| Co-op would be second in the nation if it approves Israeli product proposal | ||||||
A representative of the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest will be in Port Townsend Sunday, two days before the Port Townsend Food Co-op board is set to decide on a proposed boycott of seven Israeli-made products. Gideon Lustig of the Israeli consulate in San Francisco is set to speak at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the same venue for the Food Co-op board meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at which the board is set to decide on a member-proposed boycott. The boycott’s purpose, say organizers, is to send Israel a message “due to social, political and environmental practices of the Israeli government,” particularly related to Palestinians. “The consulate is very aware of the boycott movement and wants to make sure people have their perspective in addition to hearing from local advocates on both sides,” said Rob Jacobs of StandWithUs, an organization that promotes Israel’s image around the world. Lustig is the second highest-ranking Israeli official in the Pacific Northwest, according to Jacobs. If the co-op were to boycott its eight Israeli-made products, it would be only the second co-op in the United States to do so, according to co-op member and boycott proponent Kit Kittredge. She has visited Gaza five times in the last two years and is a peace activist from Quilcene. Weighing comments The co-op board is weighing what board chair Sam Gibboney says are “hundreds of comments” since the boycott was first proposed in July. (Many have been published in the Leader; see more starting on page C-6.) While people disagree about a boycott of the products – Peace Oil olive oil, bulk paprika and couscous, Tropical Source mint chocolate bars, two kinds of pretzels and Dead Sea bath salts – both sides say they hope the discussion will lead to a greater understanding of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Once the board decides “in a transparent and civil manner,” Gibboney hopes the co-op can move on. “I hope to honor the fact that we had a great deal of controversy regarding this issue and have emerged on the other side intact and respectful of the diversity of opinion by our owner-members,” she said. The issue Co-op members first proposed a boycott at the July 6 board meeting. On July 15, the Olympia Food Co-op board adopted a boycott of all Israeli products. That made the front page of a newspaper in Israel, said boycott supporter Jim Watson. Gibboney has remained publicly neutral. She said she was not aware of anyone who had canceled co-op membership due to the controversy. At the Sept. 21 meeting, co-op members are expected to speak for about 90 minutes before the board votes, Gibboney said. She expects a time limit of two to three minutes per speaker. Informational meetings There are several informational events leading up to the board vote next Tuesday. Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosts a forum on peace at 7 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 2333 San Juan Ave. in Port Townsend. Panelists include Kit Kittredge, Linda Frank, David Sokal, Lisa Orlick and Rainer Waldman Adkins. Professor Roberta Seid was planning to replace Rob Jacobs as a representative of StandWithUs, but now Jacobs will be speaking. That change was made late Tuesday after the Leader went to press. (See related story below.) Kittredge also hosts a slide show presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Masonic Hall at 1338 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend. She will talk about her trips to Gaza between March 2009 and August 2010. She expects to repeat the program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Port Townsend Masonic Hall. Lustig of the Israeli consulate is set to speak at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, also at Quimper Unitarian. Article Source |
