PNA warns firms they stand to lose market

Ramallah: The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) toughened its stand on Israel's draconian boycott law, threatening to shut out companies which adhere to or implement measures enacted by the Israeli Knesset recently.

The announcement came as tens of Israeli academics, law professors and left-wing activists joined protests Thursday against the partisan measures.

The new legislation makes individuals or organisations calling for the boycott of Israeli products or Israeli colonies liable to lawsuits initiated by the boycott's targets and subsequent compensation claims. Alleged boycott victims, however, are not obliged to substantiate the damages they have incurred.

Signature campaign

The Israeli Daily Haaretz reported Thursday that a total of 32 Israeli law professors and academics at universities across Israel have launched a campaign by putting their signatures to a petition submitted to the Israeli Attorney General which states that the boycott law is unconstitutional and does grievous harm to the freedom of political expression and freedom of protest.

The PNA officially announced it would boycott all Israeli private companies which heed to the new Israeli boycott law. "Israeli private sector should have something to say about this new law and this sector act in protection of its own interests. Companies interested to have a share in the Palestinian market should never adhere to the new Israeli boycott law," Hassan Abu Libdah, the Palestinian minister of national economics, said at a press conference he called late on Wednesday at the Government Media Centre in Ramallah.

"With the Israeli Knesset approving this law, it is clear that the Israeli government is setting the stage for a bi-national state," he said.