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Israel Boycott Movement Gains Momentum
RAMALLAH - "Standing United with the People of Gaza" is the theme of this week's Israel Apartheid Week (IAW), which kicked off in Toronto and another 39 cities across the globe Sunday.
www.apartheidweek.org A movement to boycott Israeli goods, culture and academic institutions is gaining momentum as Geneva prepares to host the UN's Anti-Racism Conference, Durban 2 next month amidst swirling controversy.
Both Canada and the U.S. are boycotting the Durban 2 conference in protest over what they perceive as a strongly anti-Israel agenda.
The first UN Anti-Racism conference, held in the South African city Durban in 2001, saw the Israeli and U.S. delegates storm out of the conference, accusing other delegates of focusing too strongly on Israel.
U.S. and Canadian support might have offered some comfort for Israel. However, international criticism of Israel's three-week bloody offensive into Gaza, which left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead and thousands more wounded, most of them civilian, has breathed fresh life into a Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
The BDS campaign followed a 2005 appeal from over 170 Palestinian civil society groups to launch a divestment campaign "as a way of bringing non- violent pressure to bear on the state of Israel to end its violations of international law."
In the wake of the BDS campaign, critics of Israel have lashed out at what they see as parallels between South Africa's former apartheid system and Israeli racism.
They point to Israel's discriminatory treatment of ethnic Palestinians within Israel who hold Israeli passports, and the extensive human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied territories by Israeli security forces.
During the apartheid era, ties between Israel and South Africa were extremely strong, with the Jewish state helping to train South Africa's security forces as well as supplying the regime in Pretoria with weapons.
Meanwhile, Toronto, where the Israel Apartheid Week movement was born, will hold forums, film shows, cultural events and street protests to mark IAW week. One of the guest speakers is former South African intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils.
Kasrils is no stranger to controversy. His parents fled from Tzarist Russian pogroms carried out against Jews, and immigrated to South Africa at the beginning of the last century.
During white rule, as a member of the African National Congress (ANC), working both in exile and underground in South Africa, he was reviled by many white South Africans as a "terrorist".
He has also been labeled a self-hating Jew by many Israelis and South African Jews due to the strong stand he and the ANC have taken against Israel's policies.
Meanwhile, in New York, prominent IAW activist Nir Harel, a member of Israel's Anarchists Against the Wall, will also be courting controversy. His group regularly protests against Israel's separation barrier, which divides Israel proper from the Palestinian West Bank.
The barrier deviates significantly from the Green Line, the internationally recognized border, into Palestinian territory where it has swallowed huge amounts of land, dispossessing farmers from their agricultural crops.
Another Israeli activist, Matan Cohen, has been central in the first U.S. college implementing a divestment campaign against Israel. Hampshire College in Massachusetts called for divestment from over 200 companies that the college says is responsible for violating its socially responsible investment policies in Israel.
The companies which provide the Israeli military with equipment and services in the occupied West Bank and Gaza include Caterpillar, United Technologies, General Electric, ITT Corporation, Motorola and Terex.
A Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) petition for divestment was supported by more than 800 students, professors, and alumni at the college, that has only 1,350 students.
Hampshire college may be small but it has been big in social activism. It was also the first U.S. educational institution to divest from South Africa, ten years before other universities and colleges followed suit.
U.S. campus activism is spreading. The University of Rochester in New York and members of the community are also involved in boycott activities.
Students from Macalester College, a liberal arts college located in St. Paul, Minnesota, occupied the Minnesota Trade Office in January and then picketed there Feb. 6, demanding that the state end all trade with Israel. New York University students too began a divestment campaign.
Professors and university employees in Quebec, Canada, endorsed the Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees' call to boycott Israel.
SJP's actions at Hampshire College follow similar moves by the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in the UK.
In London, students held sit-ins at Goldsmith University and the London School of Economics, among other institutions. Similar protests have spread throughout the U.K., with some winning concessions from university officials.
At Manchester University, about a thousand students joined a campaign equating Israel with apartheid-era South Africa, and called on the administration and student union to boycott Israeli companies and support Gaza and the BDS movement.
In Australia the University of Western Sydney's Student Association recently joined the international BDS campaign. International trade union support for political action against Israel has been seen from Spain to South Africa.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, under directive of the Council of South African Trade Unions, refused recently to unload an Israeli ship which docked in Durban, despite threats and pressure from both management and the Israeli lobby.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, with 600,000 members in 55 unions, is preparing to start a boycott of Israeli goods.
Meanwhile, the biggest trade union in Canada's Ontario province, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), was forced under pressure to moderate its call for a boycott of all academic institutions in Israel. Instead it called for a boycott of Israeli institutions engaged in research which aided the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
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125 Comments so far
Show AllJust as the surviving relatives of Holocaust victims sought damages from corporations which did business with the Third Reich, Palestinians need to seek compensation from those companies supplying the Israeli military. While Israel and the US would simply ignore any ruling by an international court, they would undermine the case for the Holocaust descendants in doing so.
Mearsheimer and Walt are coorect. If anything, they understated their case.
The eventual blowback from the US supported Israeli atrocities is going to be hell and it will last for a long time. Our grandchildren and great-granchildren will suffer for our refusal to deal with this issue.
q
We must never forgive those responsible for the existence of Israel and the atrocities and genocide programmed by the U.S. military state.
thong-girl
DIVEST !!! DIVEST !!! DIVEST !!!
It will be good if someone can start a list of items that are directly or indirectly supporting the racist, apartheid nation.
Now all we have to do is get Congress to boycott AIPAC and refuse other largesse from the U.S. Zionist lobby that intimidates all who disagree.
The simple answer to this and so many other problems in the region is the support of the USA for the illegal state of Israel.
Yes, the "illegal state of Israel".
Israel does not have the right to exist at the expense of the Palestinians, but then, the USA is illegally in possession of more than 60% of it's geographical territory, as a result of the illegal occupation via Treaty violations with the peoples (some of them my own Tribe).
But then, when you are "the chosen ones", or their "lap dawgs" (or chosen ones by proxy) you can do whatever you please, then blame others for the repercussions of your illegal actions, or claim "anti semite/american" prejudice and simply continue with your actions.
The problem here is that the "Jews of Israel" are no more chosen than the Palestinians, and the Americans do not have the right to meddle anywhere, or criticize others when they are the biggest thieves the world has ever known.
It just may be that when the Jews lost their right to occupy Palestine in 79"A.D.", they should have been the lesson of History that the USA now is*.
That 'lesson' is that the USA will (unless some major changes are made very soon) be the "horrible warning for the future" and the Negative Example for the wise ones of the future to avoid.
When an individual no longer is able to keep their word, for example pay their debts as with "credit", they no longer are given 'credit'; the Jews could not keep their word with Rome and lost their right to occupy Israel; the USA does not keep it's word, as the Bush administration clearly exhibits, and the USA is loosing it's "credit" with the world. How much longer the world will tolerate the USA is not clear, but without the USA, Israel would not exist.
Good luck America, you really need it.
Welcome back NA T I V E _ S O N
The similarities between Zionist attempts at justifying egregious & vastly illegal conduct and disgustingly harmful imperialist warmongering -- and those equivalent actions and beliefs of most Americans is no accident.
Both Israeli Zionists & Americans are completely out of touch of what their gov'ts have done IN THEIR NAMES -- which has created the apparent weralth and success of their dis-respecting countries.
I say apparent success, as ALL of the WORLD's long enduring pain and suffering ( the consequences of our actions ) -- is actually undercutting and naturally eroding it.
Our "culture's" lackluster greed and attempts at massive consumerism / materialism is a sick aspect of our collective conduct -- an actual counterweight that can never be balanced out -- as long as we continue to do as before.
Like so poignantly noted by Mahatma Gandhi -- commenting about Western Civilization
[ _____ " I think it is a good idea. " _____ ]
We do know better, many of us, and we get to hold up HIGH the torch of bright truth and knowledge -- so that others can begin to see for themselves -- what they are creating.
Personal responsibility -- BEING our own word -- is a scared and honorable duty that is the foundation for a world that works for everyone. This includes complete reparations to all of those hurt and injured -- and to somehow mark the suffering and loss of those millions no longer alive
We are each of us only as complete as we are ALL, and we are ALL ONE in spirit -- and any who suffer -- reflect that pain and brokenness back and inside upon us ALL.
Bless us ALL to live in REVERENCE for ALL life and existence -- as we are all part of that ONENESS -- if we so choose.
This is the natural and actual correct historical meaning of BEING one of the CHOSEN PEOPLE.
[ _____ We must learn to CHOOSE BETTER _____ ]
Namaste
… we are really part of that ONENESS,
[_____ even when we choose to abuse _____ ]
… but that set of choices naturally creates SEPARATION ( and pain ) from what we desire the most
[ love, peace, tranquility, harmony, and balanced equilibrium with nature ]
Horrified:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-israel.php
thank you.
Israeli economist: Boycotts beginning to bite.
...on 3 February, Nehemia Strassler, one of Israel's most famous economic correspondents, attacked the Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Eli Yishai, for calling on the Israeli military to "destroy one hundred homes in Gaza for every rocket that falls in Israel." Strassler had nothing to say about the Palestinians living in these homes or about the loss of life, but he warned:
"[the minister] doesn't even understand how the operation in Gaza hurts the economy. The horror sights on television and the words of politicians in Europe and Turkey change the behavior of consumers, businessmen and potential investors. Many European consumers boycott Israeli products in practice. Intellectuals call for an economic war against us and to enforce an official and full consumer boycott.
http://tinyurl.com/c936x4
or:
jewssansfrontieres.blogspot.com/2009/03/israeli-economist-boycotts-beginning-to.html
The most powerful comment in that article should not go unappreciated. 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence.
Boycott Israeli goods, CULTURE, and academic institutions.
Potentially POWERFUL. Because Israeli culture is largely Jewish culture. No? They are divided by Zionists conveniently thus-Israel may commit horrible crimes, BUT the many nice Jewish folks in the U.S. are far from there, not connected. That is an important lie.
American Jewish Culture is Israeli Culture. No? The Jewish Country? American Jewish support for Israel is rabid. Let us be real.
And here is the Crux of this-American jewish culture happens in places. Synagogues community halls etc., these places could and should be the sites of demonstrations, heck RIOTS, that would make the news with some Truths. Changing the American public's perceptions would be key to altering the course of the beast.
Peaceful, Obviously but VISIBLE. LOUD. And prepare to meet the JDL. Other thugs. Nazi's with Star's of David, Blackshirts.
Joe.
Joe- while your post is far from clear about anything except your anger, I THINK you are saying that there is no difference between jews and the state of Israel. "No?" Because of this equation, and because "jewish culture happens in places," we should protest and riot at synagogues and jewish community centers. (Presumably the "places" where jewish culture "happens".)
This makes as little sense as those who called for protests and riots against mosques in the aftermath of September 11. Your reasoning, along with the rednecks I reference, seems to be that if one member of a community did something wrong, all members of the community must have supported him, and therefore should be punished for their complicity.
Come to think of it, that's pretty much the same reasoning the IDF used in Gaza recently. If you are calling for "riots", then I presume you intend that some violence take place against the buildings or those jews using them. Granted the hypothetical rioters you call upon have no explosives (I hope!), but they would still be making the same ethical error the IDF made, in kind if not in degree.
Guilt by association is easy and cathertic, but it isn't just.
Thank you, waterproofla.
We cannot condemn the Zionists for trying to hide their crimes in the shadow of the Holocaust unless we recognize that Judaism and Zionism involve discrete populations with much less overlap than many would think.
Hitler tried to exterminate Jews, not giving a rat's ass whether thay had Zionist sympathies or not.
q
Thank you to both WATERPROOFIA & QUICKSTEPPER.
I have seen quite a bit of evidence that demonstrates that the Zionists ( in the 20s & 30s ) actually caused the escalation of Hitler's violence toward Jews ( obviously already present in Mein Kampf ), in order to promote the creation of the state of Israel.
This is certainly a MAJOR bone of contention -- for the the Zionists to ever admit to being anti-Semitic -- but it all has to do at what level of action and results that one thinks about.
Most Zionists are completely happy to view the eventual Israeli "ENDS" as justifying "ANY MEANS".
How sick were the early Zionists to promote widespread massive Jewish suffering and death -- to further their causes -- and how much more wicked the current crop of Zionists to disavow that history. Perhaps in hindsight, the Zionists didn't expect 6 million dead -- and they would have been "pleased" for just a few thousands ( for their planned justification of Israel ) -- but regardless, their hands are coated with much blood.
Just another false flag action ( recall the USS Liberty & likely _9_!_!_ ), from the world's experts in it ( hiding behind the cloak of anti-Semitism ).
¿ How is killing Palestinians ( who actually are Semites ) not being anti-Semitic ?
Namaste
I see both azjoe's and waterproofla's points here.
I think what azjoe is hoping for is to shame American Jews into action and cause them to abandon their complicit silence. We constantly hear that American Jews are "non-monolithic," yet we rarely see this. Certainly we do not see it in congress, where every Jewish member supports each and every brutal, criminal act Israel commits. I heard no loud outcry from our Jewish community over Gaza.
I also think that comparing this idea to that of demonstrating at mosques to protest the events of 9-11 is an apples/oranges thing. An Islamic or Arab government did not attack us. A small and loosely organized band of terrorists (from different countries) did, if you buy the official story. American Jews on the other hand strongly support a government that is involved in ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide — on our dime. There is an enormous difference. It is also reasonable to assume that if enough American Jews refused to allow this to continue in their names, the situation would change.
On the other hand, waterproofla is correct in that guilt by association is undeniably wrong. One would have no way of knowing, for example, if a given synagogue or rabbi was espousing Likudnik supremacist theology or not, unless one attended that temple. And angrily surrounding community centers full of old people would simply add to the already mythical Jewish victimhood.
The people who deserve to be surrounded with peaceful but vociferous protests are the media, Congress and businesses that openly support the occupation and its brutality.
waterproofla. Hello. First, I thank you for your civil and intelligent tone.
My point is that American Jewery supports Israel ad infinitum, with money, in the media and politically. NOT 1 in 10, but a large majority. Most Jews I have met support Israel. Strongly. And this makes Gaza and the Death of Palestine possible.
And this support is insidiously semi silent and DENIED JUST A BIT, as checks are sent quietly and the killing continues. Nonsense.
I believe peaceful, legal non-violent demonstrations, in the right locations, against this will be part of the answer. An answer many don't want elucidated. Hello?
These demonstrations would be joined by Jews of conscience, which would empower them.
Beautiful moral Jews abound, but MOST American Jews support Israel and it's policies. This is not right.
Thank you for a post devoid of insult, respectfully, Joe.
And this-If any country, South Africa in the old days, Nazi Germany, Israel became real, I would hope people would demonstrate and even RIOT to protest thousands of dead and maimed, then thousands more, then thousands more.
But you think silence is appropriate?
"Beautiful moral Jews abound, but MOST American Jews support Israel"
Well, look. We Jews mostly are, as most people in the world are, beautiful and moral. That does not preclude supporting Israel.
Chaim. Hello. That is the riddle. Enigma.
The conflict. Israel, which started as it did, has morphed and grown into a monster. Yet it is "The Jewish Country," such a drag. So hard on the soul.
.
Jews now have this horrible trade-off. Unconditional love for Israel and all it does? That makes it impossible to truly believe one is beautiful and moral.
It conflicts. This must be resolved before Jews can move forward as a whole. Now thay are being defined by the occupation.
Loyalty to a Nation or loyalty to what is Right.
All my respect, to beauty and birds in flight. rubyinthedust thinks a peace agreement is coming.......may-be, for this I pray.
Joe.
[ _____ B O Y C O T T _____ ]
[ _______ I S R A E L ______ ]
PLEASE follow this link -- to get an animated GIF file showing what to look for on ANY Israeli product's barcode :
____ http://www.sott.net/signs/images/barcode.gif ____
Namaste
Hopefully the money put towards rebuilding Gaza wont be wasted the next time Israel decides to destroy everything.
This situation is absurd.
Palestinians have a humanitarian crisis-but are still able to feed 400 (well--12 now) captive zoo prisoners.
They break down the Egyptian border, then help rebuild it.
The US gives weapons to Israel-which destroys Gaza, then the US pledges money to rebuild Gaza.
Israel bombs the UN, then goes to the UN to complain about rocket fire.
It goes on and on.
Another "hopefully."
Hopefully the American people will realize that every time Israel does something like this, they are going to PAY to clean it up. It may cause them to look into just how much Israel already costs us. My guess is that if they really knew, they would be furious. I rarely talk to anyone who is a die hard supporter of that criminal state.
I figure there are not too many jocks on CD, but I think there would be a ripple of waking people up if pressure could be put on UEFA to tell Israel that its teams would not be allowed to take part in UEFA competitions until some civilized behaviour starts to pop up on the part of Israel's gvt, secret police and military.
That would be a noticeable step. Good idea.
You do realize that Russia, China, the USA, and nearly the entire Middle East would all be excluded from UEFA under this don't you?
You also don't understand the nature of sports. Sporting competitions have the ability to bring together two hostile parties in a peaceful environment. During the ancient Olympics wars would actually be put on hold to allow the peaceful competition of the games. Sports can foster peace.
Intelligent people try to keep politics out of sports....
t_g
Why did we boycott South African sport teams than - back in the days of apartheid?
Uhh, UEFA is the EUROPEAN soccer body. China, the US, and the Middle East is not in it.
Furthermore, while sport can certainly foster peace, it is often used as a propaganda tool.
Sport, like music, like art, like literature, like politics, is part of the world. It isn't possible nor realistic to keep sport separated out into an ideal utopian world.
I may be mistaken but i believe they do play exhibition games against each other.
No institution involving humans will ever be without human faults but that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive for the better....
I may be mistaken but i believe they do play exhibition games against each other.
No institution involving humans will ever be without human faults but that doesn't mean we should strive for the better....
And the USA boycotted the 1980 or 1984? Olympics to protest Russia, so there is a precident...
Israelis have the image of being ruthless and retaliatory after Munich, terrorists taking hostages plays into their game...
What the Israelis cannot handle is being shamed or embarrassed in public... So perhaps non violent street theater on the world stage during the olympics or soccer would prove to be effective...
Does anyone know why "links" can no longer be accessed directly? or is this just my computers problem?
Common Dreams has implemented no direct access to links for posters, but not for their published writers. It is another step to marginalize information they don't control.
Use a "tiny url". Go to this web site: http://www.tiny.cc/
Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in their moccasins - Native American proverb.
Dock workers in Durban refused recently to unload an Israeli ship, in sympathy with the Palestinians.
These same workers refused last year to unload a ship loaded with Chinese weapons and destined for Zimbabwe, a country where the old leaders stay in power due to their use of violence.
I admire greatly these actions by the dock workers of Durban R.S.A.
One of the reasons why dockside and transport unions have been systematically attacked and knackered here in the west. These unions were once the most powerful, but they never realized their potential before being effectively killed by the Govt. and corporations.
Yet another example of the emerging totalitarianism here in the west.
Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in their moccasins - Native American proverb.
The ILWU is still strong on the west coast, organizing shutdowns of entire ports in solidarity with Mumia in SanFran, against the war in Tacoma and Olympia, even shutting down the entire west coast at one time...
While most AFL-CIO unions take their marching orders from the pink scarf & gucci wearing labor bosses, Longshoremen have remained true to the labor movement, willing to do slowdowns and stoppages in solidarity with environmental and social justice movements...
Agreed, and thanks. But this needs to be orchestrated US-wide, especially on the East coast where it would have the most effect on mid-East policies.
Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in their moccasins - Native American proverb.
Agreed... The ILWU is not limited to longshoremen... They also umbrella union drives for workers at Powell's Books in Portland, food service workers in Olympia, and others... Why only one wildcat strike after the economic crash? Because the AFL-CIO is a tool of Big Biz..
Entire unions need to leave the AFL-CIO in droves, and join with the ILWU or IWW or start their own coalition... The AFL-CIO has turned into an ineffectual Good Ole Boys Club...
How about boycotting Jordan and Saudi Arabia and Palestine for refusing to allow Jews to become citizens or to own land? I thought that's what apartheid is supposed to be.
How about dismantling illegal Jordan? After all, Jordan and Israel were created in the same way. Why should Jordan be treated differently?
The Palestinians, as miserable as their existence may be, still would rather steal food from each other (that's why the U.N. stopped sending in shipments, since Hamas was stealing them), use women and children as willing shields, and embrace propaganda that killing Jews is the fastest way to paradise.
Is Saudi attacking anyone and taking billions in aid er year?
How about Jordan??
I don't support either of these monarchies but they don't go about killing people in the fashion of the IDF do they?
So war is only reason now?
Well i guess we need to boycott every nation that engages in conflict too.
I love watching you change the rules every time someone points out the flaws in your logic....
"Well i guess we need to boycott every nation that engages in conflict too."
What a good idea!!! :)
SO you agree then that both the Israeli's and Palestinians need to be boycotted.
Excellent!
Yes, saudi Arabia is recieving another $20 billion in military aid, the previous US military aid has been used to keep the House of Saud in power by opressing their own people...
Yes, Saudi Arabia (SA) is attacking other people, just not with a conventional military... Wahabbism was nurtured in SA, and the Saudi intelligence have carried out some pretty wicked deeds for their masters... The Saudi Royal family have funded terrorist training camps in SA, Sudan, Afghanistan, and elsewhere... Including funding the CIA $20 billion in the late 70's & early 80's to train and arm Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda to fight the USSR... The 19 hijackers on 911 were Saudi Arabian... As was International weapons dealer Karshougghi during Iran Contra when he was brokering weapons between Israel and Iran and the US with Ollie North...
Then stop sending them money for cheap oil!
Not sure what you mean... Who is the subject of your sentence?
Your reactionary racist and prejudicial comments are clearly designed to incite useless argumentation and HATE toward Palestine ( while attempting to appear as somewhat equal handed and balanced on the totally asymmetric issue of additional "pro-Israeli" 'boycott'. )
What an OBSENE joke you are.
Namaste
sharon- what a stupid thing to write.
You forgot about them eating Jewish babies and completely left out the holocaust.
Are you dumb or just plain stupid?