Tesco to Stop Selling Products Sourced from Conflict-Hit West Bank

UK supermarket giant Tesco has suspended sale of products originating from the conflict zone of West Bank starting from September, The Jewish Chronicle reported.

However, a spokesman for the supermarket told the newspaper that the move was not "politically motivated" and not connected to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

He noted that the decision was part of a "regular product review process".

The only West Bank product currently stocked by Tesco was dates, which are packaged in the territories but grown in Israel. They are being pulled for "commercial reasons", the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, two separate health and beauty product suppliers to Tesco told the newspaper that the retail giant had asked them to list all their products and ingredients from Israel and the Occupied Territories.

However, Tesco clarified that the suppliers were asked to do so because of inquiries from customers.

"We have received some questions from customers about products we sell that are sourced from Israel or the West Bank," the spokesman said.

"To make sure we answered their questions with the most accurate and up to date information, we contacted suppliers to double check our own information, particularly for branded products."

The company noted that it will not change its sourcing plans from Israel.

"We have no plans to change our position on sourcing from Israel."

In June, Britain's large trade union, UNITE, unanimously voted to boycott Israeli companies, calling "to vigorously promote a policy of divestment from Israeli companies."

There have been several attempts in several countries to block the sales of Israeli products from West Bank's Judea and Samaria, as Israel has been widely criticised for its tough stance against Gaza and Palestine.

In May, the European Union (EU) suspended imports of poultry and eggs from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and from most of Jerusalem.