For Once, the Yes Men Say No
The
Yes Men, co-directors of the new award-winning documentary film The Yes
Men Fix the World, have decided to withdraw their film from the
Jerusalem International Film Festival, in support of the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions campaign:
Dear Friends at the Jerusalem Film Festival,
Jul 01, 2009
The
Yes Men, co-directors of the new award-winning documentary film The Yes
Men Fix the World, have decided to withdraw their film from the
Jerusalem International Film Festival, in support of the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions campaign:
Dear Friends at the Jerusalem Film Festival,
We
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
This
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
This decision does not come
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
But despite all our feelings, we
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
It
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
As
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
Whatever
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
There is certainly another way to
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
To those who want to see our film, savlanut and sabir (patience)! And for all the rest of us, a little LESS patience, please.
L'shanah haba'ah beyerushalayim,
Andy and Mike
The Yes Men
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The
Yes Men, co-directors of the new award-winning documentary film The Yes
Men Fix the World, have decided to withdraw their film from the
Jerusalem International Film Festival, in support of the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions campaign:
Dear Friends at the Jerusalem Film Festival,
We
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
This
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
This decision does not come
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
But despite all our feelings, we
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
It
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
As
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
Whatever
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
There is certainly another way to
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
To those who want to see our film, savlanut and sabir (patience)! And for all the rest of us, a little LESS patience, please.
L'shanah haba'ah beyerushalayim,
Andy and Mike
The Yes Men
The
Yes Men, co-directors of the new award-winning documentary film The Yes
Men Fix the World, have decided to withdraw their film from the
Jerusalem International Film Festival, in support of the Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions campaign:
Dear Friends at the Jerusalem Film Festival,
We
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
regret to say that we have taken the hard decision to withdraw our
film, "The Yes Men Fix the World," from the Jerusalem Film Festival in
solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign (https://www.bdsmovement.net/).
This
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
decision does not come easily, as we realize that the festival opposes
the policies of the State of Israel, and we have no wish to punish
progressives who deplore the state-sponsored violence committed in
their name.
This decision does not come
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
easily, as we feel a strong affinity with many people in Israel,
sharing with them our Jewish roots, as well as the trauma of the
Holocaust, in which both our grandfathers died. Andy lived in Jerusalem
for a year long ago, can still get by in Hebrew, and counts several
friends there. And Mike has always wanted to connect with the roots of
his culture.
But despite all our feelings, we
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
cannot abandon our mission as activists. In the 1980s, there was a call
from the people of South Africa to artists and others to boycott that
regime, and it helped end apartheid there. Today, there is a clear call
for a boycott from Palestinian civil society. Obeying it is our only
hope, as filmmakers and activists, of helping put pressure on the
Israeli government to comply with international law.
It
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
is painful to do this. But it is even more painful to hear Israeli
policies described as "fascist" - not just from the ill-informed and
the clueless, not just from the usual anti-semitic morons, but from
well-informed Jewish activists within Israel. They know what they're
talking about, and it's painful to think that they could be right.
As
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
we're sure you know and deplore, the Israeli government has recently
authorized the construction of new units in an illegal West Bank
outpost - one that is illegal even according to Israeli law. On Monday,
nine Palestinians were injured as Israeli authorities demolished their
East Jerusalem home. Tuesday, the Israeli navy stopped a ship from
delivering medicine, toys, and other humanitarian relief to Gaza, and
detained over twenty foreign peace activists, including a Nobel Peace
laureate. Meanwhile, a UN commission was in Gaza investigating much
worse abuses committed early this year.
Whatever
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
words are applied to such actions, our film mustn't help lend an aura
of normalcy to a state that makes these decisions. For us, that's the
bottom line.
There is certainly another way to
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
do things in Israel/Palestine, and that is what we must fight for,
however feeble our means. As for our film, there is another way for it
to be seen in Israel... and in Palestine, so that the people most in
need of comic relief, who would never have been able to see it at the
Jerusalem Film Festival anyhow, will be able to see it too. Within the
next few months, we will make this happen.
To those who want to see our film, savlanut and sabir (patience)! And for all the rest of us, a little LESS patience, please.
L'shanah haba'ah beyerushalayim,
Andy and Mike
The Yes Men
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy