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Nov 22, 2010
#BDS: Hot-button issue: Performing in Israel
When the Cape Town Opera's revival of "Porgy and Bess" toured Europe, its novel resetting of the American classic to apartheid-era Soweto won raves. When the touring production moved to Israel this month, attention turned sour.
No less than Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called it "unconscionable" for a South African opera company to perform in Israel, the target of an increasingly aggressive international cultural boycott organized by pro-Palestinian activists hoping to turn Tel Aviv into the new Sun City.
After an ugly public tussle, "Porgy and Bess" — a piece about racism, written by a Jewish composer — opened on schedule Nov. 15, albeit with some hastily added events with Palestinian artists. But protestors outside the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center still accused the black South African performers of betraying the same kind of boycott that once helped bring down South Africa's apartheid regime.
The showdown capped one of the most combative years yet in Israel's long struggle for international recognition and legitimacy in the cultural world. Buoyed by relative security, an improving economy and a fan base hungry for international acts, Israeli promoters booked an impressive list of big names this year, including Elton John, Rihanna, Metallica, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne and dance company Alvin Ailey.
But there were plenty of high-profile cancellations too, including Elvis Costello, the Pixies, Carlos Santana, Gil Scott-Heron, Devendra Banhart and a speaking engagement by British film director Mike Leigh.
No less than Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called it "unconscionable" for a South African opera company to perform in Israel, the target of an increasingly aggressive international cultural boycott organized by pro-Palestinian activists hoping to turn Tel Aviv into the new Sun City.
After an ugly public tussle, "Porgy and Bess" — a piece about racism, written by a Jewish composer — opened on schedule Nov. 15, albeit with some hastily added events with Palestinian artists. But protestors outside the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center still accused the black South African performers of betraying the same kind of boycott that once helped bring down South Africa's apartheid regime.
The showdown capped one of the most combative years yet in Israel's long struggle for international recognition and legitimacy in the cultural world. Buoyed by relative security, an improving economy and a fan base hungry for international acts, Israeli promoters booked an impressive list of big names this year, including Elton John, Rihanna, Metallica, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne and dance company Alvin Ailey.
But there were plenty of high-profile cancellations too, including Elvis Costello, the Pixies, Carlos Santana, Gil Scott-Heron, Devendra Banhart and a speaking engagement by British film director Mike Leigh.
#BDS: New Yorkers Protest Fundraising Cruise for Illegal Hebron Settlements
120 New Yorkers silently picketed at the entrance to Manhattan’s Chelsea Piers this evening (16 November) to protest against the Brooklyn-based Hebron Fund’s fundraising event to expand Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
The protesters held signs saying “End the Siege of Hebron,” “Remove the Settlers,” “Return the Land,” “Hebron is in Palestine,” “US Dollars Feed Israeli War Crimes,” and other signs with large photos depicting violence by Israeli settlers and soldiers against Palestinian residents of Hebron. The protest was endorsed by sixteen US human rights and peace groups, three of which are Jewish.
#BDS: Israeli Citizens to Leiden University: Please Do not Hold the 2010 Cleveringa Lecture at the Hebrew University!
Dear Officials of Leiden University,
We are a group of Israeli citizens. It has recently been brought to our attention that Leiden University had decided to host a special lecture at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University on Thursday 25/11,
commemorating a speech by Professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa during the Second World War, in which he protested the removal of Jewish faculty members.
The statement issued by Leiden University reads as follows:
"Cleveringa raised his voice right at the onset of the war, notably in regard of the freedom of expression. This is highly appreciated in Israel, all the more as there are still universities abroad trying to boycott Israeli professors and students."
We would like to pay our highest respect to Prof. Cleveringa, for his bold action, taken in the defense of universal principles of human rights.
However, as Israeli citizens who care for these principles’ the choice to hold the Cleveringa lecture at the Hebrew University seems completely erroneous to us.
The Hebrew University is not a politically neutral institution. In addition to the incidents mentioned above, the Hebrew University is a constant and willing collaborator with the Israeli Defense Force - a military force over which hover well founded allegations of war crimes, including the bombing and destruction of Palestinian Universities and severe disruption of their academic life, or the bombing of media centers and radio stations. The Hebrew University has been involved in the development of weaponry for use by the Israeli military and in the training of the top military weapons’ researchers. The university even hosts a military base within its Givat Ram campus. All of this does not bode well with the principles of human rights.
#BDS: Linkin Park doesn’t boycott Israel
On Nov. 15, popular American rock bank Linkin Park performed in Israel, despite the fact that other bands and artists refuse to play there on account of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
One of the founding members of the band, Brad Delson (lead guitarist), identifies as Jewish, according to theDelson’s Wikipedia page (his Jew-fro seems to confirm that; check out the photo on the Wiki page), and the site also says that he went to L.A.-area high school Agoura High with Mike Shinoda, the rapper in the group.
The six-piece band performed at HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv (other band members include Chester Bennington, Rob Bourdon, David Farrell and Joseph Hahn).
One of the founding members of the band, Brad Delson (lead guitarist), identifies as Jewish, according to theDelson’s Wikipedia page (his Jew-fro seems to confirm that; check out the photo on the Wiki page), and the site also says that he went to L.A.-area high school Agoura High with Mike Shinoda, the rapper in the group.
The six-piece band performed at HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv (other band members include Chester Bennington, Rob Bourdon, David Farrell and Joseph Hahn).
Nov 21, 2010
#BDS: H&O signs franchise deal with Carter's
Israeli chain to market US baby clothing giant's products in Israel, promises to maintain low prices
Israel's H&O fashion chain has signed a franchise agreement with Carter's, the biggest baby clothing brand in the United States, and in fact the world. The chain will sell Carter's products in 34 of its branches and will open three or four Carter's stores.
Carter's is an extremely popular brand in the United States and is known for its superb quality, design and affordable prices. The company was founded in 1865 when founder William Carter decided to manufacture baby mittens from leftover wool. By the end of the 19th century the company was producing underwear for men, women and babies. It later went on to focus on baby apparel.
#BDS: Dead Sea hosts Terravino 2010
Fifth annual Mediterranean International Wine & Spirit Challenge showcases more than 700 wines, spirits from 25 countries
The fifth annual Mediterranean International Wine & Spirit Challenge, also known as Terravino, will take place around the Dead Sea in Israel, on November 21-27.
The competition will showcase more than 700 wines and spirits from 25 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, USA, Australia and South Africa, competing for best wine of country, best red and white wine, best kosher Israeli wine and best boutique wine, among others. The festival will take place at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel in Ein Bokek.
#BDS: 'Precious Life' shortlisted for Oscar
Shlomi Eldar's film among 15 documentary features shortlisted for Academy Award. 'I started dancing when I heard about it,' Eldar tells Ynet
Israeli director Shlomi Eldar's film "Precious Life" is among 15 documentary features shortlisted for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary Film category.
"I just received the news," Eldar told Ynet. "I am at JFK Airport, after taking part in the Israel Film Festival in New York. I was completely unprepared for the announcement, which I was informed of by the HBO production people.
#BDS: Sarai Givaty to star in NCIS
Israeli actress to play Mossad agent in new season of American police procedural drama series
Israeli actress Sarai Givaty has landed a major role in the new season of NCIS, an American police drama television series on CBS.
Givaty will play a Mossad agent working to solve a crime mystery linked to the US Navy.
NCIS revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the US Navy and Marine Corps.
#BDS: TARGETING OF MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT OVER ISRAEL-MADE GOODS SPARKS TANGLE OVER TACTICS
Hydration packs and special seamless underwear don’t seem the stuff of raw emotion.
But a controversial boycott of Israeli goods, starting with items sold in Toronto’s cool non-profit outfitter Mountain Equipment Co-op, has made them just that.
A consumer protest has recently been adopted by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, a Montreal-based organization not previously a player in the boycott/divestment/sanctions (BDS) movement. In the last year, CJPME has held speakers’ forums in Toronto that attracted several hundred people each.
The fact that the group (former Liberal cabinet minister Warren Allmand sits on its board) has adopted the BDS strategy may signal a new level of frustration among human rights groups and create more challenges for activists who want to limit a boycott to Israeli goods from occupied Palestinian zones.
“We are pro-justice and pro-international law,” says CJPME president Thomas Woodley. “When we launched CJPME, we were not thinking about a boycott campaign. But it is really an inevitable evolution, [after] the International Court of Justice passed a scathing resolution against Israel [on the security wall] and yet nothing has happened. Most progressively minded people would say it’s worthwhile to [exert] economic pressure,” he says.
#BDS: Other Israel Festival Loses Key Palestinian Support
Artists Against Apartheid welcomes the withdrawal of participation of the following filmmakers from the Other Israel Film Festival and its Brooklyn Palestinian Spotlight:
- Rashid Masharawi
- Scandar Copti
- Annemarie Jacir
As elegantly stated by The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), the Other Israel Film Festival (OIFF) currently finds itself in much closer alignment with the ‘Brand Israel’campaign than the Palestinian led BDS Movement.
In a private letter to festival participants, co-signed by the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI), Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and Existence is Resistance, we have requested withdrawal of participation in the festival. We will continue to advocate for such while OIFF continues to violate and obfuscate the Palestinian led cultural boycott of Israel.
#BDS: Open letter from Besieged Gaza to Michel Platini and UEFA: Reverse Apartheid Israel’s Participation in European Competitive Football Inbox X
We are writing as Palestinian footballers, coaches and athletes in the besieged Gaza Strip to commend your statement highlighting the impossible conditions imposed on our sports, echoing the general consequences for all aspects of our life caused by the Israeli occupation and hermetic siege.
You recently said that, “Israel must respect the letter of the laws and international regulations otherwise there is no justification for them to remain in Europe…Israel must choose between allowing Palestinian sport to continue and prosper or be forced to face the consequences for their behaviour."[1]
We would be very interested, Mr. Platini, in knowing if there are any laws and international regulations to which Israeli policies against Palestinians adhere! There are inevitable consequences for our sporting life while we suffer shortages of all kinds due to the 4-year long illegal and medieval Israeli siege on the Gazan population, in violation of article 33 of the Geneva Conventions barring collective punishment.[2][3] Like all residents of Gaza, footballers are continually deprived entry or exit from what many mainstream human rights organizations call the world’s largest open-air prison. You must know that we are still grieving the loss of over 430 of our children, who were among the 1443 people killed during Israel’s 3 week bombing of Gaza in winter 2009. Two of our national football team heroes, Ayman Alkurd and Wajeh Moshate were among those 1443. 5300 more people were injured. Many had their legs amputated. They will never have the chance to play football.
Despite the grief and the injustice, alongside the denial of so many of the most basic human freedoms on a day-to-day basis, football will always continue, one way or another, within the Gaza Strip. The majority of us in Gaza are United Nations-registered refugees, ethnically cleansed by the Israeli army in 1948. United Nations Resolution 194 articulated our legal right to return to our homes, a right we still defend. Had we had the right to return to our homes as still demanded by United Nations Resolution 194 we may have seen our national football team, ‘Palestine’ participating in a World Cup since then. The current national team made up of those who have escaped forced expulsion from our land is usually not allowed to leave Gaza.
You must be aware of the recent events, just this August, when Israel refused to allow six members of the Palestinian national team to travel from Gaza to a match against Mauritania. [4] Like everyone stranded in Gaza, Israeli spokesmen said the players were denied access for “security reasons”, claiming they did not have the correct permit, reminiscent of the notorious and racist “pass law” in Apartheid South Africa. This is a continuous systematic policy for all of us which has sharply diminished our involvement in international sport. The uncertainties stemming from refused permissions to leave and enter the Strip and the changing severity of the Israeli Siege and Occupation are the major impediments. As a result, the West Asian Union Federation does not always schedule games involving our teams.
In 2007 the national team was prevented from travelling to play a World Cup Qualifier in Singapore and thus eliminated, and in May 2008 was not able to attend the AFC Challenge Cup, denying them qualification for the 2011 Asia Cup. In July 2009 just one of the 30 best Gazan players, Mahmoud Sersik, was granted permission to enter the West Bank. As he crossed the Erez checkpoint to enter Israel he was immediately arrested and has been in an Israeli prison ever since. Four months ago the football league winners of Gaza and West Bank had to postpone their cup final because the Gazan team was refused permissions. It is now scheduled to be played in Algeria in January 2011 with no home-based fans present.Until now the Olympic players from Gaza have been barred from entry to the West Bank and the youth teams have frequently been denied exit and reentry.
If it is not the restrictions on movement it is the direct destruction of our sporting equipment and stadiums. Leisure facilities used by Palestinian youths have for decades been bombed by the Israeli Occupation Forces and there are no adequate facilities in Gaza.
During Israel’s criminal attacks on Gaza in 2009 our national stadium was targeted and destroyed, as was the Palestinian Football Association building. Planning for a new stadium planned to be built in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza was stopped because of the continuing Israeli siege, which still bars concrete from entering the Gaza Strip along with other sports equipment. When concrete finally arrives, the priority will undoubtedly be to rebuild the 17,000 houses, schools, hospitals and mosques destroyed or damaged by Israel. The one grass pitch in Gaza had previously been blown up by an Israeli missile forcing the national team to play matches in a virtually empty stadium in Qatar.
Of course the effects are not limited to football. The lower profile of other sports means that participation internationally is a distant dream. For the last seven years the Israelis have refused to let the Gazan basketball team play in the West Bank. Their last invitation refused was a few weeks ago.
Numerous campaigns such as “Unite against Racism” have helped to stamp out racism in European football with some success, and football has always been a beacon of multi-ethnicity given the huge array of countries, races and religions represented, participating on a level playing field in the most global of sports. Clubs are punished and banned for racist behaviour and UEFA recently gave backing to referees to stop games for racist behaviour.
Sadly, racism is at the heart of why our national team cannot play abroad. It is the core reason why our sporting equipment does not arrive. It is the reason why our stadiums do not get built and why our football season ends prematurely through resource shortages or violent attacks. We, the Palestinian people, are the undesired “ethnic group” for the Israeli authorities who control our lives, shown by the unequal treatment and dehumanisation which pervades our every living day under their military occupation and siege, and in forced exile as refugees.
Mr. Platini,
Decades ago, many sportswomen and men around the world were aware of their connection to the wider world and the influence they could have on it. Muhammed Ali, Arthur Ashe and Jackie Robinson were all world champions who spoke out against Apartheid South Africa when it was not fashionable to do so. Ruud Gullit of AC Milan and Holland spoke out and acted by dedicating his ballon d’or award in 1987 to Nelson Mandela when he was still in prison, when he and the African National Congress were branded terrorists by the American and many European governments. The sports boycott of Israel has identical goals to those against apartheid South Africa–for international sports authorities and civil society including sports lovers around the world to hold to account another apartheid regime for carrying out such a racist enclosure of an entire population simply by virtue of their ethnic and religious affiliation.
The right to enjoy ourselves, the right to sport, is a right denied by the Israeli Occupation Forces. We demand boycotts and sporting exclusion of Israel until it complies with international law, and until justice and accountability are reached. Like the Blacks of South Africa and African Americans, we can never compromise on basic human rights.
Ruud Gullit stood on the right side of history when it was easy not to do so. He was a friend to Nelson Mandela and now Nelson Mandela is a friend of Palestine. We urge you and UEFA to reverse Israel’s participation in European competition until they end their racist policies and abide by international law, as stated in the boycott divestment and sanctions call by over 170 Palestinian organizations in 2005. [5]
Besieged Gaza
Signed by:
Gaza Sporting Club, Shejaiya Union, Rafah Youth, Rafah Services, Khan Younis Union, Nuseirat Services, Al Hilal Club, Palestine Club, Majdal Club, Attoffah Club, Eddurraj Club, Khan Younis Club, Khan Younis Services, Nuseirat Services, Bureij Services, Ahli Bureij, Gaza City Services, Zuwayda Club, Deir El Balah Services, Jabalia Youth, Jabalia Services, Nadi Club Sdaqa, Ashams Club, Ahli Beit Hanoun, Nadi Beit Lahya, Deir El Balah Union, Nadi El Musadar Gaza, Tarabut Union, Beach Camp Services, Ahli Palestine Club, Arredwan Club
References
Nov 20, 2010
#BDS: دبابة الفيلسوف وتجريم مقاطعة المحتلين
نشرت صحيفة 'اللوموند' الفرنسية، في 2 تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر 2010 (ص 15)، نص مقالة أراد الموقعون عليها التنديد بمبادرة اطلقتها بعض الشخصيات والجمعيات في فرنسا، للتذكير بأن اسرائيل تحتل منذ 1967، الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة، وتبني على هذه الاراضي مستعمرات للمستوطنين، وتنشئ مؤسسات صناعية وزراعية ، تقوم بتصدير انتاجها الى الاتحاد الاوروبي تحت علامة تجارية 'صنع في اسرائيل'، او'منتج اسرائيلي'. وفي هذا، بنظر اصحاب تلك المبادرة، احتيال على القانون وعلى الاتفاقيات المعقودة بين الاتحاد الاوروبي من جهة وبين اسرائيل من جهة ثانية. والتي تحظى اسرائيل بموجبها، بامتيازات اعضاء هذا الاتحاد كاملة، في مجال التبادل التجاري وتنقـُّل الافراد.
اذ ان نفاذ هذه الاتفاقيات وسريانها مشروطان، بحسب الوثائق الناظمة لها، باحترام حقوق الانسان، وعدم اغتصاب الارض واحتلالها وطرد الذين يعيشون عليها. ومهما يكن فان الاعفاءات الجمركية الممنوحة للمنتوجات الاسرائيلية لا تشمل ما يـُنتج منها في المستوطنات التي اقيمت في الضفة الغربية، كون هذه المستوطنات فاقدة للشرعية، فهي انشئت على ارض محتلة، بحسب القوانين الدولية. الاوروبيون يفرقون شكلا، وليس فعلا، بين اسرائيل التي تحتل واسرائيل التي لا تحتل، لتبرير تعاميهم عن العلاقة التي تربط بين هذه وتلك. المحتلون لا يستحقون المكأفاة وانما يستحقون العقاب والمقاطعة.
واستنادا اليه، انطـــــلقت في اطار المـــبادرة المذكورة اعلاه حملة (BDS) التي تتجسد في فرنسا بالدعوة الى مقاطعة البضائع الاسرائيلية والضغط على الحكومة والشركات الفرنسية، لكي تجعل توظيفاتها في المشاريع الاقتصادية في اسرائيل مرهونة بانهاء احتلال الضفة والقطاع.
ولكن الحكومة الفرنسية، ممثلة بوزيرة العدل، قررت في الواقع عدم السماح بمواصلة هذه الحملة ضد احتلال الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة. عن طريق توصيفها بانها مظهر من مظاهر العداء للسامية. وشرّعت مقاضاة الناشطين من اجل مقاطعة اسرائيل اقتصاديا وثقافيا، حتى تتراجع عن احتلال الضفة والقطاع. هكذا بدأت في تشرين الاول/اكتوبر 2010، محاكمة عدد من هؤلاء الناشطين.
#BDS: Record Turnout For Olympia Food Co-op Board Election
Olympia, WA — In a record turnout, members of the Olympia Food Co-op have chosen four new representatives and one incumbent for the organization’s Board of Directors. The large turnout was attributed by many in the community as a response to the July 15 decision by the Olympia Food Co-op to boycott Israeli goods in support of Palestinian human rights. The ballot included 14 candidates and the five elected are: Rochelle Gause, Erin Genia, John Regan, Eric Mapes, and TJ Johnson.
“An organization that places social justice and sustainable practices at the forefront of the policy decisions is an organization I am proud to serve,” says newly elected Erin Genia, a low-income mother of three, a recipient of Master of Public Administration, and a member of the Sisseton-Wapheton Dakota Oyate.
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