FOR humanitarian organisations with little confidence in the world's ability to rein in Israel, a wide-scale boycott of the country's goods – like the boycott of goods from apartheid-era South Africa – has always represented a possible way forward.

In Ireland, there is much to boycott. Not alone does our government have a multi-million euro investment relationship with Israel, but the country's fruit and vegetables line the aisles of our supermarkets.

The national pension fund has invested in multiple Israeli companies, including banks, a relationship that does not sit well with many people.

"I do think a boycott would be very important. It would show people that they [the government] support justice and peace in occupied Palestine and it's a non-violent method," said John Dorman, the divestment officer with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

"Doing it from grass roots shows people in occupied Palestine that they are not forgotten. This is important because they really do feel like they have been abandoned by the world."

The IPSC runs an online campaign with a map showing places around the country that sell Israeli goods. Typically, these include fruit and vegetables under the Carmel brand which, according to the IPSC, is produce grown on confiscated Palestinian land.

Jaffa oranges also feature on the list, as do various types of potatoes and fresh herbs, all of which are on sale in most Irish supermarkets.

"If people are boycotting Israeli products they are going into supermarkets and saying I am not going to buy these products and then they will go to the manager and ask him to stock alternative products or take it further, go to the manager of the company," Dorman explained. "Eventually, if enough people complain, they will stop stocking it.

"It's not just boycotts of produce; we are talking about sport or academic boycotts [as well]. When the Israeli football team comes here they are representing the state. It's not an issue of Israeli people, it's the state."

On a larger scale the IPSC targets companies such as Veolia, which runs the Luas trams in Ireland and which is involved in Israeli projects. Veolia has continued to defend its work in the region, claiming it will be beneficial to people living there.

Also included is the Grafton Group, which owns Atlantic Homecare and Woodies DIY and which the campaign says stocks goods manufactured in Israel.

A spokesman for the company said it did not discuss the sourcing of stock.

Trade relations between Ireland and Israel are quite healthy. Last year we exported €197m worth of merchandise and imported €82m worth.

Most of the money spent on imports went on organic chemicals, medical and pharmaceutical products, telecommunications, sound equipment, and fruit and vegetables.

We also bring in digital media such as CDs and DVDs, electronic components, aircraft engine parts and computers.

Of further concern to the IPSC are the investments of the National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) which, according to the 2008 annual report, had around €23.5m in Israeli companies, including technology companies and three banks.