Bookstore boycott
Staff at the 'Inner Bookshop', a Magdalen Road 'Mind Body Spirit' bookseller, have faced abuse and threats following the shop's boycott of Israeli publishers.
Anthony Cheke, the co-owner of the Inner Bookshop, described the boycott as "a purely political act in response to Israeli policies" and claims to have been the subject of a "witch-hunt". Staff at the store have received "a spate of hate-mail" including a note warning: "End your boycott of Jewish goods or face the consequences. Watch your back - we are watching yours!"
In response to allegations of anti-Semitism, which he describes as "nonsense", Cheke was quick to point out that he still stocks Jewish books, and that he is engaged in a purely economic boycott of Israeli publishers.
Cheke claimed that he has singled out Israel because "it claims to be a freedom-loving Western democracy".
6th Feb 2003