Dec 2, 2011

#BDS: Declaration of Swiss Artists Responding to the Palestinian Appeal for Solidarity

"When Israel, through the Culturescapes festival, conducts a wide public relations campaign in Switzerland, when the program Swiss Season invites Swiss artists to present their works in prestigious venues in Israel, the undersigned artists and cultural actors hereby express their rejection of the politics of the Israeli state, policies which, for over 60 years, violate the rights of the Palestinian people.

The flattering image that Israel seeks to present, an image of a country in which creativity blooms in freedom, clashes with the reality that the Palestinian people endures. The refugees are still refused their right to return, Palestinians citizens of Israel are subject to legal and cultural segregation, the Gaza Strip is still under siege, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem remain under military occupation. In contempt of the law and public protestations, Israel continues the colonization and the construction of the separation wall in the West Bank and Jerusalem. We recognize in these politics the traits of an apartheid regime, as defined by international law."

Read more

#BDS: Arch Enemy: Stand with Revolution not Apartheid

"It is with great disappointment that the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has learned of your scheduled performance in Israel set for January 24, 2012 [1].  Given that Israel is involved in grave violations of international law and human rights we urge you to cancel this gig until the time comes when Israel is in compliance with its obligations under international law and fully respects Palestinian rights."

Read more

#BDS: Time for outrage against academic support for Israel

"The EU is not only refusing to take action against Israel, it is busily conniving in Israel's crimes.

Persistent campaigning by the Palestine solidarity movement has turned Veolia into something of a toxic brand. From Manchester to Melbourne, local authorities have been quizzed about their dealings with the French corporate giant because of its role in constructing a light rail system for illegal Israeli settlements in Jerusalem.

The controversy has affected Veolia's bottom line, resulting in the loss of contracts worth €10 billion (£8.6 billion) over the past six years. So it recently turned to the Brussels bureaucracy for moral - or, perhaps more accurately, immoral - support.

On 31 October, Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the European Commission, opened the "Go4 Europe" business conference in Tel Aviv. On promotional material that Tajani and his aides almost certainly read, Veolia was listed as one of the event's four "platinum sponsors". As Tajani used the occasion to  laud  Israel's "business-friendly environment" (his words), he gave his tacit blessing to companies such as Veolia that have seized the opportunities presented by an apartheid state."

Read more

#BDS: OUMOU SANGARÉ ANNULE SON CONCERT EN #ISRAËL

"Merci à la grande chanteuse malienne Oumou Sangaré d’avoir décidé d’annuler son concert à L’opéra de Tel Aviv, programmé pour le 9 décembre prochain !

Outre ses superbes talents de chanteuse qui ont fait d’elle une star mondiale à l’âge de 21 ans, Oumou Sangaré est une personne engagée. Elle défend notamment la cause des femmes et il aurait été dommage qu’elle aille soutenir, par sa présence un Etat qui pratique l’apartheid et le nettoyage ethnique de tout un peuple."

Read more

#BDs Call: Red Hot Chili Peppers to perform in #Israel

"A decade after they canceled their plans to perform for fans in Tel Aviv, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be performing in Israel.

In 2001, in the wake of the release of the band’s successful album “Californication,” 20,000 tickets were sold for a concert featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park. After a wave of attacks, however, the band canceled their visit to Israel."

Read more

#BDS: NUS calls to end Ahava and King's College project

"Ahava's shop in Covent Garden closed following protests
The National Union of Students executive has unanimously voted to condemn King’s College London and demand that it ceases participation in a research project with Israeli cosmetics company Ahava.
King’s College Palestine Campaign organised a petition with 1,000 signatures, included Noam Chomsky and pro-Palestinian campaigner Omar Barghouti.
Support was pledged by the Universities and Colleges Union representative at King’s College.
This week the NUS National Executive Council passed a motion demanding “the immediate end of the university’s involvement in the project, and the rejection of the financial grant King’s has received for its participation.”

Read more

#BDS: European Bank Pulls Out Of Israel After Pressure From Boycott Campaign

"The French bank, BNP Paribas, has decided to cease operations inside Israel, after the bank was targeted by the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which aims to use economic pressure to get Israel to adhere to its obligations and abide by international law.

Although the bank stated that its withdrawal from Israel was not due to the pressure campaign, but instead due to heavy losses sustained during the Greek financial crisis, Israeli officials and bankers have stated that they believe the bank gave in to pressure from European human rights groups to pull out of Israel.

BNB Paribas will close its offices and lay off sixty employees in Israel, and will end its financing of projects in the Jewish state.

Read more

#BDS: مقابلة مع إسرائيليين على «الجديد» تثير لغطاً وأسئلة

أن تشاهد مقابلة تلفزيونية مع الإسرائيلي كمال شوفانية من قيادة وحدة الإطفاء، وأخرى مع حاييم لادزير من سكان المنطقة التي أصيبت أمس الأول بصوارخ الكاتيوشا الموجهة من لبنان، عبر قناة «الجديد»، ضمن تقرير إخباري «خاص» من شمال فلسطين المحتلة، فذلك ليس أمرا اعتياديا، بل إنه أثار لغطا والتباسا لدى بعض متابعي القناة، ممن يعتبرون أنها قناة ملتزمة بعدم التطبيع الإعلامي مع اسرائيل، وطليعية في الوقوف الى جانب خيار المقاومة في مواجهة الاحتلال والعدوان كما حصل في حرب تموز.
انطلاقا من هذه الصورة المرسومة للقناة، فوجئ البعض بما شاهدوه وسمعوه في النشرة الإخبارية أمس الأول، ما أوحى بأن هناك تغييرا في سياسة «الجديد» الإعلامية وتراجعا عن ثوابتها المعروفة.
وسعيا الى تبيان خلفيات ما ظهر على شاشة القناة، حاورت «السفير» مديرة قسم الأخبار في «الجديد» مريم البسام، التي حاولت الجمع في أجوبتها بين المقتضيات المهنية والموقف المبدئي ضد اسرائيل ورفض التطبيع الإعلامي معها. وفي ما يلي نص الحوار:
÷ هل بدأت «الجديد» عهدا جديدا تجري من خلاله مقابلات مع الإسرائيلي؟

إقرأ/ي المزيد