The Indypendent e-news
November 30, 2010
An organized flash dance in Philadelphia seems to have sparked a serious movement against Sabra Dipping, hummus manufacturers co-owned by the Israeli food and beverage company Strauss Group.The company has close ties to the Israeli military through its support of the brutal and repressive Golani Brigade, which has gained a reputation as an aggressive combat unit that routinely violates human rights and international law standards. Golani soldiers have been convicted of beating Palestinian detainees and forcing them to sing humiliating songs while blindfolded. The Israeli daily newsaper Haaretz reports that the Golani Brigade, “struggles with no small number of disciplinary problems and scandals, caused by bad behavior ranging from revolts against commanders to abuse of Palestinians.”
Before the Philly BDS flash dance video [above] circulated around the internet, the Strauss Group’s English-language website stated that its “connection with soldiers goes as far back as the country, and even further. We see a mission and need to continue to provide our soldiers with support, to enhance their quality of life and service conditions, and sweeten their special moments. We have adopted the Golani reconnaissance platoon for over 30 years and provide them with an ongoing variety of food products for their training or missions, and provide personal care packages for each soldier that completes the path.”
Soon thereafter, Strauss Group removed the reference to the Israeli military and the Golani Brigade from its English-language “Community Involvement” page. The Hebrew-language version of the site retains the word-for-word reference to the Golani Brigade.
The campaign against Sabra hummus, the largest producer of hummus in the world, has quickly spread to numerous US universities. DePaul’s Students for Justice in Palestine was prompted to ask for Sabra to be removed from the campus when they learned that Chartwells, a large dining services company, had introduced the hummus to various campus locations. One week after writing a letter to university administrators, the organizers were informed that the product would be removed from the shelves for the remainder of the quarter and likely for the foreseeable future.
The campaign to de-shelve Sabra has also spread to Georgetown and Princeton, where the latter’s Committee on Palestine has sponsored a referendum asking dining services to remove Sabra hummus. Unfortunately, the Daily Princeton editorial board has written against the hummus referendum, citing what they see as a weak connection between Sabra hummus and human rights abuses.
But I’ve heard first hand the apprehension and fears of Palestinians who experienced aggressive and brutal treatment at the hands of Golani soldiers. Back in November 2009, when I was with a Christian Peacemaker Team in the West Bank, the Golani brigade was stationed in Hebron. Throughout their stay I witnessed and documented the extreme and unwarranted use of violence on Palestinian residents as Golani soldiers inflicted head wounds, broke civilians’ hands, and sexually harassed women at checkpoints. The Israeli military’s occupation of Hebron is consistently inhumane, but the maltreatment of Palestinian residents by the Golani Brigade is unparalleled.
The connection between Sabra hummus and human rights abuses is not weak; it is as plain as day. Support the boycott of Sabra hummus and sign the petition letter to Strauss Group, asking them to drop their connection to Israeli army units.
This article was originally published on WagingNonviolence.org.
Comments
Unfortunately, University officials backtracked on their decision to discontinue the sale of Sabra at DePaul. SJP at DePaul released a statement in response: http://smpalestine.com/2010/11/29/depaul-sjp-responds-to-reinstatement-o...
I suppose the BDS'ers are anxious for anything that shows their movement is working in America- it seems the anti-israeli forces have been on the losing side of the BDS equation for yeras (Israeli exports grew at 33% last year)
I particularly like my Sabra lemon hummus on thickly sliced wheat bread, with provolone cheese and alfalfa sprouts.
@Boycott Sabra - Bummer, hopefully that review of the product will result in it being officially deshelved.
@Ginger Peace - Amazing the careless disregard you have for the human rights abuses and unwarranted violence/maltreatment that the Golani and Givati brigades carry out against Palestinian civilians and detainees. Hard to believe that the hummus doesn't taste a little rancid going down given it's relationship with those Israeli military brigades.
Georgia Peach, you better lay off the Sabra hummus because it's making you stupid.
You obviously think that no one else in the world has access to the internet, otherwise you would fact check (and spell check) your statements. On top of that, your "fact" fails the common sense test: how could Israel's exports grow by 33% in a year that saw the greatest global economic contraction in the post-WWII period?
Whom was Israel exporting to? Mars?
According to this report from Dun's, which specializes in economic analysis, Israel's exports fell by 24% in the first half of 2009 and grew by 17 percent in the second half. While the report does not provide an overall total, it does note that commodities export -- which is by far and away the dominant export sector -- "fell by 19.9% in 2009 to $45.8 billion." The service sector -- which accounts for only 20% of all exports -- fell by 12.1% in 2009.
http://duns100.dundb.co.il/ts.cgi?tsscript=scriae&category=83
Now, an April 2, 2010, report I found on Ynet news does state that exports grew by 29% in the first two months of 2010. But this is after exports collapsed in 2009. It states that the "export growth rate" during these two months was a pathetic .3%. (I had to look at the cached version, which is easy enough to find with the info provided here.)
So, Georgia Peach, it looks like you were only off by about 11,000%.
Sabra Hummus is good.
Tribe hummus is great.
If Ford stopped supporting American soldiers would you boycott them? You are calling on companies to shit talk their defensive force? The only reason the country is alive is because of the brave men from the ranks of the IDF, and one of the most honored units is the Golani Brigrade.
Any store stops selling Sabra, and I move on. Luckily there are millions of more people who support Israel rather than licking the bottom of the piss barrell of stupid causes to follow.
I have plenty of problems with Sabra and Tribe Hummus:
1. I think that Israel trying to export or master any Arab cuisine such as hummus is ridiculous
2. They support the most aggressive and inhumane military soldiers, who treat Palestinians like animals.
3. Israel is trying to steal the Palestinian and Middle Eastern culture, Israelis are Europeans who came from Europe who originated in Europe! They have no business stealing the Palestinians land and now their food! (Shawarma, falafel, hummus are all Arab foods!!)
Israel has committed unspeakable actions, war crimes and continues its illegal oppression and apartheid on the Palestinians.
STOP THE HATE AND THE CRIME: STOP ISRA-HELL
I will immediately go out and buy as much Sabra Hummus as I can fit in my refrigerator!
I actually will only shop at stores that sell Sabra and if a store doesn't I ask them to stock it on the shelves or I "BDS" that store and shop elsewhere. Sabra is the best store bought Hooosmoose going right now. Until something better comes up I'm gonna keep sending my money to Golani.
The hypocrisy and disingenuousness of these BDSers is astounding. I bet they have no problem buying Chinese productes...Uihger (SP) Tibet what? Hey what about how Syria, Tukey and Iran treat the Kurds? Ahh right who cares about the Kurds...Oh what happened to Chechnya? I guess Adbusters doesn't find those places politically fashionable enough. I actually don't know, I don't spend money on a magazine that wastes more ink and paper than a landscape architecture student yet proclaims to be about saving the environment and our souls.
Oh yeah Isra-hell...half of the population of Israel are the Yahudes that the non-Yahuds forcibly cleansed from their lands post '48. So perhaps at one time they enjoyed eating the hooomooos as well.
As a non-Jew atheist who's getting sick of the opprobrium and bias slanted against Israel. I've decided to shift my portfolio around and increase my holdings in various Israeli companies. Yes I'm investing in Israel, because that green tech shit is going to save the world and my bottom line.
Israel I love you if only to piss off idiots. But I'll stand by you also because it's the right thing to do. I'm not into one-sided hate and reckless sophistry that the pro-Phillistine we hate Israel crowd is all about. There's two sides to the coin and getting all worked up over some dip is not going solve anything. Oh yeah and that whole WIkileaks stuff...I'm actually definitely behind Israel.
Oh an my returns on both the hummus enjoyment and capital gains have been good. ^^0
STOP THE DOUBLE STANDARDS: STOP BIAS: STOP WASTING MY TIME WITH NON-NEWS STORIES! OH FML YOU WANKERS ARE GETTING SO ANNOYING.
WHAT A JOKE
These people should take a trip to New York, go to Ground Zero and protest there. Let them see how much support they will get there!!!!
What are they looking to do here ? Restart the Arab Boycott from years ago?? Its amazing how some people just want to see part of the situation. Whats next?? will they walk into a supermarket and blow themselves up to try to stop the store from selling the hummus??????
I lived at Ground Zero, buddy, in Tribeca — and ran for my life. Knowing a little something about being caught in the crossfire of someone else's war, it got me to thinking. Maybe it's time to LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE, stop putting military bases in people's countries and dominating them for oil barons and wacko israelis. All the rightwing chickenhawk warmongers live in Texas and Mississippi, eager to talk big while other people pay the price.
Israel is an apartheid country. You'd know that if you knew anything. Since our government is (obviously) not listening to the people on any issue that matters — people are going to do some citizen diplomacy and start the boycott of ALL Israeli products. If I can make my own hummus, for cheaper (and better) — that's what I'm doing. You can go stuff yourself on corndogs, you fat necked moron.
BOYCOTT Israel - the big bully that is always crying victimhood.
Victimhood? oh you mean the little country that 12 surrounding arab countries declared war on in 1948??? Some people need to get their facts straight before they talk
Looks like the Strauss Group is back 'on the record' (in English that is) in its support of the Golani brigade:
http://www.jpost.com/home/article.aspx?id=199315
I really liked the part of the song that sounded like a old man stuttering, but the dance number was a little weak. I give the whole effort a 4-5 out of ten. My bet is that someone in the group was getting an independent study credit.
Sabra with pine nuts is my favorite!
If Sabra products support the Golini Division then besides an excellent product I get to support the Israeli military....
I am so glad to see this article I have never liked this brand of hummus but i have spread the word to family and friends to NEVER buy it again!
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