From 12pm until around 3pm Ahava beauty products in London was picketed in protest over the sale of illegal Israeli settlement products at the shop. About 20 demonstrators attended, and their presence, as well as a large police turnout and a private security guard seemingly hired for the day, seemed to have discouraged people from entering the shop, Ahava did very little business during the demonstration.

The demonstration was organised by Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (JBIG), although some activists from other organisations attended. All products on sale at Ahava come from the illegal Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Shalem near the dead sea. Ahava then transport their products into Israel proper and package them as ‘made in Israel’, thus enjoying special tax rates under the EU-Israel trade agreement, in effect dodging British tax.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign branches throughout London will be conducting a rolling picket of Ahava from 2pm until 4pm every Saturday for the next two months, although everybody is welcome to attend.