Walmart have sparked controversy by offering an Israeli Army soldier’s outfit as a children’s Halloween costume.
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The costume is retailing for $27.44 and it includes an Israeli soldier uniform, a red hat and a belt.
A few blasted the get-up as poor taste – especially since it’s being sold during a time of heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
While another person added: “Be a systematic genocide enforcing sociopath this Halloween with this kids” Israeli soldier costume’. Way to go teaching kids to dress up like murderers!
The costume is stirring up strong feelings among critics on social media, including Alternet.org writer Max Blumenthal, the son of journalist and former political aide Sidney Blumenthal, who wrote on Twitter, “Walmart is promoting occupation and the killing of innocent children this Halloween”.
Several people have taken to Walmart’s website to condemn the costume in the reviews.
Another costume sold by Walmart, called “Sheik Fagin”, offers an abnormally elongated prosthetic nose described as “perfect for an Arab Sheik” and advertised on a model wearing a keffiyeh – a headdress popular in parts of the Middle East.
Its large, hook-nosed appearance and the use of the name Fagin – referring to a character in Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist – appear also to play into anti-Semitic stereotypes.
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In June, Walmart was forced to apologize after it baked a cake featuring the ISIS-flag. Two years ago, it was also forced to withdraw an Osama bin Laden costume.
