Israeli envoy to enter Port Townsend fray over proposed co-op boycott

PORT TOWNSEND ­ ­-- International politics have a local spotlight on Sunday, with two presentations offering opposing views of Israel in light of an expected decision on Tuesday about a proposed boycott of Israeli products at the Port Townsend Food Co-op.

At 4:30 p.m., Gideon Lustig, deputy consul general of Israel for the Pacific Northwest region, will speak at Quimper Universalist Unitarian Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave., in opposition to the proposed boycott.

Earlier that day, at 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 1338 Jefferson St., activist Kit Kittredge of Quilcene will give a presentation about her five trips to the Gaza Strip, and why the actions of Israel in that region deserve world attention.

Kittredge was one of the initiators of a proposal that the food co-op boycott Israeli goods, which would, if approved, discontinue the sale of eight Israeli products, "until Israel stops violating international law and the rights of the Palestinian people."

Both meetings are open to the public.

The proposal to boycott Israeli goods will be considered by the six-member food co-op board at meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Quimper Universalist hall where Lustig will speak on Sunday.

Comment from member-owners will be taken at that time, but members will not vote on the matter, said Sam Gibboney, board chairman.

Lustig, who is based in San Francisco, has requested a separate meeting with the co-op board, Gibboney said. The meeting has not been scheduled.

The measure will need at least four out of six votes to pass, Gibboney said.

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