Areas of West Belfast have vowed to stop selling Israeli goods to “take a stand against the ongoing genocide”
By Ruby Hegarty
Twinbrook, Lagmore, Mount Eagles, Poleglass, St James’s, Rock Streets, Lenadoon and Glencolin are among the growing neighbourhoods that have declared ardent support for Lasair Dhearg’s ‘Israeli-Goods Free Zones’ campaign.
“The Irish people know full well the real and human cost of colonisation, displacement and genocide,” said Pól Torbóid of Lasair Dhearg, speaking of the reasoning behind the scheme’s popularity.
“It is our view that the Zionist state of Israel is intent on the complete eradication of Palestinians from Palestine, either through displacement or death. The state of Israel is pro-actively committing the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, as governments across the collective ‘West’ look the other way,” Mr Torbóid further explained.
This sentiment was shared by many activists in Northern Ireland, prompting the collective effort to implement a visible and effective removal of products from sale that are “specifically marked as ‘Made in Israel’”.
“This is in line with the global calls for boycott,” assured the Lasair Dhearg activist.
The community “has had a long and proud association with the people of Palestine and this campaign is just an extension of that solidarity” said Padraig Walsh, a Queen’s University student from West Belfast. “It is definitely well received within the community and is just about as much as we can do to impact the situation over there” he added.
Torbóid notes that the campaign's current success is perhaps nailed down to this very notion.
“It is quite clear that we are building the campaign in highly politicised communities where significant numbers are already aware of what is going on- and are more supportive of the campaign and what it aims to achieve.”
This is why Lasair Dhearg’s activists decided to “start from the outskirts of West Belfast,” working their way “throughout the west of the city” and in toward the centre, explained Mr Torbóid. As of January 4th, 2024, the organisation has declared Twinbrook; Lagmore, Mount Eagles, Poleglass, St James’s, Rock Streets, Lenadoon and Glencolin as “Israeli-Goods Free”.
There are also “a number of other areas nearing completion, which will be announced soon”.
The overall aim of the campaign in Belfast is to put significant pressure on larger retailers, “like Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Lidl,” added the activist. These businesses “have so far refused to remove goods marked ‘Made in Israel’, even when faced with ongoing protests at their stores.”
“Businesses are asked to support [the campaign] in a number of ways,” further clarified Mr Torbóid. The protocol for joining the campaign was outlined by the Lasair Dhearg activist, with businesses asked to:
“Confirm that they do not stock and will not stock goods marked ‘Made in Israel’”
“Sign a register committing them to that outcome”
“Place signage near their business entrance confirming that no goods marked ‘Made in Israel’ are available for sale”
Looking forward, Lasair Dhearg’s work “progresses to link all these areas up into one massive ‘Israeli Goods Free Zone,’” citing the organisation’s desire for “locals and shoppers” to “know that they can shop with peace of mind in local stores and without fear that their purchase will support genocide”.
Edited by Alice Wesley