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Cape Town - Woolworths [JSE:WHL] is not the only company doing business with Israel and, given the value of its imports, it would not make a big dent on Israel's economy even if it were to stop importing the few products that it buys from there, reputation management expert Solly Moeng told Fin24 on Wednesday.
Moeng commented on the protests outside the Woolworths AGM on Wednesday organised by the public benefit organisation Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions in South Africa (BDS SA).
BDS SA has called for a boycott against Woolworths because of what it calls the company's R12m trade relations with Israel.
"On the Woolworths versus BDS matter, while the concerns of pro-Palestinian human rights activists have to be taken seriously by everyone, I do think that there is something wrong in the approach," said Moeng.
"This matter should not be Woolworths' problem alone. South Africa, led by its conspicuously quiet government, should decide on a clear policy on trading with Israel and communicate it widely. Someone needs to lead from the front."
The silence from the department of international relations and cooperation is a matter of concern to Moeng.
"It seems like someone decided to kick the stincking can to Woolworths' door and expected the retailer to deal with it on behalf of the whole world. It is cowardice and will not, approached in this way, achieve the desired results of seeing Israel improve on its human rights record and practices. Woolworths alone cannot achieve this," said Moeng.
"It's not the first time that the Israeli product issue is kicked to Woolworths' door and, judging by past experience, it will happen again if we, as a country, do not make a collective decision - once and for all - about what we want to do with Israel."
Moeng believes that Woolworths decided to go to court only as a last resort, following numerous incidents of alleged harassment of customers and staff.
"This step, though not always the best approach to dealing with such matters, is understandable," he said.
"In the end, and while waiting for clear political leadership on the matter, Woolworths and other South African businesses must decide whether or not importing goods from Israel is worth the recurring nuisance that it causes, that is, if they're incapable/unwilling to make decisions from a clear ethical stance."
