of Palestinians within 1948 Israel as well as those within 1967 Palestine.

It is worth remebering, that many of Sainsbury's products already come from Israel, especially fruit and vegetables and specifically melons and oranges [i.e. Jaffa]. Many of these fruits and vegetables are grown and harvested [as well as other manufactured products] by Palestinians working for only a few dollars a day in settlements in the Gaza Strip such as Gush Katif. While other goods are manufactured/grown by settlers themselves in large settlements such as Ariel in the West Bank that has its own industrial zone.

I hate to be a pedant, but it is important for all those concerned with Israel's treatment of the Palestinians to be factually correct as the pro-Israeli lobby will look for any excuse to undermine what is undoubtedly a necessary and just cause.

So boycott Sainsbury's regardless. It already profits from Isarel's racist polity. Plus its too bloody expensive anyway. Go skipping.

Thank you, P. I bow to your superior knowledge. You are absolutely correct that it is important to be factually accurate in these matters, and in this case I was to blame in not doing more research. I will try to do better in future. Apologies to anyone I misled. Since I support (as the only option) Israel's right to be secure inside the pre-67 borders, then if this factory is indeed on the correct side of that border, then some of my criticism is invalid.

Though, like you, I still have the most serious moral objection to the endless violations of international law and human decency carried out by the Israeli government.

Having done a little more research, I conclude that I must still boycott Sainsbury's, regardless of the precise location of this particular factory.

I don't find it easy to access a good map of the region which could help me with questions like this. Any suggestions ?

just some random thoughts to people who have no idea what theyre talking about: i work in a factory in the negev that packs dates, i have no doubt that they get to england somehow or other, i'm israeli-jewish and theres some of us there, there are some arabs there, most are foreign workers from thailand or india. we are all treated like shit, minimum wage, but no racial discrimination at all, so eat well and enjoy, no blood on your hands. i don't know about about elite's factories, but the fact is that, as bad as it seems, sometimes palestinians' only income is from working in some factory in the west bank that they dont have to cross a billion checkpoints to get to, so as well intentioned as boycotting those companies seem, you ain't helping anybody, israelis can just as easily move the factory 'inland' and have israelis working there. its about as helpful as boycotting left-wing israeli universities and artists etc.

Aneurin

For a good source of maps of settlements, land offers at Oslo etc. check out the Foundation for Middle East Peace which can be found at www.fmep.org. Other good sites are the Applied Resarech Institute Jerusalem www.arij.org; the Palestine Monitor www.palestinemonitor.org

Happy browsing :-)

P

Tell me, if the Scottish suddenly told you that London was their property, and started sending suicide bombers to your restaurants and bus stops, would that make the English "racists" because they continue to hold on to land that is obviously theirs? By your logic, yes.

You are siding with terrorists, not Palestinians, my extremely-ignorant friend. Remember that Jews have been living in Israel, and Nazareth, long before Islam or Christianity. Jesus was Jewish, and he was born in Nazareth. Don't you think that land might belong to his people more than to Jordanians who first claimed ownership of the Holy Land AFTER the Jews won their independance? (From Great Britain. No hard feelings, but few British colonies last today.)

You want racism? Look at Hitler. Look at Arafat. Look at the walls of Jerusalem and Haifa, parts of which were once smeared with the brains of nine year old girls blown apart when a Palestinian blew himself up at the bus stop.

As for the settlements, Israel is giving the Palestinians land left and right. However, we can't give them everything, for Israel is the only place on Earth were Jews are truly welcome. Read some non-biased history books: NEVER in the history of the Holy Land has Israel EVER initiated an attack on her Muslim neighbors or on Palestinians. NEVER have Israeli's deliberately attacked civilians. That's not to say innocent Palestinians haven't been killed accidentaly when standing to close to a terrorist leader's car when the missiles hit, but civilians are NEVER the main target. Bus bombings done by Palestinians are another matter.

I suggest you visit Nazareth, and see the State you hate so much. You will find a peaceful, wonderful people there. After all, Jesus was born in Israel, so the Jews there can't be as evil as you say… or as you are. If you want to see racism, see the graves where the dead children are buried. If you wnat to see the true state of the Palestinians, visit the West Bank! They have all they need there, and many are happy. if the security seems severe, remember that terrorist bombings have occured sometimes within days of each other.

Boycott whatever you want, but I suggest you keep your antisemitic filth off of this otherwise well-made website. Your entitled to your thoughts, much as Hitler was entitled to thinking bombing London was a good strategy. That's not to say either of you are correct, though. I am less insulted than saddened by your blindness, and your utter ignorance of the fear and suffering Israelis have to deal with due to terrorists at home and racists like yourself abroad.