Petition to End Sales of Israeli Wines at MB Liquor Masts ought to be met with a Buycott of Israeli Wines Wherever they are Carried

by Rhonda Spivak

There is a petition that was begun on April 1, 2024 that has over  500 signatures at the time of this writing demanding that the Manitoba Liquor Marts across the province stop selling Israeli wines, or any Israeli products. The petition notes that in 2022 Manitoba Liquor Marts remove all Russian products after Russia invaded Ukraine, and it claims the Manitoba Liquor Marts ought to take similar steps to stop “Israeli Genocide.” What’s outrageous about referencing the Ukraine example is that it was the Hamas , the governing body of Gaza who invaded Israel on Oct 7 and not the other way round. Further, ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre, Ukraine emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense. “We feel the pain and never-ending sorrow of those who lost their loved ones on October 7th, 2023,” wrote the Ukrainian embassy in Israel on Facebook. “In these challenging times for both our nations, the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel expresses our solidarity and support with the people of Israel.” Once again, we reiterate that every nation that was attacked unprovokedly has a right to self-defense and to ensure the security of its citizens,” it added.

In light of this statement, it is clear that the example of Ukraine, support’s Israel’s goals of  dismantling Hamas and ending its rule in Gaza. The example of Ukraine would arguably mean that the Manitoba Liquor Marts ought to cease carrying any Gazan products, not Israeli ones.

In my respectful view, our Jewish community leadership out to ensure that Israeli wines continue to be stocked at the MB Liquor Marts and ought to encourage members of the community  to buy them, as well encouraging members of the community to  buy Israeli and other kosher wines that are carried by other retailers. We ought not to be complacent and ought to ensure we support the purchase of these wines. Our Jewish organizations and synagogues ought to be serving Israeli wines at their functions as a matter of principle, in opposition to this petition. In the case of a retailer that carries a large selection of Israeli and kosher wines, and we must make every effort to buy them to ensure the full variety of these wines continue to be stocked.  Our community ought to organize a BuyCott to buy out Israeli wines Market which can be enjoyed as we look forward to celebrating Chanukah.

It should be remembered that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel and wine production by the ancient Israelites began thousands of years ago during the Biblical era. In the late 1800’s Baron Edmond De Rothchild began helping Jews who came to the holy land then under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, giving them financial support to plant vineyards.

Regarding Candice Bodnarak, the woman who began the petition at issue to stop the sale of Israeli wines at issue she sits on the Executive of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, and is also a columnist for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. The full petition is below and can be found at https://www.change.org/p/end-sales-of-israeli-products-in-manitoba-liquor-marts