About the attachment and relevance of Masjid Al Aqsa and the Islamic history, the Islamic scholars are encouraging Muslims to shun businesses with Israelis more or rather boycott Israeli goods and rather shop those that support the company even as the world discussion on boycotting Israeli products and rather the products to be supported expands with the crisis. The campaign to boycott Israeli goods and businesses that support Israel has attracted international attention.
It is high time everybody condemned the activities of businesses that support Israel and boycotted them. Most of the household brands are likely to have been used by every individual Muslim. But all Muslims should boycott not only Israeli products, but also other businesses that act in favor of Israel, since Muslim brothers are not in good shape, and there is a storm that swept through Masjid Al Aqsa, a sanctuary of the Islamic religion.
Various businesses and companies, like technology companies, defense, energy companies, retail, and financing companies, among others, support Israel. There are many powerful companies providing essential goods, services, and finances, totally or indirectly empowering the Israeli economy and military capabilities. This assistance is often closely intertwined with economic concerns, ideological grouping, and geopolitical links.
The top 7 sectors that support Israel
1. Technology support
Major players in the technological sector include giants such as Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, Google, Amazon, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell Technologies. Such companies offer state-of-the-art cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and information technologies (IT) infrastructure to support operations, targeting, and surveillance by the Israeli military as well as government organizations. The use of AI software in the military is another example; Palantir currently works with the military, optimizing decision-making. Azure is another Microsoft product, an essential element of the Israeli defense technology. These technological improvements have been reported and linked to the Israeli security activities.
2. Defense constructors
Another important source of assistance is defense contractors. Companies such as Oshkosh Corporation and Lockheed Martin, located in America, are the suppliers of military trucks, fighter jets, and other military-related equipment in Israel. European industries, including Rheinmetall, ThyssenKrupp, and Leonardo, are suppliers of artillery systems and house maritime weapons and warships. Elbit Systems is the leading Israeli armaments manufacturing company, producing guided rockets, drones, among other advanced weaponry. These are the companies that make profits out of every contract that is often funded by the assistance of the US government, an indication that there was a strategic partnership between the US and Israel.
3. Energy companies
Energy firms are another factor in Israel’s power. Israel’s economy and military facilities are supported by the money that Chevron makes from its natural gas operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. To support aviation operations, Valero Energy provides the Israeli Air Force with military-grade jet fuel. Siemens, on the other hand, is working on infrastructure projects that link Israeli settlements, further integrating corporate assistance into the geopolitical environment of the area.
Retailers such as Carrefour have outlets in Israel and have supported the Israeli military in some ways. Financial firms like Vanguard and BlackRock make significant investments in Israeli government bonds as well as businesses that provide Israel with technology and military hardware. These investments give Israel the vital funding it needs to maintain both its defense sector and its overall economy.
4. Beauty products and clothing
There are numerous brands of Dead Sea beauty products, such as Ahava, Dead Sea Magik, GADI21, -417, VivO, Nevo, and Sea Spa Skincare. Dead Sea minerals are used in many of the goods made by YesTo, a company that was once established in Israel but has now “relocated” to the United States. They are available from pharmacies, Nourish, and Holland & Barrett. Additionally, they are frequently promoted through booths in sizable malls.
According to the Geneva Convention, any natural resource theft from the Palestinian portion of the Dead Sea by the Israeli government or private enterprises is considered war pillage. Based in the illegal community of Mitzpe Shalem on the Dead Sea, Ahava is one company that engages in this behavior.
MoroccanOil is an Israeli company that produces hair care products based on argan oil, despite the name’s deceptiveness. Another Israeli business that makes hair products based on argan oil is called Arganicare. The brand Ronen Chen, an Israeli women’s fashion brand, is often found in boutique fashion stores. Puma is a worldwide sporting organization dealing with apparel, accessories, and sportswear. Puma is the dominant clothing sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which sports leagues contain football clubs that are based in illegal Israeli settlements on the plundered Palestinian territories.
5. Pharmaceutical
Teva is the “major provider of prescription drugs in the Irish market; it is an Israeli biopharmaceutical firm, focusing on generic drugs. Ask your pharmacist for alternatives to the majority of Teva products; if none are available, keep in mind Nelson Mandela’s dictum that “a boycott is a tactic, not a principle.” Considered a classic Irish brand for many years, Sudocrem was acquired by Teva in 2016. Shortly after, it declared that it was moving to Bulgaria and closing its factory in Ireland.
6. IT tools and online services
The Israeli-based “DIY-website” startup Wix is the parent company of DeviantArt, an online artistic platform that it purchased in 2017. Waves is a US-Israeli joint venture that develops audio plugins. The main office of the DNA testing and ancestry research website MyHeritage.com is located in Tel Aviv. The staff management app Connecteam is headquartered in Israel, while its formal headquarters are in New York. The corporate office of the contentious internet marketplace Fiverr is located at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, while the company’s headquarters are in Tel Aviv.
Despite not being an Israeli firm, HP Hewlett-Packard should be boycotted because of its significant contribution to the occupation of Palestine and related violations of human rights. Motorola Solutions (not Motorola Mobility, a different firm) is also boycottable since it profits from the breach of the Geneva Conventions by providing monitoring in illegal colonial colonies in Israel, even though it is not an Israeli corporation. The EuroAsia Interconnector, a subsea cable that will connect Israel’s electrical system with Europe’s, is being built by Siemens, another complicit multinational corporation. This will enable illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian territory to profit from the electricity trade between Israel and the EU.
7. Insurance and energy companies
Despite not being Israeli, Caterpillar, JCB, and Hyundai provide the equipment Israel uses to destroy Palestinian farms, homes, and buildings in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Naqab (Negev) desert. Along with manufacturing, Caterpillar also sells consumer goods under its brand, including shoes, purses, tools, and toys for kids.
Chevron provides heating oil and runs gas stations and service stations throughout Ireland through its subsidiary, Texaco. As the primary extractor of natural gas that Israel claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, Chevron contributes billions of dollars to Israel’s war fund and apartheid system through the fees it receives for its gas extraction licenses.
The multinational financial services and insurance company AXA has investments in Israeli banks that contribute to funding the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements and other businesses involved in war crimes; according to the Don’t Buy into Occupation coalition, AXA is ranked 30th out of the top 100 European investors in Israel’s illegal settlement businesses.
Why do these companies support Israel?
Corporate backing has many different and intricate justifications.
- Israel is an attractive destination to multinational corporations seeking new research and development alliances, as it ranks among world leaders in High-Technology innovation, cybersecurity, and defense technologies.
- Owing to close geopolitical ties between the United States and Israel, most businesses tend to assist Israel by acquiring government contracts and aid programs.
- There are business executives and other stakeholders who, in their political or ideological beliefs, openly express their support for Israel.
- Retail and consumer products companies find Israel to be a desirable market due to its stable economy and well-developed infrastructure.
