#BDS: Tunisian party calls for anti-normalization watchdog

The Tunisian Democratic Union party has called for the formation of an anti-normalization watchdog to thwart all forms and attempt to normalize ties with the Zionist entity. The aprty's remarks came in the 25th anniversary of the Israeli raid on the Tunisian capital Tunis that left at least 60 Palestinian and Tunisian citizens dead. The party also hailed the Tunisian public for strongly rejecting any form of normalization with the Israeli occupation, urging all Arab countries with diplomatic or commercial ties with the Zionist entity to immediately severe those ties, describing establishing relationships with the Zionists as "wasting the Arab rights on the Palestinian land". The party also called on the Arab countries to withdraw the Arab Initiative, and to support Palestinian reconciliation, and to protect the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation. In addition, the party urged the PA in Ramallah city to stop the path of negotiation and to return back to the resistance option being the only assurance to establish the independent Palestinian state and to allow Palestinian refugees return back to their homeland. In October 1985, Israeli warplanes launched an air strike on the PLO headquarters in the Tunisian capital suburb of Hammam Al-Shatt, killing scores of Tunisian and Palestinians, including PLO's strongman Khalil Al-Wazeer "Abu Jiahd".

#BDS: More varsities check Israel links

Major South African universities began looking into their own ties with Israeli universities within hours of the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) decision on Wednesday night to terminate its links with Ben-Gurion University unless it fulfils, within six months, two conditions UJ has specified.

After the Mail & Guardian's report last week that Unisa vice-chancellor Barney Pityana had signed a petition calling on UJ to sever all ties with Ben-Gurion, three more varsity heads added their names: Saleem Badat (Rhodes), Derrick Swartz (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University) and Dan Ncayiyana (former vice-chancellor of what is now the Durban University of Technology).

They joined about 250 signatories to the petition, launched last month, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, poet Antjie Krog, law professor John Dugard, writer Breyten Breytenbach and sociologist Ran Greenstein.

'No formal links'
Wits University vice-chancellor Loyiso Nongxa told the M&G he was not aware of "any formal links -- a memorandum of understanding [MoU] -- between Wits and Israeli universities".

And "the issue -- whether or not we should enter into such agreements -- hasn't come up over the past 10 years that I’ve been at Wits”, he said.

Three hours later, Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said she had searched the university's database and could confirm that it "has no formal ties with any Israeli university, according to our database".

The University of Cape Town followed suit shortly afterwards: "There are no institution-level partnerships with Israeli universities," said spokesperson Mologadi Makwela.

He added that "Professor Milton Shain of the UCT Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research has indicated that there are no formal links with any Israeli universities."

All 23 vice-chancellors will receive the UJ senate's resolution, said Duma Malaza, the chief executive officer of the varsity heads' representative body, Higher Education South Africa (Hesa). "It is likely that the next meetings of Hesa's executive committee on October 7 and board on October 27 will ... reflect on this issue," he added.

#BDS: Lessons from the UC Berkeley Divestment Effort, Hillel on Campus

Israel right-or-wrong apologists have reason to be worried after three lengthy UC Berkeley student senate hearings concluded each with a solid majority of votes (60% or more) in favor of divestment from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation. Though in the end, the vote fell 1 short of the needed supermajority required to overturn a veto, neither our opponents nor we forget that a clear majority consistently supported the bill.

Now, a few weeks after the hearings are over, it is a good time to examine how familiar tactics were deployed to stop the divestment effort and are now being used to prevent future similar ones. These tactics do not advance the cause of peace and have the unintended potential to cause harm to Jews in the US. Silencing debate, confusing the facts, taking over student senates, making indiscriminate charges of anti-Semitism, criminalizing anti-occupation activism, implicitly or explicitly condoning widespread hostility against Muslims, Palestinians, and anti-occupation Jews – these are the tactics with which we’ve unfortunately become too familiar. We’ll review them below.

1) Silencing debate

The first tactic, which predates UC Berkeley’s divestment initiative, is the effort to shut down debate within the Jewish community. The story is an old one, but given the growing level of desperation among the Israel right-or-wrong crowd, the measures being deployed are increasingly bold and destructive.

Just a few months ago, the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation issued the most restrictive funding guidelines in the country. These guidelines aim to silence open discussion within the institutional Jewish community on Israeli policies and the merits of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. And they also have led to an old-fashioned blacklist of well-known human rights groups now banned from the Federation’s donor designated fund’s acceptable charities list.

The guidelines’ impact has not gone unnoticed. An open letter in The Forward signed by Jewish professors, rabbis, and other notables from both the left and center describes the San Francisco Federation guidelines in these terms:

#BDS: Jewish actor visits West Bank camp in quest for peace

In a small, bare room in a refugee camp in the southern West Bank, a Palestinian Muslim man and a British Jewish woman face each other on plastic chairs and grope towards a mutual understanding across decades of mistrust, injustice, hostility and violence.

The man is Said Ali Banat Hajarah: 82, partially deaf, failing eyesight, a former farmer nostalgic about his fields and livestock, bitter at the loss of his family home more than six decades ago, still grieving the deaths of his father and a son at the hands of Israeli soldiers, convinced that the gun must be part of the toolbox of resistance alongside the pen and the voice.

The woman is Miriam Margolyes: 69, stage and film actor, ageing knee joints that won't allow her to sit on the floor, intensely curious about life in a refugee camp under occupation, furious at the actions and policies of the Israeli government, passionately opposed to violence as a tool of resistance.

Margolyes has travelled to Al Arroub, halfway between the Palestinian cities of Bethlehem and Hebron, to hear stories like Hajarah's. "I wanted to see what's going on, to learn – and it's not a happy experience," she tells the Guardian.

#BDS: حزب تونسي يدعو لتشكيل "مرصد وطني" لمناهضة التطبيع مع الكيان

دعا حزب الاتحاد الديموقراطي الوحدي المعارض إلى تشكيل "مرصد وطني" لمناهضة كافة أشكال التطبيع مع الكيان الصهيوني في تونس، بمناسبة الذكرى الخامسة والعشرين لغارة الطيران الصهيوني على مقر فلسطيني في الضاحية الجنوبية للعاصمة التونسية، ما خلف أكثر من ستين شهيداً بين تونسيين وفلسطينيين. وكان الحزب، ذو التوجه القومي العربي، قد دعا في وقت سابق إلى جعل غرة تشرين الأول (أكتوبر) من كل عام يوماً وطنياً لمقاومة التطبيع بمختلف أشكاله وألوانه مع الكيان الصهيوني، وفضح جرائمها ضد الانسانية". وثمن الحزب "التفاعل الايجابي" مع هذا النداء في تونس التي لا تقيم علاقات دبلوماسية مع الكيان، مطالباً كل الحكومات العربية التي لها علاقات رسمية وتجارية وثقافية مع الكيان الصهيوني بـ "قطع هذه العلاقات"، التي وصفها بـ "الهادرة للحق العربي على أرض فلسطين" وإلى "سحب ما يسمى بالمبادرة العربية" و"دعم المصالحة الوطنية الفلسطينية وحماية مقاومتها". كما دعا السلطة الفلسطينية إلى "إيقاف مسار المفاوضات والتوجه نحو مشروع المقاومة"، التى رأى أنه "وحده الضامن لاقامة الدولة الفلسطينية وعودة اللاجئين دون الاعتراف بالدولة الصهيونية المغتصبة"، مؤكداً رفضه المطلق للمفاوضات "على خلفية ان صراع الامة العربية معه هو صراع وجود لا مجال فيه للمساومة او المهادنة".

#BDS: Full List of Irish Artists Who Endorsed the Boycott of Israel

Last Updated 29th September 2010

1. Astrid Adler - Visual Artist, Musician, Mime artist
2. John Arden – Playwright, Novelist
3. Siobhán Armstrong - Musician
4. Derek Ball - Composer
5. Robert Ballagh - Visual Artist
6. Margo Banks – Painter
7. Cormac Begley - Musician
8. Liam Bradley - Musician
9. Diarmuid Breatnach – Musician, Poet
10. Cormac Breatnach – Musician
11. Cecily Brennan – Artist
12. Ronan Browne – Musician
13. Conor Byrne - Musician
14. Roisin Byrne - Visual artist
15. Séamas Cain – Poet, performance artist
16. Moya Cannon – Poet
17. Liam Carson - Scríbhneoir
18. Clare Cashman – Visual artist
19. Rhona Clarke – Composer
20. Siobhán Cleary - Composer
21. Mickey Coleman - Singer/songwriter
22. Joe Comerford - Film-maker
23. Michael Connerty – Musician (Moutpiece)
24. Neilí Conroy – Actor
25. Dorothy Cross – Sculptor
26. Charles Cullen – Visual artist
27. Michael Cullen - Painter
28. Cindy Cummings - Dance Artist
29. Sinéad Cusack - Actor
30. Margaretta Darcy – Author and playwright
31. John F. Deane - Writer
32. Raymond Deane - Composer
33. Seamus Deane – Author
34. Renate DeBrun – Painter and printmaker
35. Damien Dempsey - Singer
36. Tim Dennehy – Singer/Songwriter
37. Eoin Dillon - Ceoltóir (Kíla)
38. Keith Donald – Musician
39. Philip Donnery - Musician
40. Gráinne Dowling - Visual artist
41. Kevin Doyle – Writer
42. Robert Doyle - Musician
43. Roger Doyle - Composer
44. Felim Egan - Visual artist
45. Martin A. Egan – Musician
46. Naisrín Elsafty - Singer
47. Róisín Elsafty – Singer
48. Zahrah Elsafty – Singer
49. Elaine Feeney - Poet
50. Stephen Gardner – Composer
51. Anthony Glavin - Novelist and short story writer
52. Dearbhla Glynn – Film-maker
53. Johnny Gogan – Film-maker
54. Carmel Gunning – Musician
55. Marie Hanlon – Visual artist
56. Robbie Harris - Musician
57. Paul Hayes - Composer
58. Graham Henderson – Musician
59. Donogh Hennessy - Musician
60. Rita Ann Higgins – Poet
61. Michael Holohan - Composer
62. Andy Irvine – Musician
63. Ryan Johnson - Musician
64. Fergus Johnston - Composer
65. Fred Johnston – Poet
66. Trevor Joyce – Poet
67. Bernadette Kiely – Painter
68. Brian King – Sculptor
69. Vincent Kennedy - Composer
70. Trevor Knight - Music/Theatre
71. Conor Kostick - Novelist.
72. Gavin Kostick – Playwright
73. Dave Lordan - Poet
74. Donal Lunny –Musician
75. Pól MacAdaim – Singer/songwriter
76. Iarla Mac Aodha Bhuí - Scríbhneoir
77. Mickey MacConnell – Singer/Songwriter
78. Tony Mac Mahon – Musician
79. Lorcán Mac Mathúna - Singer
80. Brian Maguire - Visual artist
81. Alice Maher - Visual Artist
82. Brenda Malloy – Musician
83. Jimmy McCarthy - Singer/songwriter
84. Martin McElhinney - Musician (Coldwar)
85. Paul Nash – Musician (Coldwar)
86. Trevor McLave - (Coldwar)
87. Joe McGowan - Author
88. Jackie McKenna - Sculptor
89. John McLachlan - Composer
90. Joleen McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Sisters)
91. Karen McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Sisters)
92. Lorna McLaughlin – Musician (Henry Sisters)
93. Tina Mc Laughlin- Singer/Songwriter
94. Eoin McLochlainn - Visual artist
95. John McSherry - Musician
96. Paula Meehan – Poet
97. Christy Moore - Musician
98. Thom Moore - Songwriter, writer/translator
99. Sharon (Shaz) Morgan – Musician, Photographer
100. Fiach Moriarty – Singer/Songwriter
101. Sami Moukkadem - Musician, film-maker, writer
102. Hassan Ould Muctar - Musician
103. Conor Mullan - Musician
104. Janet Mullarney – Visual artist
105. Gráinne Mulvey – Composer
106. Deirdre Murphy - Dancer
107. Jimmy Murphy – Playwright
108. Niamh Ní Charra – Musician
109. Peadar Ó Ceannabháin - Singer
110. Saileog Ní Cheannabháin - Musician
111. Treasa Ní Cheannabháin – Singer
112. Áine Ní Chuaig – Musician
113. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh – Musician/Singer
114. Liam Noonan – Musician (Digital Disorder)
115. Dave Murphy – Musician (Digital Disorder)
116. Keith McGovern – Musician (Digital Disorder)
117. Ken Deasy – Musician (Digital Disorder)
118. Pádraig Ó Baoill – Scríbhneoir
119. Niall Ó Callanáin - Musician
120. Eamonn O'Doherty - Architect, Sculptor
121. Méabh O Hare – Musician/Film-maker
122. Jane O'Leary – Composer
123. Brian Ó hUiginn - Musician
124. Donal O'Kelly – Playwright/Actor
125. Ciarán Ó Maonaigh - Ceoltóir
126. Seosamh O Neachtain – Dancer
127. Eoin O'Neill - Musician
128. Jerry O'Reilly – Singer
129. Peadar Ó Riada – Ceoltóir
130. Gregory Rosenstock - Writer
131. Pauline Scanlon - Singer
132. Rossa Ó Snodaigh - Ceoltóir (Kíla)
133. Paul O'Toole – Singer/Songwriter
134. Michael Quane – Sculptor
135. Bob Quinn - Visual artist/filmmaker
136. Jim Ricks - Visual Artist
137. Stephen Rothschild - Painter/printmaker.
138. Mary Russell - Author
139. Dermot Seymour - Painter
140. John W. Sexton – Poet.
141. Eileen Sheehan - Poet
142. Ronan Sheehan - Novelist
143. Michael Smith – Poet and translator
144. Moira Tierney – Film-maker
145. Hugh Travers - Writer
146. Caoimhín Vallely - Ceoltóir
147. Laura Vecchi - Painter/writer
148. John Wakeman – Poet
149. Hilary Wakeman - Author
150. Hazel Walker - Visual artist
151. William Wall - Author
152. Ronan Wilmot - Actor/Director
153. Steve Woods – Film-maker
154. Adam Wyeth - Poet
155. Luke Mercer – Musician (Oddsocks Revival)
156. Adrian White – Writer
157. Tom Fitzgerald – Visual artist
158. Clara Rose – Musician
159. Conor McGrady – Visual Artist
160. Dermot McLaughlin - Musician
161. Michael Owens - Singer/Songwriter
162. Anthony Fox - Actor, Writer
163. Conor Grimes - Writer, Actor
164. Stuart Nealon - Poet
165. Darach Ó Scolaí – Writer
166. Cahal Johnson – Musician
167. Michael Gallagher – Photographer
168. Kevin Spratt (aka Captain Moonlight) – Musician
169. Cara Dillon – Musician
170. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh – Ceoltóir
171. Fiach (Moriarty) – Singer/songwriter
172. Loreana Rush – Photographer
173. Alice Hanratty – Painter
174. Barry McGovern – Actor
175. Nuala Ní Dhomhnail – Poet
176. Lillis Ó Laoire – Musician
177. Stephen Rea – Actor
178. Liam Ó Maonlaí – Musician
179. Ellen Cranitch – Musician
180. Sharon Shannon – Musician

#BDS: IPSC "Irish artists' pledge to boycott Israel"

In August 2010 the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) launched the following pledge, initially signed by over 140 Irish creative and performing artists, whereby they undertake to boycott the Israeli state under present circumstances:

"In response to the call from Palestinian civil society for a cultural boycott of Israel, we pledge not to avail of any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel, nor to accept any funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights." - See the full list of signatories here.

***If you are an Irish artist or an artist based in Ireland and would like to add your signature, please contactculturalboycott [at] ipsc.ie***

Described by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) as "a ground-breaking initiative", this pledge has so far been signed by over 140 Irish creative and performing artists: novelists, playwrights, poets, actors, composers, singers, dancers, painters, sculptors and filmmakers, ranging from those starting out on their careers to household names. - See here for the full PACBI statement of endorsement.

ccording to IPSC Cultural Boycott Officer Dr. Raymond Deane, "These artists are aware of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's statement in 2005 that “We see culture as a propaganda tool of the first rank, and...do not differentiate between propaganda and culture.” These artists refuse to allow their art to be exploited by an apartheid state that disregards international law and universal principles of human rights, but look forward to the day when normal cultural relations can be re-established with an Israel that fully complies with such laws and principles."

Dr. Deane, himself a classical composer and a signatory of the pledge, recalled Nelson Mandela's dictum that "boycott is not a principle, it is a tactic depending upon circumstances." Dr. Deane added: "Five years ago, when 170 Palestinian civil society organisations called a campaign of  Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, they provided a central plank for worldwide activism on behalf of their cause."

Dr. Deane continued, "Culture cannot stand aloof from such activism. Whether or not art is 'above politics', its presentation and representation in the real world can all too easily be hijacked by oppressive states. With this pledge, Irish artists have an opportunity to distance themselves from such exploitation, and to take a non-violent stand on behalf of the oppressed Palestinian people."