Monday, March 29, 2010

Day of rage against Israeli Couscous, redux

Khaled Abu Toameh, Palestinian reporter for the Jerusalem Post gave at talk at UC Berkeley a few months ago. He mentioned a discussion with a friend- they were trying to name a hero of the Palestinian people, but could not identify a single one that had not been associated with violence. The poet, Mahmoud Darwish was eventually agreed upon, but the question remained, why was this so difficult? Why is violence so inherent the Palestinian cause?

I ask myself this again, as another day of rage upon Israeli couscous is upon us. The anti-Israel forces are planning attacks on March 30 on Israeli products and the stores that stock them. This is, they claim, in commemoration of "Land Day". Hmmm. What better way to celebrate a holiday than by a grocery store pogrom? Why bother with picnics, family gatherings, fireworks, or even a sale at Macy's when you can interfere with someone's shopping experience ?

A recent grocery store pogrom led by Amir of the "peace" group "South bay mobilization" ended in a trash can set on fire in a fit of "Pay attention to ME! Pay attention to ME!" worthy of an angry 2 year old. What will tomorrow bring? I guess I'll have to find out second hand. Its Pesach, the holiday of our deliverance of Egypt and I'll be spending it with family and friends, not trashing someone else's property in the name of "justice".

Don't expect me to wish you luck with the Berkeley Bowl, Kate. The last time you pulled your nonsense, the store was so angry, they created end of aisle displays of all their Israeli products. I suspect it will be no different this time. And where but the Berkeley Bowl can I find crunchy candy sweet persimmons, straight from the Sharon Valley in Israel? They are great eaten out of hand, but try them sliced thin in a spinach salad, with a light vingarette. Just heavenly.

Follow up April 30.
A recent trip to the Berkeley Bowl showed they've added a brand new line of Israeli health and beauty aids, "Yes to carrots". Made with Dead Sea Minerals. Never tested on animals



Looks like the campaign to deshelve Israeli products from the Berkeley bowl is a resounding failure. I never get tired of saying that, Kate.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

\ows that boycott going btw?
Straight from the Jerusalem Boardroom #141, April 2, 2010

http://www.theettingerreport.co.il
1. The Houston-based Noble Energy intends to invest $530MN, during 2010, in offshore natural gas exploration and in the enhancement of current off shore drilling in Israel (Globes daily, Feb. 22, 2010).

2. Intel-Israel's exports surged 145% in 2009, reaching a record $3.4BN. The record was facilitated by the completion of Intel's $4BN sixth plant in Israel. Intel is currently negotiation with Israel's government a possible $2.7BN expansion of the plant. Intel employs 6,340 persons at its two plants and four R&D centers in Israel. 120 workers were recently hired by Intel. Intel has invested $6.1BN in its Israel presence, boosted by a $1.2BN Israeli investment (Washington Post, Feb. 8, 2010).

3. Siemens is investing $50MN in the expansion of its Israel plant, which was recently acquired for $418MN (Ma'ariv, Feb. 17).

4. Oracle has acquired its third Israeli company, Convergin, for $85MN (Globes, Feb. 11). China's Yifang Digital acquired Israel's Pegasus for $60MN (Globes, Feb. 4).

5. The California-based DCG Systems is establishing a R&D center in Israel (Globes, Feb. 4).

6. $20MN, $16MN and $5MN were raised on NASDAQ by Israel's Willy Food International, Rosetta Genomics and Nova respectively (Globes, March 15). $10MN was raised by Roth Capital as sale agent, for Israel's Orckit (StreetInsider.com, March 29).

7. Goldman Sachs led a $37MN round of private placement by Israel's Mobileye. In 2007, Goldman Sachs invested $65MN in Mobileye (Globes, March 17). $20MN raised by the Boston-based MVM Life Science Partners, the St. Louis (MO)-based Ascension Health Ventures and Germany's Bosch for Israel's Cheetah Medical (Globes, March 16). The NYC-based NGN and OXO Capital Valve Ventures led an $18MN round by Israel's Valtech (Globes, 3). $10MN invested by the $15BN Juniper Networks, the Palo-Alto-based DAG Ventures, the Silicon Valley-based Accel Ventures, the Menlo Park-based Foundation Capital in the US-Israel company, Altor (Globes, March 5). Battery Ventures led a $6MN first round by Israel's Pursway (Globes, Feb. 10).

Anonymous said...

Products to look for at the Berkeley Bowl;


Yes to Carrots health and beauty aids
Hain’s Casbah Couscous Mix
Roland Food: Israeli Couscous
Israeli Feta
Masada Bath Salts
Spring Nectar Juices
Yehuda Hummus
Osem Products