Retail outlet Sears says they will remove shirts that say “Free Palestine, End the Israeli Occupation” from its online marketplace after the store faced pushback from shoppers threatening to boycott the retailer.
“These items were being sold by a third-party seller via the Sears Marketplace. Given the feedback we’ve received, they are being removed,” a Sears spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the listing for the shirt is no longer available on Sears’ website.
The shirts in question featured a clenched fist with the colors of the Palestinian flag and accused Israel of occupying Palestinian territory.
Pro-Israel supporters voiced their disgust with the retail chain on social media for featuring the shirts and started a #BoycottSears campaign on Twitter.
Here's a screenshot of the anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas propaganda @sears is selling. That fist is an instruction, isn't it? #BoycottSears pic.twitter.com/9D6vkdZRp1
— Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) June 6, 2017
“Here’s a screenshot of the anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas propaganda @sears is selling. That fist is an instruction, isn’t it? #BoycottSears,” lawyer and author Ezra Levant wrote.
https://twitter.com/PamelaGeller/status/872160456416403457
“#Sears, it didn’t work for the Nazis, it won’t work for you. Stop. @sears,” wrote Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative.
Pro-Israel advocacy group Israel’s Voice also urged its supporters to call and email Sears to ask why the retail chain is selling what they view as anti-Israel propaganda.
“This is wrong on so many levels. There is a difference between free speech and incitement,” the group writes on its website. “This is a subliminal message to kill Israelis and erase Israel from the map. I urge everyone who supports and cares about Israel to call Sears and demand they take it off their line. If they refuse, it is time to boycott Sears, this is not OK and it’s dangerous.”
Sears, in response to its critics, said that although the items will not be sold anymore, the retail chain says it is not the only retailer selling these types of items and believes the store is being “unfairly” singled out.
“We believe we’re being unfairly singled out on this issue given that these same items are available on Amazon, Walmart.com, and eBay,” the spokesman said. “It’s very important to note that we serve a broad base of customers around the country and around the world, and employ people around the world, including nearly 200 in Israel.”
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