According to The Palestine Forum, Osaka, Japan repeated pressure on Japanese store MUJI has resulted in MUJI cancelling a plan to open a store in Israel.
The Palestine Forum’s statement read ‘For over seven months, various nationwide actions such as appeal actions in front of some of the MUJI branches, constant appeal through websites or Twitter and sending message cards to the MUJI, had been addressed as the Stop MUJI Campaign. Additionally, an appeal action in front of the MUJIbranch in Seoul, South Korea, was organised. Since the campaign was gradually growing into an international movement, the MUJI management finally had to cancel the plan.’ – to open a store in Israel.
In Edinbrugh, the City Council has decided to exclude Veolia from those companies bidding for council contracts. Scottish Friends of Palestine was confident that, in arriving at this decision, the Council took full cognisance of the argument set out by the SFP, and others, in relation to Veolia's illegal and criminal activities in the military occupied West Bank which includes East Jerusalem.
Legal opinion provided to Scottish Friends of Palestine by Professor John Quigley, Professor of Law at Ohio State University was unequivocal:
‘Veolia's conduct in regard to the construction of the tramway would seem to be "grave misconduct," because it constitutes a war crime. Prosecution in the International Criminal Court might be possible. The Court's Statute (Article 8) defines war crime to include the facilitation of the construction of civilian settlements in territory that is under belligerent occupation. The West Bank is under belligerent occupation. Under the Court's Statute, any person is subject to prosecution. Jurisdiction of the Court is limited, but there would be jurisdiction here because France is a party to the Statute, and that gives the Court jurisdiction over war crimes committed by French nationals anywhere in the world. It of course is not Veolia that is actually building settlements, but by building transport to them, it arguably is involved in the building, at least in the role of accomplice. Under the Statute, accomplices bear criminal liability.
In Australia, Marrickville Council adopts the BDS movement.
Greens, ALP and an Independent councillor united at Marrickville Municipal Council to adopt the following resolution moved by Greens Councillor Cathy Peters:
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That:
1.In particular recognition of its sister city relationship with Bethlehem and the strong support for this relationship from local progressive faith communities and other community members, Marrickville Council support the principles of the BDS global campaign and report back on any links the Council has with organisations or companies that support or profit from the Israeli military occupation of Palestine with a view to the Council divesting from such links and imposing a boycott on any future such links or goods purchases.
2.Marrickville Council boycott all goods made in Israel and any sporting, institutional academic, government or institutional cultural exchanges.
3.Marrickville Council write to the local State and Federal ministers (Carmel Tebbutt and Anthony Albanese) informing them of Council’s position and seeking their support at the State and Federal level for the global BDS movement.”
In the UK, Lib Dem Friends of Palestine joined the growing call to the British public and companies to boycott Israeli goods on sale in Britain.
We are deeply concerned at the continuing failure of UK and USA governments to take any measures against Israel.
LDFP call on the coalition government and EU to implement economic sanctions against Israel.
Chair of LDFP, John McHugo said,
“We also call for a cultural boycott of Israeli performers and artists, unless such performers and artists have stated clearly and publicly that they oppose Israel’s immoral breaches of international law and have called for an end to the occupation.”
“We call for a boycott of companies complicit in the occupation, for dis-investment from such companies, and for specifically targeted sanctions by the UN to compel Israel to comply with its moral and legal obligations.”
“During the last 42 years, Israel has transferred part of its civilian population into the occupied territories thereby setting up a form of Apartheid.”
“Throughout its existence, Israel’s armed forces have carried out war crimes with impunity, often with the open encouragement of its political leaders. Israel has encouraged a culture of denial about this in the international community.”
“The present situation is a great injustice, in which Western nations (including the UK) have colluded. It is also against the self-interest of the international community for it to continue. We in the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine join the call for a boycott and sanctions against Israel.”