Although I disagree with Israeli policies regarding Palestinians, I think that asking the Ashland Food Co-op to boycott Israeli products (as suggested by Herbert Rothschild in the Aug. 22 Relocations) does not further the cause of Palestinians. In fact, it has the potential to hurt the Arab-Israeli and Israeli citizens who work in Israeli businesses and does nothing to change the government’s stubborn stance. 

It does not promote peace and does not provide solutions to the problems faced by Palestinians. Boycotting Israeli-made products has the potential to hurt the peacemakers in Israel who are trying to forge ties between Israelis, Arabs and Palestinians by creating shared workspaces and shared educational opportunities.

I support the state of Israel. I do not support Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. I would like to see change, so I donate to organizations in Israel that work within Israel against the current policies. 

A boycott at the co-op would hurt the Jewish people in Ashland and really does nothing to bring change in Israel. I hope the co-op does not refuse to sell Israeli-made products. Leave it up to people to choose to not buy the products; do not make that choice for us.

I want to be able to purchase products locally at my co-op that will enhance our Jewish household, and I believe that a boycott of Israeli-made products in the co-op would only force me to shop elsewhere for the products that I buy for our Shabbat dinners, for Passover and for other Jewish holidays. 

It means something to me to purchase memorial candles that have been made in Israel to light for my deceased family members and friends on the anniversaries of their deaths. It means something to me to purchase matzoh at Passover that was made in Israel.  

MaryAnn Gernegliaro