Park Slope Food Co-op May Ban Israeli Products

If an Arab buys a home in New York or New Jersey from the rightful owner, are they guilty of colonization? The Jews of Hebron had lived in their homes for 800 continuous years before Muslims ethnically cleansed them on August 23, 1929. Do you also consider these native Jews to be colonizers? What about the 400,000 Arabs that immigrated to the kingdom of Israel between 1922-1945 for a better life and work? The Arab population doubled during this time (it certainly wasn't due to birth rates)

Palestinian Arabs sold land to Jews. When you write, without knowing the facts, you just look like an ass:

http://www.israelbehindthenews.com/bin/content.cgi?ID=603&q=1

I dont understand how anyone can read the history of israel and come out supporting them. if colonization is bad, israel can't be right. if racism is wrong, zionism cant be good. is it just me?

Since the wealthy Arab families, the Nashashibis, el- Husseinis, el-Amanis, Nusseibehs, Deganis and others sold land to Jews in the 18th & 19th centuries, can you please explain to us how this is "colonization"? The truth of your history may hurt, but that doesn't mean you have to lie to tell your side.

One wonders what "history of Israel" you've been reading...

If you think Zionism is racism, does that make Islam ULTRA-racism? Based on the teachings in the Koran and the general intolerance towards others evident in the religion. An intolerance that is on display in the UN, when the nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference get together to vote the same way. 'If the Palestinians said the Earth was flat, the OIC nations would approve it.'

"After all, it was you who began the fighting, and the Jews have won."

-Major Gen. Hugh Stockwell (comment to Arab leaders complaining about their embarrassing defeat in the 1948 War of Independence.)

You were the belligerents. You lost disgracefully, it's been over 60 years. Get over it and try winning some Nobel Prizes like the Jews have been doing for the past 60 years. Arab-Muslims have been massacring each other in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Africa....

The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that this is a stray rumor and is incorrect.

"The Food Co-op is NOT — repeat not — considering a ban on Israeli products" -Gersh Kuntzman

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/8/32_8_gk_coop.html

"Kuntzman" is such a great and terrible name, all at once.

This whole story is preposterous! The lack of familiarity with the Coop's methods is sourly evident by this ridiculous piece of "news". The Coop is based on an egalitarian model that stresses the importance of the opinion and feedback of each one of it's members. Given that the current number of members is nearly 15k, one can reasonably consider the possibility that not all opinions are in the collective interest. However, this effort to listen to each and every person, that takes the time, is what makes it such a special place. It is what makes it a community. Did you follow through with every ridiculous statement your family proposed? I'm guessing not. But, you might have been respectful enough to listen to them. Anyone may stand at the open microphone at the general meeting in order to express an opinion or concern. While every member is important, many of the General Coordinators are the ones who are charged with implementing the day to day needs of the Coop and it's members.

The Coop has no history of making stands based on political reasons. The likes of ceasing to carry bottled water or ceasing to provide plastic bags have become no real action of note in this day and age. Ireland banned giving out plastic bags over a year before the membership approved the measure to do the same. As to the bottled water debate; frankly, distilled is the only water that is regulated and guaranteed "pure". Otherwise, one pays an exorbitant amount (far more than peak gas prices) per gallon for the hope that a well designed and marketed bottle of water from no guaranteed source is going to prove beneficial. It is important to note, these are environmentally sensitive decisions. NOT political actions. No companies targeted. No countries noted. Simply the equivalent of changing the source of the Coop's power to wind, as opposed to conventional (coal fired) power plants. These are actions in response to, and in the interest of, our members and the greater community of which we are a part.

I am a great fan of the 24 hour news cycle. The ability to disseminate information quickly and easily is one of the hallmarks of this decade. However, in the scramble to be first (which is every journalist and blogger's requirement and desire) there are those whose character's are not served. To vilify a group based on an article, as opposed to one's own research, is negligent and under serves anyones readership.

There is no greater way to assuage misunderstanding than dialogue, compromise, and being willing to work together. Not every person will get what they want, but mutual respect will most often prevail. That is the culture of the COOP.

What, is Nicholas Sarkozy now the spokesman for a food co-op?

Not even remotely.

I simply took a few moments to actually SPEAK to people that were there and participated. Perhaps you would prefer another ignorant and inflammatory comment?

Should you have been familiar with, or you were remotely privy to, Sarkozy's methods of expression and political affiliations you're snarky little note would not have wasted my, nor your, time.

If ten jews buy their tahini elsewhere, that's a minyan, isn't it?

Yeah... like ten Jews can agree on where to buy anything?

What exactly does Israeli food taste like? Is it eastern European in it's spices or more oriental? Greek? What?

I'm guessing it tastes like all the halal food stand stuff, except cooked by Jews.

'Cuz I've eaten from that Israeli (Hoo-moos?) place over on Kenmare/Centre and while tasty, it was REALLY overpriced.

Brilliant idea considering that most Israeli foods sold in Israel and America were manufactured in Gaza before the Intifada started in 2000. Yes, let's boycott Israeli products and at the same time reward the Palestinians for destroying their own economy and society.

I love the idea of boycotting in support of the Hamas - a government that doesn't support free-speech nor boycotts. If a Palestinian living in Gaza tried to boycott or criticize Hamas they'd be executed and listed as a "collaborator", no trial no nothing.

Also, thank you Rabbi Bachman for having a major set of balls.

He has a major set of balls? LOL. why don't you go to your land of unicorns? bloomberg the zionist overturn democracy in NYC and flew over to Israel to protect their democracy. I say boycott Bloomberg

As the leader of Native American Birthright movement, I propose all non-Native Americans move out of New York City, as this will become the long awaited homeland of the Native American people. Please do not worry about losing your home, even if your family has lived there for generations. You are free to live in New Jersey. I hear Paterson is beautiful. It's just that Native Americans have been a long oppressed people, who deserve the right to establish a nation in their historical homeland.

Thank you non-Native American people of New York for your cooperation. Oh, wait, you don't want to move? You say you're angry about this? But why? Wait...what are you doing? How dare you fight back?

Yeah, have some Native Americans strap on explosives and blow themselves up at clubs and on city buses and start firing rockets indiscriminately into Manhattan from the Bronx without regard to who they kill and see how much sympathy they get. At least Israel TRIES to limit civilian casualties; the Palestinians actively attempt to cause them, whether it's by suicide bombings or by locating their own military emplacements in mosques and schools and residential areas in a cynical attempt to sway world opinion.

they have already genocide most of the tribes of Native Americans. And now Bloomberg is harassing them about cigarette taxes. those natives never catch a break.

Felix, what is it with you and Bloomberg? Your fixation with him shows an unnatural attraction.

just a reminder that thinking Israel is wrong doesn't mean that you think the Gazans are right

I only shop at Episcopalian co-ops anyway.

Comrades unite!

To heck with those Zionist consumers!

Head to Key Food, whose, uh, "family" connections make it the right place for your saus-eeeege and gravy.

Rabbi Bachman's dismissal might have credibility if the coop members were acting alone, but this is just another of the hundreds? thousands? or actions people are taking around the world to protest Isreal's unrelenting attack on gaza and the majority-peaceful, non-Hamas palestinian people.

Never ceases to amaze me how far people in this country are willing to shove their heads into the sand. Verbal can boycott away all he (just guessing, but pretty damn likely) wants.

The first commentor was right -- there are too many members. maybe a counter-boycott will clear out the apparently violent conservatives. Heck, I'd even buy a Che shirt and call myself a hippie.

Which Che action would be supporting? The one that tortured and murdered hundreds -- if not thousands -- of his political opponents (and you thought Gitmo was bad? Ask his survivors) or the one that rounded up, imprisoned, and killed homosexuals for being "deviants"? Yeah, that's a hippie.

Also, yes, a boycott of Israeli goods would do way more harm to the already impoverished Palestinians whose main sourse of income are farms in Israel. But, hey, go for it. When Hamas sets up their independent state, we'll all rejoice at their wonderful record of human rights, women's rights, and gay rights. I'm sure they'll be wonderfully more tolerent than the Israelis. You know, 'cause that's what Hamas stands for.

F--kin' hypocrites.

By "majority-peaceful, non-Hamas palestinian people" you mean a group of people who elected a violent terrorist group acting as a puppet-gov't to two other countries (Syria and Iran) who promised to not improve the lives of their countrymen or that they'd ever know a peaceful day in their lives. Yeah, let's get behind *those* folks...

Also, I'm calling "bullshit" on making a distinction between Hamas and the rest of the "peaceful, non-Hamasniks". You can't have it both ways as, again, the Palestinians voted for Hamas. You reap what you sow, which in the case of the Palestianian is nothing as they elected to bulldoze all of their fields in the Southern part of Gaza so that they could hide the smuggling tunnels that run underneath.

By "majority-peaceful" you mean the ones that support Hamas and it's crazy, fun-filled antics?

I totally dig this photo - http://d.yimg.com/ca.yimg.com/p/081219/reuters/btre4bi181o00btre4bi181o00i29701860.jpg

Um. yeah Edge. that photo really says it all... God knows noone in this country would let their kid near an assault riffle or an Uzi or anything: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27399337/


And also yes, exactly the way I "supported" george bush's crazy, fun-filled antics the last eight years. Yee-Haw!

I guess this is more your style:

http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/photo/wire_070207.jpg

Tell all those hippies to put on their Che t-shirts and get the fuck out. They have a lot of nerve to make such self-righteous claims; I hope the Synagogue tells them to go screw themselves. Who's organizing a boycott of the co-op?

I'm 100% behind you. I will refuse to shop there ever for ever.

Well, you know you actually have to be a member of the co-op to shop there. So...you wouldn't be able to boycott them unless you joined up first.

Why not let them ban Israeli products if they want to. As the Rabbi said, it's an irrelevant gesture that's entirely self-serving. If Palestinians and Israelis can agree on anything it should be that they could give a shit about the Park Slope Coop and their political views.

Point taken, so how about organizing the members to vacate and leave the co-op for the cockroaches, the human ones that is. I wonder how park dope would handle it if bed-stuy started lobbing rockets into the hood?

The best way to end terrorism in our country is to stay out of the Middle East's problems and not bring their religious wars onto our shores. Let the Israelis and Muslims kill one another. Only then will peace on Earth will commence.

"The proposal to boycott Israeli goods was first raised by a woman who gives her name as Hima B., a co-op member of South Asian decent, during the “open forum” at the general meeting in January."

South Asian huh? In America, we can them Muslims.

Yeah, except for the nearly 1 billion Hindu South Asians in that little country called India.

Wow, you're an idiot.

ATTENTION ALL SHOPPERS! FIRE SALE ON ALL PORK SAUSAGES IN AISLE SIX.

Let's not forget strapping IED vests and belts on teenagers and women.

Yeah, and the Arabs suddenly are the good guys. They kill each other on a regular basis. Funny how Darfur actions are being ignored or overlooked. Remember the Israelis gave up Gaza and the citizens there voted for Hamas who then started firing rockets into civilian areas in Israel. The end result was the destruction they were warned about.

Most of the factories in Israel are staffed by...wait for it...Palestinians! Is Hima B. one of the brilliant NYU protesters from last night?

How many "Made in Israel" products could they possibly carry in the first place? I used to work in a supermarket with extensive Kosher and "International" sections, and there were very, very few items that were actually made in Israel.

The Food coop has too many members anyway!