(JTA) — A food co-op in Washington State has voted not to sell products made in Israel.
The boycott approved July 15 by the board of directors of the Olympia Food Co-op covers products made in all of Israel, not just the West Bank. The co-op has two grocery stores that carried Israeli products including ice cream, crackers and a line of baby wipes.
Olympia is the hometown of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist who was run over and killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza in 2003 as she attempted to prevent a Palestinian home from being demolished.
The boycott went into effect the day after the vote.
Co-op board member Rob Richards said the Olympia co-op wants to act as a catalyst.
“Each additional organizational entity that joins may have a very small effect on the big picture, but drop by drop fills the tub,” he said.
The co-op will continue to carry Peace Oil, an Israeli-Palestinian fair trade olive oil.
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