The war in Gaza divided a historic Brooklyn co-op. Here's what happened next
Since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, members of the Park Slope Food co-op have been debating whether to ban Israeli goods from the shelves.
www.wgbh.orgHere’s the latest I can share based on recent reporting.
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A prominent report from CBS New York indicates that the Park Slope Food Coop voted against holding a referendum on boycotting Israeli products. The vote, which drew more than 1,500 attendees, resulted in a majority opposing the idea of a referendum on the boycott, with 1,662 total votes cast and about 1,000 voting against the referendum. This suggests the co-op did not proceed with a formal Israeli-product boycott referendum at that time, despite ongoing debate within the membership.[1]
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In late 2024, Jewish members and advocacy groups within and around the Park Slope Food Coop were actively contesting aspects of the co-op’s handling of Gaza-war-related discussions, with complaints filed alleging antisemitic harassment and calls for government intervention in response to internal disputes over Israel-related policies. These actions reflect the ongoing tension and differing viewpoints among members about how the co-op should engage with Israel-related issues.[3]
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Coverage in 2025 highlighted continued divisions within the co-op’s membership over whether to pursue a boycott of Israeli goods, including organizational efforts by groups like PSFC Members for Palestine. The competition for board seats and the broader debate pointed to a political divide within the cooperative, paralleling broader national conversations about BDS and Israel policy.[5]
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2025 and 2026 reporting also note a broader pattern of controversy around the co-op’s merchandise with Israel-related products, including limited Israeli items on shelves, which has been a recurring point of contention in the debates about potential boycotts.[5]
If you’d like, I can:
- Narrow to a specific date or event (e.g., vote outcomes, board elections, or public statements).
- Summarize viewpoints from different groups within the co-op (e.g., Park Slope for Palestine, Coop4Unity, concerned Jewish members).
- Look for more recent updates from major outlets or the co-op’s own communications.
Would you like me to pull the very latest updates from additional sources or focus on a particular aspect of the Park Slope Food Coop Israel boycott discussion?