Jews in Olympia, Washington held a demonstration Thursday to protest a small local store's decision to boycott Israeli goods. Protesters accused the Olympia Food Co-op's board of making the boycott decision without listening to dissenting viewpoints, and warned that the decision would lead to community tension.
One protester told Washington's News Tribune that the boycott was in essence “asking for the dissolution of Israel. The Co-op had announced that it would not sell Israeli goods until Israel gives in to all Arab demands, including the “right of return” demand, which calls for millions of Arabs who claim to be descendants of refugees to be allowed to return to live in Israel, a move which would effectively put an end to the Jewish state.
The Co-op's boycott is modelled on the Palestinian Authority's much publicized boycott, which calls to ban Israeli goods produced in Judea, Samaria, parts of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, but doesn't specify areas of Israel.
Protesters bore signs calling on shoppers to avoid the Olympia Food Coop until the store reverses its decision. They said they would return to demonstrate again until the boycott is lifted.
The Co-op is located in Olympia, Washington, a city built on land that once belonged to the Coastal Salish native American tribes. No response was received when INN's reporter attempted to ask Olympia owner's opinion on the historical expansion that resulted at first in the migrations of indigenous populations who eventually were integrated into the USA.