We have been disappointed to learn that Trader Joe’s Pittsburgh store carries the following Israeli products: Dorot Crushed Garlic, Dorot Chopped Cilantro, Dorot Chopped Garlic, Holyland Matzos, Pastures of Eden Feta Imported, Trader Joes Israeli Couscous and Trader Joes Harvest Grains Blend.
Conscious individuals around the world are increasingly recognizing that purchasing Israeli products is indisputably unethical; it promotes an economy that enables the execution of apartheid policies, human rights abuses and military occupation.
As a result, we requested that Trader Joes remove all Israeli products from its store shelves until Israel ends its brutal and discriminatory practices and policies against the Palestinian people, and a just and peaceful resolution is reached.
A boycott of Israel and its products is meant to send a message to the Israeli public about the growing dissatisfaction with their governments policies, and to ask them to express their opposition to it through democratic means. Without such a strategy, which proved successful against apartheid South Africa, many Israelis will remain ignorant of the abhorrence of their governments practices, which violate International Humanitarian Law and United Nations Resolutions. Trader Joes continued stocking of Israeli products amounts to facilitation of such violations and crimes.
Furthermore, these products can easily be replaced with domestic goods congruent with your position of supporting domestic and grassroots vendors and producers. Recently, the German-owned company Aldi has successfully removed Jaffa oranges and switched orange and avocado suppliers in stores throughout Ireland; while markets in Sweden, Norway and Denmark have cancelled orders of Israeli produce, reconnecting with local growers.
Endorsers: Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine, Human Rights Coalition-Fed Up!, Ohio Valley Peace, Pittsburgh Friends of Immigrants, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Thomas Merton Center Anti-War Committee, Code Pink, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom
