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.

• 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.
Its actions have been heavily criticised by leading human rights
organisations, ex-President Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu and UN human
rights observers. Israel is able to continue due to the political,
financial and commercial support it receives. If Boots follows though
with these plans it will be complicit in these crimes and contravening
its stated policy to “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”

Barclays' image is still tarnished with the support of the South
African apartheid regime, and I foresee it will not be long before
similar connections with the Israeli state materially affect companies
reputations.

I would like 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.