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Israeli ambassador to give gifts from occupied Palestinian territories Israeli ambassador to give gifts from occupied Palestinian territories
(2 days later)
Israel's ambassador to the US has said he will be sending out Christmas presents sourced from the occupied territories of West Bank and Golan Heights.Israel's ambassador to the US has said he will be sending out Christmas presents sourced from the occupied territories of West Bank and Golan Heights.
In a letter posted on Facebook, Ron Dermer, said sourcing the items from these areas would represent Israel's defiance of its enemies and their latest efforts “to destroy the one and only Jewish state”.In a letter posted on Facebook, Ron Dermer, said sourcing the items from these areas would represent Israel's defiance of its enemies and their latest efforts “to destroy the one and only Jewish state”.
Mr Dermer also stated they would symbolise the embassy’s protest against the boycott, divestments and sanctions campaign (BDS).Mr Dermer also stated they would symbolise the embassy’s protest against the boycott, divestments and sanctions campaign (BDS).
The BDS campaign was introduced in 2005, and demands that all food produced in occupied territories must be marked as such before being sold.The BDS campaign was introduced in 2005, and demands that all food produced in occupied territories must be marked as such before being sold.
It also calls for the end of Israeli occupation and the return of refugees.It also calls for the end of Israeli occupation and the return of refugees.
This year I decided to send a gift for the holiday that would also help combat BDS
  
In his letter, Mr Dermer wrote: “The main forces behind this movement are fanatics who actively seek to eliminate Israel. Unfortunately, they are occasionally joined by fools who naively believe that in promoting BDS, they are advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians.In his letter, Mr Dermer wrote: “The main forces behind this movement are fanatics who actively seek to eliminate Israel. Unfortunately, they are occasionally joined by fools who naively believe that in promoting BDS, they are advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
"But regardless of why they support BDS, the fanatics and the fools are simply promoting a new anti-Semitism.""But regardless of why they support BDS, the fanatics and the fools are simply promoting a new anti-Semitism."
He goes on to say: "In response to this effort to cast a beacon of freedom tolerance and decency as a pariah state, I have decided this holiday season to send you products that were made in Judea, Samaria [commonly referred to as the West Bank] and the Golan Heights."He goes on to say: "In response to this effort to cast a beacon of freedom tolerance and decency as a pariah state, I have decided this holiday season to send you products that were made in Judea, Samaria [commonly referred to as the West Bank] and the Golan Heights."
Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead
AP
Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence
AP
Getty Images
Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis
AP
Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah
AP
A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza
Reuters
Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus
EPA
A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank
AP
Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah
Reuters
Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child
The Israeli-occupied territories are territories still held by Israel after being captured during the six-day war of 1967. While Israeli governments have referred to them as "disputed territories", they are widely considered to be illegal under international law.The Israeli-occupied territories are territories still held by Israel after being captured during the six-day war of 1967. While Israeli governments have referred to them as "disputed territories", they are widely considered to be illegal under international law.
Prior to working as the US ambassador for the Israeli government, Mr Dermer was a political consultant for the former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, Natan Sharansky.Prior to working as the US ambassador for the Israeli government, Mr Dermer was a political consultant for the former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, Natan Sharansky.