Posted on 06/22/2009 8:50:40 AM PDT by yoe
Beneath the attention of major media coverage, the boycott of Israeli products has arrived in America. Its first (reported target) over this past weekend was the couscous at Trader Joe's.
The Atlantic's (Jeffrey Goldberg comments:) "My recommendation: Head to Trader Joe's and buy anything made or grown in Israel. I hear the Israeli couscous goes well with grilled scapegoat, by the way." Rabbi Isaac Jeret of Congregation Ner Tamid in Los Angeles elaborates in an email to friends:
As many of you know, one of the most difficult challenges for the State of Israel during its recent war in Gaza (and ever since) was determining how to counter the numerous boycotts launched against suppliers, vendors, and retailers throughout Europe distributing or selling Israeli products. A major contributing factor to the difficulty in combating these boycotts was and remains the relatively small Jewish population throughout Europe, as compared to the much larger and growing Muslim population.
Very sadly, the tactic employed against Israeli products in Europe has now made its way to our own country, taking root in our own backyard and focusing its attention upon a grocery retailer that many of us patronize, Trader Joe's. Only, the difference is that, in the United States, there is a significantly larger Jewish population than there is in Europe and we now find ourselves in a position to make an immediate and very positive impact on Israel's behalf.
Trader Joe's has been targeted by anti-Israel groups for boycotts, and possibly for picketing, because of their refusal to bow to pressure by anti-Israel groups who have sought to have the store's management remove Israeli products from their shelves. The group spearheading this effort nationwide is the BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT CAMPAIGN, a coalition of anti-Israel groups that is based in Pittsburgh. Regionally, they are working in concert with the Northern-California-based South Bay Mobilization Group (not our South Bay, but rather that of Northern California).
Together with other groups comprising this sinister coalition that aims to cast Israel as an Apartheid State in the vein of South Africa - a baseless charge that reflects ignorance and, most often, anti-Semitic sentiments, those targeting Trader Joe's seek to bring harm to Israel's economy and to tarnish its standing in American public opinion by mobilizing intimidating boycotts in a most offensive manner.
They have selected this coming Saturday, June 20, as their initial, nationwide World Refugee Day. To understand their aims in their own words, the following is a quote from their website: "We invite you to organize in your community and deshelve, sticker, boycott, and protest the presence of Israeli products!"
Learn more about this immediate concern by reading (the report issued on the StandWithUs website) StandWithUs is a Los Angeles based Israel-advocacy organization that does outstanding work).
Here is what we can do:
Please make a point of shopping at Trader Joe's over the coming days and weeks. Please go out of your way to introduce yourselves to store-managers and to let them know that one of the reasons that you are patronizing their store is precisely because of their principled and courageous determination to continue selling Israeli products. Let them know that you know of many others who feel this way, who might not choose to introduce themselves personally, but who have determined to support Trader Joe's all the more so because of its decision.
Wherever you may shop - for groceries and otherwise, please consider both or either (a) going out of your way to purchase Israeli products and/or (b) thanking store-managers or proprietors for carrying Israeli products.
Via Fern Oppenheim.
The category titled Divestment from Israel explores the origins and objectives of the movement to divest all funds from companies based in Israel, or from companies that do business with Israel -- as a form of protest against Israel's alleged human rights abuses. The movement's goal is to depict Israel as a pariah state that practices apartheid and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians, and to cripple its economy. According to DivestmentWatch: "Like the 80's campaign to create an adult population that accepted the notion of a Palestinian state, the desired results of the divest-from-Israel campaign in twenty years is their next campaign -- dismantlement."
I love Trader Joes!!! If you’re on a flight to Honolulu, you can spot the locals because our carry-ons are Trader Joes bags. I once went seriously overweight on my luggage due to an overly-ambitious shopping trip at TJ.
Some people are truly evil.
Couscous is not and never will be on the list.
I would rather eat fried dog excrement than couscous.
I will however look for Israeli items next time I am there.
I just got back from ChinaMart to see if they had any ammo - (negative) Lordy - have we lost all pride in ourselves? I've fathered children and know what it does to ones weight, but I hope I'm never that big.
(Lord forgive me for being so damned judgmental - and I mean it)
Had it this weekend. Love the couscous from TJ’s!
I think that TJ’s need a web page for advertising.
Trader Joe’s Under Leftist Assault Over Israel
Fousesquawk | June 8, 2009 | Gary Fouse
Posted on 06/19/2009 12:06:42 PM PDT by americanophile
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2275384/posts
I’ll Google Trader Joes and see if there is one in Charlotte.
Heard about this on Saturday, and stopped by my local So Cali TJ’s. Business was booming, and not a smelly lefty protester in sight. There’s a store not too far from the Krav Maga national training center in west LA. It would be neat if the protestors decided to picket that one. Real cool, actually!
Without what? Could you elaborate on that? I'm a regular at TJ's and hard-pressed to i.d. what you are talking about.
The Trader Joe's grocery store chain finds itself in the center over a debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Organizers have called for a boycott of the chain because it stocks Israeli goods but no Palestinian goods.
I, for one, wasn't aware that the Palestinians made anything other than suicide bombers. (And what aisle would TJs put those in?!?)
Go to the frozen deserts section- pick up their natural lime bars (TJ’s calls them flows) for $2 a box. You won’t be disappointed. They’re much healthier and much better than anything you’ll find in a typical grocery store, such as Edy’s “fuit” bars. TJ’s has other flavors, too.
In the heat of Atlanta summers, we burn though them very quickly.
I have a great recipe for couscous vegetable salad.
BTW, all the products I already have from Israel are top-notch. I could justify Israeli products by their quality and functionality, aside from any political concerns. All my holsters are Israeli, either Fobus or RSR Defense. I think all my garage organizing bins are Israeli-made too. I don't see a lot of Israeli-made products or foods on store shelves around here, except for defense or surplus items. There are a lot of internet sites where you can order them.
I am going to look into that when the heat turns up around here. Thanks very much!!
Nedd one in Dallas ping.
I’d shop there in a heartbeat if there was one anywhere near me. Trader Joe’s has to be my all time favorite store.
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