The Real Cost of Dates
By Nazia Shaheed
During the Israeli attacks on Gaza a little over a year ago, I remember watching a news clip of Palestinian families celebrating Eid. Despite all of the horror and loss, I couldn't help but be moved by the Palestinian people's determination and spirit.
Palestinians face constant and severe exploitation of their land and labor. In occupied Palestine and abroad, they have witnessed the invasion of their homes, bombing of their villages, separation of their families, arrest and torture of their youth, denial of their right to return to their lands, and many more atrocities at the hands of the Israeli state. The Israeli date industry has a direct connection to this oppression.
In 2020, the Israeli date industry exported over 140,000 tonnes of dates, valued at around $250.9 million US Dollars. Of these dates, around 60% are grown in illegal settlements, plots of land that are illegally annexed from Palestinians in violation of international law. Not only is Palestinian land stolen to create these date farms, but the industry exploits Palestinian laborers who often have no choice but to work there.
The occupation has crippled the Palestinian economy, so much so that Palestinians often turn to Israeli settlement farms for their source of livelihood. Palestinians are subject to dangerously hot temperatures and physically grueling working conditions with pay as little as $3 an hour. But it’s not just adults – Israeli date farms are known to employ children as young as 11. With Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian freedoms of movement, land use, and access to water and markets, children often drop out of school in search of jobs in order to be able to financially support their families.
As consumers, our power lies within our wallets.By making conscious decisions regarding our purchases, we can send a message to Israel that such oppression will not be tolerated. American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) launched its annual Date Boycott Campaign which calls on consumers and businesses to boycott Israeli dates. Some of the major Israeli date companies that export to the United States include: Hadiklaim (including King Solomon and Jordan River), Mehadrin, Carmel Agrexco, Galilee Export, Agrifood Marketing (including Star Dates). At the local level, we are visiting grocery stores and other businesses to raise awareness for this issue and offer alternatives to Israeli dates.
The Palestinian cause is an Islamic issue, not an Arab one. Palestine is home to the first Qibla and the place the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) visited during Isra wal Miraj. It is also the birth place of Isa (AS). This is the same land that is being illegally annexed, ethnically cleansed, bombed, and destroyed right now. We must take action, no matter how small, to bring justice to Palestine. And the very least we can do is boycott dates.
For more information on how you can get involved, visit AMP at www.ampalestine.org.
