A Contract with the Devil

Hans Skov Christensen. Director General of The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI)

We Danes are still confused about whom to support and whom to boycott. First we were told to boycott big Danish-Swedish mega-corporation Arla because of the brutal ways in which it has oppressed the smaller dairies. Then we were told to support Arla in order to re-compensate what they lost, when their Saudi masters found themselves an easy target.

Today, confusion is world-wide. It turns out that European companies - including Danish Industries like Arla - have made a pact with the Devil

Many of these companies have been required to sign a contract, promising to boycott Israel. Spokesperson for Arla, Astrid Gade Nielsen, confirms to Jyllands-Posten (in Danish) that to this day they routinely put their signature to demands neither to transport goods via Israeli ports nor to use Israeli raw materials.

And who are you going to forsake??? Today's cartoon by Rasmus Sand Høyer.

When we are an international enterprise, dealing across country borders, religions and different cultures, we have to show a capaciousness.

However many of the companies claim they in practice still maintain an export to Israel. From Arla's home page:

Several media have incorrectly reported that Arla is boycotting Israel. In fact, Arla exports milk powder, cheese and butter to Israel to the value of DKK 200 million each year.

“We have never boycotted Israel, and we have never agreed to do so,” says Deputy Managing Director Andreas Lundby, Arla Foods. “On the contrary, our trade with Israel is growing.”

With regard to exports to Saudi Arabia, Arla declares that its products are Danish and not produced in Israel or contain ingredients from Israel in a so-called certificate of origin.

On another page Arla name their contact in Israel: "R.A.M. International Ltd., Beit Ofer 5, Nahum Hafzadi Street, P.O.B. 34414, Jerusalem 91342, Israel"

Confused? Well it is confusing to make contracts with the Devil - or with religious zealots. CBS, one of the American media, who are too scared to show the 12 cartoons, made a special about Denmark.

Michelle Malkin calls it a "blame-the-victim smear attack" and published a letter from Denmark. For this once, Malkin temporarily opened her blog for comments.