Strauss Group, which co-owns the producer of America’s bestselling hummus brand, has removed support of the Israel Defense Forces from its English-language website after anti-Israel campaigners in the US criticized the company's support for alleged "human rights abuses” by the IDF, the ‘Jerusalem Post’ reports, citing a press release by the Philadelphia branch of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Strauss, Israel’s second-largest food and beverage company employing 13,000 employees in 20 countries, took down its support for the IDF, according to the release. Kate Zaidan, a spokesperson for BDS group, said, "We notice that while Strauss' English-language website no longer makes these claims, the Hebrew-language part of the site still includes them." She added, "Philly BDS is asking that Strauss Group clarify whether the removal of the references means that Strauss no longer supports the Golani Brigade, or whether it is simply an acknowledgment that support for the Israeli military is no longer seen as beneficial to Strauss's international image. We hope Strauss will confirm that the company now supports the 2005 Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel."
The Golani Brigade is an infantry brigade associated with the IDF’s Northern Command. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the Israel Defense Forces and was actively involved in fighting the Second Intifada. Last month, Philadelphia activists staged a dance around a local supermarket as part of a campaign to pressure grocery chains to stop carrying Sabra Hummus products. The activists urged the supermarket and its customer not to "buy into Israeli apartheid," and shouted "No Justice, No Chickpeas!"
