PA destroys 6 tonnes of settlement produced pumpkins

Maan News, Palestine, June 15th 2010
Palestinian Authority customs officials confiscated and destroyed six tons of pumpkins produced on an illegal West Bank settlement in Jenin, in line with a government ban on the sale of settlement goods.

Customs chief Ammer Yassin said the produce was seized en route to Palestinian markets in Jenin and transferred the local market committee, comprised of customs officials and Ministry of National Economy and Agriculture officials.

Yassin urged residents and traders to comply with the PA boycott, which was launched by Ramallah government Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in January 2010.

In March, the ban was enforced and expanded to include all goods manufactured or grown in settlements. A month later, the Ministry of Communications said the boycott would encompass the sale of mobile phone services for Israeli providers with towers located in illegal settlements, including Orange and Cellcom.

The House to House campaign was launched in May, aimed at informing West Bank residents of the enforcement of the boycott in their homes, opting for national produce, and listing all companies and manufactures producing goods on illegal West Bank settlements.