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 Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel
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Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel
letters from the guardian news paper
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Why we support a cultural boycott
Thursday December 21, 2006
The Guardian
John Berger and others' call for a cultural boycott of Israel (Letters, December 15) is wholly to be supported. The appalling human rights record of Israel during its 39-year occupation of Palestinian territories is amply documented, not least by Israel human rights organisations and in the writings of Uri Avnery, Norman Finkelstein, Baruch Kimmerling, Tanya Reinhardt and many others.
Yet while continuing to carry out murder, torture, dispossession, the building of a wall on occupied land, as well as settlements, and the maintenance of an apartheid-like situation, Israel has continued to maintain full diplomatic, trading and cultural relations with other western states, not to mention its large US financial support. Israel is in receipt of trading privileges with the EU conditional upon its observation of certain norms of human rights, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Association agreement, but the latter clause remains a dead letter. A cultural boycott would be a first step towards demonstrating that such relationships must not be allowed to continue until Israeli policy and actions change significantly.
Ian Pace
Croydon, Surrey
As a signatory of the letter supporting a cultural boycott of Israel, may I make the following points? 1) The boycott is not, as the objectors seem to think, aimed at individual Israelis but at state-sponsored events and institutions. 2) There are apartheid-like laws in Israel - for example, the right of return that applies only to Jews, the ban on non-Jews owning state land, the bar on any Palestinian Israeli from living in Israel with a Palestinian spouse not resident in Israel. In the occupied territories roads are maintained for Jews only. 3) By defining itself as a Jewish state, Israel denies full citizenship to its non-Jewish population. 4) Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state is threatened, in the long run, by what Israelis like to call "the demographic problem". To put it crudely, too many Arabs. The policy of "transfer", one way or another, will be put into practice, continuing the ethnic cleansing started in 1948. 5) I may not live to see it, but I believe the only just solution is a single secular state with equal rights for all its citizens.
Leon Rosselson
Wembley Park, Middlesex
Denis MacEoin suggests only a boycott of Hamas and its "policy of genocide" will bring peace. Interviewed in Newsweek on February 26, Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, when asked what agreements Hamas would honour, said: "The ones that will guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, with 1967 borders." Other leading Hamas figures have also proposed a 40-year hudna (truce). Does this sound like genocide, rather than a demand for justice which could lead to a permanent solution?
Tom Bimpson
Liverpool
· Supporters include Brian Eno and Arundhati Roy
· Critics say sanctions will be counter-productive
Charlotte Higgins, arts correspondent
Friday December 15, 2006
The Guardian
The celebrated novelist, critic and artist John Berger today calls on British writers and artists to undertake a "cultural boycott" of Israel. In a letter to the Guardian, co-signed by, among others, the artist Cornelia Parker, the musician Brian Eno, and writers Arundhati Roy and Ahdaf Soueif, Berger calls for support for "our Palestinian and Israeli colleagues". He suggests boycott tactics; in his case it meant declining to be published by a large mainstream Israeli publisher, he says.
Yesterday he said of the boycott: "It could be a factor in Israeli policy changing. Of course its effects will not be gigantic but it is a way of not staying silent. It is a very personal call ... a way of encouraging the very courageous Israelis who oppose their government and an encouragement to Palestinians to somehow go on surviving." He made a clear distinction between individuals and state-sponsored events or institutions. "It is not a question of boycotting Israeli artists," he said.
The film-maker Ken Loach, who backs the boycott, said he would not take part in state-sponsored Israeli film festivals.
However, Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, said: "There are countless Israelis who vehemently oppose their government ... many are artists and academics, and none of them are prevented from expressing their opposition ... It seems profoundly counter-productive to cease contact with precisely that section of Israeli society most likely to provoke a change in direction within Israel."
Richard Eyre, the theatre director, said: "I would have said during apartheid in South Africa sanctions ... were effective, but so many people since then have said they were counterproductive. It's not cut and dried. Anything that boycotts Israel means we are in danger of cutting off access to [those] we should be speaking to."
The playwright Mark Ravenhill said it was good to keep a dialogue open with those challenging the government. "A cultural boycott runs the risk of stopping that dialogue and support." Michael Berkeley, the composer, said: "Sometimes it is only through the arts that a link remains open."
Signatories
John Berger, novelist, painter, art critic and philosopher
Brian Eno, electronic musician, music theorist and record producer
Sophie Fiennes, film director
Eduardo Galeano, Uruguayan writer
Reem Kelani, Palestinian singer
Leon Rosselson, musician and writer
Steven Rose, scientist
Ahdaf Soueif, author
Arundhati Roy, Booker Prize winner
Elia Suleiman, film director and actor, and 85 others
(عدل بواسطة Mustafa Mahmoud on 12-26-2006, 04:41 PM)
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: Mustafa Mahmoud)
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John Berger rallies artists for cultural boycott of Israel
· Supporters include Brian Eno and Arundhati Roy
· Critics say sanctions will be counter-productive
Charlotte Higgins, arts correspondent
Friday December 15, 2006
The Guardian
The celebrated novelist, critic and artist John Berger today calls on British writers and artists to undertake a "cultural boycott" of Israel. In a letter to the Guardian, co-signed by, among others, the artist Cornelia Parker, the musician Brian Eno, and writers Arundhati Roy and Ahdaf Soueif, Berger calls for support for "our Palestinian and Israeli colleagues". He suggests boycott tactics; in his case it meant declining to be published by a large mainstream Israeli publisher, he says.
Yesterday he said of the boycott: "It could be a factor in Israeli policy changing. Of course its effects will not be gigantic but it is a way of not staying silent. It is a very personal call ... a way of encouraging the very courageous Israelis who oppose their government and an encouragement to Palestinians to somehow go on surviving." He made a clear distinction between individuals and state-sponsored events or institutions. "It is not a question of boycotting Israeli artists," he said.
The film-maker Ken Loach, who backs the boycott, said he would not take part in state-sponsored Israeli film festivals.
However, Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, said: "There are countless Israelis who vehemently oppose their government ... many are artists and academics, and none of them are prevented from expressing their opposition ... It seems profoundly counter-productive to cease contact with precisely that section of Israeli society most likely to provoke a change in direction within Israel."
Richard Eyre, the theatre director, said: "I would have said during apartheid in South Africa sanctions ... were effective, but so many people since then have said they were counterproductive. It's not cut and dried. Anything that boycotts Israel means we are in danger of cutting off access to [those] we should be speaking to."
The playwright Mark Ravenhill said it was good to keep a dialogue open with those challenging the government. "A cultural boycott runs the risk of stopping that dialogue and support." Michael Berkeley, the composer, said: "Sometimes it is only through the arts that a link remains open."
Signatories
John Berger, novelist, painter, art critic and philosopher
Brian Eno, electronic musician, music theorist and record producer
Sophie Fiennes, film director
Eduardo Galeano, Uruguayan writer
Reem Kelani, Palestinian singer
Leon Rosselson, musician and writer
Steven Rose, scientist
Ahdaf Soueif, author
Arundhati Roy, Booker Prize winner
Elia Suleiman, film director and actor, and 85 others
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: ناذر محمد الخليفة)
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As a signatory of the letter supporting a cultural boycott of Israel, may I make the following points? 1) The boycott is not, as the objectors seem to think, aimed at individual Israelis but at state-sponsored events and institutions. 2) There are apartheid-like laws in Israel - for example, the right of return that applies only to Jews, the ban on non-Jews owning state land, the bar on any Palestinian Israeli from living in Israel with a Palestinian spouse not resident in Israel. In the occupied territories roads are maintained for Jews only. 3) By defining itself as a Jewish state, Israel denies full citizenship to its non-Jewish population. 4) Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state is threatened, in the long run, by what Israelis like to call "the demographic problem". To put it crudely, too many Arabs. The policy of "transfer", one way or another, will be put into practice, continuing the ethnic cleansing started in 1948. 5) I may not live to see it, but I believe the only just solution is a single secular state with equal rights for all its citizens.
Leon Rosselson
Wembley Park, Middlesex
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: Mustafa Mahmoud)
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وانتهى العرس... ولم تحضر فلسطين الفرح
بل رأت صورتها مبثوثة عبر كل الأقنية
ورأت دمعتها تعبر أمواج المحيط..
نحو شيكاغو .. وجيرسى .. وميامى..
وهى مثل الطائر المذبوح تصرخ:
ليس هذا العرس عرسى..
ليس هذا الثوب ثوبى..
ليس هذا العار عارى..
أبدا... يا أمريكا...
أبدا ... يا أمريكا ...
أبدا ... يا أمريكا ...
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: mohamed osman bakry)
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Yet while continuing to carry out murder, torture, dispossession, the building of a wall on occupied land, as well as settlements, and the maintenance of an apartheid-like situation, Israel has continued to maintain full diplomatic, trading and cultural relations with other western states, not to mention its large US financial support. Israel is in receipt of trading privileges with the EU conditional upon its observation of certain norms of human rights, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Association agreement, but the latter clause remains a dead letter. A cultural boycott would be a first step towards demonstrating that such relationships must not be allowed to continue until Israeli policy and actions change significantly.
Ian Pace
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: Mustafa Mahmoud)
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whenever there is a vote in the UN against israel massacres of palestinian children who vote with Israel
America
pharos island
and god knows maximum about seven countries or
of course the Yankees will use their Vito
what a nation and what freinds
down down with the mafia fascist racist Zionist Jewish state
dr mustafa mahmoud
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: Mustafa Mahmoud)
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my dear friend
abu mazin
and olmert are both leaders
i got no respect for any of them
to me they are both serve their masters
you quoted
The problem you Sudanese have : your country is full with problems , yet you run around among Arabs try to prove to them that you are ARABS ..!! x
my friend i agree with you here 100%
but go and look for those who thinks our problems can only be solved by making friendship with a mafia state
two wrongs brother never make right
to solve our problem we should be able to say
no no to the Arabs
and no no to the apartheid state of Israel
by the way Mohammad i got no respect to any Arab leader or any Arab cause
i only say what i consider atrocities of basic human rights
i say down withe corrupt ingaz mafia gang
and i also say with great honour down with the fascist racist Zionist mafia state
why do you want us to believe the Jewish state is good
it is definitely not
by the way this diversion of our strength and efforts to fight the ingaz mafia is caused by those who call for freindiship with a mafia Jewish state
with deep respect and love to you personally
and happy new year
if you do not agree with me you say yes to the mafia state and i will say no
but we should still be freinds so we can fight our common enemy the ingaz gang
thank you
dr mustafa mahmoud
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Re: Why we support a cultural boycott of Israel (Re: Mustafa Mahmoud)
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قتل وتشريد و
من ينائر إلي ديسمبر 2005 قُتل زهاء 190 فلسطينياً، من بينهم قرابة 50 طفلاًَ، على أيدي الجيش الإسرائيلي في الأراضي المحتلة. وقُتل كثير منهم دون وجه حق، رمياً بالرصاص عمداً أو من جراء إطلاق النار دون مبالاة بالعواقب، أو نتيجة القصف الجوي أو المدفعي لمناطق مأهولة كثيفة السكان أو الإفراط في استخدام القوة. وقُتل بعضهم في حوادث إعدام خارج نطاق القضاء، وقُتل آخرون في اشتباكات مسلحة مع الجنود الإسرائيليين. وجُرح آلاف آخرون. (منظمة العفو الدولية)
تقرير 2005 : قتل الجيش الإسرائيلي أكثر من 700 فلسطيني، من بينهم زهاء 150 طفلاً. وقُتل أغلبهم دون وجه حق نتيجة إطلاق النار دون مبالاة، والقصف الجوي والمدفعي في مناطق مدنية آهلة بالسكان، وفي حوادث إعدام خارج نطاق القضاء، ونتيجة الإفراط في استخدام القوة(منظمة العفو الدولية)
تقرير 2004 :قتلت قوات الجيش الإسرائيلي ما لا يقل عن 600 فلسطيني, بينهم أكثر من 100 طفل, وقُتل معظمهم دون وجه حق من جراء إطلاق النار دون مبالاة بالعواقب, وقصف وتفجير المناطق التي يسكنها المدنيون, وفي عمليات إعدام خارج نطاق القضاء, ومن خلال الإفراط في استخدام القوة.
واعتقل الجيش الإسرائيلي آلاف الفلسطينيين, وأُفرج عن معظمهم بدون توجيه تهم لهم, بينما وُجهت إلى مئات منهم تهم بارتكاب جرائم أمنية ضد إسرائيل, واحتُجز ما لا يقل عن 1500 رهن الاعتقال الإداري بدون تهمة أو محاكمة. وكانت المحاكمات أمام المحاكم العسكرية قاصرة عن الوفاء بالمعايير الدولية.
وتفشت الادعاءات عن تعذيب المعتقلين الفلسطينيين وإساءة معاملتهم. واستخدم الجنود الإسرائيليون بعض الفلسطينيين "كدروع بشرية" خلال العمليات العسكرية. وشكّلت بعض الانتهاكات التي ارتكبها الجيش الإسرائيلي جرائم حرب, بما في ذلك أعمال القتل دون وجه حق وإعاقة المساعدات الطبية واستهداف العاملين في المهن الطبية, وتدمير الممتلكات بشكل واسع النطاق ودون مبرر, والتعذيب واستخدام "الدروع البشرية".(منظمة العفو الدولية )
تقرير عام 2003 : قُتل ما لا يقل عن 1000 فلسطيني على أيدي قوات الجيش الإسرائيلي، وكان معظمهم ضحايا لأعمال قتلٍ دون وجه حق. وكان من بين الضحايا حوالي 150 طفلاً وما لا يقل عن 35 شخصاً كانوا هدفاً لعمليات اغتيال 0 وفُرضت حالات إغلاق القرى والمدن وحظر التجول لفترات مطولة في شتى أنحاء الأراضي المحتلة، ودُمر ما يربو على 2000 منزل. واعتُقل آلاف الفلسطينيين، وأُفرج عن أغلبهم دون أن تُوجه إليهم أي تهمة، إلا إن ما يزيد على ثلاثة آلاف شخص ظلوا رهن الاحتجاز في سجونٍ عسكرية. واحتُجز ما يزيد عن 1900 شخصٍ رهن الاعتقال الإداري دون تهمة أو محاكمة، واتهم زهاء خمسة آلاف شخصٍ بتهمٍ أمنية، من بينها الضلوع في هجمات على الإسرائيليين. وحُوكم أكثر من 3800 فلسطيني أمام محاكم عسكرية في محاكماتٍ لا تفي إجراءاتها بالمعايير الدولية. وتفشت إساءة معاملة المعتقلين الفلسطينيين. واستخدم الجنود الإسرائيليون بعض الفلسطينيين "كدروع بشرية" خلال العمليات العسكرية. وكانت بعض الانتهاكات التي ارتكبها الجيش الإسرائيلي تمثل جرائم حربٍ، ومن بينها أعمال القتل دون وجه حق، وإعاقة المساعدات الطبية واستهداف العاملين في المهن الطبية، وتدمير الممتلكات بشكلٍ واسع النطاق ( منظمة العفو الدولية )
تقرير عام 2002 لقي ما يزيد عن 460 فلسطينياً مصرعهم على أيدي قوات الأمن الإسرائيلية خلال عام 2001، وقُتل معظمهم دون وجه حق. ومن بين الضحايا 79 طفلاً و32 شخصاً كانوا هدفاً لعمليات اغتيال. كما قُبض على ما يزيد عن ألفي فلسطيني لأسبابٍ أمنية. وتواترت أنباء على نطاقٍ واسعٍ عن وحشية الشرطة. وكثيراً ما تعرض المعتقلون الفلسطينيون للتعذيب والمعاملة السيئة خلال استجوابهم، حسبما ورد. وبحلول نهاية العام كان ما لا يقل عن 40 شخصاً محتجزين رهن الاعتقال الإداري. وسُجن على مدار العام 33 على الأقل من المعترضين على تأدية الخدمة العسكرية بدافع الضمير. وحُوكم مئات الفلسطينيين من الأراضي المحتلة أمام محاكم عسكرية في محاكماتٍ لا تفي الإجراءات المتبعة فيها بالمعايير الدولية. وكان من بين العقوبات الجماعية ضد الفلسطينيين إغلاق القرى والبلدات وتدمير ما يزيد عن 350 من منازل الفلسطينيين وحظر التجول لفتراتٍ طويلةٍ.
منظمة العفو الدولية )
تقرير عام 2001 : قُتل ما يزيد على 300 فلسطيني على أيدي قوات الأمن الإسرائيلية، معظمهم قُتل بصورة غير قانونية إبان الانتفاضة الجديدة. وقُبض على أكثر من 2500 فلسطيني وإسرائيلي لأسباب سياسية. وتعرض عشرات المعتقلين لسوء المعاملة، واعتُقل ما لا يقل عن 25 فلسطينيا اعتقالا إدارياً. وأُطلق سراح جميع المواطنين اللبنانيين المعتقلين في سجن الخيام بجنوب لبنان الذي كانت تحتله إسرائيل. وقُدم مئات الفلسطينيين في الأراضي المحتلة إلى محاكم عسكرية، في محاكمات قصَّرت إجراءاتها عن الوفاء بالمعايير الدولية. واستمرت عمليات هدم المنازل في الأراضي المحتلة نتيجة لسياسة تمييزية حرمت الفلسطينيين من الحصول على تراخيص بناء.
تقرير عام 2000 وفي إسرائيل، ظل معظم أفراد قوات الأمن بمنأى من العقاب على ما يقترفونه من انتهاكات لحقوق الإنسان. واستمر التعذيب يُمارس بموافقة السلطات ويُستخدم على نحو منتظم حتى سبتمبر/أيلول، عندما قررت المحكمة العليا أن هذه الوسائل المتبعة في الاستجواب تخالف القانون. ومع هذا، مازالت الأنباء ترد عن تعرض الفلسطينيين للضرب وغيره من ضروب سوء المعاملة عند نقاط التفتيش. وقد أُعدم ثمانية من المدنيين الفلسطينيين خارج نطاق القضاء أو قتلوا نتيجة الإفراط في استخدام القوة. ويوجد حوالي 1500 فلسطيني و29 لبنانياً قيد الاعتقال، من بينهم 16 شخصاً محتجزين كرهائن. وفي القطاع الذي تحتله إسرائيل في جنوب لبنان،0 منظمة العفو الدولية )
السيدة تراجي
تحياتي مرة أخرى لا نعادي إسرائيل إلا لمثل هذه الأعمال
ونعادي كل دولة ، نظام ، حزب ، مجموعة تمارسها
يدنا ممدودة لكل من يناضل من أجل حقوق الإنسان أياً كانت جنسيته ، ديانته ، إنتمائه
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Mustafa Mahmoud
ناذر محمد الخليفة
فاروق حامد محمد
Sidig Rahama Elnour
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست