Code Pink Lies: Chapter 2 in the Bamba Wars

Code Pink activists have proudly proclaimed that their "How dare Americans enjoy peanutty goodness"  petition to Trader Joes has nearly 20,000 signatures. 

What they don't mention is that the petition is rigged, so that one person can sign multiple times.  There is no email verification and no screening.   Its so janky, even a bot could do it.

That goes a long way explaining some of the *unusual* names on the petition.

In the meantime, shoppers report their stores have sold out of Israeli products across the county.  Across social media, they are proudly photographing the contents of their shopping carts and their receipts.

Some sadly could only photograph the empty shelves, after the products sold out. 

No doubt Jodie Evans and Medea Benjamin are anxiously sipping their low fat soy lattes , plotting on how to turn this into a "win".

Let us know, girls.

Read more about the phenomenal success of the Trader Joes buy-cott

Buying blue-and-white at Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s Faces Anti-Israel Boycott Push As Supporters Launch Buy-In Campaign

Action Alert: Please Fight Boycott of Israeli Products at Trader Joe’s, Organized by the Extremist Jew-Hating Racists at CODEPINK

Code Pink hates Bamba

Code Pink is Communist China's own little advocacy group. They have faced scrutiny for promoting narratives aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through their “China Is Not Our Enemy” campaign. Investigations, including from The New York Times, link the group to the Chinese government's propaganda machine.   Neville Roy Singham, an American businessman living in China is married to Jodie Evan, one of the founders of Code Pink.   

Since 2017, Code Pink has received over $1.4 million- 25% of the group's funding through Neville Roy Singham, who works closely with the Chinese government’s media machine to promote its agenda.

In recent years Code Pink shifted from a skeptical view to an "unquestioningly supportive" stance on China. The organization has faced criticism for downplaying or defending China's genocidal treatment of Muslim Uyghurs.

Last year Senator Tom Cotton sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a DOJ investigation into Code Pink for FARA violations, charging that Code Pink  failed to register as an agent of the CCP and  provided material support to foreign terrorist  groups like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Samidoun.

Now, Code Pink has turned its attention to Trader Joes Bamba (wonder who's paying for this campaign?)claiming that Bamba leads to human suffering.   They have demands! They have a petition!

In turn, a buycott has been called, encouraging people to head to Trader Joes and shop!   Here's your shopping list, courtesy of the Facebook Page Kosher Trader Joes

UPDATE
How's the boycott going?   Apparently, not too well.

Remember,  Code Pink and other extremist groups have tried and failed in the past to bully Trader Joes into compliance with their demands.  Keep doing what you are doing- shop and buy that sweet sweet Bamba

BDS Fails, Great and Small

Shhhh. Its a clip show, er, post.

Where are we after 21 years of BDS?

Well, there's this. According to a Gallup poll released this week as part of its annual World Affairs poll, Israel ranks seventh on list of countries rated favorably by Americans.

After multiple attempts to rid our port cities from the scurge of the Israel-affiliated Zim Shipping line, whats the net result of Block the Boat, and Block the Boat, the sequel?

*  ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd  stock has risen 226.06% over the last 12 months, and the average rating from Wall Street analysts is a Buy.

* ZIM generated $10.7 billion in revenue and $4.64 billion in net profit, also growing shareholders' equity to $4.6 billion.

*  For 2021, Zim saw a 787% profit rise. 

Maybe that celebration party was a bit premature, eh, Lara?

But, But, But you say, Ben & Jerrys!  Thats was a BDS victory.  Right?  Right?  

Maybe its a Pyrrhic victory at best.   Since the Unilever owned business made the decision to stop selling ice cream over the Green line,  seven states have taken action against  the company.  Most recently, Colorado has joined New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Arizona divesting state pension funds from the company. Florida and Texas have also taken action against Ben & Jerry’s.   Other states are likely to take action as well.

Unilever’s stock has plunged in the last six months.  Its been estimated that the boycott  has led to a $26 billion loss.

Unilever- this is your stock on BDS.

Israel tech continues to thrive. Total funding in 2021 reached a new peak of $27 billion — more than doubling the amount raised in 2020. Israel consistently produces more "unicorns" per capita than any other nation, with 48 last year alone.  Israel's exports reached a record high of $140 billion in 2021, up 18% from last year.

Perhaps the biggest BDS fail are the Abraham accords, and the expansion of Israeli  diplomatic relations across the Middle East and North Africa. The BDS movements goal of isolating Israel has failed.  The expansion of social, political and economic ties across the region has laid the foundation for a real and lasting peace.

When a second tier liberal arts college removes Sabra hummus from the school cafeteria, or a B list performing artist cancels a trip to Israel, the BDS holes shout their  "victories" from the rooftops.   Its all they've got.    Remember the big picture.

Puma: Boycott fail. Luton Town refutes BDS Lies

The BDS campaign against Puma has been going on for a while.  Consisting mostly of self righteous and angry letters to company execs and equally self-righteous and angry posts on social media,  the campaign seemed dead in the water from the very beginning.

How dare Puma sponsor the Jews, (and Christians and Muslims) of the Israel Football Association? How dare Puma sponsor one of the most diverse squads in the region?

Recognizing the absurdity of the boycott, people across the world began posting photos of their Pumas, captioned BDS fail. A Facebook page, Selfies Support Puma Against BDS  showed people playfully posing with Pumas.  Bloggers also picked up on the Puma buycott movement.

Puma BDS fail

Puma BDS fail

Puma BDS fail

Puma BDS fail

Faced with a dead-end campaign, the Puma BDS holes drew strength from the foundational (lack of) principles of their movement, and resorted to bold faced lies. They needed a victory, and they'd pull one out of the ether, if necessary.

Look how quickly the BDS hive mind takes off.   Fact-checking is a burdensome barrier to advancing their cause.  So they just skip it.

Luton Town got wind of the BDS claims, and they were not amused, writing

Our new partnership with Umbro begins after four seasons with outgoing supplier Puma, who had provided us with first-class first-team and replica kit since the 2016-17 season.

We are aware that there have been a number of statements in the public domain from organisations claiming that our decision to change kit supplier is a success for their own causes.

We would like to make it a matter of public record that Luton Town FC is an organisation that does not make commercial decisions based upon politics or religious matters, and that our decisions to switch kit supplier was made solely on our own criteria in the current sporting marketplace.

Its been 4 days, and not a single BDS site has retracted their claim, or linked to the Luton Town statement.   Nothing but nothing is allowed to stand in the way of the rich fantasy life of the BDS hole.

Go Anteaters! UC Irvine rescinds BDS resolution

The University of California at Irvine Student Senate has repealed a 2012 resolution that called for the campus to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Meeting on March 31, the Associated Students of UC Irvine voted to repeal the earlier BDS resolution by a vote of 15 for, 6 against, with 2 abstentions.

Senator Marshall Roe introduced a resolution to repeal  R48-15 , stating it had contributed to a hostile campus climate for Jewish students.   The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement was denounced as “contrary to the foundational ideals of Higher Education and thus the values of the UC.”

Senate Roe, quoted in the Jerusalem Post expressed his desire that the repeal of the highly divisive resolution would return the campus to a position of neutrality on the conflict

“I believe that embracing neutrality on this matter and thus repealing R48-15 would dispel the noxious atmosphere and create neutrality on campus, a neutrality that would foster an environment of reconciliation rather than rancor.”

When the original resolution passed in 2012, Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada gloated that the "historic" vote was a "stinging defeat" to "Zionist bullying" on campus.   He has not made a statement since the original vote was rescinded.

In the 8 years since  the passage of the  original BDS resolution, not a cent have been divested from UC Irvine, or any campus of the University of California. The UC Irvine / Israel Engineering Initiative remains strong and supports collaborative  educational research initiatives withTel Aviv University, the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), Ben Gurion University and Hebrew University.

For more information on the repeal of UC Irvine's BDS resolution see:

UCI Student Senate Repeals BDS Resolution

UC Irvine Student Senate repeals BDS resolution

National Geographic: Purim in Tel Aviv is a "must-do" travel event

From National Geographic: Purim in Tel Aviv is a "must-do" travel event 

In Israel’s cosmopolitan seaside city, Tel Aviv Street Party Rave marks the Jewish holiday with live music, dancing in the streets, and food stalls offering up local treats, such as hamantash, a stuffed cookie filled with jam, chocolate, or dates. Crafts and fashion for sale and wildly dressed locals up the party vibe.

From Tourist Israel: The Guide

The annual block party in the streets of Tel Aviv returns for Purim 2020, this time to Charles Clore Park. The city’s biggest Purim party, this year’s event will feature two music stages, stands selling clothes and accessories, seating areas, and food and drinks to buy. This is the place to experience locals and visitors from all walks of life coming together to show off their best Purim costumes. The Purim rave will will take place in Charles Clore Park on March 6 from 12:00-17:00. Entrance is free.

 Check local reports for cancellations in the event of inclement weather and/or the coronavirus.

Hatem Bazian's BDS feta fail at Trader Joes

Berkeley Peace and Justice Commissioner Hatem Bazian has issued a call-out on his Facebook page to boycott Trader Joe's for daring to stock Israeli feta cheese.

Hatem writes 
"Trader Joe’s is having Israeli Feta on its shelves! One more reason to stop shopping at the store. "

Hatem has tagged a short list of friends and colleagues to help promote the boycott of the beloved Trader Joes  grocery chain.

Hatem may not remember the 2009 BDS action against Trader Joes.  Trader Joes refused to be bullied and promoted the products with floor to ceiling displays.  Consumers followed with a "buycott' that ultimately lead to Israeli products sold out from stores coast to coast.   In their zeal to be supportive,  people bought cases of Israeli couscous. They began asking  "what is this small grain and what do I do with it?"  Shortly after, recipes began appearing in the blogsphere.

It was, as they say, a BDS fail of epic proportion, and a triumph of community led-grassroots activism.

The BDS cru retreated rapidly, sipping their kombucha and plaintively whimpering for their moms.

Since 2009, Trader Joes has added many more Israeli products to their shelves.

Hatem's little Facebook post may have sparked another  "run" on Trader Joes.  As of now, there are over 800 comments, on his post, with the vast majority supportive of Israel and Israeli feta. 

Hatem, don't you know this by now?   Never, ever get between a Jew and their food.

And as of today, there is no Israeli feta left in stock in the area.  A new shipment is expected next week.  Thanks Hatem, for another BDS fail  feta accompli.

Oakland Block the Boat Fail. 5th Anniversary edition. And Zim keeps on Truckin.

San Francisco's Arab Resource Organizing Center is celebrating the 5th anniversary of their failure to permanently prevent Zim cargo from off-loading in Oakland.

The  2014 action, dubbed "Block the boat" was a triumph of bullying, ultimately achieving nothing.  Zim trailers still abound in the Bay area.

Oakland Block the boat fail

Oakland Block the boat fail

Oakland Block the boat fail

Even in the tumultuous world of international shipping, with the on again, off again tariffs, Zim's doing just fine financially, with total revenue of $834.3 million in Q2 2019, a 3.9 % increase from last year. Thats in spite of the best efforts of the BDS holes.

In the 2nd quarter of 2019, ZIM carried 731 thousand TEUs, its' second highest carried volume ever.

Zim's doing quite well, thank you

AROC's narrative and the reality of their attempt to keep Oakland free of the scourge of olives and artichoke hearts are far removed

Rather than an action reflective of "activists working in close partnership with members of ILWU Local 10, "  as claimed by AROC, the gates to the docks were physically blocked, with activists using their bodies, their bikes, and their children to prevent workers from uploading the ships.

Yeah, nothing says "close partnership" more than yelling obscenities.

Oakland Block the Boat Bullying

Is this what solidarity looks like?
                                                                 

AROC and  the Block the Boat campaign made it clear that the "B" in BDS stood for bullying.

Its not surprising that AROC would consider this event as one of the "most successful" in US history.  Sound and fury, signifying nothing.  Wishing them many more such "victories"

Read what really happened 5 years ago at the Oakland dock here: 

No Solidarity in Oakland, as protesters bully Longshoremen

Block the Boat has morphed into Operation Annoy Zim's Customers

Welcome to Burgerim: Halal burgers served with BDS tears.

While hardly authentic Israeli cuisine, the Burgerim franchise is making a splash nationwide. Donna Tuchner, an Israeli native,  opened the first Burgerim in Tel Aviv.  The concept is customized mini-burgers, with ground meat, vegetarian and fish offered in burger form.  Oren Loni, Burgerim's current owner and president purchased Burgerim's name and rights and is selling franchising rights worldwide. Burgerim is slated to open its 500th store by the end of the year. In the East Bay alone, there are Burgerim locations in Walnut Creek, El Cerrito, Concord, Vallejo, San Ramon, San Pablo,  Livermore, Antioch and Newark.  

Its strange to imagine that the locally operated and locally owned franchises of a concept restaurant that originated in Israel would attract the BDSer's ire, but their choices have never been logical. After all, this was the group that instituted a boycott of  "made in New Jersey" Sabra hummus, because the name kinda sorta reminded them of Israel.

 The Burgerim boycott is in the true spirit of the Sodastream boycott, where hundreds of Palestinian workers lost their well paying jobs for their "own good" . The Burgerim boycott is as much of an "own goal". 

The Burgerim franchise proudly, respectful promotes its Halal burgers, providing a dining out opportunity to traditionally observant members of the Islamic faith.

In observance of Ramadan, the Dearborn, Michigan Burgerim (owned and operated by an Arab-American) set up a tent, was open until 3am, and gave out free burgers. 

Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) San Francisco Bay Area Zahra Billoo's irrational response to a business franchise respecting and embracing cultural diversity was...wait for it... blood libel.

To the blame Israel crowd, it simply Halal-washing.

Amer Zahr, in his blog "The Civil Arab"  knows the boycott is absurd, writing:

Now, it may be technically true that the US operations no longer have a formal, legal connection to the Israeli operations. But, of course, there would be no American Burgerim if there were no Israeli Burgerim, which proved the concept, showed market success, and imported the idea and CEO here to America. 

Yeah.  It kinda sorta reminds him of Israel and that's enough to merit a boycott.  

You know what to do.  Check out Burgerim.  If you don't eat meat, have one of their yummy milkshakes.  Or try their falafel burger.  It won't help Israel, but it might make an Israel-hater cry. And isn't that the least we can do?

Beyond Falafel. Israeli food in America

Did ya catch the Google doodle a few weeks back?
Falafel, the mainstay of Israeli street food, is hitting the mainstream.

Beyond falafel, Israeli cuisine- that glorious synthesis of cultures that reflects the diversity of Israeli society is now lauded and glorified.  Philadelphia's Zahav, (Hebrew for gold) was just voted the best  restaurant in America in 2019 by the James Beard Foundation.   Think "the Oscars"  for the culinary arts.   Last year, Zahav’s chef and co-owner, Michael Solomonov, was named outstanding chef in America. Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi's cookbook Jerusalem was a culinary phenomenon.  Check out the "tasting Jerusalem"  #tastingjrslm hashtag on Twitter- still going strong years after the the book was initially published.

In the Bay Ara, Oren's Hummus has just opened its 4th restaurant, with more in the pipeline.

Oren's proudly broadcasts its Israeli roots, in the store, and on the web, and on the menu.

Yeah, this counts as a BDS fail.

Direct flights from San Francisco to Israel .

Tourism to Israel is at record levels.  The tiny state- the size of New Jersey- entertained over 4 million visitors last year.  To accommodate this huge demand, airports across the globe are adding more flights to Israel.

Check out this beauty, courtesy of El Al:

The El Al dreamline is adorned with pictures of the Golden Gate bridge, and San Francisco's iconic cable cars. The artwork is by illustrator Shay Vadel and Amir Assayag. Its maiden flight will be May 13.

If you hurry.....

h/t  From San Francisco to Tel Aviv in style meet the new Haifa dreamliner

Dutch Treat #tipvanmieke

Its enough to made a BDS'er drink heavily.

Earlier this week, BDS hole and Electronic Intifada contributor Mieke Zagt posted a photo of an Israeli wine display at the Hema Dutch grocery store on Twitter, claiming the wines were from "occupied Palestinian lands". 

Ummm. No.

The Efrat Winery is located in Tsor'a, well within the green line.

The reaction to Zagt's post was buycott classic.  People flocked to the stores to buy wine, and filled social media with selfies, using the hashtag  #tipvanmieke

Within hours, #tipvanmieke was trending on Dutch Twitter, and the Hema stores sold out of the wine.

Via the Dutch Paper DeTelegraaf,  and google translate

Thats the way you do it.  Buycott Israeli wines and all Israeli products, and spread that BDS fail sunshine, all over the world.