A Palestinian fatwa prohibits any business relationship with Zara

The person in charge of the franchise for Israel met with a deputy from the Israeli far right

Oct. 22 (EUROPA PRESS) –

A high-ranking religious official in the Palestinian Authority has banned any commercial relationship with the Spanish fashion chain Zara in retaliation for the recent meeting of the franchise owner for Israel, Joey Schwebel, with the Israeli far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma party. Yehudit, Jewish Force.

Mahmoud Habbash, a judge and senior adviser for Religious Affairs to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has issued a fatwa or religious edict imposing a veto on Zara until the brand withdraws its support for Ben-Gvir ahead of the upcoming Israeli elections. scheduled for November 1.

On Friday, videos of Palestinians burning Zara clothes and demanding a boycott of the company circulated on social networks after it was learned that the Canadian-Israeli Schwebel hosted an election fundraising event for Ben-Gvir in his own home.

Among the politicians who have published videos burning Zara clothes is the mayor of the Israeli town of Rahat, Faiz Abu Sahiben. Schwebel has refused to comment on this meeting as he considers it a private family act, according to the Israeli press.

The Israeli left and Arab activists have also criticized Schwebel, criticized for his racist, homophobic and far-right positions against the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem. His position is considered extremist even by Israeli political ‘hawks’ such as former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“There are those who defend tolerance, freedom of expression and democracy only as slogans because in practice they behave exactly the other way around,” the Otzma Yehudit party responded in a statement.