Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

Ideas to support Palestinian businesses and charities this Christmas

133 replies

restabove · 24/11/2023 16:07

Just a thought if you need ideas for Xmas gifts, here are a few Palestinian products you could buy this Christmas, that would also support Palestinians!

https://zaytoun.uk/ - lovely food gifts including extra virgin olive oil, dead sea bath salt, medjoul dates and more, all beautifully packaged

https://cafepalestina.co.uk/c/shop-palestinian-products - a selection of beautifully made pottery, food, soaps and more

https://www.palestinianproduce.co.uk/buy-online/ - lovely food and drink products

https://www.oneworldshop.co.uk/product-tag/palestine/ - more lovely books and food goods

https://shop.embraceme.org/collections/ceramics - pretty fair trade Palestinian ceramics

Donate (please do your own research but these are listed as trusted at this link: https://www.reddit.com/r/Palestine/comments/175hn8o/donating_to_support_palestinian_causes_trusted/

(more available at link above)

https://www.palestinercs.org/en - Palestinian Red Crescent - the primary humanitarian organisation in Palestine, they provide essential medical and emergency services.

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East): This United Nations agency delivers crucial services to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are

The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF): A non-profit, non-political organization providing medical and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian children in the Middle East. PCRF Website : https://www.pcrf.net/

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières): Providing medical and psychological assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict. Doctors Without Borders Website

Please feel free to list your ideas or other local Palestinian businesses, charities or product links below.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Thread gallery
27
Original poster
restabove · 13/12/2023 11:05

ChickHenLittle · 13/12/2023 10:32

I know Zaytoun products have been mentioned before, but Oxfam shops stock some of their products - I've only just found this out!

Good point @ChickHenLittle ! Lots of the online shops previously listed are out of stock at the moment but in shops there might be more luck - have seen Zaytoun in Oxfam recently.

OP posts:
Original poster
restabove · 13/12/2023 11:04

feralunderclass · 09/12/2023 11:57

Thanks for all of these links. If anyone wants to support in a practical way, and is good with a needle and thread, check out Threads of Diaspora on Instagram. They want to keep the art of tatreez (Palestinian cross stitch) alive and are looking for individuals from around the world to complete squares that will be sewn together to make a huge quilt.

I heard a talk recently that went into the historical and cultural significance of tatreez, and how it has been attempted to be appropriated as an "Israeli art". It is recognized now by UNESCO as a Palestinian art and is considered a form if resistance against the occupation. Although it is primarily for those who are from the diaspora, they are very happy to have anyone to support the project.

Thank you @feralunderclass here is the link (assume this is correct)
https://www.instagram.com/threadsofdiaspora/

OP posts:
ChickHenLittle · 13/12/2023 10:32

I know Zaytoun products have been mentioned before, but Oxfam shops stock some of their products - I've only just found this out!

feralunderclass · 09/12/2023 11:57

Thanks for all of these links. If anyone wants to support in a practical way, and is good with a needle and thread, check out Threads of Diaspora on Instagram. They want to keep the art of tatreez (Palestinian cross stitch) alive and are looking for individuals from around the world to complete squares that will be sewn together to make a huge quilt.

I heard a talk recently that went into the historical and cultural significance of tatreez, and how it has been attempted to be appropriated as an "Israeli art". It is recognized now by UNESCO as a Palestinian art and is considered a form if resistance against the occupation. Although it is primarily for those who are from the diaspora, they are very happy to have anyone to support the project.

ChickHenLittle · 09/12/2023 11:43

Desertrose2023 · 09/12/2023 11:39

Also - apologies to go off topic but sharing the targeted consumer boycott list of companies from the BDS committee website for those interested

https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott

i know that currently many are boycotting much more broadly than this (personally I will never drink an overpriced shit cup of coffee from Starbucks ever again).

I don't currently use any of those companies, but thanks for the link as AXA are usually one of the cheapest quotes when I come to renew my car insurance, so I'll avoid them from now on.

Desertrose2023 · 09/12/2023 11:39

Also - apologies to go off topic but sharing the targeted consumer boycott list of companies from the BDS committee website for those interested

https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott

i know that currently many are boycotting much more broadly than this (personally I will never drink an overpriced shit cup of coffee from Starbucks ever again).

Get Involved | BDS Movement

https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott

Desertrose2023 · 09/12/2023 11:31

restabove · 02/12/2023 10:55

If anyone knows of any specific Israeli brands dressed up as Palestinian brands that we should NOT be buying please list below.

Hi @restabove i did a bit of research on this.

a couple of articles below. The one from Palestine solidarity campaign is from 2016 but is more focused on the British market and highlights specific things to look for on product labels in certain supermarkets.

the poster is from an American campaign but some of these are also sold in Europe so good to know the brand names and watch out not to buy them.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2020/4/24/boycotting-israeli-dates-is-working-and-we-need-to-keep-going

https://palestinecampaign.org/checkthelabel/

Ideas to support Palestinian businesses and charities this Christmas
Dilemma8188 · 08/12/2023 22:18

Such a good thread, thank you! I'm going to finally try Café Palestina soon.
I've put in an order for a keffiyeh from Hirbawi but God knows when it'll be shipped given everything. Struggled to find any anywhere else!

Desertrose2023 · 05/12/2023 05:09

For any art lovers (who are looking to splurge a bit) this gallery in Ramallah and Dubai represents mostly Palestinian artists. They have some beautiful prints and photos. Some of the stuff is very expensive but they also have some really great prints for around £150 - 200 (nb if you’re not based there shipping etc would be extra).

https://zawyeh.net/zawyeh-gallery-dubai-ramallah/

Olinguita · 04/12/2023 22:53

Silence1 · 02/12/2023 10:38

There is also a shop in Edinburgh don't know if it has been mentioned Hadeel
Hadeel Ltd | Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (goodstuffedinburgh.co.uk)

Hadeel is great! Ordered Christmas presents from them last week and they have arrived - really lovely and unique items. I recommend!

Original poster
restabove · 02/12/2023 12:12

@ChickHenLittle thank you so much, will check it out! I am loving the dark green and black one.

OP posts:
ChickHenLittle · 02/12/2023 12:10

@restabove 2 I've had for years, can't see a brand on them though so not sure if they are or were made by a small business/single person. They were from one of my parents (at least they've lasted lasted well!). I did actually buy another a few months ago, from ebay, and it's actually very good quality! I was dubious given the price but it's thick material and just as good as my older ones.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401341178062

Edit: To the best of my knowledge, although I've found the product I bought to be good, the seller isn't Palestinian, given the subject of the thread.

100% Cotton SHEMAGH HEADSCARF - Colour Option - Military Keffiyeh Arab Army Wrap | eBay

Shemaghs or This Style of Shemagh is in use by just about all of the British Forces and has been used by everyone from special forces to cadets for many years. This Shemagh is Woven. Choose from the drop down list for the colour you would like.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401341178062

Original poster
restabove · 02/12/2023 11:03

@ChickHenLittle thank you! can you recommend a particular place to get a good quality one from? So hard to know which ones are quality online. if you have a brand you can recommend would love to know.

OP posts:
ChickHenLittle · 02/12/2023 10:57

restabove · 02/12/2023 10:10

@ChickHenLittle I am getting really tempted to buy a kuffiyeh. They look practical and multipurpose and I love the style as well!

They are! I'm currently using mine as a winter scarf, but they're equally good in summer to cover up and protect from sunburn (the good quality, thicker ones - the linked ones look like they are).

Original poster
restabove · 02/12/2023 10:55

If anyone knows of any specific Israeli brands dressed up as Palestinian brands that we should NOT be buying please list below.

OP posts:
Silence1 · 02/12/2023 10:31

The Zaytoun dates and extra virgin olive oil are really nice. I've bought them locally from health food shops and Oxfam.

Original poster
restabove · 02/12/2023 10:17

@feralunderclass thank you and thank you @Desertrose2023 for pointing this out. If anyone notices any of the links on this thread are not legit please let us know!

@feralunderclass I managed to find their website from their FB page:

Women In Hebron - Women In Heron

Women in Hebron is a Palestinian nonprofit fair trade cooperative under the Idna Cooperative Association for Embroidery and Handicrafts. Idna is a mid-sized Palestinian city of around 25,000 people, located to the southwest of Hebron in the West Bank.

https://womeninhebron.com

OP posts:
feralunderclass · 02/12/2023 10:13

Desertrose2023 · 29/11/2023 13:50

All just a word of caution, please do basic due diligence before purchasing any products purporting to be Palestinian. Most of the links I’ve seen on here look pretty legitimate but it’s not unheard of for eg products originating from settlements to be passed off as Palestinian so worth you just do a quick google search before parting with your hard earned cash!

Edited

Absolutely. A lot of dead sea products are Israeli owned companies. Ditto for products from "Jordan Valley".

At the weekend I was on an online talk/meeting with a woman from a cooperative just outside Hebron. It started with 5 women, and now has 150 mostly widowed women who are trying to make a living from home. They are surrounded by settlements so getting out of the village is very difficult for them to go to work. They do traditional Palestinian cross stitch.
They are called Women in Hebron and you can find them on Facebook.

Original poster
restabove · 02/12/2023 10:10

@ChickHenLittle I am getting really tempted to buy a kuffiyeh. They look practical and multipurpose and I love the style as well!

OP posts:
ChickHenLittle · 30/11/2023 19:50

OneHurtSpaggettio · 29/11/2023 20:39

Hirbawi kuffiyehs are currently available for pre-order:
https://www.kufiya.org/product-category/shop/

That's a lovely range of colours!

OneHurtSpaggettio · 29/11/2023 20:33

Thank you so much for posting, OP! I absolutely love Zaytoun products and haven’t purchased them in a while, so you’ve reminded me.

Rachna83 · 29/11/2023 20:31

https://shop.foa.org.uk/
This is a place I would recommend and all proceeds go to Palestine.

FOA official store

https://shop.foa.org.uk

Swipe left for the next trending thread