Posted on 04/30/2002 9:25:40 AM PDT by veronica
After hundreds of angry American citizens e-mailed, faxed, wrote to and called Texas Automotive Export of Dripping Springs, Texas, to complain of its apparent boycott of Israeli customers, a company representative issued a statement expressing "regret" for his original letter written to a Tel Aviv attorney. The company, John Harris insisted, "has no boycott of Israel, its citizens or any other country."
Israelinsider reported on Thursday that Harris had written to attorney Avi Udiz and informed him, "Texas Export will not do business with Israeli citizens at this time." In the letter, which featured prominently in stories in Maariv and Yediot Aharonot as well, Harris suggested to Udiz that Israel "rein in [its] military and stop [its] oppression of the Palestinian people." The letter concluded, "Your country has lost the respect of the civilized world."
In a statement issued Friday, Harris said, "I deeply regret my letter written in anger to Mr. Avi Udiz. I respect the right of Israel and its citizens to defend themselves. I regret any inconvenience or insult that was caused by my letter."
Harris's statement followed earlier denials by Texas Automotive Export representatives that the company was boycotting customers in Israel. "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet," wrote a sales representative by the name of Mark to dozens of people who had contacted him regarding the story. He suggested, "Have your friends place an order; we will send the parts if we have them."
Udiz, who had turned to Texas Automotive Export in a request for replacement parts for his Isuzu jeep, doubts that Harris's apology was "sincere." Udiz said, "He only issued the statement after local lawyers contacted him threatening legal actions against his company."
According to a warning issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security at the United States Department of Commerce, the compliance of American businesses to "requests to engage in activities that further or support the boycott of Israel… may be prohibited by the Export Administration Regulations and reportable to the Department." The 1976 Tax Reform Act specifically prohibited "agreements to refuse or actual refusal to do business with or in Israel."
Readers offer help, argue Israel's case
In response to the original article, many israelinsider readers offered their help to Israeli customers in need of auto parts from the United States. "I will purchase them and ship them over for them," wrote one reader from Texas.
Other readers wrote to John Harris in defense of Israel's war against terrorism. "Israel must do whatever it takes to crush the Palestinian terror machine, if for no other reason, just to save their own lives," one reader wrote. "At a time in America's history when we are engaged in a struggle against terrorism, to trash a country which is doing the same is tantamount to an endorsement of terrorism itself," wrote another.
Some readers were quick to point out that Harris's views "in no way reflect the views of the people of the state of Texas, and most Americans." But another reader, who admitted to having "immense pride in being Jewish," wrote to say that "in Texas, you keep the fact that you are Jewish to yourself, especially at the work place."
Readers suggested that they would launch a boycott of Texas Automotive Export, and any other companies that boycotted Israeli customers. One reader reacted to Harris's original letter that stated Israel "has lost the respect of the civilized world" by saying that Texas Automotive Export "has lost my respect and I will never lose respect for Israel."
Cowardice? Lack of "ownership"?
Confirms to anyone who cares to look at this that "freedom of expression" in this country is just a myth. Your right to "free speech" is always subject to taking the bread out of your mouth if you say something contrary to the "party line".
"Retractions" have become the cliche of our time. People who speak their emotional positions that are out of line cvan always be reversed when their money source is threatened.
But don't disbelieve it, either. In this case, they fell compelled to issue an apology -- now why would your company do that, Mark?
The man made a finincial decision not to do business with the client. You don't see a difference???
He could have sold him the goods and included a note with his opinion... no problems. But when he begins a boycott, it is no longer "free speech". It is now in the realm of commerce.
You can now get off your high horse.
Give me a break. A grown up should know that what he says has consequences and he should be willing to accept responsibility for his statements.
Unless you want to tell all the FReepers boycotting one company or another that they're being un-American for holding someone's feet to the fire for things they've said.
I don't see how that position can be drawn from the article. He had his say ... others had theirs. He decided that what he said wasn't worth defending against non-violent positions in opposition to his. It could be argued that his original boycott would have cost others "the bread out of their mouths" as well, so I don't see it as unfair that others took the same attitude towards him.
If he can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
This isn't a statement. This is an admission that Harris did indeed write the letter, but after public pressure, he's now backing off because his company doesn't want to lose business--too damn late, of course, but he does admit he wrote the letter and that's all that counts.
J.G.
One of the positive things after 9/11 and what has happened in Israel the last two weeks, is how these POS's keep using their own words to destroy themselves. They are so full of hatred against Israel and real Jews, that they can't control their tongues or fingers.
I'm sure that this Texas POS has been a Jew Hating/Anti Israeli his adult life. Now his own words are destroying his business and his wretched life!
His business needs to be picketed with placards showing his actual words and copies of his original letter handed out to all who would like a copy!
Agreed. He's earned a boycott from those who are non-antisemetic. Let those who agree with him buy his wares. He threw the first punch.
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