#BDS: حركة احتجاجية على قمع من يؤيد مقاطعة المستوطنات...تبرئة برلمانية فرنسية من تهمة الحض على كراهية إسرائيل

خيب قاضي محكمة بونتواز الفرنسية آمال مناصري إسرائيل، وبرأ عضو مجلس الشيوخ الفرنسي عليمة بومدين تيري، والناشط في «الحزب الجديد المناهض لليبرالية» عمر سلوطي من تهمة «الحض على الكراهية والعنصرية والتمييز والعنف»، ضد إسرائيل.

فدعوة بومدين وسلوطي إلى مقاطعة منتجات المستوطنات الإسرائيلية لا يمنح -برأي القاضي- المدافعين عن صورة إسرائيل في فرنسا «الحق الشخصي» بملاحقة من يدعو إلى مقاطعة إسرائيل.وهكذا سقطت الدعوى التي رفعها سامي غزلان رئيس «المكتب الوطني لرصد الأعمال المعادية للسامية» بالتعاون مع منظمة «محامين بلا حدود» و«غرفة التجارة الفرنسية- الإسرائيلية»، بناء على قانون يعود إلى عام 1881، ضد أعمال التحريض لأن «القانون وضع للدفاع عن حقوق الأفراد وليس الدول».. لكن تبقى أكثر من ثمانين دعوى مشابهة وزعها مؤيدو إسرائيل أمام محاكم فرنسية في مدن مختلفة، ضد شخصيات أيدت الحملة الفرنسية لـ«المقاطعة وسحب الاستثمارات والعقوبات»، التي أطلقتها جمعيات مدنية ويؤيدها معظم القوى السياسية الواقفة على يسار الحزب الاشتراكي. ويأمل مؤيدو إسرائيل في إدانة أي شخص منهم لتسجيل سابقة تدين الحملة بأكمله.

#BDS: Canada, Israel to look at expanding free trade

Two-way merchandise trade has more than doubled since implementation of Free Trade Agreement between two countries, Canadian minister says during visit to Israel

Canadian Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan visited Israel for two days last week with the purpose of promoting closer commercial ties, promoting trade, investment and innovation, and beginning negotiations to expand the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

“The Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement has been tremendously beneficial for our two countries. Two-way merchandise trade has more than doubled since its implementation,” said Minister Van Loan.

“Canada’s ties to Israel are very deep, and our friendship is important. Our government is building on these ties and looking at opportunities to expand our trade relationship. We are committed to creating new sources of jobs, growth and prosperity for both of our countries in the years ahead.”

During the trip, Van Loan held a meeting with Israel’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour, Binyamin Ben Eliezer, in Tel Aviv. The purpose of the talk was to discuss ways to expand the FTA. The meeting concluded with an agreement that will see officials from both countries begin dialogue to “significantly expand (the FTA's) application.”

#BDS: 25th Israel Film Festival opens in LA

Special Honorees Richard Dreyfuss, Ryan Kavanaugh, Jon Landau and Avi Lerner to receive awards at gala dinner

Enriching the American vision of Israeli life and culture through the powerful medium of film, the Israel Film Festival has definitively become the largest showcase of Israeli films in the United States.

The year 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of this much acclaimed Israeli showcase that celebrates a quarter-century of Israeli cinema in the United States, and today the film festival announced its most dynamic program since its founding.

Encompassing over 30 titles, including award winning features, documentaries and television programs, the Festival runs from October 20 to November 4 in Los Angeles.

The opening night film is the West Coast premiere of Avi Nesher’s "The Matchmaker" (previously titled as "Once I Was"), which just recently won two Ophir Awards from the Israeli Film and Television Academy (the Israeli Oscars) for Best Actor and Best Actress by Adir Miller and Maya Dagan, respectively, as announced by Meir Fenigstein, the Founder/Executive Director of the Israel Film Festival.

The 2010 Israel Film Festival will begin its milestone anniversary year with a Gala Awards Dinner, honoring Richard Dreyfuss with the Career Achievement Award; Ryan Kavanaugh with the Outstanding Achievement in Film Award; Jon Landau with the Visionary Award; and Avi Lerner with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

#BDS: Norway artist angry as works withdrawn from Syria show

DAMASCUS — Two paintings by Norway's Haakon Gullvaag that show an Israeli flag have been withdrawn from an exhibition at the French Cultural Centre in the Syrian capital, the artist said on Monday.

His "Terra Sancta" exhibition contains works about the Israeli offensive against the Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009.

Two of the works in which the Israeli flag features were removed from the show on Saturday, an angry Gullvaag told AFP by phone from Oslo, adding the French embassy in Damascus "explained to us that it was their decision.

"This was done without contacting the artist, the curator or the Norwegian embassy. I have never experienced something similar in my entire life."

The artist said the French embassy said it had concerns about a hotel near the cultural centre which normally has many Iranian guests.

"They were afraid that the Iranians would misunderstand the motifs as being Israel-friendly. Then the cultural centre claimed that some students have complained about showing the Israeli flag at all," Gullvaag said.