‘Israeli’ products removed from Brooklyn grocery store after boycott vote

In New York City’s Brooklyn, the Park Slope Food Coop, a grocery store, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to boycott ‘Israeli’ products.

The member-run grocery store, long known for its left-leaning values and cooperative model, approved the measure with 67% in favor during a three-hour virtual meeting attended by roughly 7,000 of its approximately 17,000 members.

Hours after the vote, ‘Israeli’-made goods were pulled from the shelves.

Affected items include a small selection of products such as certain bell peppers, persimmons, olive oil, tahini brands like Al Arz, Dorot frozen herbs, Osem Bamba snacks, and ecoLove hair care products.

The boycott extends to goods produced in ‘Israel’ and in occupied Palestinian territories.

It will remain in effect until ‘Israel’ meets conditions related to international law and treatment of Palestinians.

The decision followed years of debate that intensified after the events of October 7, 2023.

Supporters framed the boycott as a moral stand for Palestinian rights.

Opponents, including many Jewish members, condemned it as discriminatory and aligned with the BDS movement, which seeks to isolate ‘Israel’.

A prior vote lowered the approval threshold for such measures from 75% to a simple majority, enabling passage.

Jewish members and advocacy groups have pushed back strongly. A discrimination complaint was filed, and a pro-‘Israel’ legal group sent a cease-and-desist letter alleging the policy is illegal.

Some members threaten to quit, while others discuss counter-boycotts or lawsuits. One local rabbi described the campaign as a “proxy war” tearing at the community.

The Park Slope Food Coop, a landmark institution emphasizing ethical consumption, now faces internal rifts and external scrutiny. While the financial impact on ‘Israeli’ exporters is minimal due to the limited products involved, the symbolic weight of the decision resonates far beyond Brooklyn.