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To the Board of The Olympia Food Co-op Market,
I am writing as a concerned citizen of Washington State, asking you to reconsider your decision to boycott Israeli products and to not divest any funds from Israel. Do you realize that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East? Do you understand that Israel is our greatest ally? Your decision behind closed doors is a mistake for which you should correct. I understand some in your co-op are Jewish and proud of your decision. I must ask them, do you think that is how some of the Jewish leaders felt in the Holocaust when they supported Hitler? How do you think they felt when they realized they were involved with the slaughter of their own people.
Have any of you walked the borders of Israel? Met with families who live in border towns like Sderot, a town that has been hit with thousands of rocket attacks since the pullout of Gaza. Have you held the hand of a holocaust survivor who has returned home to his beloved land? Have you met with business or political leaders to learn what Israel is doing for their neighbors? Have you talked with the truck drivers who take in loads of food and aid, daily to Gaza from Israel? Well I have and so have many of my friends!
Your decision is one of complete ignorance. Why are you not boycotting China, where a baby girl can be thrown by the wayside because she has no value? What about Africa and the slaughtering of thousands of christians by extreme muslim groups in Sudan? What about Arab countries, where a man will be hung if he is homosexual? Where women and children are strapped with bombs and sent to Israel to blow up a few Jews! Where a woman can be beaten by her husband and it’s accepted? What about these human atrocities?
Finally, why are you not boycotting Gaza it’s self until they release IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit? Gilad was captured in 2006 by Hamas and has been held captive since. Hamas has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit on the grounds that any such visit could betray the location where Shalit is being held. Several human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit’s detention are contrary to international humanitarian law. The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, called for Shalit to be released. Contrary to this Israel has release several terrorist’s from their prisons only to have them attack again.
Who’s playing fair here.
Ask yourself, why are you really boycotting Israel? The only true freedom in the Middle East! Is this really an informed decision or a politically correct one?
I urge you to change your decision and apologize for making a misguided decision to begin with. Then take take a trip to Israel and educate yourself. I would be willing to help you.
Sincerely,
Tani Zarelli Concerned Citizen of Washington State.
Tani,
I’m in total & complete agreement. I am one of those people you spoke of who have been there & seen for myself the truth of the matter. I can confirm that even though I haven’t been inside Gaza, boycotting Israel is not the answer.
THANK YOU,
Debra Martinez:)
Great letter Tani… I look forward to standing in support of Israel in any way possible.
Thank you Tani, for confronting these people about their idiotic, ignorant decision. I live here in Rachel Corrie land. Her parents have a lot of political influence here. I was not aware the Oly Food Co-op had done this. I don’t know how those so-called Jews can look at themselves in the mirror. I have been to Sderot as a volunteer and seen the reality of the situation. God bless you Tani. Let me know how I can help.
Thank-you, Tani, for standing with Israel against this stupid boycott. I was happy, recently to find Israeli grown peppers in a Safeway store here. We should all buy Israeli products whenever we can. And businesses should count it a privilege to sell Israel’s high-quality products.