Youth Against Normalization

Jun 24, 2011

#BDS: Growing LGBTQ solidarity with Palestine

"Over the last few years, as the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel (BDS) has gathered steam in the U.S. and throughout the world, the apartheid state of Israel has turned to various tactics in an attempt to counter the growing solidarity with the Palestinian people. One such strategy is to portray Israel as the only place in the Middle East that is friendly to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people.

The tactic, dubbed “pinkwashing” by progressive pro-Palestinian LGBTQ forces, relies on a broad-brushed slander of the entire Arab and Muslim world, which is presented as “backward.” It is further based on the egregious lie that the Israeli settler state treats LGBTQ Palestinians equally to LGBTQ Israelis. Pinkwashing not only serves to legitimize the Israeli state but also reinforces U.S. imperialist propaganda, which claims that the U.S. wages war in an effort to “liberate” LGBTQ peoples and women in the Middle East and throughout the world — even as LGBTQ peoples face police brutality, added economic hardship and denial of social services here in the U.S."

#BDS: Fighting apartheid on land and sea

"Earlier this month, 100 activists from nine countries gathered in Montpellier, France for the first European Forum Against Agrexco to strengthen the boycott campaign against Israel's largest fresh produce exporter, which exports under the brand Carmel primarily to European markets. Up to 70 per cent of the fruit and vegetables grown in the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank are marketed by Agrexco, making it a prime strategic target for BDS.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee's Rafeef Ziadah explains that the campaign includes all three components of BDS: in the first place, the boycott of Agrexco products, but also divestment via suspension of commercial agreements, and sanctions through court actions directed at Agrexco's violations of international law, especially false labelling of produce. According to Stephanie Westbrook, "Its complicity in a broad range of human rights violations, profiting from crops grown on stolen land, irrigated with stolen water and worked with child labour also provides the campaign with ample opportunities to reach out beyond the Palestine solidarity networks to find allies in other social justice movements."

#BDS: Palestinian sports community appeal to #UEFA – Red Card Israeli Apartheid

"Mr. Platini,

We, Palestinian footballers, athletes and sporting organizations and officials, are dismayed that Israel has been rewarded for its continued impunity and violent oppression of our people with the honour of hosting the UEFA Under-21 tournament in 2013. This decision is a drastic reversal of your brave stand just last year against Israeli attacks on Palestinian sport and its persistent violations of universal principles of human rights. You said: “We accepted them in Europe and furnished them the conditions for membership and they 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”. We write today to remind you of the facts that no doubt informed this brave stance and to urge you to take steps to ensure that the 2013 tournament does not take place in Israel."

#BDS: Australian Police called to action on BDS #Australia

"NEWLY appointed Member of Legislative Council Walt Secord has wasted no time demonstrating his support for Israel. Secord has called on NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher to provide assurances for the protection of businesses with Israeli links in light of recent Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) protests.

Secord, a former AJN journalist, asked a series of formal questions on Monday, including what measures the government was taking to protect businesses and patrons affected by actions, such as the demonstration outside the Max Brenner chocolate shop on June 11."

#BDS: Too Little Too Late: Mostafa El-Sayed: I would never repeat the Hebrew honorary doctorate experience

During a lecture by the Egyptian American chemist and physicist Mostafa El-Sayed at AUB yesterday, a student interrupted the scientific discussion to ask El-Sayed if he would accept to receive an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University today the way he did in 1993. El-Sayed, who was expecting the question because of the controversy raised about granting him an honorary doctorate from AUB, replied by saying no. He noted that he agreed to be honored in Israel because 'peace with Israel' was more acceptable at the time, especially in light of the Oslo Accords.

#BDS: مصطفى السيّد: لن أكرّر تجربة الدكتوراه العبرية #AUB #Lebanon

قطع أمس أحد طلّاب «الجامعة الأميركية في بيروت» نقاشاً علمياً في تكنولوجيا النانو، في محاضرة قدّمها الكيميائي والفيزيائي المصري الأميركي مصطفى السيد في حرم الجامعة، ليسأله عمّا إذا كان يقبل اليوم تسلّم دكتوراه فخرية من الجامعة العبرية كما فعل عام 1993. السيّد الذي كان يتوقّع السؤال كما يبدو، بسبب الجدل الذي أثارته قضية منحه دكتوراه فخريّة من الجامعة الأميركية، أجاب بالنفي. وأشار إلى أنّه وافق وقتها على تكريمه في إسرائيل لأنّ الأجواء كانت آنذاك منفتحة أكثر على السلام، وخصوصاً في ظلّ اتفاقية أوسلو.

الأخبار

#BDS: جماهير برشلونة في صدمة بعد زيارة غوارديولا وبيكيه إلى إسرائيل

تسود حالة من الغليان لدى جماهير برشلونة في الوطن العربي بعد زيارة مدرب الفريق بيب غوارديولا لإسرائيل بعد أيام قليلة من فوز الفريق الكاتالوني بدوري أبطال أوروبا، ثم قيام نجم الدفاع جيرارد بيكيه وعشيقته المطربة الكولومبية الشهيرة شاكيرا بزيارة الدولة العبرية إستجابة لدعوة الرئيس الإسرائيلي.

إقرأ/ي المزيد

#BDS: لساطع نور الدين نقول: زيارة شاكيرا لإسرائيل خرق واضح وفاضح للمقاطعة

ليس من النادر أن تجتمع في امرأة واحدة مؤخرة جميلة وحنجرة آخاذة ورأس صغير. لكن شاكيرا كانت استثناء. لا لأنها كانت تبرع في استخدام وركيها «اللذين لا يكذبان أبداً»، وتغرد بصوتها الجذاب أجمل الاغنيات.. بل لانها كانت توحي دائماً بأنها تحمل فوق كتفيها رأساً أكبر من رؤوس زميلاتها من المغنيات اللواتي يغوين العالم كله طرباً ورقصاً.
لم يكن حلول شاكيرا في اسرائيل ضيفة على رئيسها شمعون بيريز، سقوطاً لبنانياً او عربياً جديداً عند اقدام المغتصب. فالمغنية الكولومبية، اللبنانية الجذور، لم تزعم يوماً أنها تحمل هذه الهوية. قالت في المغرب قبل اسابيع انها نشأت على سماع اغنيات فيروز وام كلثوم، التي يعشقها والدها، لكنها لا تتقن العربية ولا تعرف منها سوى كلمات قليلة، بينها «اعطني بوسة»، حسبما ردّدت على مسامع الصحافيين المغاربة الذين تسمّروا يومها في مقاعدهم ولم يتقدم أحد منهم لاختبار عروبة شاكيرا.
لم تخرق شاكيرا شروط التطبيع او قوانين المقاطعة العربية لإسرائيل، لكنها فقط مزقت صورة باهرة رسمتها لنفسها، عن فنانة مبدعة في إغواءات الصوت الساحر وإغراءات الجسد المثير، التي استمدّتها من تراث عربي لا لبس فيه، رفع الرقص الشرقي وحركاته وإيقاعاته الى مراتب عالمية لم يسبق لأي راقصة عربية أن بلغتها.. وكانت اشبه بسفيرة متطوعة لنشر تلك القيمة الفنية التي يحتاج العرب جميعاً الى حفظها وحمايتها من تحديات الظلام والفراغ والفوضى.

إقرأ/ي المزيد

Jun 23, 2011

#BDS: Q&A: Why United Church activists are targeting #Israel

(...)

"Q So why a boycott of Israel?

A Number one, because Israel purports to be a democracy. Number two, they are in violation of international law and even the UN has tried to call Israel to account. So what is left for people who want to see international law enforced? Libya just happened and the U.S. jumped to take on the presumed responsibility to protect civilians; they jumped in with all kinds of force. But they won’t do that against Israel ever because Israel purports to be a democracy.

Q You say five of the companies extract minerals from occupied land or exploit labour or is a supporter of the IDF. Does Indigo make books in Israel?

A Chapters Indigo owners [Heather] Reisman and [Gerald] Schwartz founded the HESEG foundation, which provides scholarships and other support to “lone soldiers” who have been in the Israeli military. [Lone soldiers are Jews who leave their home countries to join the Israeli army. They have no family in Israel, but often want to stay once their military service is done.]"

#BDS: Third Intifada app removed from #Apple Store after complaint by #Israel

"Apple removed an application from its App Store on Wednesday after a Jewish human rights group and a top Israeli official said it contained anti-Semitic content and promoted violence against Israel.

The app, “The Third Intifada,” notified people of upcoming protests against Israel and also highlighted anti-Israel news and opinion from around the Web."

#BDS: #Veolia-controlled company participating in a public tender in The #Netherlands

"As Palestinian organisations dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), we are concerned about the involvement of corporations in violations of international humanitarian law. Of recent concern are the activities of Veolia Environment, a French multinational providing infrastructure through its subsidiary VeoliaTransdev to Israeli local authorities, for its involvement in the construction of a light rail tramway linking West Jerusalem to illegal Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and elsewhere in the West Bank.

On 3 May 2011, as Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organisations, we sent Stadsregio Arnhem Nijmegen a letter urging them to exclude VeoliaTransdev, parent company of the Dutch transport market leader Connexxion, from the upcoming one billion Euros public transport tender for Arnhem Nijmegen and from all future contracts on grounds of grave misconduct in the OPT. The tender in question will include all the Arnhem Nijmegen city district’s public bus services as well as the Arnhem-Doetinchem railway line, one of the most frequently traveled regional tracks."

#BDS: غضب مصري على شاكيرا بسبب زيارتها إسرائيل #Shakira #Egypt #Israel

طالب عدد من النشطاء الالكترونيين بإلغاء حفلة شاكيرا المقرّرة في مصر ليلة التاسع والعشرين من تشرين الثاني (نوفمبر) المقبل.

وجاء ذلك بعد الزيارة التي قامت بها النجمة الكولومبية اللبنانية الأصل إلى تل أبيب.

إذ شاركت أمس في افتتاح الدورة الثالثة من مؤتمر "الرئيس" بدعوة من الرئيس الاسرائيلي شيمون بيريز.

علماً بأنّ مغنية البوب رئيسة ومؤسسة جمعية "حافي القدم"، وهي منظمة أهلية أميركية معنية بحقوق الأطفال في التعليم.

إقرأ/ي المزيد

#BDS NEEDED: #Interpol to perform in #Israel

Interpol announced on their official website that they will be performing in Israel on August 30.

Jun 22, 2011

#BDS: Lebanese Dancer Johayna Fakhri with Israeli band at Belfast festival, #France

"Israeli metal band " Orphaned Land "continues to bridge the gap Israeli - Arab because of the music: after buying herself tens of thousands of fans the various Arab countries and appeared on the cover of the magazine in Iran , this week the band collaborated with an artist from Lebanon.

Festival "Belfast" in France, one of the world's biggest metal festivals, the band appeared on Sunday on the main stage alongside the Lebanese belly dancer Johanna Fakhri, who danced on stage while the band played. This has been a tradition of the band, belly dancers to its numerous performances abroad, but the first time they shared a stage with the Lebanese Fakhri. On stage and in front of tens of thousands of spectators, raising the band and Fakhri flags of Israel and Lebanon."

Former Irish rugby international Trevor Hogan, who will set sail for Gaza as part of Freedom Flotilla II.

"A year after Israeli commandos stormed the Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza, leaving nine peace activists dead, one Irish rugby star has joined a new international gathering which will set sail at the end of the month in an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of the territory.

Tipperary man Trevor Hogan (31), who was capped three times for Ireland and played over 100 times for both Munster and Leinster before retiring earlier this year, will sail on the MV Saoirse as part of the Irish Ship to Gaza group. The 1.5 million Palestinian inhabitants of the coastal enclave have lived in what is often described as an “open-air prison” since Israel began a policy of isolating the strip in 2006."