#BDS: Letter: From Gaza with love; support a boycott

I am in besieged Gaza for the fifth time as I write this letter. The Israeli occupation/siege/imprisonment continues despite UN condemnation, international outcry and violation of international law.


As citizens of the world we should all be outraged by the atrocious human rights violations occurring here and in the West Bank. The cattle herding of Palestinians through the one border and the trickle of "supplies" (food, no building materials), purporting to be Israel's "relaxing" of the grasp on all borders (only due to flotilla pressure), is an obscenely small gesture in light of the slow strangulation of the people here in Gaza.


What are stocked shelves and shiny new motorcycles when the freedom of 1.5 million humans is restricted to an area the size of the Quimper Peninsula with poor water, over 50 percent unemployment, thousands of displaced/imprisoned families, education and medical care severely compromised, farms and fishing curtailed, and continual attacks by Israel? Americans must understand we are complicit in this human rights violation, as we give Israel $3 billion annually in an arms deal to buy back our F-16s, white phosphorous gas and rockets, which are then used on the Palestinian population.

#BDS: Boycott grows as Stephen Sondheim, Mira Nair and Julianne Moore join call against settlement theater; Palestinian activists say keep focus on the big picture

Jewish Voice for Peace's campaign to support 60 leading Israeli actors and playwrights who are refusing to play a new theater in Ariel continues to grow. Newnotable figures are joining by the day. Ed Asner explains his support, "It is always amazing when actors turn down jobs.To have the actors of Israel say they will not work in those venues is truly an act of courage.. I applaud them and would live to instill the actors of America with that courage." And Corey Fischer, co-founder of the Traveling Jewish Theater (now Jewish Theater San Francisco), expressed his admiration in the spirit of the season, “It seems to me that, as often happens in our times, these artists are taking on what was traditionally the task of the Hebrew Prophets: speaking truth to power. I hope someone is listening.”

But some questions are being raised in Palestine about the Israeli actors' protest. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has issued a statement in response the Israeli actors' boycott [Editor's note: Just to clarify this statement is in response to just the Israeli actors' boycott, not the letter from US artists]. While PACBI is clear they "welcome acts of protest against any manifestation of Israel’s regime of colonialism and apartheid," they do raise some important questions about the boycott, and what the protesters might be ignoring.

From the PACBI statement Boycotting Ariel: Missing the Forest for the Trees.

#BDS: UK, London: Ahava Protest, 11th September

#BDS: US artists’ support for settlement boycott spreading fast

NEW YORK – Over 150 American artists, including actresses Julianne Moore and Cynthia Nixon, playwright Tony Kushner and writer Wallace Shawn, have signed a letter in support of Israeli actors who refuse to perform in the West Bank.

Backed by the San Francisco-based Jewish Voice for Peace, the letter states that the settlement in Ariel is “clearly illegal,” and that any performance in the West Bank city’s new cultural center would have the effect, intentional or otherwise, of legitimizing Israel’s claim to what they refer to as occupied territory.

“It’s thrilling to think that these Israeli theatre artists have refused to allow their work to be used to normalize a cruel occupation which they know to be wrong, which violates international law and which is impeding the hope for a just and lasting peace for Israelis an [sic] Palestinians alike,” the letter reads.

“They’ve made a wonderful decision, and they deserve the respect of people everywhere who dream of justice. We stand with them.”

The letter’s signatories include actors Ed Asner and Mandy Patimkin, actress Vanessa Redgrave, playwright Eve Ensler and director Harold Prince.

The idea to write the letter came from Israeli artists, Jewish Voice for Peace director Rebecca Vilkomerson told The Jerusalem Post.

#BDS: CARE Board Member Takes Leave of Absence over Employer’s Support for Israeli Settlements

A member of the board of directors of the leading international

humanitarian aid organization CARE USA has taken a voluntary

leave of absence from CARE's board due to the involvement of his

employer, Africa Israel, in Israeli settlement activities. The move

last week came after a July 12 letter to the Atlanta-based non-profit

by the rights group Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott

of Israel that outlined Africa Israel's settlement ties, followed by letters

from Jews Say No, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and CODEPINK, and

meetings and discussions between representatives from CARE and

Adalah-NY and JVP.

Riham Barghouti from Adalah-NY explained, "We thank CARE USA for

acting swiftly to appropriately address this issue once it was brought

to their attention. Representatives from CARE USA told us that they

have approved the Board member's request for an indefinite leave of

absence while he remains in any way affiliated with Africa Israel. While

on leave, we have been assured that the member in question will not

attend or vote at Board meetings, receive Board information, or play any

other role on the CARE USA Board."

#BDS: “DIVEST FROM ISRAEL” CALIFORNIA BALLOT INITIATIVE LAUNCHES IN LA

VISUALS: Giant petition to be signed by speakers; Posters of campaign logo

LOS ANGELES, CA (Sept.7) --Californians committed to peace and justice for Palestine-Israel will launch the statewide campaign of California ballot Initiative 10-0020 with a signing ceremony in front of the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 8, 2010.  Although California has adopted policies requiring divestment from Sudan, Iran and other nations, this is the first ballot measure in the nation aimed at changing Israeli policies through divestment by State agencies. It directs California’s large public employee and teacher pension funds to be consistent with their responsible investing policies and to divest from companies that violate the human rights of Palestinians. The description provided by the office of the Attorney General when it approved the measure for circulation says that the initiative “prohibits state retirement funds from investing in companies engaged in certain business activities in Israel.”

WHEN: NOON, Wednesday, September 8, 2010

WHERE: In front of the Israeli Consulate, 6380 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

WHY:  Launch Ballot Initiative Drive to Require Public Employee Retirement Systems to Divest from Certain Business Activities in Israel

WHO: Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California;  Rev. Dr. DarELL T. Weist retired, Senior Minister United Methodist Church of Los Angeles; Yael Korin, Israeli-American researcher; Mahmood Ibrahim, Palestinian-American Professor of History, California State Polytechnic University Pomona; Rosie Martinez, labor activist, Latino Caucus, SEIU 721; and Andy Griggs, retired teacher LAUSD, STRS members, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) activist. 

#BDS: For a morally consistent boycott of Israel

Provoked by the recent announcement of the inauguration of a cultural center in Ariel, the fourth largest Jewish colony in the occupied Palestinian territory, 150 prominent Israeli academics, writers and cultural figures have declared that they "will not take part in any kind of cultural activity beyond the Green Line, take part in discussions and seminars, or lecture in any kind of academic setting in these settlements" ("150 academics, artists back actors' boycott of settlement arts center," Haaretz, 31 August 2010). A few protestors went as far as reiterating the fact that all Israeli colonies built on occupied Palestinian land are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and thus constitute a war crime.

This position by tens of Israeli academics and artists has generated a great deal of controversy within the Israeli public sphere, attracting rebuke from across the political spectrum and especially from the academic and cultural establishment. All major theaters were quick to declare their refusal to boycott Ariel under the pretense of serving "all Israelis;" university administrations echoed this position or resorted to silence, continuing business as usual with Ariel and other settlements. The terms of the discourse, however, raise a number of issues for supporters of Palestinian rights. While we welcome acts of protest against any manifestation of Israel's regime of colonialism and apartheid, we believe that these acts must be both morally consistent and anchored in international law and universal human rights.

#BDS: Global BDS Against Israel Is Working

In July 2005, a coalition of 171 Palestinian Civil Society organizations created the Global BDS movement for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel Until it Complies with International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights" for Occupied Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinian diaspora refugees.

The Tel Aviv-based Reut Institute (RI) provides "real-time strategic decision-making" support in areas of national security and socioeconomic policy. Its new report titled "The Gaza Flotilla: The Collapse of Israel's Political Firewall" suggests it's working. It followed an earlier one on "creating a political firewall" against Israel's "delegitimization challenge," recommending sabotage and subterfuge against growing global forces it fears, not an equitable solution it rejects.

Focusing now on the Gaza Flotilla, it called it "the tip of the iceberg" attempt along with the BDS movement and Durban conference against racism to cause "tangible and significant damage to Israel." Unmentioned was how expert Israel is in self-inflicting it by decades of occupation and crimes of war and against humanity.

#BDS: City shops join the boycott of Israeli dates

A NUMBER of small shops in Edinburgh have offered their support to a boycott of dates imported from Israel. 

Worshippers from Edinburgh's Central Mosque joined activists from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) in a tour of local shops to inform customers and owners of their concerns over the sale of Israeli and illegal settlement dates.

A similar move has also taken place in Glasgow.

Mick Napier, SPSC chair, said, "All the shops we visited today backed the boycott, removed any dodgy dates from their shelves, and are now displaying posters to that effect. The support we received from customers and passers-by was overwhelming."

#BDS: Campaiging against Ahava in South Africa

Open Letter to the SA Zionist Federation

Why are you supporting occupation, settlement and oppression?

We are members of Open Shuhada Street (OSS) an organisation committed to peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. We have called for a boycott of products made by Ahava [1] [and see  posting on the JfJfP website Boycotting Ahava – anyone can join in] – Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd (Ahava) because these products are manufactured illegally in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) by a company owned by illegal settlements in the OPT. The profitability of settlements businesses like Ahava causes suffering for millions of ordinary Palestinian children, women and men. The call to boycott Ahava is a common sense, peaceful expression of the need to reverse the settlement enterprise which stands in the way of the creation of two states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace.

On 25 August 2010, in response to the call to boycott the settlement-made products of Ahava, the SA Zionist Federation (SAZF) Cape launched a vicious personal attack on us. This was coordinated by SAZF head office. We respond in this open letter.

#BDS: Products Made in Israel

A huge and thorough list of products that are manufactured in Israel.

#BDS: Boycott of Israel

Boycott is an effective weapon against Israel because it depends on trade — exports as well as imports.

The boycott against apartheid South Africa was a huge success. The financial impact on Israel may not be large but its international significance will be huge. Last week the Chilean Parliament decided to boycott Israeli products made in the settlements. In September 2009 Norway announced that it is selling off its shares in Elbit System because of the company’s role in building the separation wall. In March this year Swedish investment fund said that it would eschew Elbit System shares on the same grounds. Human rights organizations in Europe are running campaigns calling for a boycott of Israeli products.

Dozens of theater people are boycotting the new culture center in Ariel supported by a group of authors and artists. Then a group of 150 lecturers from various universities announced that they would not teach at Ariel College. The anti-Israel tide rose right after Operation Cast Lead, as the world watched how Israel pounded Gaza with bombs. Then came the flotilla, complete with prominent peace activists, which ended in nine deaths, adding fuel to the fire. The boycott is gaining momentum on all fronts.

#BDS - Foreign legalists to defend Israel abroad?

Foreign Ministry conference attended by 170 legal experts from 32 countries aims to fight de-legitimization against Jewish state

Despite the strike and the distance from the media, the Foreign Ministry on Sunday opened a first-of-its-kind conference which included 170 legalists from 32 countries who arrived in Israel to discuss tactics to handle the de-legitimization being waged against the Jewish state.

Jerusalem hopes to recruit reputable legal experts from around the globe to help combat the growing criticism against Israel.

The conference's goal was to outline to the foreign legalists the issues Israel is facing in the filed of international law, and also to learn from them how to adapt the Israeli legal arguments to the international community.

Foreign report: Israel has one of world's largest 'eavesdropping' intel bases - #BDS

The base, near Kibbutz Urim, is central to the activities of the main Israel Defense Forces signals intelligence unit, 8200, according to report in Le Monde Diplomatique.

Israel has one of the largest signals intelligence (SIGINT) bases in the world in the western Negev, Le Monde Diplomatique reported. The base, near Kibbutz Urim, is central to the activities of the main Israel Defense Forces signals intelligence unit, 8200, the report says.

According to the report, the base has 30 antennas and satellite dishes of different sizes and types, capable of eavesdropping on telephone calls and accessing the e-mail of "governments, international organizations, foreign companies, political groups and individuals."

One of the base's main purposes is to listen to transmissions from ships passing in the Mediterranean, the report says. The base is also the center of intelligence activity that "taps underwater communication cables, mostly in the Mediterranean, connecting Israel with Europe."

US group says it plans to send plane to Gaza - #BDS

A pro-Palestinian group based in the US will send a plane loaded with aid to the Gaza Strip in defiance of Israel's air and sea blockade, an official said Sunday.

"We intend to send an aircraft to Gaza in much the same way boats were used -- without going through Israeli or Egyptian airspace," said Paul Larudee, an organizer with the California-based Free Palestine Movement sponsoring the flight.

Authorities in Gaza are supportive of the initiative and are working to locate a landing site, Larudee said. Gaza's now-defunct Yasser Arafat International Airport is not being considered, he told Ma'an.