BDS Activists Plan Black Friday Protests Against HP’s Support For Israeli Apartheid
By Kit O’Connell,
MintPress, November 22, 2016. ‘People of conscience today
should boycott HP companies for providing imaging and technology for Israeli
apartheid,’ declared an activist who helped target South Africa’s apartheid
policies in the 1970s.
MintPress, November 22, 2016. ‘People of conscience today
should boycott HP companies for providing imaging and technology for Israeli
apartheid,’ declared an activist who helped target South Africa’s apartheid
policies in the 1970s.
An Israeli border
police officer stands as Palestinian women wait to cross the Qalandia
checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, June 17, 2015.
(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
police officer stands as Palestinian women wait to cross the Qalandia
checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem, June 17, 2015.
(AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
AUSTIN, Texas — Though best known for their
computers and computer peripherals like printers, companies under the
Hewlett-Packard umbrella are engaged in another profitable, and far more
nefarious business: enabling apartheid Israel to track the movement of occupied
Palestinians.
computers and computer peripherals like printers, companies under the
Hewlett-Packard umbrella are engaged in another profitable, and far more
nefarious business: enabling apartheid Israel to track the movement of occupied
Palestinians.
Activists from the Boycott, Divestment
and Sanctions (BDS) movement are calling for a week of action against
HP beginning on Black Friday, the high-volume shopping day
that occurs after Thanksgiving. Organized by the HP Boycott Campaign and the Palestinian BDS National Committee, a coalition of Palestinian
civil society groups, 99 actions were scheduled in 18 countries around the
world, including the United States, as of Monday afternoon.
and Sanctions (BDS) movement are calling for a week of action against
HP beginning on Black Friday, the high-volume shopping day
that occurs after Thanksgiving. Organized by the HP Boycott Campaign and the Palestinian BDS National Committee, a coalition of Palestinian
civil society groups, 99 actions were scheduled in 18 countries around the
world, including the United States, as of Monday afternoon.
The Israeli military operates
checkpoints throughout the occupied West Bank. In order to pass through them,
Palestinians must submit to facial and and hand recognition scanners. This
biometric identification system, called the “Basel System,” is maintained by HP
Enterprise Services, a company previously known as EDS Israel.
checkpoints throughout the occupied West Bank. In order to pass through them,
Palestinians must submit to facial and and hand recognition scanners. This
biometric identification system, called the “Basel System,” is maintained by HP
Enterprise Services, a company previously known as EDS Israel.
“The biometric data of nearly
every Palestinian over the age of 16 is held by the Israeli authorities as part
of Israel’s system of control and repression,” the Palestine Solidarity
Campaign noted in an Aug. 13, 2014 post.
every Palestinian over the age of 16 is held by the Israeli authorities as part
of Israel’s system of control and repression,” the Palestine Solidarity
Campaign noted in an Aug. 13, 2014 post.
The checkpoints and the Basel
System allow Israel to drastically restrict the
movement of Palestinians, making it impossible for many
to find work. Checkpoints are
frequently the site of violence against innocent
Palestinians.
System allow Israel to drastically restrict the
movement of Palestinians, making it impossible for many
to find work. Checkpoints are
frequently the site of violence against innocent
Palestinians.
In addition to its contributions
to the Basel System, HP also sells products
and technology to the Israeli army and navy, and operates
in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian
territories. Despite international condemnation, these illegal settlements have
continued to expand, growing at a record pace
in 2016.
to the Basel System, HP also sells products
and technology to the Israeli army and navy, and operates
in illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian
territories. Despite international condemnation, these illegal settlements have
continued to expand, growing at a record pace
in 2016.
A Nov. 21 press release from the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights elaborated on
HP’s role in the oppression of Palestinians:
HP’s role in the oppression of Palestinians:
“HP companies supply
Israel with the Biometric ID Card System used to restrict Palestinians’ freedom
of movement; provide servers for the Israel Prison Service where Palestinian
children and political prisoners are routinely held without charge and torture
is widespread; manage the communications centers, information security, and
user support of the Israeli Navy as it collectively punishes the civilian
population of Gaza through blockade; and provide various services to illegal
settlements in the West Bank.”
Israel with the Biometric ID Card System used to restrict Palestinians’ freedom
of movement; provide servers for the Israel Prison Service where Palestinian
children and political prisoners are routinely held without charge and torture
is widespread; manage the communications centers, information security, and
user support of the Israeli Navy as it collectively punishes the civilian
population of Gaza through blockade; and provide various services to illegal
settlements in the West Bank.”
Suggested actions for the week
include putting pressure on stores to pull HP products from their shelves,
organizing protests and direct actions outside HP offices, and holding
teach-ins about HP and the BDS movement.
include putting pressure on stores to pull HP products from their shelves,
organizing protests and direct actions outside HP offices, and holding
teach-ins about HP and the BDS movement.
Supporters can also sign a pledge to boycott HP organized by the
Palestine BDS National Committee and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Palestine BDS National Committee and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
“Just as Polaroid was a key
boycott target during the Apartheid era for providing imaging for South
Africa’s notorious pass system, people of conscience today should boycott HP
companies for providing imaging and technology for Israeli apartheid,” Caroline Hunter is quoted as saying in the press release from the U.S.
Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
boycott target during the Apartheid era for providing imaging for South
Africa’s notorious pass system, people of conscience today should boycott HP
companies for providing imaging and technology for Israeli apartheid,” Caroline Hunter is quoted as saying in the press release from the U.S.
Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
In early the 1970s, Hunter and other Polaroid employees launched a campaign
against the company’s involvement in apartheid South Africa after discovering
that it was providing the camera systems used to create identification cards
for the country’s black residents. By 1977, Polaroid was forced to withdraw
from South Africa.
against the company’s involvement in apartheid South Africa after discovering
that it was providing the camera systems used to create identification cards
for the country’s black residents. By 1977, Polaroid was forced to withdraw
from South Africa.
