International Jewish Statement of Support for the Olympia Food Co-op’s Boycott of Israeli Products
We, as members of Jewish civil society working for justice and peace, wish to strongly voice our support for the Olympia Food Co-op’s recent decision to honor the growing international movement for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel, by instituting a boycott of Israeli products.
Jewish voices are often given greater weight on this issue – and we proudly raise ours in support of the boycott – but the guiding perspective must come from those principally affected by the occupation, the Palestinians. Palestinian Civil Society (an overwhelming majority of organizations representing Palestinian refugees, Palestinians under occupation, and Palestinian citizens of Israel) has called for a boycott until Israel meets its obligation to recognize Palestinian self-determination and complies with the precepts of international law.
As Jews, we reject the notion that Jewish identity demands unconditional support for the government of Israel and its human rights abuses. This expectation is particularly egregious when it is invoked to obstruct genuine attempts to work for peace and justice, effectively confining the matter to a “Jewish” affair, rather than honoring our commitments to universal human rights and public accountability.
We therefore want to thank the Olympia Food Co-op for what we believe to be a major step forward in working towards peace and justice in Palestine/Israel, and, furthermore, towards the reclamation of our Jewish identity. We hope that many others will be inspired by their example and follow in their footsteps.
Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods, UK
Not in Our Name, Argentina
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network-Toronto (IJAN -Toronto)
Women In Solidarity With Palestine (WSP-Toronto)
Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Near East, Austria
French Jewish Union for Peace
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
Rabbi Alissa Wise
Jews Against Zionism
Jews Say No!, NYC
Naomi Klein
Not In Our Name (NION), Jews Opposing Zionism, Canada
Rete-ECO – the Italian network of Jews against the Occupation
American Jews for a Just Peace
