Israeli boycott back in force

Agence France-Presse
28 June 2002

THE Organisation of the Islamic Conference is to reactivate an economic boycott of Israel.

The decision was made at the end of a meeting of foreign ministers in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

The measure, laid down in the three-day meeting's final statement, was taken in support of the Palestinians and in protest against Israel's hardline policy.

The OIC called on its 57 members to "respect the Islamic boycott against Israel and to consider its (the organisation's) legislation and rules governing the boycott as part of their national legislation."

The statement also called on each member state to set up a special office to oversee the boycott and to co-ordinate with the Syria-based pan-Arab Office of the Boycott of Israel (OBI).

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail said the OIC had "a (boycott) committee, but it was frozen and the decision has been taken to reactivate it".

The Arab League decided last year to reactivate the OBI and its representation in member states, but Egypt and Jordan did not implement the measure because of their peace treaties with Israel.