Boots Profiting from the Occupation - Call to Action
There have been a few recent news reports on Boots (the high street chemist) seeking to purchase more goods from Israeli pharmaceutical companies and also investigating the possibility of setting up some franchises in Israel. Boots joined with Alliance in 2006 and was taken over by KKR, a private equity firm, in 2007.
Articles - Haaretz, the Jewish Chronicle
- Boots may be looking to set up franchises through New Pharm. New Pharm has outlets in most of Israel but does not seem to have any of its own in Jerusalem or the West Bank. New Pharm does have outlets in the New Hamashbir Lazarchan department stores, whose locations are not currently known.
- Boots may also be seeking to increase the range and number of pharmaceutical products from Israel, such as from CTS, Hlavin Industries, Ein Gedi, NanoDerma, Card Guard, Second Opinion, TransPharma Medical and Tulip Medical.
- Boots used to stock products from Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories (Dead Sea Minerals) which are made in Mitspe Shalem, a settlement near Jericho. A recent call to Boots customer services revealed that Boots no longer stocks these products, although the reason for discontinuing is not known.
From Alliance Boots website:
- “Alliance Boots is committed to ensuring compliance with the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, specifically,Alliance Boots supports and respects international human rights within the Company's sphere of influence. We are committed to ensuring that Alliance Boots is not complicit in
human rights abuses” - “Wherever we do business, our priority is to make a positive contribution to the communities that we serve. Community health is the centre of this activity. Through our network of pharmacies and the independent pharmacies we supply, we can reach millions of people in many countries. Being a good neighbour also means
encouraging our employees to share their expertise to help people lead healthier lifestyles. We also provide them with opportunities to devote their time and energy to supporting causes that matter.”
Contacts:
Boots in the UK
Liz Morgan, Director New Product Introduction & Development team
Alex Gourlay, Managing Director
Alliance Boots
Head Office and Registered Office
4th Floor
361 Oxford Street
Sedley Place
London
W1C 2JL
Boots UK Limited
Registered England 928555
1 Thane Road West ,
Nottingham ,
NG2 3AA
[email protected]
[email protected]
0845 0708090
Boots Customer Care,
P O Box 5300 ,
Nottingham ,
NG90 1AA
Alliance Boots
Stefano Pessina, Executive Chairman
Ornella Barra, Wholesale & Commercial Affairs Director
Steve Duncan, Executive Chairman, Health & Beauty
Registered office
Alliance Boots GmbH
Baarerstrasse 78
CH-6300 Zug
Switzerland
Corporate Social Responsibility: [email protected]
Enquiries: [email protected]
Sample Letter:
It has come to my attention that Boots Alliance is seeking to open franchises in Israel and also procure health and beauty products from Israeli companies.
As I'm sure you are aware, the state of Israel continues to breach international and human rights law by its treatment of the Palestinian people and through the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Leading human rights organisations, such as ex-President Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, and UN human rights observers, have heavily criticised its actions. Israel can continue due to the political, financial and commercial support it receives. If Boots follows through with these plans, it will be complicit in these crimes and contravening its stated policy to “respect international human rights within the Company's sphere of influence. We are committed to ensuring that
Alliance Boots is not complicit in human rights abuses.”
Barclays' image is still tarnished with their support of the South African apartheid regime, and I foresee it will not be long before similar connections with the Israeli state materially affect the company's reputation.
I want to make you aware of the growing campaign to boycott Israeli goods and services until such time as it abides by international law and treats Palestinians fairly and justly. It is absolutely clear that should Boots go ahead with this, Boots will become a primary target of any Boycott Israel campaign within this country.