Washington food co-op first grocery in nation to boycott Israeli products

Show support by signing their petition, sending letters of thanks

(CHICAGO 07/22/2010) -  The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) applauds the courageous effort undertaken recently by an Olympia, Wash.-based food co-op to join the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israeli products.

Washington food co-op first grocery in nation to boycott Israeli products
Show support by signing their petition, sending letters of thanks

(CHICAGO 07/22/2010) -  The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) applauds the courageous effort undertaken recently by an Olympia, Wash.-based food co-op to join the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israeli products.

The Olympia Food Co-op opted on July 15 to stop carrying Israeli products in its two stores in the Olympia area. Olympia is the hometown of Rachel Corrie, whom an Israeli soldier killed in 2003 when he bulldozed her as she was protesting illegal home demolitions in Gaza.

One Israeli product is exempt from the boycott: “Peace Oil,” a brand of olive oil fairly traded from Palestinian farmers in the West Bank and the Galilee, will continue to be carried by the Co-op.

The boycott follows on the heels of a similarly historic event at the nearby Evergreen State College. On June 2, students at the Olympia-based college voted overwhelmingly to approve two resolutions calling on the college’s foundation to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestine, as well as calling on the college to ban the use of Caterpillar equipment due to Caterpillar’s complicity in Israeli war crimes. The college is Corrie’s alma mater.

“AMP applauds the actions of Olympia Food Co-op. We hope this noble stance will pave the way for other retailers, from local stores to national chains, to hold Israel accountable for its illegal and inhumane actions by boycotting its goods,” said Dr. Hatem Bazian, AMP chairman.

TAKE ACTION

Support Olympia Food Co-op by thanking the Board of Directors. You can email them by clicking[email protected]"> here.

Sign Olympia’s petition in support of the boycott by clicking here.

Avoid buying Israeli products from other stores. Look at the barcode on packages. Products from Israel start with the barcode 729.

The American Muslims for Palestine is a national, grassroots organization whose mission is to educate the American public about issues pertaining to Palestine and its rich, cultural heritage. For more information, contact Kristin Szremski, director of media and communications at 708.598.4267, ext. 22 or [email protected]">[email protected]. To learn more, go to www.ampalestine.org.