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(Gothamist) Morton Williams Supermarkets have announced that they will be boycotting Turkish goods as a gesture of solidarity with Israel. According to a release issued today by the supermarket chain, the product ban will begin immediately.
The decision was spurred by Turkey's boycott of Israeli products, and by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan's "support and embrace of the terrorist organization Hamas, his vitriolic anti-Semitic comments comparing Israelis to Nazis, and his ally's egregious acceptance of violence against the Jewish community in Turkey."
The boycott comes just a few days after the Turkish Prime Minister expressed support of the people of Gaza, speaking out against Israel for what he believes is the genocide of the Palestinian people. According to the International Business Times, Erdogan delivered his comments at a rally on Saturday, saying, "[Israelis] have no conscience, no honour, no pride. Those who condemn Hitler day and night have surpassed Hitler in barbarism."
Newsweek reports that Erdogan’s comments came just one day after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu spoke out on the Israeli air strike campaign, calling it “ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity”.
According to Avi Kaner, Vice President of Morton Williams, the boycott will cover numerous items, including sun dried apricots, figs, stuffed grape leaves, tea biscuits, jalapenos, red & yellow roasted peppers, pepperoncini, capers, ajar, bruschetta, caponata, giardiniera, pickled hot peppers, various snack products, candies, chocolates, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, banana pepper rings, hazelnut spread, and more.
“Israel is the one true democracy in the Middle East trying to survive against hostile neighbors seeking its destruction,” CEO Morton Sloan said in a statement. “Turkey, by siding with those who would destroy Israel, deserves our condemnation. We will lift our own boycott of Turkish products when Erdogan changes his anti-Semitic course.”
Morton Williams has several locations across the city. This marks the first boycott of products hosted by the family-owned supermarket chain.
