**Note: This is the same boycott wording that was posted to this blog several weeks ago. A member asked us to revise some language in the introduction that they considered misleading, and we did so. Otherwise, this is the same.**
One point of confusion and disagreement in the recent boycott of Israeli-made products has been the question of “What will end the boycott?” The original language that the Board of Directors consented to was broad, and ambiguous enough to lend itself to a variety of interpretations - many of which were far from what the Board intended when they originally consented to the proposal.
After many long, late-night meetings, and frequent communication with members of differing viewpoints, the Olympia Food Co-op Board consented (with two stand asides) to a new definition of “what will end the boycott.”
Below is the rewritten version of the last section of the Co-op’s original boycott statement. The first part gives an overview of the Palestinian Civil Society’s conditions for ending the boycott (the original language), and the second part outlines the actions that will end the Olympia Food Co-op’s participation in the boycott (the new language.)
What will end the boycott.
The Palestinian Civil Society call for Boycott, Divest and Sanction of Israel outlines the following conditions for ending the boycott.
1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
The Olympia Food Co-op's participation in the boycott will end when the following conditions are met:
1A. Israel ends its occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. These lands have been identified as occupied by organizations and agencies as diverse as the United Nations Security Council, the U.S. State Department, the International Court of Justice, International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
1B. Israel dismantles the Wall in accordance with the 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice.
2. Israel recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality.
3. Israel agrees to a plan to allow Palestinian “refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours” to do so, or to receive just compensation for their losses.
