BOYCOTT DEBATE AT PUGET SOUND CO-OPS
Many of you may know that on July 15, in a surprise move, the board of the Olympia Food Co-op voted to boycott Israeli products. This event has caused a stir in the region, and sparked an intense debate among co-op membership, which includes many members of Olympia's Jewish community.
J STREET STATEMENT ON BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, AND SANCTIONS
Co-op statement on boycott of Israeli products
Note from Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Temple Beth Hatfiloh, and events in Olympia
J Street opposes boycotts and divestment directed against Israel. Our policy statement is printed below. We have also reprinted an eloquent letter by David Sokal, proprietor of Peace Oil and a member of the J Street Seattle steering committee. This letter is his personal opinion, not J Street's, but it reflects the careful thought that is so important now.
J Street Seattle has been in contact with members of the Olympia Jewish community, and respects the needs of Olympians to resolve this controversy within their own community.
The Olympia Jewish community which is not comfortable with BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) is developing its strategy for responding to this boycott. We will maintain close contacts with Temple Beth Hatfiloh and J Street supporters in the Olympia area. If you live in the Olympia area and have questions, ideas, or are willing to lend a helping hand, please communicate directly with Rabbi Seth Goldstein: rabbi@bethhatfiloh.org.
The move to boycott Israeli products causes great concern within the Jewish community, especially in the Puget Sound region where there has been a bitter debate at Madison Market/Central Co-op that resulted in the issue being dropped; the Olympia Food Co-op board has voted in favor of boycott, the Port Townsend Food Co-op has the issue on its agenda, and students at Evergreen College voted to support divestment from Israel.
J Street believes that the growing BDS movement illustrates why it is crucially important to redouble efforts to build an effective two-state strategy for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As long as the dysfunctional status quo allows frustration to mount, both in the Middle East and here in the United States, we can expect more calls for BDS, which J Street sees as hampering work for peace.
http://action.jstreet.org/c/8217/t/5534/content.jsp?content_KEY=3177