Our community in Clallam County is deeply concerned about recent events in Israel and Palestine. We, at Clallam Palestine Action Group, along with the world, are witnessing ever-increasing violence, illegal settlements, apartheid, ecocide and genocide against Palestinians. As consumers devoted to ethical purchasing, we cannot overlook the impact our shopping choices have on the lives of those suffering, including those lost and exploited in the production of products like "Israeli" Feta cheese from the Satio Collection.

The ongoing Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people, full-blown regional war, atrocities and human rights abuses highlight the urgency for global awareness and local action. The situation in Palestine is dire, with daily mounting evidence of systemic discrimination and oppression as verified by numerous organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. These institutions report ongoing violations against Palestinians dating back decades, which fuels our community's commitment to supporting initiatives that push back against injustices.

We are calling on Country Aire to join us by taking a significant step: removing all Israeli products, particularly the Satio Collection "Israeli" Feta, from its store shelves. By doing so, you will reinforce a strong stance on human rights, environmental concern and social justice, aligning with values held by your customers.

The EU and international positions make it clear that settlements are not part of Israel, and therefore are not covered by any trade agreement. By stocking such products as Satio Collection feta, your store is in effect assisting settlement expansion through subsidizing the settler economy. While settlement trade flourishes, Israel continues to strangle the Palestinian economy by denying it free access to the outside world.

Our group supports the Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) movement. From BDS “Israel is occupying and colonizing Palestinian land, discriminating against Palestinian citizens of Israel and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes. Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS call urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law.”

We urgently request that you remove Satio Collection feta from your shelves and look into whether there are other Israeli products in your stores that can be replaced. We ask that you remove any other product from Israel . Many "Israeli" farms are in illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land where legal residents are murdered and assaulted by settlers with the full complicity of Israeli armed forces, all while being prevented from harvesting their own crops. 

We urgently request you to reconsider your support for the racist and persistent abuse of basic human rights by boycotting all Israeli products and finding suitable replacements. We strongly support local business and local products and we know that you also show great support for local produce and suppliers. We will, however, not support industries or states complicit in unjust practices.

 
We are not alone. Our community, plus many around the world, are part of a growing movement to boycott products tied to violations of international laws and norms. Retailers globally have started to listen and act upon such demands by choosing to replace these items with products synonymous with ethical production and fair trade.

Please act now by removing Israeli Feta from your store. Let us collectively affirm that the principles of justice, peace, environmental health and equality are non-negotiable in our community.

To learn more about BDS go to bdsmovement.net. To learn more about CPAG go to our facebook page.

Thank you for your time,

Clallam Palestine Action Group