Jun 6, 2011

#BDS: Before and After September: The Struggle for Palestinian Rights Must Intensify

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The large non-violent marches by Palestinian youth in the West Bank, Gaza, Damoun, Jaffa, Maroun er-Ras (Lebanon) and Majdal Shams (Syria) have put the refugees’ right of return back at the core of the question of Palestine. By crossing hitherto impenetrable Israeli lines, real and imagined, into the occupied Golan Heights young Palestinian refugees from Syria, in particular, were able to demonstrate to the world, like their brethren in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere had done, that the will to restore rights is mightier than all the swords, including Israel’s futile nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction.
Aside from the spreading Arab peoples’ revolutions and their ability to topple some of the most brutal dictatorships anywhere, these Nakba Day return marches were buoyed by the ongoing popular resistance to Israel’s illegal wall and colonies built on occupied Palestinian territory and the fast growing global, Palestinian-led BDS movement that is scoring victories surpassing the most optimistic predictions.
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#BDS: French Activist summoned to court over Israel Boycott Video #France

"Olivia Zemor a French national has been summoned to appear before the Paris tribunal for publishing a video on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against israel on the website of the organisation she is heading. Zemor is expected to appear before the court on June 17.

The video features Palestinian and French activists dancing in a supermarket in the town of Evry, near Paris, wearing T-Shirts written on them phrases calling for Boycotting Israel."

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#BDS: Boycott Movement Cheers British Prime Minister Decision To Cut Ties With #JNF

Protest of JNF in Jerusalem (image by activestills)

"The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, stated Friday that he has resigned his position as an Honorary Patron of the Jewish National Fund (JNF), the body which owns 90% of the land in present-day Israel.

Cameron is the latest of a string of high-profile political figures to abandon the JNF, a trend which has been cheered by the international movement to Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel for what the movement calls apartheid policies by Israel."

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#BDS; Israel is terrified: Officials fear 'Palestine' declaration will bring boycott

"Concern is growing in Israel over the possibility that following a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinians later this year, countries around the world will boycott Israeli military products.

The concern, voiced by leading officials in the defense establishment, comes ahead of the Paris Air Show next month, where Israeli hardware will be on display in pursuit of new sales."

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#BDS Needed: #Benetton to open 1st Tel Aviv store

"Italian clothing retailer's franchisers planning to open at least 10 branches in Israel, in addition to flagship store at Dizengoff center

Italian clothing retailer Benetton will open its first flagship store inIsrael at Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Center, business daily Calcalist has learned. The store will open on the mall's ground floor near a Bank Hapoalim branch."

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#BDS Needed: Israeli dance festival coming to #NY #US

"Annual La MaMa Moves Festival to celebrate work of Israeli artists, groups for four days starting June 8

The La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York will celebrate a week of Israeli dance in June, as part of the annual La MaMa Moves Festival.

The festival will include performances by Israeli artists and groups active in Israel and in the United States."

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#BDS Success: #Turkey: Israeli play canceled over protests

"Cameri Theater forced to call off participation in Antalya festival as Palestinian demonstrators plan to disrupt performance. 'I don't remember an incident like this,' says company's director-general

Israel's ambassador to Turkey says a leading Israeli theater company has been forced to cancel a play because Turkish protesters planned to disrupt the performance."

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#BDS: Israelis banned from Turkish race #Turkey

"Tel Aviv cyclists asked to leave Tour of Isparta 2011 after Syrian, Iraqi teams threaten to withdraw from competition

A group of Israeli cyclists was banned last weekend from the 2011 Cycling Tour of Isparta in Turkey, after the Syrian and Iraqi teams threatened to withdraw from the competition."

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#BDS Needed: American singer Rickie Lee Jones to join #Dylan in #Israel

"American singer, who performed in Eilat last year, to be hosted by legendary musician in his Ramat Gan concert; other famous artists may join big night too

American singer Rickie Lee Jones will be joining Bob Dylan's Israelconcert, which will be held at the Ramat Gan Stadium on June 20.

Ynet has learned from sources in the show's production that Dylan was the one asked to host the veteran singer in his Israel gig, and that other famous artist may join the big night too."

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#BDS: في تحديات مقاطعة إسرائيل انطلاقا من لبنان #Lebanon

 في مقابلة مع تلفزيون الـبي بي سي، في أيار 2011، سُئل أحد منظمي مسابقة اليوروفيزون الموسيقية عن أثر «السياسة» في المسابقة. بدأ جوابه من لبنان وإسرائيل قائلا إنه عندما حاول لبنان الانضمام إلى المسابقة من خلال متبارٍ لبناني، اشترط المنظمون اللبنانيون عدم بث فقرة غناء الفريق الإسرائيلي على التلفزيون اللبناني. رفض منظمو مسابقة اليوروفيزون، وانســحب لبـنان من المسابقة الأوروبية، وترك الساحة مفتوحة أمام الإسرائيلي.




منظمو «الـوورلد برس فوتو» World Press Photo في بيروت اعتقدوا مؤخرا أن بإمكانهم تمرير صور إسرائيلية في معرض في بيروت. فقد كانت الرهانات المالية والثقافية على المعرض عالية، بالأخص أن المسابقة هي من أرقى المسابقات في العـالم وكانت محور مجموعة نشاطات موازية في «أســواق بيروت». إلا أن «تسريب المعلومــة» من أحد الزوار الناشــطين في مجال حقوق الإنسان حرك مجموعات شبابية والإعلام ووضع حدا للمعرض بكامله؛ ذلك لأنه ممنوع على المنظمين في لبنان أن يقتطعوا صـورا من المعرض لأن ذلك سيكون بمثابة «فرض رقابة» على نشـاط هدفُه حرية التعبير من خلال الصور.



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#BDS: إسرائيل قلقة من مقاطعة منتجاتها بعد الاعتراف بالدولة الفلسطينية


قالت صحيفة «جيروزاليم بوست» الإسرائيلية في عددها الصادر أمس إن المخاوف تتصاعد داخل إسرائيل بشأن إمكانية مقاطعة الدول في جميع أنحاء العالم للمنتجات العسكرية الإسرائيلية بعد الاعتراف الدولي المتوقع بدولة فلسطينية هذا العام.
وقالت الصحيفة الإسرائيلية إن المخاوف التي أعرب عنها مسؤولون بارزون في المؤسسة العسكرية الإسرائيلية تأتى قبل معرض باريس الجوي الشهر المقبل وهو المعرض الذي تطرح فيه إسرائيل منتجاتها العسكرية. وقال مسؤول عسكري إسرائيلي للصحيفة «نحن في حاجة إلى أن نعد أنفسنا لاحتمال أن يؤدي اعتراف الأمم المتحدة بالفلسطينيين في سبتمبر المقبل إلى مقاطعة المنتجات العسكرية الإسرائيلية».
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#BDS: إسكتلندا تدعو إلى مقاطعة منتجات إسرائيل بما فيها الإنتاج الأدبي والترجمات #Scotland

 كشفت صحيفة (يديعوت أحرونوت) الإسرائيلية، اليوم الأربعاء، عن أن البلديات في إسكتلندا قررت حظر عرض أو نشر أو بيع أو توزيع الكتب والروايات والقصص والمؤلفات الإسرائيلية أو المترجمة من العبرية إلى الإنجليزية.


وأكدت الصحيفة "أن هذا الحظر يأتي في إطار حملة المقاطعة الثقافية ضد إسرائيل، والتي بدأت في مدينة (جلاسكو) غرب إسكتلندا، إثر الهجوم الذي نفذته البحرية الإسرائيلية ضد (أسطول الحرية) التركي، الذي راح ضحيته 9 أتراك قبل عام". 

وأضافت، أن هناك ملصقات علقت في مدينة (داندي) الإسكتلندية، تدعو المواطنين إلى مقاطعة البضائع الإسرائيلية بما فيها المؤلفات والتراجم والروايات.


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#BDS; اتحاد عمال مصر يؤكد على حق الشعب الفلسطيني ولا تطبيع من اتحاد عمال إسرائيل #Egypt


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وأشار الغزالى فى تصريحات صحفية إلى أن اتحاد عمال مصر حرص خلال السنوات الماضية على عدم الانضمام لأى اتحاد عمال عالمى حرصاً منه على الحيادية، موضحاً أن انضمام الاتحاد العام الذى يضم فى عضويته نحو 5 ملايين عامل مصرى للاتحاد العالمى للنقابات يأتى لإيمانه بالمبادئ التى يقوم عليها وتتمثل فى احترام الحقوق والحريات النقابية وعدم التدخل فى شئون الآخرين إلى جانب وقوفه بجانب القضية العادلة للشعب الفلسطينى.
وقال إن الاتحاد العام لنقابات عمال مصر يصر على موقفة الدائم بعدم التطبيع مع اتحاد عمال إسرائيل إلا بعد حصوله الشعب الفلسطينى على حقوق المشروعة وإقامة دولته على ترابه الوطنى وعاصمتها القدس الشريف.
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#BDS: Remembering Gil Scott Heron

"25 APRIL 2010 



Gil Scott-Heron, whose political poetry influenced a generation of rap artists, last night sensationally announed the cancellation of his planned gig in Tel Aviv.

Gill Scott Heron
Speaking on-stage at London's Royal Festival Hall, Scott-Heron told the audience he “hated war” and, in a lengthy monolougue, told the packed audience his Israel tour date would not be going ahead.
His concert had earlier been disrupted by fans dismayed at the booking, repeatedly heckling the performer and asking him to cancel.
Security was called and audience members threatened with removal.
A Facebook page was set up to urge the legendary performer against going ahead with his Israel appearance."

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#BDS: STRATEGIC THINKING AND SOLIDARITY TO NATIONAL SOCIAL JUSTICE STRUGGLES

"For centuries, national social justice movements have brought about fundamental change. The Anti-Slavery Movement in the United States led to the abolition of slavery in 1865. In the Netherlands, women fought for, and obtained, the right to vote in 1919. The campaigns of the African-American Civil Rights Movement led to the adoption of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. South African liberation movements (ANC and PAC) overthrew apartheid in 1994. All these examples illustrate the power of citizens and their organizations when they persistently work together towards clear goals.

As Ghandi observed in 1938, ‘a small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history’ (Misra and Gupta, 2008). This short statement reveals a number of key elements for the success of social movements. A movement can be sparked off by a small body of persons when they are determined and have an unquenchable faith in the mission of their social justice movement. These elements correspond with what I experienced at the Holland Committee on Southern Africa (KZA) that, for decades, supported the struggle against apartheid. These elements also apply to how the successful global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in solidarity with Palestinians came about. A core group of dedicated persons shared the conviction that they could make a contribution to fight injustice."
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#BDS: Artists Against Apartheid launched in #Australia

"As Artists aware of our colonial history, we recognise the dispossession of the Indigenous people of this Land, and we support the human rights of the Indigenous people of Palestine to live on their land with dignity – free from military occupation and the brutality of the Israeli Apartheid system.


Israel’s Apartheid regime over the Palestinian people is a system that separates and discriminates against people based on their ethnicity. It is a system that is institutionalised by laws and military force.


Artists Against Apartheid in Australia is part of an international alliance committed to human rights and justice, and to the elimination of Apartheid in our world. We stand in solidarity with the call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). We actively support the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. In so doing:"


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    #BDS: #Coldplay promotes 'Freedom for Palestine' song

    "(Video) British band's Facebook page invites fans to listen to music video created by various artists in cooperation with pro-Palestinian organizations

    VIDEO - Coldplay for Palestine – a message on the popular British band's official Facebook page invites fans to listen to the song "Freedom for Palestine" – a musical collaboration initiated by the OneWorld organization.

    A message posted on the band's wall reads: "Some of our friends are involved in OneWorld's new 'Freedom for Palestine' single - find out more at http://www.waronwant.org/freedomoneworld/. "

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    #BDS: The single that we all love: Freedom for Palestine - OneWorld


    #BDS; لجنة التنسيق في منظمة العمل الدولية تقر برنامج يوم التضامن مع العمال


    عقدت لجنة التنسيق العربية في منظمة العمل الدولية اجتماعها الاول بمشاركة مدير عام منظمة العمل العربية احمد لقمان، والامين العام للاتحاد الدولي لنقابات العمال العرب رجب معتوق، وعدد من ممثلي اطراف الانتاج العرب.

    وبحثت اللجنة التحضيرات الجارية في اطار التحضير ليوم التضامن مع عمال وشعب فلسطين المزمع عقده في قصر الامم بجنيف يوم 9/6، وأقرت التسميات العربية في مختلف اللجان المشكلة في المنظمة الدولية.

    وحث احمد لقمان على ان يكون القرار العربي واضحا وجلياً في هذا المحفل الدولي، فيما طالب معتوق بان تكون درجة الاستفادة من يوم التضامن مع عمال فلسطين والتأكيد على حضور قضية العمال العرب في المناطق المحتلة في المؤتمر، مشددا على حتمية ان لا يخرج هذا اليوم عن اطاره الوطني الفاعل ولا عن نطاق قضية فلسطين المركزية ..


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    #BDS: #Greek BDS activists plant trees in Estee Lauder store

    "Palestine solidarity activists in Thessaloniki, Greece, engaged in a creative action in support of the Palestinian-led call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israeli policies of apartheid and ethnic cleansing on 28 May when they entered an Estee Lauder cosmetics store with tree saplings in tow. 
    According to a press release from an activist performance group calling itself the Land Annexation Society, six participants dressed in suits as members of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and “proceeded to ‘plant’ trees over the Estee Lauder shop space … flyers were distributed to shoppers and staff informing them that ‘this Estee Lauder space is currently being rezoned.’”
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    #BDS: European Forum against Agrexco/Carmel: BDS Europe, a Major Struggle

    agrexco

    "The Annual General Meeting of the Coalition against Agrexco has initiated this forum while Operation "Gaza Strawberries", conducted by Agrexco, the CRIF and the Israeli Embassy in France, is in full swing.

    Operation "Gaza Strawberries" has two goals. First, to nullify the impact of the efforts made to launch the French Ship for Gaza ("Thanks to Agrexco, there is no more blockade, so there is no point in sending the ship."). They are wasting their time, there will be a French ship in the second flotilla! The second goal was to nullify the Boycott and the rejection of Agrexco ("Since Agrexco is rescuing the Palestinians by exporting their products, boycotting Agrexco is boycotting the Palestinians."). This sordid maneuvering had the advantage of revealing the enormous challenge posed to Israel by this struggle because of the symbolic importance of the Carmel Agrexco brand."

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