THE HAGUE (IslamOnline) - In response to Israel’s use of force in the Occupied Territories and the official supportive position by the U.S. administration, Muslims in Holland are abiding a fatwa by Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, a prominent Muslim cleric, to boycott Israeli and American products of companies supporting the Israeli government.
Al-Qaradawi has stated many times that Muslims should refrain from using products, food or eating in famous American food chains, as a means of civil protest against Israeli occupation and practices in the Occupied Territories.
Active members amongst Holland’s one million Muslims invited MP Sami al-Faranah, a dual member of the Jordanian parliament and National Palestinian Council, and an advisor to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, to address the Islamic al-Tawheed Association in The Hague.
In his address to the association, al-Faranah said that Palestinian officials are still holding onto their demands despite pressure from the American administration to concede to more compromises, and that Palestinians are aware of lines that cannot be crossed.
“Negotiations do not necessarily mean accepting the demands and offerings of the other side, and that not engaging in talks may imply weakness and [lack of] confidence on our side, and may let the Israeli side take over the international political arena with no opposition,” he said.
Some audience members, skeptical of the argument, disagreed and believed that the talks will not bring anything in the end, and that any result emanating from such talks was more of a settlement, allowing for the taking of more Palestinian prisoners and furthering Israeli penetration into Arab countries.
The dissenters argued that ending talks with the Israelis - as prior to the Oslo Accord - would send a message that the Israelis are not accepted as an occupation force and are an artificial entity in the region.
