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Arab-Owned Brands Caught In Park Slope Coop Boycott Fallout
(TJV NEWS) Brooklyn’s Park Slope Food Coop is facing growing criticism after its anti-Israel boycott had an ironic result — Arab-owned products were also removed from store shelves, according to the NY Post.
The fallout has sparked backlash from business owners who say the boycott exposed the ignorance behind the campaign.
Boycott Removed Products Tied To Arab Entrepreneur
As the NY Post reported, one of the products pulled was Al Arz tahini, a brand formerly owned by Israeli-Arab entrepreneur Julia Zaher.
Rachel Simons, founder and CEO of Seed + Mill, told the NY Post that the boycott ended up targeting the legacy of an Arab businesswoman.
Simons said the decision showed how activists ignored the complex realities behind many of the products they targeted.
Vote Passed By Wide Margin
The Park Slope Food Coop approved the boycott on May 26 after more than 7,000 members voted.
According to the NY Post, 67% supported removing Israeli-made goods from shelves.
The products were reportedly taken down shortly after the measure passed.
Workers Across Communities Could Be Hurt
Simons told the NY Post that the boycott does not hurt Israeli policymakers.
Instead, she said it impacts everyday workers.
Seed + Mill works with a co-packing facility in northern Israel owned by an Arab Muslim family.
The plant employs Arab, Jewish, Christian and Druze workers.
According to Simons, these are the people now caught in the economic fallout.
Seed + Mill Says Boycott Ignores Reality
Simons told the NY Post the decision hurts morale and ignores the company’s mission.
She said Seed + Mill was built around cooperation between different communities.
The company says the boycott reduces a complex situation into simplistic activism that ignores the people behind the products.
Controversy Continues To Grow
The NY Post has reported that the boycott has sparked complaints from some Jewish members and legal challenges against the coop.
The backlash highlights what critics say is the irony of the protest — a campaign meant to target Israel instead ended up punishing Arab-linked businesses as well.
