Pro-Israel Group Sends Cease-and-Desist Letter to Park Slope Food Co-op Over Israel Boycott

A group of pro-Israel activists sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn after the cooperative approved a boycott of Israeli products in a vote on Tuesday night. The letter was submitted by the National Jewish Advocacy Center on behalf of Jewish member-owners.

It alleges the boycott resulted from a campaign of harassment, intimidation, deception, and slurs, and claims the board used its authority to target, exclude, or economically disadvantage Jews and Israelis.

The letter further states that the boycott allows the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement to gain influence through the PSFC Members for Palestine group. CUNY law professor Jeffrey Lax filed a separate complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights on Wednesday.

That complaint alleges the boycott violates a state law that prohibits boycotts or blacklists of products based on protected classes, including national origin. The Park Slope Food Co-op did not respond to a request for comment. The cease-and-desist letter is the second legal action taken since the boycott vote.