First, heartfelt thanks to Kyle Smith of the NY Post for this gem of a New York Jewish story. He writes about the Park Slope Food Co-op near Prospect Park in Brooklyn which usually confines its activities to reports on safe and organic foods and commuting on bicycles; and then there’s the announcement of a meeting to “consider a proposal to join the BDS movement.”
According to Wikipedia, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) refers to a campaign first initiated on 9 July 2005 by 171 Palestinian non-governmental organizations in support of the Palestinian cause for Boycott, Divestment and International Sanctions against Israel.
And the Park Slope food co-op BDS website wants in on all that great action: “BDS is a nonviolent tactic recently adopted by the decades-long Palestinian movement to end Israel’s violent and illegal occupation of their lands, gain equal rights, and achieve peace, freedom and economic stability.”
Isn’t that special. I have no idea which Israeli products an organic, ostensibly locally-grown-produce-only type place, would boycott. Perhaps after a meal of nothing but a green, leafy salad, they just have to go for a low cost Pesek Zman… So now it’s back to snickers for the folks on the hill.
But seriously, are they for real? They write: “We think that joining the BDS movement will help send a message to Israel that it must honor international law and human rights.”
I can just see it now – Prime Minister Netanyahu’s red phone is ringing, it’s 3 in the morning, Israel’s ambassador to the US is on the line – Sir, we’re losing the food co-op near Prospect Park. If the co-op boycotts us, we’re doomed. – Fine, fine, just tell those settlers to pack up the suitcases and get on the trucks, they’ll understand…
Naturally, this whole boycott and sanctions thing is not at all about the realities of the Middle East, concerning which the sum total of most Americans’ knowledge can be written on the pinky fingernail of a small child. This is about the Jews of Park Slope being embarrassed about their other country and how colonialist it makes them look at mixers. Because they clearly write:
“It will also make the PSFC a more welcoming place for all people who want justice realized in Palestine. And taken in a larger context, we believe that BDS is one of multiple ways to participate in the global struggle against all forms of oppression.”
Naturally, we’re against oppression everywhere, but we’ll go after the Jews first.
Luckily, just as paper cannot refuse ink (been proven), the Internet cannot refuse new websites. Which explains the Stop BDS at the Park Slope Food Coop site, that just a couple days ago cited Glenn Beck, the original cite by the Brooklyn Paper regarding the proposed BDS:
“What is happening with the food co-op where they are seriously considering a boycott of Israel?” he said, likening the suggested ban to a subtle version of drawing swastikas. “When you use words like ‘I’m just anti-Israel’ or ‘I’m just anti-Zionist’ — that’s anti-Semitic.”
And that, my friends, may be the most embarrassing thing about this entire incident – that the day has come when I agree with Glenn Beck. I am not happy.
Incidentally, the meeting on whether or not to BDS the Jews takes place on Monday, 2/27. Be there, if you can.
