DAMASCUS, Syria, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Arab Bureau for Boycotting Israel Friday blacklisted several Cypriot companies for allegedly channeling Israeli products to Arab countries.
The Damascus-based bureau issued a statement saying: "Information was available to the boycott office that a number of Cypriot companies are part of an Israeli-Cypriot group involved in exporting Israeli goods to Arab countries."
The statement said the Syrian ministry of economy and trade released a memorandum listing the names of the 48 Cypriot companies blacklisted by the boycott bureau.
The bureau is affiliated with the Arab League and is regarded as a peaceful weapon for keeping Israel from infiltrating Arab markets and depriving it of economic benefits before it commits to a peace settlement.
The bureau renewed its activities three years ago. They had been suspended since 1991 to give the peace process that began at the Madrid conference a better chance.
