Co-op board votes to remove all Israeli products from shelves
The motion called on the co-op board to demonstrate ‘moral courage and leadership’
THE Co-op could stop selling Israeli products as early as this summer after board members voted in favour of a boycott.
A motion proposed at the Co-op AGM (annual general meeting) calling for a cease to all trading with Israel was backed by around 73% of members
The motion called on the board to demonstrate “moral courage and leadership” by removing Israeli goods from store shelves.
Citing the Co-op’s previous decision to “boycott Russian products” following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the motion read: “We urge the board to show moral courage and leadership, apply the same ethical principles and values it did to Russia, and take all Israeli products off the shelves.”
The board said it will consider the thoughts of members expressed by the non-binding vote.
UK Lawyers for Israel, a voluntary organisation of legal professionals, had asked for the motion to be withdrawn.
It said: “A non-binding motion to take all Israeli products off the shelves of Co-op stores contains false and defamatory statements, promotes racial hatred of Israelis and Jews, and should be rejected under the Co-op’s rules.”
But the motion was allowed received 73% voting in favour, compared to 27% against.
Lewis Backon, of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “The Co-op AGM vote shows ordinary people in this country are committed to the cause of justice and freedom for Palestine in their everyday lives and refuse to support Israel’s apartheid economy.
“The Co-op must now listen to its members and implement the motion by taking all Israeli goods off the shelves.”
A Co-op spokesman said: “At our AGM on May 17, 2025, a members’ motion on trading with Israel has passed.
“Whilst the motion is advisory, we are currently reviewing our sourcing policies, which we do from time to time. This is to ensure they reflect both our values and principles and the views of our members, which they have made clear today.
“We expect our review on the sourcing policy to complete towards the end of the summer.”