#BDS: The Boycott VEOLIA Campaign

"The campaign against Veolia is intensifying. This follows the Russell Tribunal on Palestine findings that Veolia is liable for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.  There is an added urgency because Local Authorities in both South and North London are currently considering Veolia for major contracts.

For more information about Veolia and why it is a key target of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Campaign see here.

‘Silent’ Protest at SLWP meeting: Thu 17 Feb 6:30pm

Residents will hold a ’silent’ protest at the next SLWP*** (South London Waste Partnership) Joint Committee meeting*.

The meeting will be held at Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX

Oranised by: South London Bin Veolia."

#BDS: Hollywood, Israel and the Pursuit of Normalcy

"While flipping through channels on television last week, I ran across an episode of Friends, the long running hit NBC sitcom (1994-2004), which grabbed my attention. In this episode from 2004, paleontologist and professor Ross Geller proudly announces to his circle of attractive young friends that he has just earned tenure at a New York university. This glorious occasion prompts the young dinosaur expert to break out a bottle of Israeli champagne in celebration. There are actually two references to Israeli champagne ('Israel's finest') in this episode, and these moments are played ostensibly for laughs. (Israel? Champagne? Whoda thunk it?)
Nevertheless, Friends made me wonder. In recent years, I’ve noticed a trend among popular television programs and motion pictures to include bizarre, seemingly random references to Israel. The references are on the surface apolitical – they do not precede a discussion of the conflicts in the Middle East, nor do they offer an overt opinion on the Palestine/Israel crisis. They’re usually brief (perhaps a single exchange), and they add nothing to the underlying story. They stand alone, frequently as the punch line to a joke. But does anyone believe that the television and motion picture industries want us to laugh at Israel? Is that really all that’s going on here? 
References to Israel in Hollywood, like references to Palestine or the Arab world, always demand close scrutiny, particularly given the entertainment industry’s shameful penchant for Arab/Muslim vilification and glorification of all things Israel, to say nothing of the fervent public devotion towards Israel shared by countless Hollywood luminaries. What this means is that in Hollywood, there’s really no such a thing as an “innocent” television or movie reference to Israel, no matter how tiny or inconsequential, for Israel is not like other nations. Even a fleeting mention of Israeli champagne, or a humorous reference to the Mossad (another television favorite), warrants further analysis."
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#BDS: Cultural boycott of Israel gains pace both at home and abroad

"Foreign protests, boycotts, embargoes and sanctions, on top of internal resistance, helped bring about the isolation and eventually the end of apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s.

Now Israelis fear pro-Palestinian, or anti-Israeli, activists are using the same tactics against their country, with increasing effect.

Carlos Santana, Gil Scott Heron, Elvis Costello, the Gorillaz, the Klaxons, the Pixies, Faithless, Leftfield, Tindersticks, Meg Ryan and film director Mike Leigh have all decided not to go to Israel in recent months.

These artists have not phrased their refusal to perform in Israel in terms of opposition to the existence of the state of Israel per se, but rather to protest the state’s occupation policies vis-à-vis the Palestinian people.

Some older, established acts have ignored boycott pressure. Most recently, U.S. soul singer Macy Gray asked her Facebook fans whether she should cancel planned concerts in Tel Aviv because of the “disgusting” way the Israeli state treats Palestinians. Then she decided to perform there anyway.

Israeli analysts say pressure is being brought to bear on artists by a global “delegitimization network.”

White South Africa was ostracized in a campaign lasting years. Today, Facebook and Twitter can flash protest messages globally in seconds, putting pressure on entertainers to stay away from Israel, and drawing the attention of millions of fans."

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#BDS: Boycott roundup: international day of action called for Land Day

"As part of a regular feature, The Electronic Intifada reports on the latest developments of the Palestinian-led global boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli violations of human rights and policies of apartheid. 

BDS campaigners scored a significant victory this month as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets voted to exclude Veolia, a French firm that has provided services to the Israeli occupation in the West Bank, from receiving any contracts with the municipality. Activists have also staged protests and launched campaigns in Ireland, Belgium, Palestine. Meanwhile, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) announced the third annual global day of action to be held on 30 March 2011.

Ireland

Activists with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) are calling for a global boycott against Israeli "blood diamonds" on Valentine's Day, 14 February.

In a statement on the campaign's website, IPSC activists are urging consumers to make conscious choices in buying jewelry gifts for their loved ones.

"This Valentine's Day, don't let dazzling diamonds blind you to the plight of those whose misery and suffering is funded by revenue from the Israeli diamond industry," IPSC stated ("Global Call to Action - Flashy Stones and Broken Bones," January 2011)."

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#BDS: Hundreds of EU lawmakers arrive for pro-Israel conference

"Some 450 European parliamentarians from 37 countries including all 27 members of the European Union were set to arrive in Israel on Friday for a three-day conference that starts Saturday.

During the three-day event organized by European Friends of Israel, a pro-Israel lobby group, lawmakers will tour the country and meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“Nobody understands Europe is the key for the region because of the $22 billion in trade between Israel and Europe, among other things,” EFI head Michel Gourary told The Jerusalem Post. “If Europe wants to be an honest broker then we need better relations. After all, Israel is the most European country in the region.”

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#BDS: Greece to 'help Israel access EU market'

"PM Papandreou tells visiting Jewish leaders integrating Israel into expanding European market 'vital' for Jewish state's security. Alan P. Solow: No sudden influx of Jewish money into Greece

Greece's prime minister promised on Thursday to help Israel repair strained ties with the European Union as part of a drive to promote investment in Greece.

George Papandreou said in a speech to Jewish American leaders visiting Athens that Greece could help Israel gain access to European markets."

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#BDS: Actress Claire Danes arrives in Israel

"Golden Globe winner shooting scenes for American version of TV series 'Kidnapped' in village of Barta'a

American actress Claire Danes arrived in Israel on Monday for the shooting of "Patriots", the American version of Israeli TV series "Kidnapped".

In the FOX version, the Israeli hostages returning after 17 years inLebanon are replaced with American hostages returning from Iraq, 10 years after the September 11 attacks. The fate of one of them will remain a mystery throughout the series.

Danes, 31, landed in Israel on a private plane and was taken directly to a boutique hotel in Tel Aviv."

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#BDS: Lohan urges Egypt to maintain peace with Israel

"American actress takes time off from court hearings to comment on situation in Middle East. 'I pray Egypt sets the trend for its neighbors to create peace with Israel and the entire region,' she tweets

Did you think Lindsay Lohan only had time for shopping, stealing and consuming hazardous substances?

Well, we've got news for you: Although the American actress has been spending most of her days in court recently, she still found a few minutes to comment on the situation in the Middle East, and it even turns out that she's on Israel's side."

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#BDS: Daniel Bedingfield in Israel

"Guardian compared him to Michael Jackson, Cliff Richard covers his songs, but these days Daniel Bedingfield can be found in southern Tel Aviv, performing with local bands and flexing his Hebrew. 'I feel so alive here,' he tells Ynet in his first interview in four years.


Would you expect to find a pop star who had three No. 1 hits in the United Kingdom, won a Brit award and was signed with one of the biggest labels sleeping on a sofa in southern Tel Aviv, performing in some of the city's smallest venues and loving every minute of it? Neither would we."


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#BDS: Israel, Ukraine cancel visa requirements

"Tourism Ministry says deal between two countries will increase number of Ukrainian visitors by 40%

Israelis traveling to the Ukraine no longer need an entry visa, and Ukrainians do not need a visa to enter Israel, following an agreementsigned between the two nations.

The Ministry of Tourism estimates that the development will raise the number of Ukrainians traveling to Israel by 40% compared to last year. Up to 140,000 tourists are expected to come from the Eastern European coutry in 2011, contributing an estimated $100 million to the Israeli economy."

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#BDS: Mona Eltahawy wants Israel to be happy for Egyptians’ Revolution

Comments from Ikhras on Mona Eltahawy's response to Alan Dershowitz on the Egyptian revolution:

1) Eltahawy fails to mention that a major component of the US “hypocritical foreign policy” toward Mubarak was support for Israel. Part of the reason he remained in power for 30 years, was to maintain peace with Israel, contrary to the wishes of the Egyptian people, and that therefore peace with Israel is incompatible with democracy for Arab peoples. Even Dershowitz referred to his concern for maintenance of peace with Israel but Eltahawy didn’t address it.

2) Eltahawy thinks Israel is a democracy. Millions of Palestinians would strongly beg to differ.

3) She says to Alan Dershowitz: “Surely you and everyone in Israel should be happy that your neighbor wants to be a democracy. Democratic neighbors are happy. Israel can’t be the only democracy in the region and not want Egypt to be a democracy.”

To be fair, Mona is right to state that democracy is people choosing a government they want and that Egyptians are now determining their future. With the Israeli flag removed from Cairo, andnatural gas pipelines to Israel damaged, the people of Egypt have clearly and loudly said that Israel is not part of that future. Mona still isn’t picking that up. Hopefully, the fact that Israelis are having panic attacks about the Egyptian revolution, will give her a hint."

#BDS: All your movies can't erase apartheid's ugly face

#BDS: مقاطعة لمنتجات المستوطنات بلندن

واصل نشطاء التضامن مع الشعب الفلسطيني السبت إقامة مظاهراتهم الاحتجاجية أمام الفرع الرئيسي لشركة أهافا الإسرائيلية لمستحضرات التجميل وسط العاصمة البريطانية لندن للمطالبة بمقاطعة البضائع الإسرائيلية.

ورفع المتظاهرون الأعلام الفلسطينية وأذاعوا نداءات تدعو لمقاطعة المنتجات الإسرائيلية، كما حملوا لافتات تدعو للمقاطعة ووزعوا مئات المنشورات على المارة.

وانضمت متاجر جون لويس الكبرى لنداءات المقاطعة، حيث أعلنت الشركة أنها توقفت كليا عن بيع منتجات شركة أهافا الإسرائيلية.

وقد أكد المدير العام  لمتاجر جون لويس، أندي ستريت، في رسالة وجهها لحملة التضامن مع فلسطين مؤرخة في 7 يناير/كانون الثاني، أن شركات جون لويس لم تعد تقوم بتخزين أو بيع منتجات البحر الميت من شركة أهافا.

إقرأ/ي المزيد

#BDS: Focus On Israel’s Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Fast Train

"While Israel’s planned fast train that connects Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in a quick 28 minutes will be welcomed by weary commuters, it spells further land confiscation from villages bordering the ever-irrelevant Green Line.

The website WhoProfits.org, has been focusing its pressure and attention on the Italian based construction company, Pizzarotti & Co. since they joined Israel’s development project to build a fast train connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, cutting through Palestinian land.

According a report published by whoprofits.org last year, the railway will lie on 6 kilometers of Palestinian land and have destructive consequences for three Palestinian communities that border the official—if disregarded—boundary between the Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While on the one hand the train further blurs the line between the two countries, on the other it reinforces the segregation between Israelis and Palestinians: the train will be exclusive for Israeli citizens.

As such, the train line is considered in direct violation of international law, as it crosses the Green Line, imposing on Palestinian agricultural land and resources while providing no benefit to the Occupied Territories. Under international law, an occupying power is not allowed to use the occupied territory for the sole benefit of its own citizens. The anticipated route would bring commuters and travelers to and from the two major metropolises in just 28 minutes."

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#BDS: EU-Israel Data-Sharing Plan Condemned

"The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) today condemned the decision of the European Commission which stated that “Israel provides an adequate level of protection of personal data”, thus giving the green light for “the transfer of personal data of EU citizens to Israel”.

The Irish Government had previously attempted to block this data-sharing relationship, but to no avail.

Condemning the approval, IPSC National Chairperson Freda Hughes said: “This is an outrageous move on behalf of the European Commission. Israel is a country that has used the passports of Irish, German, British and French nationals in order to extra-judicially assassinate a Hamas member in Dubai last year – and there is no reason to believe that this was the first or only such illegal action of its kind. Therefore for the Commission to allow the transfer of personal data of EU citizens to this rogue state would be farcical were it not such a patently serious issue. This move will leave millions of people potentially open to state-sponsored identity theft of the kind we witnessed in Dubai last January, and indeed would be a tacit acceptance the legitimacy of such acts of state terrorism carried out by Israel”.

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