A Quaker boycott

Sarah Lawson queries the decision to support the boycott

by Sarah Lawson 22nd April 2011

Meeting for Sufferings is urging us to boycott goods produced by ‘Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories’. This is not a boycott of ‘Israeli goods generally’ but only those from a small area where settlements ‘have been repeatedly condemned as illegal by the United Nations’. Since this statement appeared on the Quaker website it has been noticed by many authoritative bloggers across the internet. The reactions I have seen encompass scorn, indignation, and a sort of sad amusement. Why should that be?