The BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement is an tactic from the anti-apartheid effort now adopted by the anti-Israel groups in the US and Europe. Of course, it completely ignores the actual fact, which is that Arabs in the State of Israel have citizenship and full and equal political and civil rights.

Periodically, this effort targets stores selling Israeli products, in an effort to persuade them to stop stocking them. This time, they have focused their efforts on Trader Joe's. The good news is that Trader Joe's isn't buying the garbage being peddled by the anti-Israel groups, but will continue to buy (and sell) the Israeli products that they have provided for years. (Disclaimer: I just love shopping at Trader Joe's. It's the only store I know of around here where I can--and do-- buy Osem couscous, Eden feta, or the Dorot frozen cubes of garlic, basil and cilantro.)

This letter was received by the Central Pacific office of the Anti-Defamation League from Jon Basalone,Senior VP, Marketing, Trader Joe's:
“We have received a few letters like this via our customer relations email as well. Our response is that we sell products, and do not use our products as political tools or to make any statements about any political causes. We have no intention of removing any products based on pressure from any group, no matter what they support or don’t support. As always, we believe our customers are smart, and they are capable of making decisions about what they purchase. Let me know if you have any more questions or need more information.”

So the good news is that nobody has to contact Trader Joe's to urge them to keep Israeli products in the stores. However, the anti-Israel groups behind the BDS effort have called for concerted action on June 20 (World Refugee Day) to "de-shelve" Israeli products from Trader Joe's. Somehow, the Arab regimes that have kept their Arab brethren locked in refugee camps for 60 years avoid any responsibility for this--I don't see Lebanese, Egyptian or Jordanian products being targeted.

Now, I only know of 3 ways to "de-shelve" a product-- you get the store to pull it off the shelf, you buy it, or you steal/vandalize it. Given that the first has already proven a failure, and I don't think they plan to BUY a whole bunch of couscous, that leaves stealing and vandalizing.

So, go to your local Trader Joe's and do three things on June 20 (or, if you are shomer Shabbat, on June 19):

1. Buy a whole bunch of Israeli products (if they are off the shelf, maybe someone else read this and bought the entire stock-- so go to the store manager and tell him/her they need to buy more!)

2. Tell the store manager to keep stocking these products because you really like them!

3. Also tell the store manager that anti-Israel groups have declared June 20 as a "National Day to De-Shelve Israeli Products" so they can be aware of potential efforts to shoplift, deface or otherwise vandalize these products.

And please pass the couscous.

I received this message from a colleague alerting me to the fact that Trader Joe's, a well-known market for imported foods and wines, is now under pressure to stop selling products made in Israel (like Israeli cous cous, for example). This effort is being launched by South Bay Mobilization, a leftist, activist anti-Israel bunch in San Jose, California. In addition to its letter to Trader Joe's asking them not to sell Israeli products, this bunch is asking its members to actually go into local Trader Joe's stores on June 20, which if you did not know, is "World Refugee Day" and "Day to de-shelve Israeli products". It appears they will do what French activists have been doing, filling their shopping carts with Israeli products (with great fanfare) then leaving them in the aisle. Neat, huh? Basically, they conduct themselves like vandals.

There is a letter below written by the Jewish advocacy group, Stand With Us that you can send Trader Joe's if you wish to counter the correspondence sent by SBM. At any rate, you might consider buying some Israeli products next time you go to Trader Joe's. I know I will.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,


I have received some excellent ideas about how to approach the South Bay Mobilization's call for TJ's to boycott Israeli products. Here are some practical suggestions from two correspondents:


1) "I would suggest calling Trader Joe's, getting a contact and sending them that YouTube. What occurred in France is bound to be illegal because it jeopardizes Traders Joe's inventory and borders on vandalism. I would also encourage as many of us-Israel supporters to go into Trader Joes throughout the day [on June 20th] and if we have t-shirts that are supportive of Israel-wear them, go in there and BUY what they sell from Israel (I know they have goat cheese and frozen herbs ). Also, ask for Israeli wines (I hope they may soon stock them)."


2) "I suggest a counter letter writing campaign to Trader Joe's in support of continued selling of Israeli goods. In the letter, we would refute the bogus arguments. Other points could be that Trader Joe's has alot of Jewish customers who greatly appreciate the large number of kosher products. All products from Israel are kosher ( to the best of my knowledge) and boycotting Israeli products is not anti-Israeli but rather anti-Jewish."


If you should want to contact TJ's corporate headquarters, here is their info (I think the email addresses are correct, but I'm not sure):


Don Bane, Chairman and CEO (dbane@traderjoes.com)
Doug Rauch, President (drauch@traderjoes.com)
Charles J. Pilliter, SVP Operations (cpilliter@traderjoes.com)
Trader Joe’s Main Headquarters
800 S. Shamrock Ave.
Monrovia , CA 91016
phone: 626-599-3700 (customer service is extension 3035)
fax: 626-301-4431


Below is an open letter to Trader Joe's that Stand With Us posted today on its website.


http://www.standwithus.com/app/iNews/view_printer.asp?ID=1062


AN OPEN LETTER TO TRADER JOES
Filed under Israel, Boycott on 6/7/2009.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We have just read a copy of the letter that you are about to receive from the South Bay Mobilization group, which encourages you to isolate Israel and punish it for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, you are the new target of anti-Israel activist groups, who continue a propaganda campaign against Israel and distort facts to persuade merchants and others to boycott Israel. Such policies echo those that Arab countries have had since well before Israel's rebirth in 1948, and they also encourage and strengthen extremists who continue to undermine the peace process.

We note that the letter is a one-sided and self-serving view of the conflict. For example, there is nothing that describes the relentless terrorism coming from the variety of radical Palestinian groups surrounding Israel, including Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, and fundamentalist groups like Islamic Jihad. We notice that their letter does not refer to Hamas, whose founding document calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel and which has caused the major problems for those who dream of peace in the region.

Also not mentioned in the letter, is the fact that Israel is only the size of New Jersey, and the terrorist groups surround it and continue to launch rockets from Gaza into Israel while calling for the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish people (check their founding documents, you can find them online).

What is mentioned in their letter is historically inaccurate, including issues about "stealing Palestinian land" and the building of the "segregation wall." It’s important to note that Jews have been in the region for over 3,000 years – all the archeology points to this fact – and the Palestinian Arabs never had a country in the region. While there are Palestinians who dream of peace and a better life for their children, the Palestinian leadership has never agreed to compromises that would have created two states, and they have tried to destroy Israel instead. Simply put, any negotiations that Israel has with the Palestinians will result in the creation of a new Palestinian/Arab state, not a reconstitution of a former entity. It is also important to note that the "segregation wall" is simply a security fence, which was built in response to the campaign of suicide bombings and terrorism launched by Palestinian leadership in 2000. The fence has helped reduce suicide bombings by almost 100 percent.

While Israel certainly is not perfect, no amount of propaganda can convince well-informed people that Israel is arbitrarily attacking its neighbors for sport.

We have always loved shopping at Trader Joes because you clearly have not allowed yourselves to be censored by political prejudice but rather offer an array of products that reflect the various tastes of your patrons. We salute you for standing clear of political pressure and maintaining your integrity and neutrality.

Thank you,

The Board and Staff of StandWithUs

We have just read a copy of the letter that you are about to receive from the South Bay Mobilization group, which encourages you to isolate Israel and punish it for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Unfortunately, you are the new target of anti-Israel activist groups, who continue a propaganda campaign against Israel and distort facts to persuade merchants and others to boycott Israel. Such policies echo those that Arab countries have had since well before Israel's rebirth in 1948, and they also encourage and strengthen extremists who continue to undermine the peace process.

We note that the letter is a one-sided and self-serving view of the conflict. For example, there is nothing that describes the relentless terrorism coming from the variety of radical Palestinian groups surrounding Israel, including Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah, and fundamentalist groups like Islamic Jihad. We notice that their letter does not refer to Hamas, whose founding document calls for the murder of Jews and the destruction of Israel and which has caused the major problems for those who dream of peace in the region.

Also not mentioned in the letter, is the fact that Israel is only the size of New Jersey, and the terrorist groups surround it and continue to launch rockets from Gaza into Israel while calling for the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish people (check their founding documents, you can find them online).

What is mentioned in their letter is historically inaccurate, including issues about "stealing Palestinian land" and the building of the "segregation wall." It’s important to note that Jews have been in the region for over 3,000 years – all the archeology points to this fact – and the Palestinian Arabs never had a country in the region. While there are Palestinians who dream of peace and a better life for their children, the Palestinian leadership has never agreed to compromises that would have created two states, and they have tried to destroy Israel instead. Simply put, any negotiations that Israel has with the Palestinians will result in the creation of a new Palestinian/Arab state, not a reconstitution of a former entity. It is also important to note that the "segregation wall" is simply a security fence, which was built in response to the campaign of suicide bombings and terrorism launched by Palestinian leadership in 2000. The fence has helped reduce suicide bombings by almost 100 percent.

While Israel certainly is not perfect, no amount of propaganda can convince well-informed people that Israel is arbitrarily attacking its neighbors for sport.

We have always loved shopping at Trader Joes because you clearly have not allowed yourselves to be censored by political prejudice but rather offer an array of products that reflect the various tastes of your patrons. We salute you for standing clear of political pressure and maintaining your integrity and neutrality.

Thank you,

How to vandalize Israeli Products
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

There are many ways to participate in deshelving Israeli products. Each
group and individual should decide for yourselves what makes sense for you.

Possible actions include (& can be used in combination):

1. Leafleting outside stores (a downloadable leaflet will be posted here
very soon), with lists of the Israeli products carried by the establishment
you're targeting
2. Giving consumers a coupon to present to the cashier when they check
out, asking the store to stop carrying Israeli products
3. Putting "Don't Buy Into Apartheid" stickers on the products and
leaving them on the shelves (see exemplary photos)
4. Removing products from shelves and piling them in the front of the
store
5. Removing products from shelves and leaving them in hard-to-find places
in the store
6. Removing products from the store and dumping them in the street
7. Damaging products in some way (e.g., pouring fake blood or ketchup on
them) so they cannot be reshelved
8. Singing, guerrilla theater or speechifying inside or outside of the
store (see exemplary video)
9. Protesting/picketing/bannering outside the store
Most actions will have multiple components and options for people who don't
want to risk arrest, along with more confrontational options.

Leafleting is an important component of any action, because we are trying to
build awareness of Israeli apartheid and human rights abuses and the BDS
campaign. We are working on a sample leaflet which will be downloadable
here very soon.

Actions will have different legal consequences depending on what they are
and the situation in your community. We recommend contacting your local
National Lawyers' Guild chapter if there is one, or other progressive
lawyers for advice before you take action.

Send us your plans!! Let us know if we can help!!

Hmmmm.
Trader Joes carries unique products for reasonable prices that can't be found elsewhere.
I don't like the cheap wine, but they have a great selection of otehr wines, beers and liquors. They have a single malt scotch for under $20 dollars. And a great selection of cheeses, too.


i LOVE TRADER jOES, AND I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE BECAUSE OF THEIR PRINCIPALED STAND ON THESE ISSUES

I’ve reported in the past how divest-from-Israel advocates have been attempting to import some of the excesses of their European equivalents into the US, including both an academic boycott movement and campus building takeovers started in the UK. The fact that both imports have flopped has not seemed to discourage boycotters from bringing to our shores a tactic even more likely to turn the public against their cause: attacking the shelves and assaulting customers at Trader Joes.

This all began in France where a gang of Palestinian supporters took it upon themselves to enter a French supermarket where they pulled Israeli goods off the shelves in protest of the quality of couscous (whoops! I mean as a glorious and courageous “raid” into the very heart of enemy territory). This trespass and destruction of property was apparently not punished, possibly giving US-based BDS-niks the idea that they could pull off the same stunt with impunity (ignoring the fact that the French supermarket in question was in a neighborhood that had seen violent clashes between armed gangs and the police, which might have made supermarket managers a little gun shy).

Given that the threat of local armed violence over the Arab-Israeli dispute is not yet a feature of US retail (yet), the divestment crew chose to start by sending Trader Joe’s a form letter (versions of which seem to be cropping up around the divestment community lately) asking them to live up to their lofty corporate principles by refusing to sell Israeli products (including the aforementioned couscous). Ironically, the incident allowed the funky food retailer to actually live up to its principles by telling boycott advocates (and here I paraphrase) to go fuck themselves.

Bold and courageous activists in Pittsburg then turned ugly on the company they had previously tried to cajole (sound familiar?) and walked into a Trader Joe’s shop where they proceeded to pull Israeli goods and/or shove their usual misinformation into the hands of customers before being tossed out of the store for trespassing.

Undeterred, the BDS community throughout the land called for a national day of de-shelving Israeli products on June 20 (this coming Saturday). One hopes that before they get started they realize the two ways of performing such de-shelving (other than buying all the couscous for themselves) would involve (1) shoplifting, a locally prosecutable criminal offense or (2) defacing said Israeli products to make them unsellable, which turns out to be a prosecutable federal offense under the US Product Packaging Protection Act of 2002. Then again, perhaps it would be best if they didn’t realize this, but that store managers did.

Once more we have an example of what I’ve referred to in the past as “fantasy politics,” whereby people make political choices not because it will have an impact on the public or advance a particular cause, but in order to make themselves feel as though they are uniquely righteous or part of some kind of global vanguard.

By any stretch of the imagination, bothering strangers while they buy frozen dumplings in Pittsburg is not going to move the needle on American support for Israel one angstrom. It’s not going to change company policy at Trader Joe’s or anywhere else. But presuming they don’t get thrown behind bars, it will leave the boycotters able to brag to their buddies how they took on the overwhelming power of imperial Zionism at the Battle of Couscous and allow them to go to bed at night (in their parent’s basements) thinking about their unquestioned bravery and wondefulness. Never mind that all they accomplished was annoying food shoppers and getting thrown out of a store like a bunch of rowdy teens.

As an aside, I’ve always through Trader Joe’s to be a bit overrated, but last weekend I bought a box of Israeli couscous (having confused the Day of Couscous Rage by a week) along with some of their veggie sticks (to eat while watching the truly overrated Music Man on DVD with my kids). And damn if I didn’t get change (over $1 worth) from my $5 for those two items! That combined with their way-cool response to the whole boycott idiocy left me firmly in the Trader Joe’s camp. So go Joe! And by Israeli! (Especially next Saturday.)

Saturday, June 20th is National Day to Deshelve Israeli Products (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86106513889)...

So let's buy all the products before they can be deshelved (and help stimulate the economy)!

For Observant Jews: Buy as many Israel products as possible on Friday before the Sabbath.

According to blogger Bluetruth, one of the retailers targeted in this campaign is Trader Joe’s, which carries many Israeli-made products. Trader
Joe’s has resisted the call to change its policies, and so the boycott-divestment-sanctions (BDS) guys have called for a “de-shelving” of Trader Joe’s from Israeli products this Saturday, June 20. This creates an opportunity for friends of Israel to express their support while also shopping for groceries.


*GO TO YOUR LOCAL TRADER JOES AND BUY ALL THE ISRAELI PRODUCTS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORT THEM!

As long as you continue to buy into and waste your energy on the " Israel/Zionists are responsible for the world's problems" fallacy, the Islamists will continue to use YOU for their purposes and the good, kind Arabs of the world will continue to suffer. Human abuse? Look at AL:L the horendous abuse by Muslim extremists/Islamists against women, Christians and ANYONE they disagree with. Israel is made of ALL kinds of people. Muslim regimes in Arab countries are restricated. Hurting Trader Joe's hurts everyone. When you and the extremists STOP your HATE and HURT practice and TEACH mutual respect and kindness, the peace will begin. Trader Joe's, thanks for being part of the peace!

I shop at Trader Joe's, but now that I'm aware of this campaign, I'll switch to one of their competitors.

More couscous for me!!!!


I love Trader Joes. I love their prices. Their cheese selection. Their vodka.

Shop Trader Joes! Support democracy! Support Choice!

... says " the 2 buck chuck sold at Traitor Ho's is actually the blood of Palestinian babies, so drink up, you petty bourgeois motherf*ckers !!! We need more funds to sustain the Warsaw Ghetto of the 21st century !!!"

Nothing in the world is proof; there is only perceptive viewpoints of the physical world. You will need an interpreture to understand this as it requires introspection best available, for yourself, through intensive psychiatric care.
I offer something beside the awful sea of propaganda that *you* percieve [ if you even fall for it, yourself and are *not* fully aware of the tender pustules of zionist history ] through a blood soaked pro-israeli/zionist lens of victimhood and paranoia.
The deliberate agenda of deceit and beligerence [ to put it very mildly ] is all yours.
I just use it and you to make it obvious even to the sleeping American public. I'm using you to piss them off.
That's My agenda.
Thank you for your assistance.

...did all you big brave Jew hating lefty shoppers pussy out yesterday or what?...I had a good long time former Marine attorney spend the afternoon at Trader Joe's yesterday...taking his time and looking nonchalant as he bought over $100 worth of Israeli produce and cheese and such....he was really looking forward to a nice juicy confrontation and maybe even kicking some ass out in the parking lot as well....needless to say,he was grievously disappointed....but he took consolation in knowing that his purchases helped keep Israeli farmers in business and make it that much more difficult for Israel's American enemies to hang onto what little credibility they might have ever had before....anybody wanna try again?....Col Matthews is....he'll meet you there with some of his USMC buddies any time you want to try and 'deshelve' Israeli products....and you wouldn't want to dissapoint the Marines AGAIN,now would you, boys and girls?

Reports are trickling in from all over the country and they all indicate that the Jew-haters "day of rage" against Israeli couscous was an epic fail.

One northern californian store reported a half dozen protesters that gave out leaflets for an hour then walked away dejected.

Another store reported that a pro-Israel group followed some protesters into a store, causing the haters to flee rapidly

The one thing we've heard, thoughout most of california- is that Israeli products were SOLD out! You couldn't get a box of Israeli couscous for love or money this weekend.

Still, expect the idiots to issue a press release declaring victory.

Its great when we all pull together, like we did this weekend. thank you everyone, and especially- thank you Trader Joes!!!!!

Well,I don't know where your 'local' Trader Joe's is (Bumfuck,Indiana?),but it wasn't the LA store....nobody at all showed up there in spite of all the hype here on Indymedia.....and they carry more than just the feta cheese and couscous....they also carry some excellent Kosher chocolate bars among other things.....but thanks for showing all of us just how minimalist your criminal mentality really is....very informative

since TJ's sells only 2 products from the "Satan's Homeland," namely the feta cheese and the couscous, I know this was going to be a cinch. First, we had a "Targeter" go into the TJ's and locate for us the offensive merchandise a couple days before we hit the store. This we we knew BEFORE hand EXACTLY where they would be. Armed with vials of "Liquid A$$," we went into the TJ's the Wednesday and Thursday BEFORE the scheduled protest days as a pre-empive strike. Wearing baseball caps and shades, we entered, squirted the offensive items and got the out in less than a minute. The the shelves were devoid of the friuts of Satan, taken down by TJ's own employees. This trick is easily reproduced. "Liquid A$$" can be obtained at a discount by the case. Check out the videos http://www.liquidass.com Happy Hunting !!!