Woolies’ progress on CEO and sweets nullified by Israeli ties: BDS

03 September 2015 - 14:37 By RDM News Wire

Woolworths moved “three steps forward (in terms of gender‚ race and health)” by appointing a black female as its CEO and removing sweets from its checkout aisles. But this “is all reversed”‚ BDS (Boycott‚ Divestment & Sanctions) South Africa said in a statement on Thursday‚ “when Woolworths chooses to maintain ties with Israeli companies‚ especially Israeli agricultural companies”.BDS said it welcomed the appointment of Zyda Rylands as CEO “in a country where senior positions in our corporate sector is unfairly dominated by white males”.“Secondly‚ we welcome the move by Woolworths to remove sweets from its checkout aisles‚” the BDS statement said‚ “now it needs to remove its Israeli products.”Failing to do so‚ the BDS said‚ “exposes the company to the risk of being guilty of window-dressing and hypocrisy”.BDS believes that “Israeli agricultural companies are guilty of complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation and settlement industry”.“Woolworths should do the right thing‚ end its ties with Israel and source its current Israeli fruits‚ vegetables and other produce locally or from our African continent.”..

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