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Last update - 13:25 17/04/2009
Pro-Israel boycott group: Dutch Jewish leadership 'abusing' our postal system
By Cnaan Liphshiz, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Netherlands 

A Dutch consumer rights group promoting a ban on Israeli goods is planning to take legal action against one of the Netherland's largest Jewish institutions for alleged "abuse" of the postal system. The Jewish group denies foul play.

Peace, which is advocating a boycott of Israeli goods from the West Bank, says the umbrella group for the Jewish Orthodox communities in the Netherlands, NIK, deliberately caused it losses of thousands of euros.

Peace argues that NIK did this by using its Web site to encourage people to send thousands of Peace's prepaid envelopes through a mailing service that allows anyone to send mail to certain organizations at no charge, since the organizations pay the postal fees after delivery.
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"For two weeks now we have been receiving empty envelopes which we put out for people to support our campaign," said Peace chairman Joost Hardeman. "We of course had to pay for this traffic. This illegal manipulation by NIK of the Royal Mail service has forced us to cancel our mail arrangement, and we are preparing a lawsuit against them to cover our costs."

The Amsterdam-based group is also planning to take legal action against two operators of pro-Israel Web sites, including a blog, that advertised Peace's prepaid mailbox.

Ruben Vis, secretary general of NIK, confirmed that the address of Peace's prepaid mailbox was posted on his organization's site, but said that was part of a report about Peace's claims that the Israeli Embassy was pressuring a publisher to drop a pro-boycott ad campaign. The embassy has denied this.

"Certain individuals may have decided to mail back to Peace their own prepaid envelopes, but NIK is certainly not involved," Vis said.

Hardeman, who is Jewish and says he supports Israel but opposes its occupation of Palestinian land, said Peace will nonetheless attempt to show NIK is to blame for "the abuse of the mail system."

The Israel Products Center, a Netherlands-based online store specializing in Israeli goods, recently complained to the Dutch advertising ombudsman organization that Peace's campaign against Israeli products has caused it financial damages because it directly targets their livelihood and brand.

Hardeman rejects the allegation. "We do not propose a comprehensive ban on Israeli goods, and we are opposed to this," he said. "We only demand that consumers be made aware, through labeling, of the origins of the goods they are purchasing. That way they can decide whether they want to buy a product which comes from Palestinian land that is illegally occupied by Israel."

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  • Jewish group in Italy slams boycott initiative of Jewish-owned shops
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      1.   Sign me up. Kudos to NIK 02:43  |  Schmidlap 17/04/09
      2.   Sheep 03:32  |  utagawa 17/04/09
      3.   When you piss into the wind, ... 03:37  |  Jasper 17/04/09
      4.   Reminds me of Frank Zappa. 04:20  |  Lou Medel 17/04/09
      5.   "the abuse of the mail system." 04:57  |  Arie 17/04/09
      6.   Illegally occupied land 05:42  |  Great White North 17/04/09
      7.   better on their dime 05:45  |  KOFI 17/04/09
      8.   Huh? 05:59  |  Sas 17/04/09
      9.   Wot? won`t the saudis reimburse you? 06:29  |  J Donald 17/04/09
      10.   "CONSUMER group"should be honest enough to label themselves right 08:55  |  PETER SM 17/04/09
      11.   Dutch Anti-Semites... 09:10  |  Yosemite 17/04/09
      12.   Hmm? 09:28  |  JBT 17/04/09
      13.   Another "envelope" scandal. 10:36  |  Stephen. 17/04/09
      14.   Interesting rules of engagement 10:51  |  Wendy 17/04/09
      15.   Why are so many boycott leaders Jewish? 14:41  |  Michael 17/04/09
      16.   interesting 15:19  |  potobac 17/04/09
      17.   Good job Dutch Jews!! 16:22  |  Jewish State 17/04/09
      18.   Why other countries not? 17:28  |  Daniel 17/04/09
      19.   Baiting the pro-Israelis 18:02  |  Akiva P 17/04/09
      20.   What is Illegal of This? - Anyone Please Advise 18:15  |  Eli 17/04/09
      21.   the enthusiasm to boycott israel 19:04  |  harzion 17/04/09
      22.   #19 Eli - advise request 21:26  |  Manny Goldstein 17/04/09
      23.   Your loony left is even loonier 23:53  |  Forrest Schmidt 17/04/09
      24.   To Manny Goldstein: The ones breachign trust are anti-Israelis 05:57  |  Lili 18/04/09
      25.   Can`t stand heat? Get out of kitchen 06:03  |  Darling 18/04/09
      26.   Sharia Law in Holland 06:41  |  Echte Nederlander 18/04/09
      27.   Peace whines 08:59  |  Kroesen 18/04/09
      28.   Empty Envelopes 09:47  |  Michael D. 18/04/09
      29.   Ridiculous 20:54  |  Eszter 18/04/09
      30.   What is wrong with protesting against fraud? 10:08  |  John 19/04/09
      31.   Why are so many boycott leaders Jewish? 19:23  |  Not fooled 19/04/09
      32.   Pre-paid 19:33  |  Edi 19/04/09
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