(JTA) — Christian and Jewish Zionists in Brazil are marketing Israeli products targeted for boycott.
Titled “Support 729 – I endorse,” the project was launched last month in Brasilia, the Brazilian capital, at an event attended by at least 3,000 people, according to a report published Tuesday on the website of CONIB, the umbrella group representing Brazil’s Jewish communities.
The event in Brasilia featured a market comprising Israeli products including wines, olive oil, salt and baked goods, according to the report. The market will be set up in additional cities across Brazil this year, according to organizers.
“Support 729 is an initiative designed to invite Evangelical Christians to intensify their relationship with Israel beyond merely prayers and support on social networks,” the CONIB report said, citing a statement by the event’s chief organizers, Kelita and Salomao Cohen. “Consuming Israeli products helps Israel’s economy at a time when the campaign to boycott Israel products is growing. This project helps create a path that runs contrary to that campaign.”
In its report on the Brasilia event, the Israeli Economy Ministry’s mission to Brazil noted that the selection on offer was designed especially to include products that originate from areas that are internationally considered to be illegal Israeli settlements.
“All the items were selected specially, for example wines from the Golan Heights that were chosen not only for their excellent quality but also for being industries that are particularly affected by the international boycott,” read the ministry’s website, in reference to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel.
In its report, CONIB noted that Brazil has 40 million Evangelical Christians.
Brazilian governments have consistently criticized Israel over what they consider land theft in settlements.
The report did not include sales figures from the event in Brasilia.
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