U.K. museum lambasted over links to Israeli Dead Sea firm
Open letter to U.K.'s Independent newspaper urges London's Natural History Museum to quit project with Israeli skincare product firm Ahava.
By Reuters Tags: West Bank anti-IsraelExperts at a leading British museum should pull out of a European-funded study into tiny particles because one of their partners is an Israeli company that operates in the West Bank, British scientists and public figures said on Tuesday.
More than a dozen scientists, some from leading British universities, wrote an open letter with film-makers Mike Leigh and Ken Loach calling on the Natural History Museum in London to stop working with the Israeli company Ahava, which makes skincare products from Dead Sea minerals.
 |
An anti-Ahava activist in London's Covent Garden. |
| Photo by: Activestills |
The group said Ahava works on land in the West Bank, "where it extracts, processes and exports Palestinian resources to generate profits that fund an illegal settlement."
The company denies that claim and says it takes minerals from Israeli waters.
Ahava is based in Israel but has a center in Mitzpe Shalem, a settlement close to the shores of the Dead Sea.
"It is extraordinary, but true, that one of our great national museums is co-ordinating an activity that breaks international law," the group wrote in the letter published in the U.K's Independent newspaper.
"We find it almost inconceivable that a national institution of the status of the Natural History Museum should have put itself in this position. We call on the museum to take immediate steps to terminate its involvement. "
No one at Ahava could immediately be reached for comment. Company executives have previously disputed campaigners' claims about their products, saying they are produced from minerals taken from undisputed Israeli parts of the Dead Sea. The company also says Mitzpe Shalem is not an illegal settlement.
London's Natural History Museum is a lead partner in the four-year study, funded by the European Commission, into nanomaterials, substances at the atomic scale which are used in a range of industries.
The project, called NanoReTox, aims to identify potential risks to the environment and human health posed by the tiny man-made materials.
Ahava and nine other research bodies are also taking part, including the United States Geological Survey, Kings College London and Imperial College London.
Pro-Palestinian campaigners have previously targeted shops around the world that sell Ahava's skin products.
The Natural History Museum's Director of Science Professor Ian Owens said Ahava were experts in the analysis of nano-particles and had been approved as a partner by the European Commission.
"We work within the legal and policy boundaries established by politicians and policymakers, and would not participate in any academic or educational boycotts that could restrict academic freedom," Owens said in a statement.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
READ THE TREATY OF THE SAN REMO CONVENTION 1920 IT IS STILL EXTANT. the convention on treaties 1969
The Republic of Ireland has been a seperate country for longer than the existence of Israel. Northen Irelend has been self governing for some time now and is on the path to full independence (which the Uk would dearly love to see happen)
Yes Boycott all products from Israel. Throw away your computers as the chips where made in Israel. Your wonderful android phones, please also get rid of them. G-D forbid you have a headache, don't think of taking pills as ALOT are from Israel. The Ministry of defence should look at some of the navigational and weapons systems in their planes as again Israeli technology... You boycott Israel and there isn't much left. Why don't ppl boycott the arab world for their crimes against humanity or the constant verbal and physical attacks of Jews and Christians? I dont call the boycott campaigners double standards but they must really do their homework. Does boycotting Israel also mean boycotting companies that donate money to Israel??
Its very easy and particularly satisfying in tha face of statments like yours. One can look up on any one of a number of BDS websites for lists of tech with no Israeli fingerprint. My Laptop (and yes - the chip inside) was manufactured in Korea, as was my Android phone. As for Paracetamol - thats a hillarious claim. It is now patent free and has been for years. Mine are made by Boots in jolly old blighty. Other than Microsoft - it is really easy to Boycott Israeli goods. MS is hardly Israeli, it is an extraction model with the profits going to shareholders and is hardly going to sustain Isreal on its own)
The purpose of a boycott is to hurt the opposing party, not myself. So if I should need something from Israel, why not use it, Besides, you are badly mistaken that there are any products from Israel that cannot be had from alternative suppliers, if need be. And should this or that chip from Israel be used in a computer or a smartphone, this does not make the whole thing an Israeli product.
What about boycotting China over Tibet, Russia over the persecution of Muslims in Checheya? etc, etc. I have not seen any demonstrations in foreign capital cities - by caring Muslims - against the events unfolding in Syria. Whatever ones thoughts about the rights or wrongs of the Israel/Palestinian problem, why are the Israelis/Jews singled out? It seems like Hubris and double standards only apply against Israel
I would wager a fair bit of money that you could find quite a few examples of such demonstrations (or as in this case "open letters") simply by searching on google. Your notion that Israel is singled out is based on the information that is available to you. The fact that Israeli media is more likely to report about activities directed against Israeli policy does not mean that activities directed against Syrian policy are any less frequent. I sincerely doubt that you have knowledge of all (or even a very minute percentage) of all actions that are taken by activists all over the globe.
I thank British citizens for doing what their government mostly fails to do - standing up for human rights, not only in rhetoric but also in action, and not only when countries like Iran are concerned, but also when "Western" nations like Israel violates the rights of Palestine's true natives. I'm not a religious person, but God bless you.
but uk had problems breaking ties with south africa too.
Israel is swo connected economically to settlers that it is difficult to recognize origin of Israel products
In fact international law classes the territory as disputed (FACT). There is no doubt that negotiations should be taking place to end each other’s territorial claim but while Israel has not partner for peace this can not be possible. In the meantime AHAVA has every right to continue business in anyway it likes.
The territoris are not classified under international las as 'disputed'. That's hasbara. It's like me claiming Manhattan and then insisting that Manhattan is 'disputed territory' because I'm disputing it. No country on earth recignises Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank and all regard the settelments as contrary to international law.
are disputed,etherwise his JUst England wouldn't has gone against the "World Opinion" prior to 67,would she ?
its isputed michael beuse it was occupied by turks for 500 years who gave arabbs no rights whatsoever! then by the british for 30 years on the excuse that they were mandated to provide ajewish state !
for standing up to what can be considered a blatant breaking of international laws. Syphoning off resources from your neighbor is even in a basic situation, downright criminal. Thank you to those who bring this matter to world attention.