PORT TOWNSEND — The Israeli deputy consul general lobbying against a proposed boycott of goods from Israel by the Port Townsend Food Co-op left town Monday after meeting with only one of the co-op’s board members.
Gideon Lustig, who traveled from San Francisco to speak at a public forum Sunday night, had asked to meet with the six-member co-op board in a private setting Monday to present the Israeli government’s point of view.
When the invitation was made public, several co-op members contacted the board stating a private meeting with all the board members was in opposition to the co-op’s bylaws and its stated transparency.
As a result, co-op board chair Sam Gibboney was the only member to meet with Lustig, which she did at 8 a.m. Monday.
Gibboney said their “cleared up some issues,” but it did not change her intended vote, which she did not disclose.
Gibboney said of the five remaining board members receiving the invitation, one was willing to meet, one felt it was inappropriate and three did not respond.
The boycott proposal seeks the removal of eight Israeli-made products from the co-op’s shelves.
Proponents of the boycott say that Israel has mistreated the Palestinian population on the Gaza Strip and are hoping the boycott will call attention to it.
The boycott — which has already been undertaken by a food co-op in Olympia — was first proposed in July and recommended for consideration in August by a co-op subcommittee.
The board is expected to decide the issue at a meeting tonight at the Quimper Universalist Unitarian Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m., with comments from member-owners scheduled between 6:15 and 7:45 p.m.
After comments are finished, the board will discuss the issues and may vote.
Before he left, Lustig said it was important to the Israeli government to “correct errors of fact” about Israel and its actions on the Gaza Strip, which made the trip to Port Townsend from San Francisco worthwhile.
He said the approval of two boycotts by the American co-ops in Olympia and Port Townsend could be used as propaganda against Israel by Palestinian forces.
Lustig visited the co-op Monday afternoon, inspecting the goods that are the subject of the boycott and speaking to employees.
After looking at the label of one of the products — an organic olive oil — he noted that the oil “is a joint product between Arabs and Israelis.”
Lustig expressed a desire to meet with those who favored the boycott to hear their point of view.
While at the co-op, he was introduced to Liz Rivera Goldstein, one of the boycott’s most outspoken supporters.
But they did not discuss the issue.
“I am working, otherwise I would have liked to talk to him,” Rivera Goldstein said.
“But I’m glad I got to shake his hand.”
Lustig said he admired the people of Port Townsend, for their passion and their commitment to their goals and ideals.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
