Ireland is warm, the air is is thrumming with the music of bees, and I am enjoying the season. Warm weather brings dietary changes. I love avocados, oranges, and dates. How about you?

We import a lot of fruit here. To reduce the air miles and sea pollution involved, I buy items from the nearest countries. As for stopping the purchase of imports completely, there’s no way that I will stop buying flavour-loaded fruit.

Did you that many foods sold in Ireland come from Israel?

Genocide is not something that any human with a heart can condone. It’s horrific that in 2025 a military force is engaged in ethnic cleansing, starving children to death, and murdering people at will.

We can’t stop the terror that Palestinians feel, however there are many ways to show solidarity.

COMPANIES IN ISRAEL

Israel is home to a diverse range of enterprises in the pharmaceutical, ‘military defence’ (aka ethnic cleansing), and technology sectors.

Wix is an Israeli company. Do you have a Wix website? If my website was hosted by Wix, I’d move to a different service for sure.

Artists selling work through Deviant Art might not be aware that Deviant is a subsidary of Wix.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) website states that “The Israeli barcode starts with the numbers 729. However, it doesn’t necessarily appear on all Israeli products.“

We need to be vigilant.

FOOD ITEMS

Did you know that Israeli new potatoes and carrots are exported to Ireland? Whatever country you are in, check the labels of your purchases if you decide to boycott Israeli goods.

Tivall is an Israeli company that produces vegetarian foods.

Sabra is an Israeli company that sells hummus and dips. It is connected with the Strauss Group which provides financial support to the Israeli occupation forces.

Basil, dill, tarragon, parsley, sage, rosemary, mint, chives and other herbs are commonly imported from Israel. Check the labels on everything.

WILL YOU PUT PEN TO PAPER?

Anyone can write to Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Supervalu, Aldi and Lidl.

Imagine if millions of people ask their local supermarkets to stop dealing with the oppressors? Imagine if we informed them that we will boycott all Israeli goods.

Dead Sea beauty products, made in Israel, are presented under many brand names including, Ahava, Dead Sea Magik, VivO, Nevo and Sea Spa Skincare.

SUPPPORT ARTISTS FROM PALESTINE

Some of my favourite Palestinian artists are listed in the links below. You can find plenty more online. Why not go see what they are up to?

Many of us sell our art and donate the proceeds to the Palestinian Children Relief Fund (PCRF), Doctors without Borders, and others. Money is also being raised to get to people on the ground in Gaza.

If you are not an artist, you could buy a raffle ticket to support fundraisers in your area, or help to promote gigs.

In a world where apathy and cruelty exist, there is also compassion, action, and hope. Thanks for reading.

-Kathryn.

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FURTHER READING AND LINKS

Palestinian artists; Saj Issa, Malak Mattar, and Laila Ajjawi.

There’s lots of excellent information from Artists for Palestine UK here: https://artistsforpalestine.org.uk/reasons-not-to-boycott/

My latest peace poem: https://kathryncrowley.eu/poetry/

A list of companies from Israel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_of_Israel

Boycott Israeli goods: https://www.ipsc.ie/campaigns/consumer-boycott