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It seems strange that a conference whose theme is ‘dealing with diverse identities ‘ is planned to be held in Tel Aviv – unless the conference organisers believe that you best deal with diversity with bombs, shells and Apartheid walls. |
 Sign a petition to the conference organisersSend your own message to the organisers Critical Ethnic Studies and African Literature Associations endorse the Academic BoycottTwo further academic associations have followed the lead of the American Studies Association and endorsed the Academic Boycott. The CES resolution “endorses and will honor the call of Palestinian civil society for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Be it also resolved that the Critical Ethnic Studies Association supports the protected rights of students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Palestine and the state of Israel and in support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.” The ALA agreed “we are resolving to act against a state that has taken actions that have resulted in the dispersal of millions of Palestinian people around the Middle East and North Africa (including Egypt and Tunisia), that has targeted African refugees by placing them in internment camps indefinitely, and that has collaborated with authoritarian regimes in Africa, either by their work in extractive industries, or in the shipment of arms to repressive regimes. The resolution, like the long boycott of South Africa and of Southern Rhodesia, is intended to awaken the world’s conscience to a situation that must change.” French academic boycott campaign website attackedThe website of AURDIP, the French academic boycott campaign, has been attacked along with the sites of other French supporters of Palestinian rights. The campaigns have issued this statement: Several websites of the Palestine solidarity movement have been attacked by a hacker who uses the pseudonym “Ulcan” and who has claimed responsibility on the internet for a number of these attacks. The sites in question belong to Agence Média Palestine, UJFP (French Jewish Union for Peace), CCIPPP (International Civic Campaign for the Protection of the Palestinian People), AURDIP (Association of Academics for the Respect of International Law in Palestine), the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, the Collective 69 in support of the Palestinian people, and others. The attacks continue and this list is incomplete. Moreover, we have learned in an article dated July 27 on the website of the newspaper Le Parisien that the same individual or group of individuals using the same pseudonym is responsible for hacking the website of Yann Galut, Socialist deputy for the department of the Cher. Galut is known for his active opposition to the extreme right and called for participation in the demonstration, held on July 23, and organized by the “National collective for a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” While the Israeli army is perpetrating war crimes in Gaza, and while the number of victims continues to grow, those who seek to bring an end to the massacre by mobilizing public opinion, and by using the elementary democratic rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, are coming under attack. We will not be reduced to silence, and we will use all available legal means to identify and punish those responsible for this crime.
All the sites have been repaired and are now functioning normally. Student workers union branch at University of Calafornia issue open letter in support of the academic boycottThe Joint Council of the UAW 2865, a body made up of 83 elected officers who oversee the affairs of the 13,000 member-strong student-worker union at the University of California, has published an open letter that outlines their intent to support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against public institutions and corporations that profit from occupation and apartheid. This means that they will seek a full membership vote within the upcoming academic year in support of BDS. As academics, they are calliing upon members to honour the academic and cultural boycott of Israel. Palestinian trade union call for BDS actions by international trade unions as solidarity with Gaza workersThe Palestinian trade union movement, with support from with support from the Congress of South African Trade Unions and its affiliates, is unanimously calling on trade unions internationally to take immediate action to stop the Israeli massacre in Gaza and hold Israel to account for its crimes against the Palestinian people. They ask us to consider the following actions:
Gaza attack leads prominent academic to rethink his opposition to the academic boycottProfessor Martin Shaw has long been sceptical about boycotting Israel in general and the academic and cultural boycott in particular. Israel’s assault on Gaza has forced him to rethink his position. In an essay on Open Democracy ‘Boycotting Israel: the situation has changed and I have changed my mind too’. He used to believe, ‘As an academic, I valued academic discourse and although I knew that Israeli universities were implicated in injustices against Palestinians, they were also disproportionately centres of debate and even opposition.’ But now he argues, ‘A boycott of Israeli institutions is a price they will have to pay to prevent a repeat of what we have seen over the last two weeks – or worse.’ Israeli planes severely damage Islamic University of GazaThe Israeli airforce launched a massive bombing attack on the Islamic University of Gaza causing extensive damage. The Israeli military claimed that the university housed “research and development of weapon manufacturing””; this repeats the claims made in 2009 for the bombing of the university during Cast lead. This claim was investigated by the Goldstone Commission who reported that they “did not find any information about their use as a military facility or their contribution to a military effort that might have made them a legitimate target in the eyes of the Israeli armed forces.” If weapons development makes Universities legitimate targets for attack then Technion, Tel Aviv University and other Israeli Universities that celebrate their arms research may feel equally vulnerable.
Rectors of 112 Turkish Universities support call for Academic boycottThe rectors of 112 Turkish Universities, appalled by the Israeli assault on Gaza, have issued a forceful declaration of support for the Palestinian people and resolved to take all possible action in their support. Inter alia they have declared they will:
Over 1500 academics issue open letter to Israeli academics to deplore Gaza attacks-
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The Irish academic boycott campaign, Academics for Palestine, have published a new booklet ‘Academia Against Apartheid – The case for an academic boycott of Israel’. This booklet provides an up to date case for the academic boycott and provides effective rebuttals to the arguments made against the boycott. |
 Download the booklet
BRICUP sends open letter to RIBABRICUP organised an open letter to RIBA to express support for their decision to call for the bar on the Israeli architects’ association. In just a couple of days 77 signatures were collected including MPs; Peers; architects; academics; authors; musicians; actors and more.
Kingx92s College London Students’ Union endorses BDSThe students’ union of King’s College London voted to endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign at its Student General Meeting on 25 March by 348 votes to 252 The motion recalls how KCLSU took a stand against South African Apartheid in the 1980s. The motin calls for an invstigation of KCL’s links with Israel and for the College “Israel and from companies directly or indirectly supporting the Israeli occupation and apartheid policies”
BRICUP speakers win BDS debate at Leeds UniversityJonathan Rosenhead and Sue Blackwell of BRICUP debated BDS at Leeds University on 19 March against Hugh Hubbard (Leeds UNiversity) and Robert Fine (Warwick University). The motion “This house believes that UK academics should join the movement for academic boycott by refusing to engage with any Israeli academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation and abides by international law.” was supported 53:37 before the speeches and by 68:23 after the debate. Over a third of the opponents of BDS changed their minds after hearing the arguments.
UCU Scotland tells Home Secretary to bar Tsipi LivniThe 2014 Annual Congress of the University and College Union Scotland Congress (UCU Scotland) unanimouslyvoted on 28 March to condemn the planned visit by Israeli war criminal Tzipi Livni. The Israeli politician was given a rare diplomatic passport by the UK Government in 2011 specifically to protect her from the risk of arrest and prosecution for complicity in Israeli war crimes. Livni is planning to speak at a provocative Nakba Day meeting of the JNF (Jewish National Fund) at a secret central London venue on Thursday 15th May. UCU Scotland Congress called on Theresa May to refuse Livni entry to the UK. The JNF purchases land which it will then not allow Palestinians to purchase or live on. They are heavily involved in current efforts to dispossess the Bedouin of the Negev. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) votes to seek suspension of Israeli associationRIBA is the national professional organisation of British architects. Its council met on 19 March and passed a motion proposed by Angela Brady, former president of RIBA and backed by Architects and Planners for Justice for Palestinians (APJP). The motion was agreed by 23 to 16 with 10 abstentions after a heated debate. RIBA is the first UK professional association ot take action against Israel for its breaches of international law. Since the Israeli Association of United Architects (IAUA) has paid no regard to the UIA resolution 13 of 2005 and 2009, the RIBA calls on the UIA, as the international guardian of professional and ethical standards in our profession, to suspend the membership of the Israeli Association of United Architects, until it acts to resist these illegal projects, and observes international law, and the UIA Accords and Resolution 13. Resolution 13 stated: The UIA Council condemns development projects and the construction of buildings on land that has been ethnically purified or illegally appropriated, and projects based on regulations that are ethnically or culturally discriminatory, and similarly it condemns all action contravening the fourth Geneva Convention.
US campus BDS activity continues to spreadAmerican students are responding to threats to activists by intensifying BDS campaigns on more campuses. On 18 March students at Loyola, a Jesuit University in Chicago, agreed to divest from companies complicit in aiding the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. They identified Caterpillar, General Electric, Hewlitt-Packard, G4S, Raytheon, Elbit Systems, SodaStream, and Veolia. The vote at the student senate was passed nem con with 26 votes in favour and 2 abstentions; it followed a year long campaign by Loyola SJP and a petition signed by over 800 students. On the same day students at the University of Michigan started an indefinite occupation in protest at the student government’s refusal to hold a vote on divestment.
University of Windsor, Canada, faces donor threats and Islamophobic backlash after BDS voteStudents at the University of Windsor (UW) in Ontario, Canada passed a motion to support BDS by 798 to 585 votes. Like most student moves to support Palestinina rights this provoked threats and reprisals. The backlash this time had an extreme islamophobic flavour. Richard Spenser, a major donor to the university not only promised ot withdraw his funding but did so saying, ‘ I am reasonably certain that the majority, if not all, of this small percentage of the student body are of the Muslim faith, which promotes violence and hatred toward the Jews in the middle east.’ This prompts the questin of why the univesrity was prepared to accept donations from someone who so easily uses racist slurs and whether they apply due diligence before acepting donations. Barnard College Censors Students for Justice in PalestineOn Monday 10 March, to kick off End Israeli Apartheid Week, the Barnard-Columbia chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine hung up a banner in front of Barnard Hall, featuring a map of historical Palestine. In response, students and parents from campus organizations like Lion PAC and Columbia Barnard Hillel immediately began a concerted email campaign, demanding the sign be removed because of its “anti-Semitic” content. And so, despite the fact that SJP obtained official permission to put up the banner, even explaining the message of their sign beforehand, Barnard President Debora Spar made the decision to tear down the banner the next morning. Haim Brasheeth and Ghada Kharmi speak on the academic boycott on Irish radioHaim Brasheeth and Ghada Kharmi of BRICUP were interviewed on Irish radio about the academic boycott. Boston students fighting back against ban on campus Palestine groupBoston’s Northeastern University has suspended the on-campus Students for Justice in Palestine and launched police investigations into students. The administration also threatened two students with suspension or expulsion for distributing mock eviction leaflets on campus, a popular direct action many Palestine solidarity groups undertake during the annual Israeli Apartheid Week of events. The two SJP members who were threatened with expulsion-level charges are the only women of color in the group that distributed the leaflets. Students say the explicit threats of expulsion of the two women has apparently been rescinded due to the outpouring of pressure by SJP activists and supporters of free speech around the country.
National University of Galway (Ireland) Students’ Union votes to support BDSA powerful BDS motion has been passed by NUI Galway Students’ Union by a 2:1 majority in a poll which recorded over 3000 votes. Fionnghuala Nic Roibeaird, Auditor of the NUIG PSS, said in a statement: “This is a landmark victory in Ireland for the growing international campaign to boycott Israel until it complies with international law and ends its illegal occupation of Palestine, and no doubt NUIG SU is just the first of many SUs in Ireland to endorse such a campaign.” Leading US Scholars condemn censorship and intimidation of Israel criticsProfessors Judith Butler and Rashid Khalidi co-authored a statement objecting to increased incidents of censorship and intimidation in academic and cultural institutions for the purposes of imposing illegitimate limitations on freedom of expression relating to Israel and Palestine. Subsequently their statement has bene endorsed by over 150 academics from many countries. Appeal to support Jake Lynch’s defence against Shurat HaDinBRICUP has offered its full support to Australian Academic Jake Lynch who is under attack from aggressive Israeli lawyers Shurat HaDin who have also been targetting Oxfam. Jake has issued an appeal to help with his mounting legal costs.
Kent University Students Union kicks out G4SThe student union at the University of Kent at Canterbury is to terminate its contract with G4S following an “outcry” over its role in human rights abuses in Palestine, South Africa, the UK and other countries. Israelis ‘not Zionist enough’ for Oxford Israel SocietyThe university’s Israeli students have left the Israel Society in the hands of a group of determined British Jews, saying the organization doesn’t realize that not every Israeli supports the Israeli government. They suggest the society rename itself the ‘Netanyahu Support Society’.
New York State Senate launches attack on ASA over boycottThe orchestrated attack on the American Studies Association following its boycott decision has intensified. NY State Senate voted by 56-4 to bar spending taxpayer funds on academic groups that support boycotting Israel. The move is likely to be ineffective. It is opoen to challenge on Fist Ammendment free speech grounds. Further it exempts boycotts that target “unlawful discriminatory practices” – exactly the focus of ASA’s action.
US Native American and Indigenous Studies Association joins academic boycottThe council of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) declares its support for the boycott of Israeli academic institutions…NAISA is dedicated to free academic inquiry about, with, and by Indigenous communities. The NAISA Council protests the infringement of the academic freedom of Indigenous Palestinian academics and intellectuals in the Occupied Territories and Israel who are denied fundamental freedoms of movement, expression, and assembly, which we uphold. Academic delegation to Palestine interrogated for 10 hours at Allenby BridgeOn January 12, 2014, a delegation of six academics and a labor activist traveled from Jordan to Palestine through the Israeli checkpoint. The delegation is led by Professor Rabab Abdulhadi of San Francisco State University and is meeting with Palestinian academics to better understand conditions on the ground and to facilitate future collaborations. Four members of the delegation, including Abdulhadi and Professor Junaid Rana of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, were held at the checkpoint and interrogated by Israeli security, the Ministry of the Interior, and the military, for over ten hours. NYU academic trade union backs free debate on academic boycottNYU chapter of American Association of University Professors has denounced the McCarthy like attacks on ASA decison on academic boycott. The members of the AAUP chapter at NYU hold a variety of views about the efficacy of academic boycotts. In recognition of that range of opinion, we do not support President Sexton’s condemnation of the American Studies Association’s resolution to boycott Israeli universities. Faculty have a right to express their own opinions, in whatever form, about the suppression of freedoms among academics overseas, and a boycott of institutions is a legitimate exercise of that right. University presidents who unilaterally issue statements that do not reflect the diversity of opinion among their faculty are overstepping their office. However, we do agree with the NYU administration’s response to the proposed legislation in the New York State Assembly. The bill (A.8392) is a clear and present threat to basic academic freedoms, not in the Middle East but here in New York State. Elected officials are seeking to use their fiscal powers to limit the range of academic expression simply because they disagree with its content. Passing this legislation would set a very dangerous precedent, reminiscent, for many of us, of the loyalty oaths of the McCarthy era. US Modern Languages Association condemns restrictions on Palestinian academics’ travelThe Modern Language Association’s Delegate Assembly approved a resolution on 11 January urging the U.S. State Department to express concern over what the measure calls restrictions on scholars’ ability to travel to Israel and the West Bank to work at Palestinian universities. Israel Academic Monitor, a leading anti-BDS group commented, “Whatever the final outcome, the academic boycott has achieved its main goal, to keep the Palestinian issue in the headlines.”
Call to Boycott Israeli Cinema and TV Studies Conference at Tel Aviv UniversityBRICUP along with our colleagues in the USA (USACBI) and France (AURDIP) have issued a call to boycott the Cinema and TV conference planned for June 2014 at TAU. This boycott call follows on recent decisions by a growing number of international scholars and academic organizations and institutions to boycott Israeli institutions in protest of the US-supported Israeli occupation of Palestine, settlement expansion, the Israeli Wall, and other violations of international law. Nearly 40 international film/media scholars, practitioners, and professionals as well as other noted intellectuals, artists, and activists have signed a letter endorsing a boycott of an Assistant Professor position opening in Cinema/Visual Culture at Hebrew University. Take action: End EU support for Israel’s arms companiesThe EU’s research programme does not only support Israel’s arms industry indirectly by funding military and security related projects at Israeli universities. It also directly funds Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries and other leading Israeli weapons manufacturers. War on Want is seeking signatures to an open leter to EU commissioners Catherine Ashton and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn demanding that Israeli arms companies be excluded from Horizon 2020, the next round of EU research funding.
American Studies Association members vote 2 to 1 to support the academic boycottThe members of the American Studies Association have endorsed the Association’s participation in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. In an election that attracted 1252 voters, the largest number of participants in the organization’s history, 66.05% of voters endorsed the resolution, while 30.5% of voters voted no and 3.43% abstained. The resolution is in solidarity with scholars and students deprived of their academic freedom and it aspires to enlarge that freedom for all, including Palestinians. The ASA’s endorsement of the academic boycott emerges from the context of US military and other support for Israel; Israel’s violation of international law and UN resolutions; the documented impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinian scholars and students; the extent to which Israeli institutions of higher education are a party to state policies that violate human rights; and finally, the support of such a resolution by a majority of ASA members.
The American Studies Association National Council votes unanimously to endorse academic boycott of IsraelIn an unprecedented step a major US academic institution has voted to support the academic boycott. One year ago, the Academic and Community Activism Caucus of the ASA asked the Executive Committee (EC) to consider a resolution to honor the call from Palestinian civil society to support the academic boycott of Israel. The EC forwarded the resolution to the National Council. Following extensive deliberative procedures the Council unanimously decided to issue and recommend to a boycott motion to its members. The American Studies Association is the oldest and largest USA association devoted to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and history; it has 5,000 individual members along with 2,200 library and other institutional subscribers.
BRICUP criticises German TU leader’s false association of BDS with Nazi boycottsMichael Sommer, head of the Confederation of German Trade Unions, used his speech acceptig the first Arno Lustiger Award to launch an attack on BDS which falsely associated the campaign with Nazi boycotts of Jews. BRICUP was invited to respond by the German news magazine Hintergrund.
2 Keynotes pull out of Hebrew University Oral History ConferenceThe camapign against the Oral History Conference at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has recevied a major boost. We are pleased to announce that the planned June 2014 “International Oral History Conference” being organized by Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been dealt a double blow with the cancellation of their two international keynote speakers: Alessandro Portelli (Italy) and Mary Marshall Clark (USA). The university’s claim to be hosting the “first international oral history conference” was unfounded when they made it; it is even less true now. Update on Shurat HaDin lawfare attack on Professor Jake LynchBRICUP has offered its full support to professor Jake Lynch and his colleagues in resisting the legal assault on them in Australia. Shurat HaDin, an Israel based ‘law’ camapigning group has now filed a case in the Australian courts.
Right-wing Christian Zionists back US plan to take over the Nazareth Academic InstituteTexas A&M University is planning to take over the Nazareth Academic Institute, Nazareth is the Israel cit ywith the larget number of Palestinian inhabitants. The take-over is backed by Christian Zionist Texas Governor Rick Perry “[Christians] have a clear directive to support Israel, so from my perspective it’s pretty easy. Both as an American and as a Christian, I am going to stand with Israel”. It is also backed by John Hagee, leader of the lobby group Christians United for Israel, Planting this zioinst backed project in Nazareth undermines efforts to develop a Palestinian University in Israel, a long held aspiration to build highrer education independent of the Israeli state.
Academic demand for ‘no watering down of bar on EU funding to settlements’The EU is threatening to water down its guidelines on Israeli eligibility for EU funding to the point where they would become meaningless despite calls from leading academics to maintain its stance. Following the earlier call, prominent professors, including five Fellows of the Royal Society as well as a member of the French Académie des Sciences, have written to Catherine Ashton, the EU’s head of Foreign Policy, expressing their dismay at these reports.
Over 400 European Academics tell EU ‘don’t soften setlement guidelines’BRICUP and our French counterparts AURDIP have sent a letter to Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, demanding that the EU does not soften or postpone the implementation of the EU Guidelines on Israeli Settlements. The letter gathered more that 450 signatures from Academics across the EU and are supported by almost 100 from elsewhere. The signatures were gathered in just two daysand the non-EU signatures were not sought but came from Academics outraged thet the EU might buckle to US and Israeli pressure to abandon even this mild action against illegal settlement activity.
Urgent: sign letter to tell EU to resist Israel and US pressure to drop research boycottSign by 11 September The European Union recently announced new guidelines that should prevent Israeli universities, companies and projects based in settlements from receiving EU funding. This important policy change is the result of grassroots campaigning across Europe, including a letter to the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton signed by 250 academics from across Europe last year. Israel and the US are applying pressure on the EU to drop the new guidelines, or water them down to the point where they become meaningless. ahead of negotiations on Israel’s participation in the upcoming Horizon 2020 EU research funding program starting on Thursday. John Kerry has called for the new guidelines to be dropped and a US official has claimed that there is an “openness” to this request among EU officials. The intensive round of talks between the EU and the Israeli’s about the latter’s participation in the Horizon 2020 programme opens this Thursday September 12th. The British Committee for Universities in Palestine and the Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine are organising a joint letter to be signed by academics from across Europe urging the EU to maintain its current stance. Tell the University of Manchester to abandon its partnership with TechnionThe University of Manchester has signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with Technion- Israel Institute of Technology to facilitate joint research between the two institutions. Technion is heavily implicated in researching technology for home demolitions including developing the notorious D-9 bulldozers.
Campaign to Boycott the Oral History Conference at Hebrew University of JerusalemOral historians and other academics from Palestine, Israel and elsewhere have issued a call to boycott the June 2014 ‘International Conference on Oral History’ organised by the Oral History Division of the Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The call has been signed by over 350 academics including over 70 involved in Oral History.
Defend Australian supporters of BDS from Israeli legal attackThe Israeli Law Centre (Shurat HaDin) is taking legal action against Professors Lynch and Rees but has instead lodged a complaint against Prof Jake Lynch with the Australian Human Rights Commission alleging racial discrimination and racial hatred under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 for his support of the academic boycott. BDS supporters are being invited to show their support for Jake Lynch by offering to be named as co-defendants. Academia Undermined: Israeli restrictions on foreign academics in Palestinian Higher Education InstitutionsThis report from the Right to Education Campaign focuses on the implications of Israeli restrictions on entry and residency for foreign academics wishing to serve at institutes of higher education operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. It is important to note that the term “foreign” is something of a misnomer: Israel treats all individuals without an Israeli-issued identity card [“hawiyya”] as a foreigner even if they are of Palestinian origin and even if they and/or their parents are born in Palestine. Thus “foreign” academics refers to anyone who does not hold a Palestinian identity card and must therefore enter the oPt on a foreign passport regardless of whether or not they are of Palestinian origin. “Foreign” academics or “foreign” nationals could therefore be of Palestinian origin (as is frequently the case) or have no Palestinian roots. Stephen Hawking declines invitation to attend Israeli conferenceWe understand that Professor Stephen Hawking has declined his invitation to attend the Israeli Presidential Conference Facing Tomorrow 2013, due to take place in Jerusalem on 18-20 June. This is his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there. UPDATE 8 May 1600 BDT: The statement above has been issued with the specific endorsement of Professor Hawking’s office. His staff sent us the following message on 7 May “Just spoken to Tim [Tim Holt, Acting Director of Communications for Cambridge University] and we are both in agreement with the quote – and as you say – sensible to get this out rather than a lot of differing opinions.” We have seen the letter that Professor Hawking sent to the Jerusalem organisers giving his clear reasons for not attending and are seeking his permission to release the letter but will not do so until we have his approval. We regret the misinformation being circulated about this matter. UPDATE 8 May 1900 BDT: Cambridge University re-flip flops and confirms what BRICUP has been saying is true:
They always had that knowledge (see 1600 update). We await apologies from the participants in the Hasbara storm who accused us of lying. Professor Hawking’s letter on 3 May to the conference organisers said, “I accepted the invitation to the Presidential Conference with the intention that this would not only allow me to express my opinion on the prospects for a peace settlement but also because it would allow me to lecture on the West Bank. However, I have received a number of emails from Palestinian academics. They are unanimous that I should respect the boycott. In view of this, I must withdraw from the conference. Had I attended, I would have stated my opinion that the policy of the present Israeli government is likely to lead to disaster.”
Teachers Union of Ireland calls for Academic Boycott of Israel in unanimous vote; first academic union in Europe to do soAt its Annual Congress, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) became the first academic union in Europe to endorse the Palestinian call for an academic boycott of Israel. The motion, which refers to Israel as an “apartheid state”, calls for “all members to cease all cultural and academic collaboration with Israel, including the exchange of scientists, students and academic personalities, as well as all cooperation in research programmes” was passed by a unanimous vote. Employment Tribunal rejects antisemitism case aganst UCU as misuse of legal processRonnie Fraser, a Zionist member of UCU (University and College Union), with the support of leaders of the UK Jewish establishment attempted to sue his Union for antisemitism. In an unusually robust judgement the tribunal found the case “an impermissible attempt to achieve a political end by litigious means” and a case which showed a “worrying disregard for pluralism, tolerance and freedom of expression”. The points made by leading lawyer Anthony Julius were dismissed as “palpably groundless”, “obviously hopeless” and “devoid of any merit”. This is another example of the use of the courts in a lawfare campaign to silence criticism of the policies of Israel and support for Palestinian Rights.
Netanyahu attacks academic freedom – againFollowing on the Israeli Government’s attempt to close down the politics department at Ben Gurion University because its research does not follow the Government line Netanyahu bars distinguished academic Prof. Rivka Feldhay from a meeting with Chancellor Merkel.
Academic Boycott debated at The World Social Forum – Free PalestineBRICUP played an active role in ensuring that teh Academic boycott was full discused at the WSF-Free Palestine in Porto Alegre, Brazil, November 28-December 1, 2012. The event was successful in energizing a cadre of Brazilian students to vcampaign ot extend Academic Boycott activities to Latin America.
BRICUP tells Stevie Wonder don’t play for Apartheid IDFStevie Wonder was one of the staunchest opponents of Apartheid South Africa. He has caused great pain to many of his fans worldwide by his decision to play in a benefit for the ‘Friends of the Israeli Defence Force’ in LA on 6 December. Not only is Israel imposing its own apartheid system on its Palestinian inhabitants, last week it announced plans for a segregated apartheid bus service, but it was the last best friend of white South Africa. Press report that Stevie Wonder has cancelled his appearance BRICUP has issued an open letter appealing to him to change his mind.
Jonathan Rosenhead debates with Mordechai Kedar on Unity FMJonathan Rosenhead confronted leading Zionist Israeli academic Professor Mordechai Kedar on Birmingham’s Unity FM radio on 23 November. Jonathan Rosenhead convincingly dismissed the thin and contradictory arguments put forward by Kedar to excuse Israel’s attack on Gaza. Alice Walker and Roger Waters call on Carnegie Hall to cancel Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performanceCultural workers and social justice leaders have called on New York’s Carnegie Hall to cancel this week’s performance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and respect the Palestinian-led boycott. Adalah-NY posted an open letter, which has been signed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and social justice activist Alice Walker, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Palestinian American poet and activist Remi Kanazi, and dozens of others.
Interrogating Israel Studies in the Academy: A Call for ActionPACBI have produced an action plan to carry forward on a global basis BRICUP’s work in opposing Hasbara studies in UK universities. ‘Don’t dance with Israeli apartheid’: BRICUP sends open letter to Batsheva Dance CompanyBatsheva, the leading Israeli Dance company attracted protest and disruption when they performed at the Edinburgh International Festival. BRICUP have followed up that protest with an open letter demanding they cancel the rest of their UK tour unless they ‘at least decline Ministry of Foreign Affairs funding, and state publicly that Batsheva will not be used to cover up the Occupation’.
Over 600 academics protest at the closure of Ben Gurion Uni Politics DepartmentOver 600 academics from across the globe have signed a petition to the Israeli Council of Higher Education (CHE) calling on them not to close the Department of Politics and Government of Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), despite evidence form their own enquiry of the high academic standing of the department. The attack on BGU politics department is part of the campaign by the Israeli government to silence any critical voices in Israeli Universities and elsewhere.
Gabi Baramki (1929-2012) Passionate Palestinian academic and boycott supporterBRICUP is saddened to learn of the death of Gabi Baramki but joins with all his friends in celebrating his life and achievements. Boycott supporters disrupt Batsheva Dance Company at Edinburgh FestivalBatsheva, an Israeli Government supported dance company were invited to appear at the Edinbugh International Festival. A widely supported, including leading Scottish cultural figures like Liz Lochhead and Iain Banks, letter of protest was sent to the Festival organisers but they did not withdraw the invitation. The Edinburgh City Guide review said: “The EIF has a duty, to its audience and performers, to behave in a responsible fashion. It is questionable whether inviting a company that is hailed by the Israeli Foreign Ministry as Israel’s, ‘best global ambassadors’, at this particular moment in time, is a responsible act. This performance never had a hope of running smoothly, leaving both audience and artists vulnerable and with a rather nasty taste in the mouth. The audience were ushered out of the emergency exit doors with the chants from protesters, still outside the building, of ‘Your tickets were covered in Palestinian blood’ ringing in our ears. This was not one of the Edinburgh International Festival’s finest moments.”
BRICUP calls on the Organizers at York St John University: quit HUJ projectBRICUP has urged the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at York St John University to cancel its proposed joint conference with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) on ‘Mediating Peace: Reconciliation through Art, Music and Film’, in Jerusalem in November 2012, and to end its association until the HUJ ends its complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine and its human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. 250 European academics tell the EU ‘end involvement of Israeli arms companies in EU research programs’Over 250 academics from 14 European countries have written an open letter to Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science to tell her to stop aiding the Israeli arms industry through the EU research programme. The signatories, include Gérard Toulouse, a member of the French Academy of Science, Malcolm Levitt, a member of the UK Royal Society, and renowned philosopher Slavjoj Zizek. They point out that the involvement of Israeli companies that help Israel violate international law in EU funded research programs “undermines both the reputation of these programs and the stated goals of the European Union and its member states”.
BRICUP tells British Council ‘Don’t break international law’The British Council is sponsoring first ever Israeli Film and Television Festival in London’s cinemas in June. They are compunding their support of Apartheid culture by failing to object to ‘a special tasting by Golan Wines’ before many of the screenings. Golan wines come from he illegally annexed Golan Heights and are an illegal product under international law.
Palestine rights supporters protest at Habima’s performance at Shakespeare’s GlobePalestinian rights supporters held a lively protest outside the Globe Theatre on 28 May to codemn the Globe’s invitation to Habima Israel’s National Theatre. Inside activists, disgusted at Habima’s decison to support the illegal occupation by performing in settlements, silently held up banners and were seized and thrown out.
Sir Simon Rattle and Placido Domingo ignore the Palestinians and hold on to the cashBRICUP wote to Sir Simon Ratle and Placido Domingo asking them to refuse to go to Israel to receive the $100,000 Wolf Prize. Sadly they went and took the cheque and the box of chocolates; bouquet of roses and diploma that went with it. They did not even take the opportunity, which previoius recipients had, to use the ceremony as a chance to denounce Israel’s crimes or donate the prize money to Palestinain organisations. Then they could have kept the chocolates, roses and diploma and also kept some of their integrity, but times must be tough for global musical super stars and they needed the money more. Hasbara posts in Israel Studies threaten academic integritySince 2009 several UK universities have created posts in Israel Studies, all funded by external donors with histories of uncritical support for Israel. Some explicitly promote political aims, especially by diverting attention from Israel’s occupation of Palestine. Such efforts threaten academic integrity and freedom. Bricup has prepared a briefing document to provide guidance about the threat and about strategies for local campaigns of opposition. Please send further information and comments for future development of the briefing document or requests to support local campaigns via endorsement or practical assistance to blockhasbarastudies@bricup.org.uk Artists record videos to explain why Habima should not come to the GlobeTheatrical artists have been recording vidoes to explain their call to Shakespeare’s Globe to cancel their invitation to Israel’s national Habima Theatre.
Tell the Red Hot Chili Peppers: drop your Israel tripUS, Palestinian, Israeli, Turkish and Lebanese organizations have made requests for the Chili Peppers to not cross the international picket line and respect the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. We will continue to bring to light the injustices that Palestinians face as a result of Occupation and apartheid policies and show why BDS is a moral action for artists – including the Red Hot Chilli Peppers – to take. AS Tal Shipiro from Boycott from Within said “[We must] make sure that no artist can say they didn’t know. Not about the atrocities of the apartheid state and its brutal occupation, and not about the movement to boycott, divest and sanction it.” University of Haifa gives in to right wing pressure and cancels Nakba Day event at last minuteFollowing right wing pressure The University of Haifa rescinded permission for a student-organized Nakba Day event, just three hours before the event was to have taken place. The university’s president, Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, announced the cancelation even after organizers received permits from all relevant bodies. The Hadash students’ organization released a statement saying, “Our feeling is that little by little we are returning to the period of military rule, and from the most unexpected place – academia.” Boycott the boycott violators at the International Writer’s Festival in JerusalemThe General Union of Palestinian Writers salutes international writers who are boycotting the Mishkenot Sha’ananim festival and condemns in the strongest terms the participation of writers whose names were announced by the festival organizers as participants. The Union calls on Palestinian intellectuals and cultural workers, writers, novelists, academics and journalists to boycott the festival and not to meet with its participants who are not welcome [among us] as they have shamed themselves. The organisers of the festival demanded opening speakers must show their speeches to management in advance – in an effort to avoid a repeat of a 2010 speech that criticized Israel. Another example of how Israeli organisations complain, inaccurately, that BDS is censorship while stamping on free speech themselves.
New York University faculty and staff call for pension fund divestmentOver 200 NYU faculty and staff have signed a letter calling on TIAA-CREF, the pension provider for the university to divest from Caterpillar, Elbit Systems, Motorola, Veolia, and Northrop Grumman and other firms that profit from Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. The letter was drafted by NYU Students for Justice in Palestine. It describes Caterpillar’s role in home demolitions; Elbit’s manufacture of drones used in extra-judicial killings; Motorola’s role in is equipping aparteheid wall checkpoints; Veolia’s involvement in the settlement servicing light rail; and Northrop Grumman’s supply of weapons used in the Cast Lead assault on Gaza. The signatories include many senior professors of the University. Natable among them is Craig Calhoun, President of the US Social Science Research Council, who will be Director of eh London School of Economics from September. Leeds University cancels Ahava bookingAhava, the Israeli cosmetics company that steals its ingredients from Occupied Palestinian land attempted to book Leeds University’s Weetwood Hall for a promotional event. A campaign by Leeds students and staff and Leeds PSC put pressure on the vice-chancellor and the booking has been cancelled. Leading actors and directors denounce Globe invitation to HabimaThe protest against the Globe Theatre’s invitation to Habima, Israel’s National Theatre, to perform at this summer’s international Olympic Shaespeare festival has gained heavywieight support. Leading actors and directors including David Calder, Trevor Griffiths, Jonathan Miller, Mark Rylance, Emma Thompson and Harriet Walter signed an open letter published in the Guardian on 30 March.
Italian activists denounce ‘Brand Israel’ at Cartoons Festival of RomeItalian activists demanded and were granted the opportunity to to speak prior to the presentation by Hanan Kaminski, director of the school of animation of the Bezalel Academy of Jerusalem. The BDS activists informed the audience that the participation of Bezalel, with the sponsorship and financial support of the Israeli Embassy in Italy, represents one of many attempts by Israel to use culture to rebrand its image and divert attention from policies of occupation, colonialism and apartheid. In 2005, Nissim Ben-Sheetrit of Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated: “We see culture as a propaganda tool of the first rank, and we do not differentiate between propaganda and culture.” The standard Israeli sponsorship contract states: “The service provider [or in English, the artist] is aware that the purpose of ordering services from him is to promote the policy interests of the State of Israel via culture and art, including contributing to creating a positive image for Israel.
‘Respected’ Israeli Universities offer courses in lying for IsraelHaifa and Tel Aviv Universities are offering course in hasbara for Israeli and International students respectively. Hasbara is the name Israelis give to propaganda and disinformation in defence of Israel and the Occupation. While many courses in many universities worldwide can be accused of bias these ae unusual in overtly teaching the skills of distortion and lying. Trainers on the courses include: Mark Regev, famous worldwide for defending the indefensible and saying what is convenient rather than what is accurate; and Neil Lazarus who promoted a video falsely claiming tha tteh Gaza Flotilla was homophobic. The Tel Aviv course is supported by Stand with Us an extremist pro-Israel US group associated with Islamophobic funders. This is yet more evidence of why Israeli Universities should be boycotted: they do not promote the values of disinterested enquiry expected of any university. Activists call on Cambridge University Chamber Choir to cancel their tour of IsraelActivists in Cambridge are urging the Cambridge University Chamber Choir under the direction of Tim Brown to cancel their tour of Israel performing Bach’s St Matthew Passion from 20-27 March. They are acting In keeping with the call by Palestinian NGOs for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel Lacking the names of the Choir members, the Cambridge activists sent their letter to its director, administrator and secretary, as well as to officials of the Cambridge University Musical Society. To our knowledge they have not fulfilled this request to forward it to the individual members. Bricup are pleased to post hteir letter on our site to enable dialogue with Choir members. The Israeli Camerata site names the singers as the ‘Academy of English Voices’, but the CU Musical Society has confirmed that members of the CU Chamber Choir will indeed be touring.
How a US academic challenged Pinkwashing in the New York TimesSarah Schulman described a the Penn BDS conference the hurdles she had to cross to get the New York Time to publish her article on Pinkwashing and how the paper published a response by the Israeli Embassy with no fact-checking at all.
Read about Leonard Cohen Summary of the Cultural Boycott of Israel in 2011The year 2011 was a year full of many successes in the campaign for the cultural boycott of Israel. This summary will focus on the cultural boycott with emphasis on musical artists and groups. The fall of South African apartheid was preceded by many musical artists who joined to create a movement. That movement became known popularly as “I’m not gonna play Sun City.” Israel has not yet seen its Sun City moment fully, but as you’ll see, significant rumblings are beginning. Sign open letter to protest at denial of tenure to Terri Ginsberg for showing Palestinian filmTerri Ginsberg, a teacher at North Carolina State University was blocked form gaining tenure following her screening a Palestinian film, Ticket to Jerusalem. Senior faculty stated that Dr. Ginsberg’s comments caused them to worry that members of the audience would perceive the Film Studies and Middle East Studies programs as “biased.” Shortly thereafter, Dr. Ginsberg was forced to resign from the Middle East screening series that she had helped curate; she also went from being the favored candidate for a tenure-track position to being denied so much as an interview. Despite this clear violation of Terri’s First Ammendment rights North Carolina courts have turned down hwer case. We usrge everyong to sign an open letter to North Carolina Supreme Court urging them to hear Terri’s appeal. BRICUP issues open letter to Christoph von Dohnányi: cancel your date with the Israel Philharmonic OrchestraGerman conductor Christoph von Dohnányi recently attracted much attention and praise for cancelling his planned appearances with the Hungarian State Opera saying he did not want to appear in a city ‘whose mayor entrusted the direction of a theatre to two known anti-Semites of the extreme right’. However von Dohnányi, who is the nephew of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, has acepted an invitation to conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in April. BRICUP is appealing to him to match his welcome opposition to anti-Semitism with equal opposition to Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
New site to support Marc Ellis in his struggle against victimisation at BaylorKen Starr (yes, that Ken Starr: Clinton’s pursuer) has taken over as President of Baylor University. He has made a priority of victimising leading critical and original Jewish thinker Marc Ellis. Marc is charged with “abuse of authority” but we are not allowed to know what this abuse consists of. Marc’s research centre has been closed and his teaching blocked.
Critical theorist Professor Jacques Rancière cancels Israel visitJacques Rancière has cancelled a planned visit to Israel, where he was to lecture at Tel Aviv University following a request from PACBI. Leading Finnish film director and academics oppose arms sale to IsraelDespite an unprecendented public outcry, Finland’s Ministry of Defense is set to go ahead with a controversial collaboration with Israeli arms companies deeply involved in Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. Finland is turning to Israel for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly known as drones. Among those insisting on a cessation of all forms of military cooperation with Israel are Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, world-renowned expert on international law Martti Koskenniemi and the most distinguished Finnish filmmaker of all time, Aki Kaurismäki. They were joined by more than forty professors, a number of Finlandia Prize winners, Finnish MEPs and MPs, stage and film directors, actors, writers and scholars. The petition encompasses an impressive and exhaustive array of the who’s who in Finnish arts, sciences and politics. Letter in The Independent calls for Natural History Museum to end links with AhavaProminent scientists and cultural commentators have signed a letter to The Independent demanding that they end their involvement in the EU funded Nanoretox project which involves Ahava. Ahava is an Israeli cosmetics company that has its headquarters in the Mitzpe Shalem illegal settlement and its products are based on Dead Sea mud illegally extracted from occupied Palestinian territory.
USACBI tell Cornell “don’t build a joint campus with Technion”Cornell University plan to collaborate with Israel’s Technion Israel Institute of Technology to build a joint campus on New York City’s Roosevelt Island, including the use of $100 million in public funds. USACBI point out ‘Technion’s role in ethnic cleansing is extensive. One of their most notorious projects led to the creation of “a remote-controlled ‘D9′ bulldozer used by the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian houses and the development of a method for detecting underground tunnels, specifically developed in order to assist the Israeli army in its continued siege on the Gaza Strip.”’
Tell Amnesty to withdraw their endorsement of Arch Enemy’s Israel gigThis campaign is suspended pending discussions between PACBI and Amnesty Unbelieveably Amnesty International is including an Israel performance in support of their “End Repression-Protect Freedom of Expression” campaign. Swedish Metal band, Arch Enemy will perform in Tel Aviv on 24 January.
Defend Dr. David Klein’s academic freedom: support for BDS is not anti-Semitic it is pro-justiceDr. David Klein, professor of mathematics at California State University – Northridge, has been attacked for hosting a website supporting the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions. These attacks have falsely labeled Dr. Klein “anti-Semitic” and demanded that his website be removed. It is important to let Chancellor Charles Reed of the California State University know that Dr. Klein’s academic freedom and freedom of expression are very important and must be protected. BRICUP joins call to London’s Globe Theatre to cancel invitation to Israel’s Habima TheatreBRICUP has added its vosice to the growing campaign initiatede by Boycott from Within for the Globe Theatre to cancel its invitation to Hibima Theatre to take part in its Olympic Shakespeare festival. Habima regularly performs in Isreal’s illegal West Bank settlements and do not represent any legitimate participants ina theatrical dialogue ratjher they have interpreted thier inviatation as ‘an honour to te State of Israel’
70-year-old An-Najah University Palestinian professor is now a political prisonerThe arrest of Professor Abdel Haq, on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, aims to silence the voices of Palestinian intellectuals and academics who are struggling to expose the continuous crimes of the Zionist state and who are active on the local and international levels to build solidarity networks that struggle to end Israeli Apartheid in Palestine. Professor Abdel Haq is a lawyer and lecturer of Political Economy at An-Najah National University. New podcasts: Norman Finkelstein in London
New podcast: Rafeef Ziadah the politics behind the BDS campaignRafeef Ziadah of the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC), 15 October 2011, speaking on the politics behind the BDS campaign at the 5th Boycott Israel Network workshop (BIN5), Tell Electronic music duo Younger Brother not to play Tel AvivBenji from Younger Brother was questioned about their plans, he said, ” if I felt refusing to play in Israel would help the Palestinians I would never set foot in Israel”. BRICUP is calling on its suporters to explain to him why the cultural boycott does just that. US media moguls fight boycott of IsraelAn influential group of US entertainment industry executives has for the first time launched an organization to counter cultural boycott efforts against Israel, the likes of which contributed to Costello’s canceling of scheduled shows here last year. Creative Community For Peace (CCFP) pledges to use a wide range of measures to bolster the resolve of artists who sign contracts to perform in or travel to Israel and then face calls from various “boycott groups” to cancel their trips, BRICUP says “This is more proof of how effective the cultural boycott is and how we must intensify it.” Cambridge students vote to break contract with VeoliaStudents at Cambridge have voted to call on the University to cut ties with a company implicated in Israeli human rights abuses. The vote calls on CUSU (Cambridge University Students Union) to campaign to have the University cut ties with Veolia, a company involved in infrastructure projects in Israeli settlements, and employed by the University on a waste disposal contract. The referendum, which closed on 24 October, passed with a majority of 58% to 41%: there were 898 votes yes, 637 votes no, and 21 ballots spoilt. While a strong majority was in support, the referendum was inquorate: 7.2% of the student body voted, short of the 10% required. Edinburgh Students Vote to Ban G4SIn a victory for the Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) yesterday overwhelmingly passed a motion through its Student Council to block their contract with security firm G4S, and to lobby the University to follow suit. G4S currently provide security services to Edinburgh University library, which prompted Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to begin a campaign to force the University to tear up its contract with the security firm. It was then recently discovered that EUSA were also in the process of hiring the firm for money collecting services. This led to a motion quickly going before Student Council and it was clearly passed, meaning the Union’s trustee board must now look for an alternative. Special issue of Jadal on ‘Boycotting Israel: Between Theory and Practice’ publishedJadal the journal on the major political and social concerns of the Palestinians in Israel has published a special issue (issue 11) on the boycott. The issue has an editorial and five articles:
Leading musicians demand re-instatement of the LPO 4The London Philharmonic Orchestra have suspended four members of the orchestra for 9 months for writing to a newspaper asking the BBC to cancel the invitation to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to play at the 2011 proms. The four did no know of, or take part in, the demonstration inside the Royal Albert Hall which led the BBC to cancel their broadcast. The suspension followed pressure from Jewish supporters of the orchestra according to the LPO’s manager. This is a disgraceful attack on freedom of speech and on democratic non-violent political activity. There have been letters published in the Britisih newspapers from leading musicians and cultural figure. Not only in the Guardian but also, less predictably in the Daily Telegraph (scroll down)
BRICUP tells Yardbirds: cancel your Tel Aviv concertBritish Rhythm and Blues legends are planning to play at the Barby Club in Tel Aviv on 29 October. BRICUP have sent them an open letter asking them to cancel the gig and folow the example of Elvis Costello, Faithless and many others in refusing to offer support to Israel’s apartheid regime.
Boycott and Picket the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on 1 SeptemberOn 1 September the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is playing at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The IPO has a continuing record of close collaboration with the Israeli armed forces enforcing the occupation of Palestine and assaults on Gaza and has a self-proclaimed ‘partnership’ with the Israeli Defence Forces. They regularly travel to play at Army camps and outposts. The concert is part of the ‘Brand Israel’ campaign and BRICUP is collaborating with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to call for a boycott of the concert and a picket of the RAH on 1 September from 6.00 p.m.
Palestine supporters make their protest heard at Israel Philharmonic concertAbout 40 members of BRICUP, Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods and the Boycott Israel Network attended the concert and with singing and chanting continually disrupted the performance. The protestors gained global publicity (over 500 hits on Google News) and was widely reported on BBC Radio and Television. For the first time ever the BBC had to cancel a Proms broadcast because of a protest.
Knesset ‘Boycott Law’ condemned from left and rightThe Knesset passed its Boycott bill into law on July 11. BRICUP and other pro-Palestinian organisations have campaigned against the legislation during its passage through the Knesset as would be expected; it was far less predictable that a wide range of right-wing and Zionist voices have also denounced this measure as undemocratic and un-Jewish. The law will mean that anyone who organises, supports, or even provides information useful for, a boycott of Israeli or settlement goods wil jhave to pay a fine The fine willbe paid, not to the state, but to anyone who claims they are boycotted, whether they can show there was harm done to them or not. The measure has also opened an unexpected divide between arch-advocate Foreign Minister Lieberman and more reluctant supporter Netanyahu, a split that spells serioius trouble for the right wing and ultra-right coalition that rules Israel. EPACBI – the European Platform for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel launchedThis historic development follows an inspiring meeting of academic boycott activists from nine European countries in Paris in September. Even a year ago such a meeting would have been unthinkable; this meeting demonstrates the widening and deepening of the academic and cultural boycott movement across Europe. We have marked this historic event by simultaneous publications of special editions the BRICUP and AURDIP (the French complement of BRICUP) newsletters
BRICUP sends open letter to Renee Fleming: cancel your Jerusalem concertBRICUP has asked leading American soprano Renee Fleming to cancel her planned concert in Jerusalem. She is planning to appear with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra on 28 July. The concert will be streamed live to 480 cinemas across the USA.
Lecturers at Ben Gurion University protest against “Settlements within the Green Line”Lecturers at Ben Gurion University, at Be’er Sheva in the Negev, have protested against the University inviting Ayalim to speak to their students. Ayalim has established 14 Jews only student villages, many in the few mixed areas in Israel such as Acre and Be’er Sheva, promoting ‘internal settlement’ and displacing Palestinians. The Director of Ayalim said ““this is a Zionist association that views settling the Negev and the Galilee as essential challenges and the mission of the country’s young generation.”
August Burns Red Have Cancelled Their Planned Concert in IsraelAugust Burns Red, a phenomenally popular Christian metalcore band, has just cancelled their June 9 concert in Israel. “They have no plans to reschedule,” says a reliable source that must remain anonymous. They cancelled because they do not want to play in Israel. Free software campaigner Richard Stallman cancels Israel lecturesThe American software freedom activist Richard Stallman has cancelled a lecture that he was scheduled to give at Tel Aviv University due to pressure from the Palestinian Authority. The funding for his trip came from the Palestinians who invited him to lecture for them, Stallman wrote in a letter explaining the cancellation. He said that they were not pleased that he had been scheduled to lecture at Israeli universities as well, and so withheld funding for his trip. Community Trade Union rejects motion supporting IsraelCommunity Trade Union (a merger of the old steelworkers and knitwear unions) has been a loyal supporter of Israel on the sayso of its General Secretary. When the members finally got to have asay at its recent conference they comprehensively rejected the leadership’s motion. BRICUP tells Paul Simon – cancel your Israel tourBRICUP has issued an open letter to Paul Simon demanding that he cancels his Israel tour. BRICUP asked him: “Are you willing to ‘lend a shoulder’ to daily land-grabs and watergrabs and the inexorable squeezing and stifling of Palestinian lives and hopes? Are you willing to ‘lend a shoulder’ to illegal settlements and illegal military checkpoints, to detention without trial, torture in prison, and the innumerable daily cruelties, small and large, aimed at making Palestinian existence intolerable and driving people out?”
Cancel your concerts: get on the boat – new John Grayson videoCanadian fil maker John Grayson who will be on the Gaza Flotilla has produced a scintillating new video, Gaza Island calling on artists to cancel their planned Israel concerts and, istead, join or support the UK trade union delegation to Palestine endorses BDS callA delegation of senior British trade unionist who visited Palestine in April 2011 have issued a statement deploring the attacks on Palestinian rights that they witnessed includng the spread of illegal settlements; forced evictions; arbitrary detentions; and attacks on civil society organisations. They called on the the TUC to ” re-emphasise its support for the BDS position by writing to all national centres – including Histradut and the PGFTU – with a copy of the 2010 motion. The TUC should call again on all its affiliates and allies to maximise their efforts in pursuit of establishing a pro-BDS position in the European and Global Union Federations. The TUC should also raise the issue with the European TUC by calling on it to support the international BDS campaign and pressing the EU institutions to end the EU-Israel regime of trade privileges until the situation is resolved.” University and College Union congress opposes use of EUMC mis-definition of anti-Semitism and reaffirms support for BoycottUCU at its 2011 annual congress overwhelmingly passed a series of motions on Palestine. The motions covered:
While the movers of the motions expected hostile criticism from supporters of Israel they did not anticipate the firestorm of abuse levelled at them and thier union for their attitude to the EUMC definition. There was a concerted campagn to denounce UCU as anti-semitic because of their refusal to apply a definition that mad emakes attitudes to Israel a central defining trope of anti-Semitism rather than attitudes to Jews, The Board of Deputies even sent a letter to the heads of all Universities which contained serious distortions of events in the union over 4 years and asking Universities to derecognise UCU. Richard Kuper and Tony Lerman posted thoughtful analyses of the EUMC definition and why the official Jewish leadership were seriously in error. Both postings attracted vituperative personal attacks in response. University and College Union reaffirms its support for BDSThe General Secretary and the President of UCU has written to all branches reminding them of the Union’s support for BDS. The circular states:
Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS) launchedIn commemoration of the first of May – a day of workers struggle and international solidarity – the first Palestinian trade union conference for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel (BDS) was held in Ramallah on 30 April 2011, organized by almost the entirety of the Palestinian trade union movement, including federations, professional unions, and trade union blocks representing the entire spectrum of Palestinian political parties. The conference marked a historic event: the formation of the Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS) as the largest coalition of the Palestinian trade union movement. PTUC-BDS will provide the most representative Palestinian reference for international trade unions, promoting their support for and endorsement of the BDS Call, launched by Palestinian civil society in 2005, guided by the guidelines and principles adopted by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), of which PTUC-BDS has become a key component. City University of New York bows to Zionist pressure and denies honorary degree to Tony KushnerIn an appalling case of political censorship CUNY trustees withdrew their planned offer to award an honorary degree to leading Jewish dramatist Tony Kushner because of his criticisms of Israel.
Campaigners withdraw threat to picket SOAS Israeli Music conference after organisers confirm “No Israeli funding”Organisers of a conference on Israeli music to be held at SOAS in London have broken links with hte israeli embassy and funders after pressure from BRICUP nad other groups. Original publicity material for the conference had acknowledged support from the Israeli Embassy, London, and the British Israeli Arts Training Scheme (BI ARTS), “a British Council initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture and Sport in Israel”. The British Friends of the Hebrew University was also mentioned. Following pressure the organisers confirmed that there would be no funding directly or indirectly from the Israeli Government or institutions. Subsequently all reference to the Israeli-related organisations was removed from the conference’s online publicity materials.
160 leading scholars Oppose suppression of free speech about Palestine at the Ecole Normale SupérieureThe Director of the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, Monique Canto-Sperber, first banned a talk by Stéphane Hessel and then refused to allow the Colléctif Palestine ENS to hold a meeting on campus; a denial of the rights of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Hessel is 93, a former ENS student, member of the Resistance, survivor of Buchenwald, one of the authors of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and of the recent best-selling Indignez-vous!/Time for Outrage, in which he (among other things) criticizes Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. ENS is one of Europe’s leading academic institutions: the home of many distinguished thinkers from Pasteur to Beckett, Sartre and Bordieu. University of Johannesburg has effectively severed ties with Israel’s Ben-Gurion UniversityAcademics at South Africa’s Johannesburg University have succeeded in their campign to get UJ to break all ties with BGU. They attracted both worlwide support from supporters of Palestinian rights and a vicious campaign from pro-Israel lobbyists. University of Johannesburg (UJ) has effectively severed ties with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University (BGU). The principled stand of UJ stands in stark contrast to Bob Geldof’s shameful acceptance of a doctorate from BGU.
Ran Greenstein of the University of the Witwatersrand has written an interesting article following the UJ campaign, “Reflections on Academic Boycotts in the Wake of the UJ-BGU Campaign”. BRICUP believes there are interesting arguemetns in this piece but does not endorse its conclusions, a call for a selective boycott. This is not BRICUP’s practice or the nature of the PACBI call to action.
BRICUP sends open letter to Bob Geldof: don’t accept apartheid doctorateBob Geldof has disappointed many people who hava applauded his work on LiveAid. He has accepted an offer of an honaray doctorate from Ben Gurion University. BRICUP condemns this cynical move by BGU: an attempt to rescue their reputation by associating themselves with global icon. Their work in providing resaerch and training for the the Israeli Army and arms industry is what will continue to to make academics from across the world say Boycott Ben Gurion and all Israeli universities.
Video of Judith Butler talking about BDS at Toronto Israel Apartheid WeekLeading American academic talked at Israel Apartheid week drawing strong links between feminism and queer theory and the struggle for Palestinian rights. She located teh academic boycott as a key part of the support for the Palestinain struggle. The video is in five parts. COSATU joins call on University of Johannesburg to cut ties with Ben Gurion UniversityCongress of South African Trade Unions spokesperson Bongani Masuku said, “It (BGU) has consistently refused to oppose the Israeli government’s attempts to silence academics that support sanctions against Israel and so it is a much compromised institution whose reputation and credibility are in tatters.” Masuku described BGU as “a university that actively collaborates with the Israeli Defence Force in its enforcement of apartheid occupation against Palestinians, by offering special privileges and services to the army”.
Pete Seeger endorses boycott of IsraelPete Seeger, the legndary folk singer has announced that he regrets having taken part in the Arava festival in Israel and committed himself to full support of the boycott movement. He said, “I appeared on that virtual rally because for many years I’ve felt that people should talk with people they disagree with. But it ended up looking like I supported the Jewish National Fund. I misunderstood the leaders of the Arava Institute because I didn’t realize to what degree the Jewish National Fund was supporting Arava. Now that I know more, I support the BDS movement as much as I can.”
Israeli universities are quashing freedom of speechIn an article in Ha’aretz, Yitzhak Laor details the attacks on critical voices by the managers of Israel’s universities. He writes, “At universities in Israel, by contrast, this [tenure] procedure is completely lawless. The university is very sensitive to what is said about it. It receives a great deal of money, allowing its top people to maintain quite a hedonistic way of life. And so it likes quiet. And when it gets into any kind of trouble, it sends one of its two or three Nobel Prize winners to speak in the name of ‘freedom of research’ or budget increases. The time has come for somebody to put things in order.” Laor’s article prompted a vicious attack in the heretic hunting IsraelCampus.org website which includes “Now as usual when it comes to Israel’s academic fifth column, the facts are precisely the opposite. Not only was Azoulay not fired for being a leftist, it seems clear she was only hired in the first place because she was a leftist. She simply never produced any serious academic scholarly work or bona fide research, on whose basis she could have been awarded tenure. She is the wife of Tel Aviv University’s prominent extremist leftist professor of philosophy Adi Ophir. You will recall Ophir as the star of several Israel Apartheid Week events. The simple truth is that had she not been Ophir’s wife, I think there is serious doubt as to whether she ever would have been offered any academic post of any sort in Israel. At Bar-Ilan, she taught something called ‘Hermeneutics.’ I am not quite sure what that is, but I think it has something to do with neutering people named Herman.” Proclaiming your ignorance of a centuries old field of study is cavalier even for a Zionist witch hunter. Who benefits from EU-Israel academic cooperation?In an article in the Electronic Intifada journalist David Cronin explores how the Israeli occupation and Israel’y day-to-day oppression of its own plaestinian cizens is bolstered by the EU’s collaboration. Tear down this Israeli wall: Roger Waters Endorses BDSRoger Waters of Pink Floyd told the Guardian, “I want the music industry to support Palestinians’ rights and oppose this inhumane barrier … “I was contracted to perform in Tel Aviv. Palestinians from a movement advocating an academic and cultural boycott of Israel urged me to reconsider. I had already spoken out against the wall, but I was unsure whether a cultural boycott was the right way to go. “The Palestinian advocates of a boycott asked that I visit the occupied Palestinian territory to see the wall for myself before I made up my mind. I agreed. “Under the protection of the United Nations I visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that day. The wall is an appalling edifice to behold. It is policed by young Israeli soldiers who treated me, a casual observer from another world, with disdainful aggression.”
BRICUP calls upon the Coen Brothers: Show True Grit; do not accept the Dan David Prize – Do not normalise apartheidBRICUP has published an open letter to filmakers Joel and Ethan Coen calling on them not to visit Israel to acept the Dan David Prize, awarded jointly by the Dan David Foundation and Tel Aviv University. We are informing them that if they do they normalise oppression and disposession.
University of Ottawa to debate freezing law exchange programme with HaifaOn 7 March the University of Ottawa will debate freezing their Joint Masters in Laws (LL.M) exchange program withe University of Haifaand the application process put on hold until the a number of actions have been carried out by the Senate. The actions include requiring the adoption of affirmative action which guarantees that applications be selected in such a way that the percentage of Palestinian students accepted into the exchange program at the University of Haifa be equal to or greater than the percentage of Palestinian people living in Israel. Israel plans law to harass boycott activistsOn 8 March the full Knesset gave a first reading to a slighly amended bill by 32 votes to 12. As Ha’aretz notes, “It explicitly includes boycotts that affect the West Bank, such as boycotts of goods and services originating in the Jewish settlements there.” On 15 February a Knesset committee approved on second and third readings a bill combating boycotts against Israel – another hysterical proposal by the right wing and Kadima MK Dalia Itzik designed to protect ‘our weak and tiny country, which is being attacked from within and without’. “This law,” explain the architects of the proposal, “is designed to protect the State of Israel in general and its citizens in particular from academic, economic and other boycotts that are imposed on the country, its citizens and corporations, due to their connection to the State of Israel.” The law is designed to protect “the area under Israeli control, including Judea and Samaria.” Violators of the law can be sued for damages of up to NIS 30,000 (€6,000) without any need for evidence that injury was caused to the boycotted or potentially boycotted party/ies.
Israeli activists urge international artists to boycott Eilat music festivalThe festival, which is expected to draw many musicians from Europe, will take place in the Red Sea resort is planned for March 17-26. In an email to the members of the international orchestra iPalpiti, the activists listed several prominent people who have boycotted Israel, such as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, director Ken Loach and guitarist John Williams. The 15 people who signed the letter – who include the linguist Prof. Rachel Giora, Shir Hever and Yonatan Pollack – argued that if the festival takes place as planned, it will help Israel present an image of normalcy. They also pointed out that the event is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bank Hapoalim.
Israeli university denies lecturer promotion for being ‘too leftist’ and refuses tenure to anotherBar-Ilan University’s committee for tenure and appointments last month declined to discuss the promotion of a senior lecturer in political science who is known to be active in various left-wing organizations. The university also rejected an appeal submitted by Dr. Ariella Azoulay, a philosophy instructor also known for her leftists political views, against the decision to deny her tenure and a promotion.
Why Faithless are giving Israel a missGuitarist Dave Randall of Faithless gave an interview to the South african Mail and Guardian explaining why Faithless is boycotting Israel. He says, “Some of the views expressed were that our fans were from the more progressive part of larger society. But, no matter how progressive your fans are, a concert on that scale goes beyond those people. You are in effect saying it’s quite acceptable for business to continue as usual, which it is not.”
Video call to Justin Bieber – cancel your Tel Aviv visit
This video is by Canadian film maker John Grayson BDS Bieber is a video parody of Justin’s #1 youtube hit song ‘Baby’ which calls on him to honour the boycott call of Palestinian civil society and cancel his planned April concert in Tel Aviv. (Despite efforts of the pro-Israel lobby to censor this video, it’s still available on youtube thanks to the fair use/fair comment provision of copyright law which protect parody.) British academic and ‘Jewish community leader’ calls for the victimisation of Israeli academics
Prof. Stuart Stanton of St George’s Hospital Medical School and ‘Jewish community leader’, chairman of Hadassah UK, has called for the sacking of Tel Aviv University academics supporting the boycott. He has written to TAU rector Prof. Aron Shai and president Prof. Yossi Klafter demanding he sack Anat Matar and Rachel Giora. Professor Stanton believes academic freedom is the freedom to speak in suport of the powerful and silence their outrage at the denial of human rights. This is not a vision of academic freedom that BRICUP recognises and is why we call for an institutional boycott of Israeli Universities not the boycott of individuals. Knesset discusses ways to pressure performers not to cancel concerts in IsraelMore proof that the worldwide cultural boycott camapign is getting Israel worried. Their response: indemnify the promoters and step up thier propaganda campaign. They want to white wash oppression and discrimination, not end it. Apartheid plus pretty pictures is still apartheid. Our response: step up the campaign Brooklyn College teacher rehired after defeat of Zionist campaign to sack himMuzzlewatch reported Kahane-supporter NY State Assemblyman Dov Hikind’s successful effort to get Brooklyn College to fire adjunct Middle East Studies professor Kristofer Petersen-Overton because a student didn’t like the syllabus for his course. Hikind also glanced at a sophisticated academic paper on Palestinian identity and decided that Petersen-Overton was somehow in favor of suicide bombers. This absurd charge was picked up by the right-wing echo chamber. Astonishingly, Brooklyn College administrators acquiesced and fired the young academic while clearly lying about it- they said he lacked proper credentials.
Quasthoff cancels Israel visit citing ‘illness’ following BRICUP led campaignThomas Quasthoff has cancelled his planned concerts in Israel citing ‘illness’. This follows a campaign initiated by BRICUP to persuade him not to go. The camapign attracted support from all round the world from leading musicians as well as from activists and solidarity groups.
Israeli Teachers say: Racism in schools a “deep phenomenon”One teacher reported to YNet how an outstanding, well-informed pupil wrote “Death to the Arabs” in response to a test question in civics. In another case, a pupil stood up in class and declared “My dream is to be a volunteer with the Border Guards so that I can spray Arabs to death”. His classmates applauded him loudly. Other instances included graffiti on school walls and desks, with statements like “Kahane was right”; “A good Arab is a dead Arab”; and hate slogans against ultra-orthodox Jews and asylum seekers in Israel. Israelis shower Macy Gray with racist abuse AFTER she decides to tour IsraelLeading US soul singer Macy Gray ignored worldwide requests to cancel her planned trip to Israel, although she did voice some criticism of Israeli policy. This was not good enpough for the rabid dogs of Zionism who filled the comment columns of Ynet with foul abuse, including (apologies for reproducing this language but it is, on htis ocassion unavoidable:
BWISP letter to Ian McEwan published in Guardian: do not accept the Jerusalem prizeBRICUP has supported a letter an open letter to leading author Ian McEwan organised by British Writers in Support of Palestine and published in the Guardian. The letter signed by John Berger, China Mixe9ville and others says ” We deeply regret the decision of Ian McEwan to accept this corrupt and cynical honour (I will accept Jerusalem prize, says McEwan, 20 January). McEwan believes that the Jerusalem book fair, which awards the prize, represents a blameless civil society. In fact, the fair is organised by the Jerusalem municipality, a key institution of the Israeli state and a major instrument in the illegal colonisation of East Jerusalem.”
Leading BRICUP supporter harassed by Zionists then defamed in the Jewish ChronicleProfessor Martha Mundy, one of the founders of BRICUP has been under sustained attack by the Jewish Chronicle and subjected to abuse on Harry’s Place and other Zionist hate blogs. In early December 2010, Martha chaired a meeting at LSE addressed by leading Arab journalist Abdel Bari Atwan following which a mendacious and defamatory press release was issued by the LSE Israel Society accusing her of complicity in criminal verbal attacks on Jews. While these charges have been comprehensively dismissed by the management of LSE after exhaustive enquiry, the attacks on Martha have accelerated. Following a debate on the Academic Boycott at LSE on 13 January, sponsored jointly by the LSE Palestine and Israel Societies, on leaving with a student Martha was accosted and taunted that she should learn what fair chairing was, and when she reponded, they proceeded to describe the incident as threatening behaviour by Professor Mundy in an account published in the Jewish Chronicle. Following the publication Martha has received vulgar and threatening emails. BRICUP offers its full support to Martha Mundy and will assist, in any way it can, her complaint to the Jewish Chronicle about inaccurate and derogatory reporting. Martha is also receiving full support form UCU, her trade union.
American professor invited to Israel ‘humiliated’ by El Al security personnelAn American professor who was invited to a conference in Israel claims she was humiliated by Israeli security personnel at London’s Luton airport on Thursday. Professor Heather Bradshaw, who researches neuroscience at Indiana University, was at Cambridge University when she was invited to Hebrew University in Jerusalem for a conference. “Our guest arrived at Luton airport on Thursday in order to fly to Israel using [Israeli airline] El Al, and she was shocked to discover that straight away, the security personnel treated her as a terror suspect,” said Haifa University professor Arik Rimmerman who submitted a complaint to El Al in her name. Academics who visit Israel earn the contempt of their colleagues: they are treated with contempt by the Israeli security state. Boycott is the best option. Ben Gurion University bans lecturers from talking about politicsIn the past year staff of Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba have made statements critical of Israel Government policies and of actions of the Israeli military. Following this, the university decided to change its ethics code and prohibit lecturers from voicing their political opinions during classes and using the university’s name while speaking publicly about politics. A lecturer described the decision as contemptible. “In the past we were asked to mention the university’s name in order to demonstrate that its lecturers were involved in social activities and did not live in an ivory tower, whereas now the tables have turned and we are being asked to ignore the university,” he said. He further added that “this ridiculous decision will hurt the academic freedom of expression and force lecturers to speak in an implied and indirect manner instead of teaching and speaking their mind without prejudice.” Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp cancel Israel visitLeading French singer, Vanessa Paradis, has cancelled her planned 10 February concert in Tel Aviv. Although her statement refers to ‘professional imperatives’ it follows repeated demands from within Israel, France and elsewhere to boycott Israel. Paradis would have been accompanied by her partner, Hoolywood star Johnny Depp.
BRICUP joins worldwide call to Bon Jovi ‘cancel your Israel concerts’40 groups from Palestine, Israel and every continent have signed an appeal to American rock artist Bon Jovi asking him to drop Israel from his forthcomoing world tour. The have said to him “Could you possibly perform in such a state with a clear conscience? In a country in which Palestinians living just minutes away in the West Bank and Gaza will not be able to attend? Are we back to the Jim Crow South?” Three Israel Prize laureates join academics in boycott of illegal Ariel settlement university155 lecturers in Israeli universities have signed a petition calling for an academic boycott of the Ariel University Center. In the petition, the lecturers state their “unwillingness to take part in any type of academic activity taking place in the college operating in the settlement of Ariel.” Furthermore, the petition states that “Ariel is not part of the sovereign state of Israel, and therefore it is impossible to require us to appear there.” Among the signatories are three Israel Prize laureates – professors Yehoshua Kolodny of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Benjamin Isaac of Tel Aviv University and Itamar Procaccia of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Indian call to jazz musician Trilok Gurtu: boycott the Red Sea Jazz FestivalAn 80 strong group of academics, activists and artists in India have written to leading Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu urging him not to play at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eliat, Israel in January 2011. US students confront FBI attempts to stifle dissent on IsraelStudents for Justice in Palestine (US) have issued a statement signed by students at over fifty American universities condemning the abuse of grand jury subpoenas to chill the exercise of First Amendment rights by university students and anti-war activists speaking and organizing against Israel’s continued oppression of the Palestinian people. OECD urges Israel to fund new Palestinian college in NazarethA special report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has recommended the Israeli Higher Education Planning and Budgeting Committee use public funds to support the Nazareth Academic Institute, launched earlier this year. Raed Mualem, senior vice president of the Nazareth institute, told Haaretz he had approached the committee for state funding three months ago, but so far received no reply. Police swoop on T-shirt wearers in New York galleryIn response to the title of the Anselm Kiefer exhibition, Next Year In Jerusalem. and the content of the work [occupations/historical memory] a small group of artists and activists decided to view the show wearing a shirt with the words Next Year In Jerusalem in the three languages Arabic, Hebrew and English. After an intervention by the museum’s staff the police were called and they violently grabbed the visitors and threw them out of the gallery. BRICUP issues open letter to Thomas Quasthoff: cancel your Israel visitBRICUP has issued an open leter to German baritone Thomas Quasthoff calling on him to cancel his planned visit to Israel in February 2011.
BRICUP has issued a second open letter to Quasthoff demanding he cancels his visitt to Israel to play with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The letter describes the IPO’s record of support for the IDF and the occupation.
Israelis tell Leiden University – do not hold the 2010 Cleveringa Lecture at the Hebrew UniversityLeiden University had decided to host a special lecture at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University on Thursday 25/11, commemorating a speech by Professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa during the Second World War, in which he protested the removal of Jewish faculty members.
Tel Aviv University teaches school children about security and weapons developmentTel Aviv University recently held a special event for young people to showcase developments in the application of science and technology to ‘national security’. Brigadier Nagel said it was “an important and positive platform for educating youth for … love of the state” he went on “[It was] the opening shot for promoting and bringing youth closer to topics of science and technology in their security aspects” Columbia students erect mock Israeli checkpoint on campus – videoThe university that sacked Finkelstein now bans Israeli hummus productThis is another win for the global boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement against corporations that profit from severe human rights violations. DePaul University in Chicago just announced that their dining services will be discontinuing the sale of hummus manufactured by Sabra, an Israeli brand known for its vocal and material support of Israeli Defense Forces. The administration has temporarily suspended the sale of Sabra products and will likely move towards permanently banning the brand from campus. De Paul is the University that refused tenure to Israel critic Norman Finkelstein. Israeli Education students boycott ArielEducation students at a college in central Israel have refused to participate in their final project at a facility in Ariel. In refusing to join in the teaching project in the Jewish West Bank city, the students from Beit Berl College have joined theater professionals, authors and academics in boycotting institutions in Ariel. The college rejected the students’ request to change the location of their final project, currently scheduled at an educational institution in Ariel that is considered to be one of the leading facilities for informal education in Israel. However, the college said it will give students who refuse to cross into the West Bank an alternate project in a different location. Tindersticks cancel Israel tourIsraeli Boycott supporters have called on UK rock band Tindersticks to cancel their planned visit to Israel.
Palestinian MK Zuabi visits Haifa University despite campus banArab (sic) lawmaker Hanin Zuabi (Balad) visited the University of Haifa on Monday, despite being banned by the university from participating in a student political activity on the campus… Some Jewish students attempted to block Zuabi from entering the university, shouted “terrorists” and “Go to Gaza” at Arab students, and singing the national anthem. Zuabi had been barred by the university from participating in a Balad student activity focusing on the political situation over the past year. Video of flashmob Tel Aviv protest against visit of Cape Town OperaCambridge PhD student banned from Israel, now US falls into lineJameel Zayed is a fourth-year PhD student in the department of chemistry at Cambridge University, UK. Hew as banned from Israel in 2009 for 5 years which means he cannot see his family or pursue his reasearch. This has escalated and according to Attorney Richard Goldstein, being refused entry to Israel has undoubtedly become a part of his international visa history and very likely contributed to his U.S. F1 student visa application being 'suspended' by the U.S. Embassy in London. Jammel's case was raised at International Conference on Sustainable Urbanisation, Committee on Freedom and Responsibility in the Conduct of Science who issued a statement saying: "To note, with concern, the various reports where Israeli scholars and institutions had been subject to restrictions on freedom of association; to make enquiries with the UK Royal Society regarding the case of Jameel Zayed" The Fall: Please don’t play for Apartheid Israel – Facebook groupAsking The Fall to respect the Palestian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel until it abides by international law and stops its brutal occupation of the Palestinian people.
PACBI responds to “worn-out” Nobel laureates’ attack on academic boycott of IsraelOnce again, the specter of the suppression of academic freedom has been invoked in what is now becoming an organized campaign to counter the growing global movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel, and the academic and cultural boycott in particular. This time, a number of American, European, and Israeli Nobel laureates have been enlisted in the campaign, in the hope that their plea to defend “academic freedom” will stem the tide of this ever-expanding movement. South African Artists Against Apartheid issue Declaration of Cultural Boycott of IsraelAs South African Artists and Cultural Workers who have lived under, survived, and in many cases resisted apartheid, we acknowledge the value of international solidarity in our own struggle. It is in this context that we respond to the call by Palestinians, and their Israeli allies, for such solidarity. As artists of conscience we say no to apartheid – anywhere. We respond to the call for international solidarity and undertake not to avail any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel. Nor will we accept funding from institutions linked to the government of Israel. This is our position until such time as Israel, in the least, complies with international law and universal principles of human rights. Until then, we too unite with international colleagues under the banner of “Artists Against Apartheid.” International organizations urged to abandon online Israel eventIn a November 2nd letter, seventeen organizations in the US and abroad were urged by several groups, including Adalah-NY, to respect the Palestinian boycott call and cancel their participation in a November 14th internet event, “With Earth and Each Other.” The event is organized by Friends of the Arava Institute, and other partners, including the Jewish National Fund (JNF), to benefit Israel’s Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. The November 2nd call to cancel the organizations’ participation has led to email exchanges between Adalah-NY and the Director of Friends of Arava and some of the participating groups, but it is not clear if any groups will withdraw. The event on November 14th has attracted attention due to calls by many groups for legendary folksinger Pete Seeger to withdraw from it. In a recent interview, Seeger said he supports the economic boycott of Israel, but not a cultural boycott. Professor Emmanuel Farjoun: Support the call for academic sanctionsAURDIP, the French partner of BRICUP has published and article by Emmanuel Farjoun, Professor of Mathematics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explaing and supporting the academic boycott campaign. Pete Seeger ignores demands to cancel Israel trip – increase the pressureFolk music icon and campaigner for social justice Pete Seeger has ignored the call by over 40 organizations includng BRICUP, along with musicians close to him, to cancel his participation in a November internet event organized by the Israeli groups the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and others. Adalah-NY organized the call to demand that Seeger support the Palestinian-led movement for a cultural boycott of Israel, The event, “With Earth and Each Other: A Virtual Rally for a Better Middle East,” is presented as a support effort for Arava, which claims to carry out environmental projects in the Negev desert in Israel. Seeger appears to have been deceived by the claimed green credentials of the event and failed to see the link to Israel’s apartheid policy of clearance.
Norwegian call for Academic and Cultural Boycott100 people from the Norwegian cultural and academic field have launched a public campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel in response to the PACBI call. The Zionist Organization of America demands criminalisation of crticism of Israel on CampusThe Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is celebrating its success in its efforts to expand federal anti-bullying guidelines stipulated under the US Civil Rights Act of 1964. They say, “The ZOA will continue to advocate for students against anti-Semitism and the demonization of Israel at schools and on college campuses,” They falsely claim criticism of Israel for their repeated war crimes and breaches of human rights is demonisation and is also anti-semitism; they have used this false linkage to successfully demand that teh Government criminalises no ttthe criminals by their accusers. Israelis call upon Linkin Park to cancel their November Tel Aviv concertBoycott!, the Israeli group supporting BDS from within have demanded that Californian rock group Linkin Park to cancel their 15 November concert due to be held in Tel Aviv. Desmond Tutu Urges South African Opera Company Not to Perform in IsraelDesmond Tutu, the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, has urged an opera company there not to perform in Israel, invoking South Africax92s long struggle against apartheid in criticizing Israelx92s policy toward Palestinians. The Cape Town Opera is scheduled to perform x93Porgy and Bessx94 at the Tel Aviv Opera House beginning on Nov. 12. But Archbishop Tutu said in a statement that the tour should be postponed x93until both Israeli and Palestinian opera lovers of the region have equal opportunity and unfettered access to attend performances.x94
Exchange between Ran Greenstein and Robert Fine on the academic boycottRan Greenstein, an Israeli academic now working at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg produced a critique of a Robert Fine article (including harsh criticism of the role of Engage), and Fine has in turn replied to this. These contributions to the debate are clear and level-headed, and respectful of each other’s arguments. There are many responses on the Engage website which are personally abusive of Ran Greenstein (to which Greenstein replies with considerable patience and dignity) we post the link to these in order to allow readers to see the low level of argument employed by many opponents of the boycott.
Univ. of Michigan students mount dignified protest IDF speakersVideo of a silent protest when IDF speakers came to University of Michigan Film director Mike Leigh cancels Jerusalem mater class because of Israel’s actionsLeading British Mike Leigh has cancelled a proposed visit to Israel where he was due to teach a master class in Jerusalem. Mike Leigh wrote to the Israeli organiser clearly explaining that is was Israel’s actions that led to him boycotting:
New York groups set boycott of Batsheva Israeli dance troupeAdalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel and the New York chapter of Artists Against Apartheid announced the boycott in an open letter to the Batsheva Dance Company, which is scheduled to perform in New York from Sept. 21 to Oct. 3. The letter said the groups were calling the boycott because of the company’s “collaboration with the Israeli state and its Brand Israel campaign.” Brand Israel is a government public relations initiative designed to reshape preconceived notions about Israel. European Theatre Convention Expel the Cameri Theater of Tel-AvivBRICUP is inviting its supporters to support the call from within Israel for the European Theatre Convention to expel Cameri Theater of Tel-Aviv. The Cameri, are to perform in the newly established cultural centre of Ariel. Ariel is one of the largest settlements in the occupied West Bank, located approximately 16 kilometres east of the internationally recognized “green line”, on expropriated agricultural Palestinian land.
Leading academics call for University of Johannesburg to break links with Ben Gurion UniversityA petition signed by 200 signatories from 22 academic institutions cals for a break between University of Johannesburg and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev .The call is upported by: Professors Kader Asmal, Allan Boesak, Breyten Breytenbach, John Dugard, Antjie Krog, Mahmood Mamdani, Barney Pityana and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They say It is clear to us that any connection with an institution so heavily vested in the Israeli occupation would amount to collaboration with an occupation that denigrates the values and principles that form the basis of any vibrant democracy. These are not only the values that underpin our post-apartheid South Africa, but are also values that we believe UJ has come to respect and uphold in the democratic era.
Bar-Ilan lecturer publishes against the occupation and is refused tenureBar-Ilan University’s appointments committee decided recently not to grant tenure or promote a lecturer, reportedly because of her political leanings. Associates of Dr. Ariella Azoulay, who teaches visual culture and contemporary philosophy in Bar-Ilan’s Hermeneutics and Cultural Studies Program, and who has published books against the occupation, said: “The university has no germane reason to disqualify Ariella other than her positions. This is a political decision disguised as a professional one.” Israeli Education ministry revising textbook for being too critical of IsraelThe Education Ministry is rewriting the country’s main civics textbook, and the chairman of the ministry’s pedagogical secretariat will begin publishing updates on the ministry’s Web site as early as the upcoming school year.
Massive Attack backs the cultural boycottOne of Britain’s most successful bands, Massive Attack, is publicly backing the cultural boycott. “I’ve always felt that it’s the only way forward,” says Robert Del Naja, the band’s lead singer. “It’s a system that’s been applied to many countries. It’s a good thing to aim for because it applies the continual pressure that’s needed.”
US scientist urges boycott of conference that didn’t invite IsraelisLocal organisers for the 11th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences aren’t saying why they didn’t invite any speakers from Israel, which borders Jordan and has the region’s largest chemical research enterprise. But one Israeli scientist calls the snub “intentional,” and few, if any, have registered for the conference. Roald Hoffmann, a chemistry Nobel laureate at Cornell University who was among the more than 100 chemists invited to speak at the meeting, is outraged at what he views as an encroachment of politics into science. He’s asked fellow invited speakers to boycott the meeting unless the organizers invite Israelis. Architects out of ArielThe time has come for those planning the red-roofed facts on the ground to refuse to design any more buildings in the settlements. After dozens of actors, theater workers, professors and writers declared their refusal to appear in the new cultural hall in Ariel or any other settlement, the time has come for architects and planners to wake up and announce publicly that they will not continue planning new buildings in the settlements.
Me, too, I boycott !John Berger supports BDS activists prosecuted/persecuted in France. Some of us who activate, and make appeals for, the commercial, cultural and academic boycott of the State of Israel are now being prosecuted for inciting Racism ! The truth is being capsized and turned on its head. Boycotted, Bothered and BewilderedThe problem is that this is unlike any boycott Israel has faced before. For one thing, it’s working. Israeli news reports tell of factories shutting down and millions of shekels lost. That’s never happened before, in all the years of Arab boycotts and campus divestment rallies. Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin called it “a declaration of war against Israel.” The Yesha Council, which represents Jewish settlers in the West Bank, called it “economic terrorism.”
Making History: Support for Israeli Artists Who Say NO to Normalizing SettlementsWhen some 60 leading Israeli actors and playwrights signed a letter stating they would refuse to play in the new theatre in Ariel, one of Israel’s largest settlements, the attacks from Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sport and many others were swift and intense. Over 150 leading Israeli academics and writers-including Amos Oz and David Grossman- came to their defense. It was the first time such mainstream figures had drawn a line around normalizing settlements which are illegal according to international law, and which constitute one of the main impediments to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Anti-Israel economic boycotts are gaining speedThe entire week was marked by boycotts. It began with a few dozen theater people boycotting the new culture center in Ariel, and continued with a group of authors and artists publishing a statement of support on behalf of those theater people. Then a group of 150 lecturers from various universities announced they would not teach at Ariel College or take part in any cultural events in the territories. Naturally, all that spurred a flurry of responses, including threats of counter-sanctions. That was all at the local level. There’s another boycott, an international one, that’s gaining momentum – an economic boycott. Last week the Chilean parliament decided to adopt the boycott of Israeli products made in the settlements, at the behest of the Palestinian Authority, which imposed a boycott on such products several months ago.
Michael Warschawski responds to Uri Avenry’s attempt to limit boycott to the settlementsMichael Warschawski of the Alternative Information Centre firmly rebutts Avnery’s bid to limit the the BDS campaign. “Towards the end of his blog Uri Avnery writes: “all this becomes impossible if there is a call for a boycott of all Israelis [my emphasis, MW)”. This is a mistake, but not an accidental one: the BDS campaign has never been oriented towards individuals, but towards products and institutions. The mistake, however, reflects the basic confusion of Avnery (and others) between the State, its deeds and its population. For Avnery, the state and population are more or less the same; the State is the collective organization of the citizen’s community and attacking the state (and even more so, denying its legitimacy) is synonymous with attacking its population and denying its right to exist as a collective.” Documentary Released on Hampshire College’s 2009 Divestment from OccupationIn the spring of 2009 news sources the world over reported that Hampshire College had become the first United States institution of higher learning to divest holdings from companies benefiting from the military occupation of Palestine. This victory in the international movement for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions), was the product of a 3+ year campaign by the Hampshire college student group, Students for Justice in Palestine. And though the board agreed to remove those assets involved in the occupation, the administration contested the political significance of the move and denied that the divestment was related to the occupation. Nevertheless, Hampshire’s divestment is considered a significant event in the still-developing history of the BDS movement. The film is being released online, free of charge, and a blanket permission has been issued to hold public screenings of this documentary in any setting. Students are especially encouraged to use the film to educate and inspire, and to support many ongoing BDS campaigns happening throughout the country and world.
Israeli theater actors refuse to perform at new West Bank cultural centerThe report that major Israeli theaters will travel across the Green Line for the first time to perform at a new theater at Ariel sparked some stormy reactions: Two actors from the national theater, Habima, Yousef Sweid and Rami Heuberger, have already announced that they will not appear in any plays in Ariel.
Zochrot demands TAU to acknowledge it was built on the land of Sheikh MawanisTel Aviv University was partially built on the lands of the Palestinian village of Sheikh Muwanis. While it is known that some of the village lands were sold in 1924, others were not; and there has never been any mention by the University of what happened to those villagers who left the village in a hurry in March 1948. Zochrot, an organization that encourages the Israeli state and its institutions to recognize the moral debt for the injustices caused to the Palestinian people during the establishment of the state of Israel, has started a campaign requesting that Tel Aviv University acknowledge the history of Sheikh Muwanis. New law provides released soldiers with free higher education in settlementsGush Shalom have wriiten to the Committee of University Heads in Israel warning of the potential danger of the law enacted by the Knesset which offers released soldiers free schooling at academic institutions located in West Bank settlements. “You, respectable University Heads, are constantly crying out against the growing worldwide movement of academic boycott against Israeli universities – but behind your backs, it is the Government of Israel which is adding considerable impetus to this boycott. Academic Boycott on Israel Flexes Its MusclesWere it not for the eagle eyes of Nur Marsalha, a professor of religion and politics in England, perusing the program for the biennial conference of the International Society for Iranian Studies (ISIS), Israel might have won a small victory in its efforts to legitimize its military occupation of the West Bank. A chronicle of discrimination and racismBaladna Association for Arab Youth has published a report of a survey concerning Haifa University’s treatment of its Palestinian Students. The reality of Haifa University is significantly remote from that of a campus based on values of academic freedom and action. The fact that in many cases the University acts as the extension of Israeli policy when addressing the Palestinian people as a whole indicates that the freedom of action is consciously limited, foremost when it comes to Palestinian students within the campus. This policy is expressed not only in issues relevant to freedom of action and expression but also in the processes for enrollment to universities, scholarship granting procedures as well as in the lectures themselves. In all of these cases it becomes clear that the general discriminative policy of Israeli governments can be identified with the decision-making procedure implemented by the University authorities. Video of the story of Divestment at Hampshire CollegeIn the spring of 2009 news sources the world over reported that Hampshire College had become the first United States institution of higher learning to divest holdings from companies benefiting from the military occupation of Palestine. This victory in the international movement for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions), was the product of a 3+ year campaign by the Hampshire college student group, Students for Justice in Palestine. And though the board agreed to remove those assets involved in the occupation, the administration contested the political significance of the move and denied that the divestment was related to the occupation. Nevertheless, Hampshire’s divestment is considered a significant event in the still-developing history of the BDS movement. UK dance group Faithless join the growing list of artists choosing to boycott IsraelFrontman Maxi Jazz issued the following statement:
No place in university dorms for Arabs who didn’t serve in IDFDozens of Arab (sic) students at Tel Aviv University were denied spots in college dormitories for the coming academic year, due to preference given to students with military records, students said a secretary in the dean’s office told them. Besieging Israel’s siegeOmar Barghouti from PACBI described the BDS movement in an article on the Guardian’s Comment if Free blog. Wall of Silence: Musicians & DJs Campaign for the Cultural boycott of IsraelWe have one declaration: Not one note of music will be played within Israel until every last piece of its apartheid wall is removed, the blockade of Gaza is lifted, and Israel withdraws from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Video about Boycott from WithinBoycott from Within is a group of Israeli citizens that supports the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). The AIC (alternative Information Center) sat down with Israeli activist Ofer Neiman to discuss the Boycott from Within movement, its goals and what impact he thinks it will have on ending the Israeli occupation. For more information. Filmmakers pull movie at Melbourne International Festival over Israeli government fundingThe makers of Son of Babylon, a film set in Iraq, wanted to withdraw their movie because the organizers of the festival received funding from the Israeli government. But the demand went unheard, and the film screened on July 26 and July 28 as scheduled. Im Tirtzu threatens boycott of Israeli university over ‘anti-Zionist’ bias: McCarthyite campaign spreadsIf Ben-Gurion University of the Negev doesn’t take steps “to put an end to the anti-Zionist tilt” in its politics and government department, Im Tirtzu will work to persuade donors in Israel and abroad to stop funding the university, the organization threatened in a letter to university president Prof. Rivka Carmi last month.
Global conference backs RMT anti-Israel motionA resolution calling on all transport companies to stop the movement of services to Israeli settlements has been passed with the backing of the British transport union. Arabs face increased discrimination at Tel Aviv UniversityMeasures designed to benefit Jewish school-leavers applying for places in Israeli higher education at the cost of their Arab (sic) counterparts have been criticised by lawyers and human rights groups. Pink Floyd reunites for Palestinian benefit concertWhile some musicians are condoning the Israeli occupation by playing in Israel Pink Floyd are raising money for Palestine. BRICUP welcomes the setting up of the Indian chapter of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel“We particularly welcome your statement that you stand in ‘firm and relentless opposition to India’s strategic, scientific, military, and economic relations with Israel’. In view of the fact that these relations are growing and deepening with every day that passes, we wish you every success in identifying specific areas and campaigning, as you say, to end the links. Research collaboration with Israeli universities is a feature not just of the British academic scene, but across Europe, and we’re sure there are many similar instances of Indian-Israeli collaboration…” National Council of Churches in Australia backs boycott callDuring its 7th triennial Forum in July, the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) announced it will continue to add its voice to the call for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine and condemning all acts of terrorism. In solidarity with Palestinian Christians, the NCCA asks its member Churches and the wider Australian community to consider a boycott of goods produced by Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Rev Tara Curlewis, General Secretary of the NCCA said “We are asking the member Churches of the NCCA to consider boycotting particular goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It is hoped that such actions will liberate the people from an experience of injustice to one where a just and definitive peace may be reached.”
Leftfield cancel Israel booking but Jeff Beck and Johnny Rotten still intend to goBritish electronica duo Leftfield have announced they will not be travelling to Israel but have left doubt over their reasons. They are officially saying it due to ‘production problems’ while reproducing the boycott call on their Facebook page. Jeff Beck has failed to respond to a private request from the Israeli BOYCOTT! camapaign and they have issued a public call for him to cancel his October concert in Tel Aviv.
The campaign against Sex Pistols’ and PiL’s lead singer Johnny Rotten playing Tel Aviv mounts.
BDS supporter questioned by the Israeli secret servicesThe Shin Bet security service on Sunday questioned a conscientious objector about his activity in an Israeli group that supports sanctions against Israel as part of its struggle against the occupation. Yonatan Shapira, 38, a non-active Israel Air Force pilot who authored the “pilots’ letter” of 2003, signed by 27 IAF pilots who said they would refuse to fly over the occupied territories, said he was instructed not to disclose any details from the interview. AIC video: Economy of the Occupation: BDS Boycott Divestment and SanctionThe Alternative Information Centre in Jerusalem has produced a video explaing the economy of occupation and the almiost total boycott of Palestinian economy and society by Israel.
Former editor of H’aretz says, ‘Boycott the Knesset’David Landau is a former editor-in-chief of Haaretz (and an orthodox Jew).
Indian Boycott campaign launchedAn Indian chapter of the international movement to campaign for academic and cultural boycott of Israel was formed by a group of intellectuals including Upendra Baxi, Vina Mazumdar and Arundhati Roy. ”In a reality in which the Israeli state daily tramples on the academic freedom and cultural life of Palestinian people, a continued association with the instruments of such a state is unconscionable,” the intellectuals said in a statement. Israel must change or collapse: On the impact of BDSProfessor Rachel Giora of Tel Aviv University has written about how boycott activities, and in particular cultural boycott activities are affecting the genaral Israeli population as well as its leaders,
Statement by Faculty for Palestine (Toronto) and College and University Workers Union (Montreal)With this joint statement we mark the 5th Anniversary of the BDS campaign by publicly announcing our adherence and commitment to the BDS call. As university and college faculty and workers, we begin the first stage of our action campaign with a focus on divestment and on breaking institutional ties between Canadian and Israeli academic institutions. Israel refuses to allow a lawyer to leave Gaza to reach her studies in democracy and human rights in the West BankAnnouncement comes during court proceedings relating to a request by a lawyer in Gaza for an exit permit to reach her studies in human rights and democracy in the West Bank. The Court denied the petition. Vuvuzela – new cultural boycott video from John GreysonIt’s the Penguins vs. the Ostriches in this Boycott Israel summer match — a showdown between artists like Elvis Costello and the Pixies who cancelled their Israel concerts in respect of the boycott, vs. Metallica, Rihanna and Elton John who are going forward with theirs, despite growing criticism. Israeli academics hit back over bid to pass law that would criminalise themA protest petition has been signed by 500 academics, including two former education ministers, following recent comments by Israel’s education minister, Gideon Saar, that the government intends to take action against the boycott’s supporters. A proposed bill introduced into the Israeli parliament – the Knesset – would outlaw boycotts and penalise their supporters…Saar last week described the petition as hysterical and an attempt to silence contrary opinions (sic).
Ha’aretz article explains ‘Why Israeli academia will be boycotted’Education Minister Sa’ar’s recent initiatives are a sign of the Israeli government’s increasing self-seclusion inside a bunker of delusions, as it distances itself from considerations guided by historical, political and social wisdom. His recent statements befit benighted regimes that have lost connection to the world, like Iran and other totalitarian states. Ben Gurion professor derails faculty candidacy of pro-peace IsraeliIsrael David is a Professor at Ben Gurion University and former major in the Israeli Army. He has worked for the Israeli defense industry and a significant portion of his research is funded by either the army or military contractors. Assaf Oren, a peace activist who refused to serve in the occupied territories. He applied for a tenure track position at BGU and was told he was the top candidate. That was until Prof. David, a regular contributor to McCarthy-like web sites, launched a vindictive and ultimately successful campaign against him.
Hollywood stars boycott Israel film festivalHollywood actors Meg Ryan and Dustin Hoffman are refusing to attend the 2010 Jerusalem Film Festival following the attack on the Mavi Marmara. Prince Albert of Monaco, son of Grace Kelly, has also cancelled his promise to attend a tribute to Grace Kelly at the festival.
BRICUP calls on Anne Sofie von Otter to cancel Israel visitLeading mezzo soprana Anne Sofie von Otter plans to sing in Israel in October. von Otter releaasd a CD of songs composed in the Nazi concentation camp at Theresienstadt. She wrote ““The Terezín concentration camp was hell. There was overcrowding, disease and depression.. But, extraordinarily, the inmates were allowed to perform music there.” Much like Gaza in many ways one would say, except the Israelis ban the import of musical instruments into Gaza.
PACBI endorses call for boycott of International Geographical Union’s Regional Conference in Tel AvivPACBI issued an Open Letter on 29 October 2009 supporting the geographers’ call urging theExecutive Committee of the International Geographical Union (IGU) torelocate its upcoming regional conference (July 2010) out of Israel BRICUP joins PACBI in encouraging all geographers and people of conscience not to attendthe Tel Aviv conference and to write letters of protest to the membersof the IGU Executive. If it takes places, the Tel Aviv conference willonly serve to whitewash Israel’s crimes. Methodists in UK and US support BDSThe UK Methodist Conference adopted a report highly critical of Israel’s policy towards Palestinians, despite heavy lobbying by the Board of Deputies and the Chief Rabbi. They went on to adopt a policy of boycotting settlement goods. Observers at the conference believe that so great was the revulsion of Israel’s actions that there would have neen a majority for a full boycott. In the US the United Methodists Northern Illinois Conference voted to divest from companies profiting from Israel’s occupation. They said:
Latest from the Land of the Free – UC Irvine’s message: Criticize Israel, get suspendedAfter a 4-month-long investigation, UC Irvine’s administration last week announced an unprecedented recommendation to suspend for one year the Muslim Student Union (MSU), a registered campus organization, for its alleged involvement in disrupting a Feb. 8 speech by Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Eleven students were arrested and may face criminal charges as well as disciplinary action by the university. As the LA Times said, this “could have a chilling effect on free speech.” EU Considering Aid to Israeli Military – write to your MEPA leading Israeli supplier of warplanes used to kill and maim civilians in Gaza is in the running for two new scientific research grants from the European Union. EU officials have tentatively approved the release of fresh finance to the Heron’s manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Two projects involving IAI have recently passed the evaluation stages of a call for proposals under the EU’s multi-annual programme for research, which has been allocated 53 billion euros (65.4 billion dollars) for the 2007-13 period. Bricup is urging all their supporters to write to their MEPs and their home governments to demand these grants arenot awarded and no further co-operation with the Israeli arms industry is contemplated. Jewish Israeli headteacher summoned to Knesset for taking a moral position on the occupationRam Cohen, principal of the Aleph High School in Tel Aviv, was summonded to the Knesset.
Turkish Swedish and Indian dockworkers refuse to unload Israeli ships and picket in USAIn moves reminiscent of the South African boycott campaign Swedish and Turkish dockworkers have refused to unload Israeli ships. More recently dockers in Cochin have decided to boycott. In hte USA a labor and community picket line was put up at the SSA terminal at the port of Oakland to protest the Israeli Zim Shenzhen ship.
Petition launched to ban Israel from the 2012 OlympicsTell the IOC that Israel is not welcome at the London Olympics. Israel has replaced the Olympics slogan of Faster Higher Stronger with thier occupation and blockade mantras of Fiercer, Harder, Stricter. Universal Declaration of Human Rights author endorses BDSStephane Hessel, holocaust survivor and co-author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has endorsed BDS.
Canadians call on Rod Stewart to cancel Israel concertCanadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East have issued a call for Rod Stewart to join the growing number of performers with consciences and cancel his planned Israel tour and support the cultural boycott. British Writers In Support of Palestine issue boycott callIn a letter to the Independent on Sunday, John Berger, Jenny Diski, Naomi Foyle, Thomas Pakenham and 33 others issued a call for a literary, cultural and academic boycott of Israel. BRICUP welcomes the establishment of WISP and wil cooperate with them on the boycott campaign. BWISP welcome writers who support their call to join them.
Peaceful opposition to Israeli policy to be made illegal“The only democracy in the Middle East” (sic) is on the brink of passing laws that will fine any Israeli who supports boycott (both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis) and pass the fines to the illegal settlements that they are campaigning to boycott. Any non-Israeli who supports boycott will be banned from Israel for 10 years (and thus effectively excluded form the occupied territories as well).
Intimidation at Bar Ilan UniversityDr Uri Hadar was due to speak at Bar Ilan University, renowned for its links with right wing settler and religious goups. Uri, who recently promoted a conference on Gazan mental health, did not expect an easy ride – but he definitely did not expect a poster on the campus marking his head as a target. Harassment and humiliation of Israeli Palestinian university lecturerNabil Khattab a lecturer in sociology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a member of the prestigious academic journal Sociology,went to Ben-Gurion International Airport to travel to the journal’s annual editorial board meeting in London. He was used to intrusive treatment at the airport but this time the examiner probed the lower part of his body with a cloth-covered stick and began to insert it under Khattab’s trousers. Unofficial Bob Dylan website bans Israelis in wake of Gaza flotillaOne of the largest fan sites dedicated to Bob Dylan songs, dylanchords, has recently blocked Israeli IP users access over the Israel Defense Forces’ raid on the Gaza –bound Freedom Flotilla two weeks ago. Israelis who wish to learn how to strum the Dylan song “The times they are a’ changing,” will have to look elsewhere, as the webpage redirects Israeli web users to the webmaster’s blog. Gil Scott-Heron abandons Israel tour and so does Elvis Costello and Pixies and Gorillaz and Klaxons and …Elvis Costello has become the third major international artist in the last few days to announce he will not play in Israel. Costello said:
Gil Scott-Heron’s announced that he will not go to Israel at the first concert of his European tour; this follows the similar decision by Massive Attack. At the Royal Festival Hall in London on 24 April he said he wouldn’t play where everyone wasn’t welcome.
Robert Boyce questions Israel’s continued participation in EU Research Framework ProgrammesTo European Commissioner for Research Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn: In the past, EU spokespersons have justified Israeli participation on the grounds that this will increase EU influence in Israeli political circles and thereby conduce to peace, and secondly that it opens the door to Israeli-Palestinian research cooperation. Since Israel’s use of grossly disproportionate military force in the invasion of Gaza in 2008-09, its rejection of the Goldstone Report (endorsed by the European Parliament), its continued ethnic cleansing of East Jerusalem, its illegal ‘targetted assassinations’ of political opponents using stolen passports of EU citizens, and its recent abusive treatment of the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the starving people of Gaza who have endured collective punishment at the hands of Israel since 2006, such talk of conducing towards peace must surely be set aside. As for Israeli-Palestinian research cooperation, this was never more than a fantasy, given that Israel has consistently sought to impoverish and disrupt the relevant Palestinian institutions. Does it not follow that, to be consistent with the governing principles of the European Union, you must suspend Israeli participation in all EU research initiatives? Robert Boyce, London School of Economics and Political Science No Pinkwashing Bus ShelterFor the first time since 2007, the Israeli consulate is a sponsor of this year’s San Francisco International Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans Film Festival. Queers say no to pinkwashing Israeli war crimes. TruthForceinSF responded through their guerilla bush shelter campaign. European academic boycott groups call on MEPs to resist upgrading links with IsraelBRICUP along with its colleague organisations in France, Italy and Catalonia have written to MEPs asking them to resist the upgrading of linkks between the EU and Israel because of Israel’s consistent and flagrant breaches of the human rights protocols embedded in the agreements. Haifa University boasts of training Israeli Security ForcesHaifa University will continue to train the students of the IDF’s College for National Security (CNS) in their MA studies in the next five years; this was decided after the army’s tender committee has found the university’s proposal as the best one. Leading musicians will not play Israel and forgo big paydaysThe Jewish Daily Forward, hte laeding US Jewish newspaers reports that may musicians are refusing large sume offerered to play in Israel
AURDIP (the French Academic Boycott Campaign) publishes newsletterAURDIP (Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine) is rapidly establishing itself a substantial campaigning voice in France. BRICUP is pleased to be co-operating with it on a number of new initiatives. AURDIP has published the second edition of its newsletter. Israeli threat of intensified blockade of Palestinian exportsIsrael threatens intensified boycott of Palestinian goods
Gideon Levy – Boycotting the boycotters“…Israel itself is one of the world’s prolific boycotters. Not only does it boycott, it preaches to others, at times even forces others, to follow in tow. Israel has imposed a cultural, academic, political, economic and military boycott on the territories. At the same time, almost no one here utters a dissenting word questioning the legitimacy of these boycotts. Yet the thought of boycotting the boycotter? Now that’s inconceivable.” Noam Chomsky barred from Birzeit UniversityIsrael has blocked leading American Jewish academic, Noam Chomky, from speaking at Birzeit University in the Occupied West Bank. Professor Chomsky was stopped from entering Palestine by Israeli border guards on the Allenby Bridge which links Jordan with the West Bank on 16 May.
BRICUP condemns call to censor Israeli supporters of BDSBRICUP condemns attempts to censor Israeli supporters of BDS and the attacks on academic freedom by an Israeli university lecturer. Former IDF intelligence officer and lecturer at Bar Ilan University, Mordechai Kedar, has written to the governors of Tel Aviv University. He has asked them to, “control the enemy within … calling upon the university officials to prevent any further financial support to those academics and departments who condone such activities … The university authorities must take all necessary steps to contain and eliminate such activity.” OECD admits Israel: legal challenge madeThe OECD member countries have unanimously accepted Israel’s request for membership. Palestinian lawyers have drawn upo a legal brief in the hope that one of the member countries will seek a ruling on the legality of Israel’s membership. BRICUP is askng all supporters to contact their Foreign Ministries to ask them to make this legal challenge.
BRICUP joins condemnation of celebration of illegal annexationBRICUP joined members of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other organisations concerned about the status of Jerusalem in condeming the celebration of Israel’s illegal annexation of East Jerusalem. where hard-line Israeli government minister Benny Begin is to speak. Israeli academics join worldwide protest against Boston Museum’s Israeli science exhibitionSenior academics from Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute, and other top institutions around world denounce Boston Science Museum’s sponsorship of Israeli exhibit, calling it propaganda campaign. ‘This is an attempt to distract from Israel’s war crimes and human rights violations,’
Massive Attack will not play in IsraelMassive Attack will not play their advertised concert in Israel. Massive Attack have reassured us that they never intended to play this concert. Although they did play there in the 1990s they have said they would never return. Who was responsible for announcing this concert without their permission remains a mystery. Sign up to support student divestmentDespite a vigourous campaign the students at Berkely narrowly failed to overturn the veto on their democratically agreed proposal to divest from Israel. The campaign by students at the University of California for divestment from Israel is hotting up.
BRICUP supports call to oppose attempts to label Goldstone Report ‘lawfare’Fordham Law School in New York is hosting a conference which annouces itself as:
BRICUP has joined other international academic Palestinian support organisations in deploring the use of a university for such a one-sided and academically poor event. We called on “conference participants to condemn the unfair criticism that has diverted attention from the contents of the report and that has included personal attacks on Justice Richard Goldstone.
Join the campaign to stop Gil Scott-Heron playing in Tel AvivGil Scott-Heron has dismayed very many of his fans by agreeing to play in Tel Aviv. Scott-Heron’s have inspired generations of listeners by their call for justice; he was prominant in the campaign to stop artists playing at apartheid Sun City. Bricup has sent an open letter to him. You can send him a message via his publishers, Canongate or by writing a message on his facebook page.
BRICUP calls on Amitav Ghosh – do not accepted tainted prizeAmitav Ghosh is being offered the Israeli Dan David prize jointly with Margaret Atwood. BRICUP has issued an open letter to him calling on him to refuse the prize. We said: “It’s surprising to have to raise Israeli colonialism with a writer whose entire oeuvre seems to us an attempt to imagine how human beings survived the depredations of colonialism. Gosh, even the Dan David judges like the way you evoke ‘the violent dislocations of people and regimes during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries’.” Amitav Ghosh has widely circulated his response to our request justifying his decison ot travel to Israel to accept the prize.
Mira Awad cancels her London concertPublic pressure has forced Mira Awad, a Palestinian singer from inside Israel, to cancel her scheduled performance in London sponsored by the Zionist Federation to celebrate Israel’s “independence.” Awad published a letter today in Al-Ittihad, the newspaper of the Israeli Communist Party, saying that she would “never” perform for Israel’s “independence,” not in London nor anywhere else. Facebook call for Cultural Boycott of IsraelFilmmakers, Artists and Cultural Workers Call for a Cultural Boycott of Israel We appeal to all artists, filmmakers, and cultural workers of conscience around the world to cancel all exhibitions, festivals and other cultural events that are scheduled to occur in Israel. BRICUP backs Palestinian call to bar Israel from OECD membershipThe Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC) has called for the OECD to freeze Israel’s membership application. The OECD’s stated values include: ‘a commitment to pluralist democracy based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights’; clearly Israel should be ineligible for membership. We urge all supporters to write to the Foreign Secretary, the shadow Foreign Secretary and all their parliamentary candidates.
Jerusalem Quartet protest attracts wide media coverageMembers of Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (J-BIG) and Brighton PSC interupted a concert of the Jerusalem Quartet at London’s Wigmore Hall on 29 March while it was being broadcast live by the BBC. This has attracted wide press attention and far more support than opposition. At the same time members of Scottish PSC who interupted their concert in Edinburgh last year appeared in court charged with racially aggravated conduct fro opposing the actions of the Israeli state. The court threw out the charges.
Israeli BDS activists tell Margaret Atwood, “Say NO to Prizes from the Israeli Apartheid”We are Israeli citizens and residents, Jews and Palestinians, who are committed to the Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom. We heard with dismay that you are set to attend this spring an apartheid-complicit Tel Aviv University’s symposium, where you are to receive a prize. We urge you to heed the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, reject that prize, and refrain from attending the symposium or any other Israeli academic event.
UC Berkeley student government approves divestment from IsraelThe bill is the first step in an expected long-term process to convince the UC Board of Regents to pull total investments of about $135 million from five companies currently supplying Israel with electronics and weapons, opponents contended it unfairly targets Israel. The Student President has vetoed the motion. The vote to overturn the veto is on a knife edge. The vote has been delayed to 21 April. Messages of support are still needed Email your support.
BBC admits it misreported BRICUP meetingTHe BBC have written to BRICUP to admit that it misreported the BRICUP/SOAS PalSoc Israeli Apartheid: the Case for BDS meeting. They have stated they are looking to informa readers that the original report “was misleading”. They have finally, in May 2010, published a correction on their website.
Update on Students Seeking to Leave GazaGisha report that 502 students are presently seeking to leave the Gaza Strip in order to realize their dreams and study in universities abroad. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, the number of students that have received permission from Israel to study in the West Bank since 2000 stands at zero. Israel takes aim at the BDS movementIsrael identifies the BDS movement in general and the academic boycott in particular as major threats. Ben White has writtenan article describing these attacks and the false premises they are built on. The Israelis see their response as a public relations exercise to promote ‘Brand Israel’ not a poloitical exercise to end the causes of the boycott: occupation, blockade and the denial of Palestinian rights. The writers of the anti-boycott documents bizarrely claim “The BDS movement is well-coordinated (and well-financed)”. We try to be well co-ordinated but we are very far from well-financed – unlike organisations like BICOM, the British Israel Committee with sevarl dozen full-time staff – with your assistance we could be better financed, please help.
Dancing, Singing New Yorkers protest, calling for boycott of Israel BalletForty-five human rights activists called upon fellow New Yorkers to boycott the Israel Ballet at its performance Sunday at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts. Accompanied by the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, protesters performed ballet, sang, chanted, and handed out mock programs to bring attention to the Israel Ballet’s role in the Israeli state’s use of the arts to whitewash its crimes against the Palestinian people. Michigan students vote for divestmentStudents at the University of Michigan, Dearborn have voted to demand that their University divests from Israel. Bar Ilan professor advocates ending freedom of speechA professor at Bar Ilan University, Prof Steinberg presented a report to MPs and ministers that referred to peace groups as “Trojan horses” and argued for imposing constraints on funding from European governments and the NIF. In a statement at the time, Prof Steinberg said: “For over a decade European governments have been manipulating Israeli politics and promoting demonisation by funding a narrow group of favored non-governmental organisations.” He has reserved special criticism for advocacy groups for the country’s Arab minority and for Jewish groups opposing the occupation, accusing both of promoting an image of Israel as an “apartheid” state that carries out “war crimes” and “ethnic cleansing”. End of preferential EU treatment for settlement goodsThe European Court of Justice has ruled that Israeli goods made in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank cannot be considered Israeli. This means goods made by Israelis or Jews in the West Bank cannot benefit from a trade deal giving Israel preferential access to EU markets. EU import duties on Israeli goods from the settlements may now be imposed, making them less competitive. This is an important precedent for forcing the EU to end Israel’s privileged treatement as a member of the European Research Area 500 Montreal Artists Against Israeli ApartheidArtists in Montreal, from filmmakers, musicians and dancers to poets, authors and painters, are joining the international movement against Israeli apartheid. On the streets, in concert halls, in words and in song, we commit to fighting against apartheid and call upon all artists and cultural producers across the country and around the world to adopt a similar position in this global struggle. BRICUP tells Elton John ‘Don’t Play Israel’BRICUP has sent an open letter to Elton John asking him to cancel his planned concert in Israel in June. We’ve said to him: “Okay, you turn up in Ramat Gan, and it gets to that ‘Candle in the Wind’ moment, and thousands of lighters flicker – but there won’t be any Palestinians from the Occupied Territories swaying along with the Israelis – the army won’t let them leave their ghettoes. Please read what Judge Goldstone said about the onslaught on Gaza; what Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been saying for decades about the crimes committed against the Palestinians.”
Boycott seems to be the hardest word: video by John Grayson People Are Talking About BDSWhen I was a little girl, I sent my allowance to the Jewish National Fund to plant trees in Israel in the name of family members. I was told and passed on stories about an underdog that after centuries of persecution had finally found refuge in its birthplace only to face a group of greedy, violent people that had homes on two continents but insisted on denying my people this tiny strip of land. More anti-Semitism, I thought. It took only a few months of living in Israel as an undergraduate student in the late 1990s to discover the lies – or at least key missing information – from my childhood. When I dug further, I also found out how much these rewritings of history and of the present had taken the world captive and rendered some of the most politically and economically powerful world nations Israel’s great enablers.
Omar Barghouti speaks about the BDS campaign and the role of BRICUPOmar Barghouti, a key member of PACBI, speaks in a YouTube video about the reasons for the boycott campaign and talks about the progress we have made and what we need to do next. Stockholm rector fails in attempt to ban BDS meetingWednesday 10 February Rector Peter Gudmundson of the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) decided that a meeting entitled “Why should we boycott Israel?” would not be allowed to use the premises of the university. The organizers of the meeting, The Action Group at KTH for Boycott of Israel, considered that Rector’s decision is at odds with the constitutional right to assembly. Therefore the meeting was held as scheduled. The meeting focused largely on the relations between KTH and Israel Institute of Technology Technion, Haifa, with which KTH has an agreement about collaboration since 1998. The agreement is about exchange of students, teachers, research staff and general research cooperation. Researcher: Israel destroyed Palestinian booksIsrael plundered and destroyed tens of thousands of Palestinian books in the years after the State’s establishment, according to a doctoral thesis to be submitted next month by a Ben-Gurion University researcher. In an interview with the researcher published on al-Jazeera’s website, he claimed that Israel destroyed the Palestinian books in the framework of its plan to “Judaize the country” and cut off its Arab residents from their nation and culture. BRICUP condemns Israeli GreenwashThe British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP) has condemned an environmental exhibition and lecture series being hosted by the Zionist Federation on 9th February, dismissing it as “greenwashing the occupation”. The evening event for the general public, “Israel Blue White and Green”, features a special guest appearance from botanist David Bellamy. BRICUP has written to Bellamy urging him to pull out, saying that he should be “outraged … at the prospect of Israel presenting itself (especially to relatively unformed minds) as a champion of environmentalist virtues” and accusing the ZF of trying to “greenwash” Israel’s reputation. It lists a catalogue of Israel’s environmental crimes, including dumping untreated sewage and waste water from West Bank settlements onto Palestinian agricultural land; uprooting over 1½ million olive trees, and creating sewage lakes by destroying Gaza’s waste treatment system.
Danske Bank abandons investments in two companies active in the occupied territoriesThe major Danish Bank Danske Bank announced that they have withdrawn investment from two Israeli companies, Elbit Systems and Africa Israel Investments. The reason is that the two companies violate international norms. Elbit provides surveillance equipment for the separation wall, which the international court has condemned, and Africa Israel builds houses in the Jewish settlements that are internationally regarded as illegal. Sanatana cancels Israel tripLegendary Santana cancels concert because of anti-Israel pressure. Carlos Santana reportedly received messages that “it’s better” that he not perform in Israel, according to what a senior official in the Israeli music production market involved in producing Santana’s show told Yedioth Ahronoth on Saturday. Sources in Israel’s music industry hope that Santana’s cancellation does not create a chain reaction. We however hope that it will – send a letter to Elton John. Video shows how Israeli business success built on training of its youth to enforce occupationCNBC video on how Israel’s excellence in business innovation is due to its military training of all its youngsters who learn how to be ‘leaders’. This confirms how Israel’s business advancement is built on the backs of the Palestinians under occupation. Cambridge ‘Islamophobic’ Talk CancelledThe Cambridge University Israel Society have cancelled a talk by former Cambridge student Benny Morris after pressure from students. …In an interview in 2004 he said that Palestinians should be “contained so that they will not succeed in murdering us. Something like a cage has to be built for them. I know that sounds terrible. It is really cruel. But there is no choice. There is a wild animal there that has to be locked up in one way or another.” Israel bars overseas lecturers from Palestinian UniversitiesAs part of their wider move to withhold NGO employees’ work permits, Israel is also denying work permits to people who want to teach at Palestinian Universities. This consolidates the previous regime of disruption which only allowed teachers 3 month contacts (if they were allowed in at all). These contracts were, or were not, renewed capriciously – often before the modules they were teaching had finished leaving the students in mid air and with no credit for their work.
Israel proposes to turn settler Arial college into a ‘university’Arial College (hte College of Judea and Samaria) is built upon stolen Palestinian land in Arial settlement and is self-proclaimed part of r-inforcing the settlement project. It was founded by Bar Ilan University and the Defence Ministry has never had the support of Israeli Council of Higher Education. The CHE has refused to recognise it as a university and now the Defence Ministry, under Labour Leader Ehud Barak, is trying to confer that status. There is much opposition to that move and BRICUP is calling on all its supporters to oppose this move and in UCU to enfirce its 2008 Congress resolution to start the process of Greylisting Arial. Amal Jamal, the head of political science at Tel Aviv University, said the upgrade would also highlight the extent to which universities inside Israel colluded with the West Bank college. “There is strong support for the college among some academics at Israeli universities, which co-operate with it in holding conferences, conducting research, supervising doctoral students and teaching,” he said.
Rector of Begen University supports debate on academic boycottThe rector of a leading Norwegian university on Wednesday said he would support and sponsor a “positive” debate on boycotting Israel. “It is an important feature of academic freedom that open, free and critical debates on any topic can be held on campus,” said Professor Sigmund Grønmo, who heads Bergen University. He said this shortly after Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to upgrade Ariel College’s status to a university History of Israeli BDS campaign publishedRachel Giora, one of the founders of BOYCOTT! – the Israeli campaign for boycott from within – has writen a history of the struggle to build Iraeli support for the Academic and other boycotts. It tells a story of a long campaign to build the small, but growing, current BDS movement. Israeli Universities Help Robots Remake BattlefieldIsraeli universities are participating in the development of unmanned weapons for the Israeli Army. These new generation weapons which will further insulate Israeli soldiers from awareness of the suffering they inflict. The Alternative Information Centre in Jerusalem have compiled a report for BRICUP on the involvement of Israeli Universities in this frightening new generation weaponary whcih will still further reduce Israel’s concern about invading and destroying Palestinian land. Ma’an news editor prevented from entering IsraelJared Malsin Chief Editor for the English Desk at Ma’an News Agency, a Jewish American citizen, was detained upon arrival at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv at 4pm on Tuesday, 12 January 2009. He was interrogated for eight hours in a detention hall at the airport during which time he had no access to a lawyer or his consulate. He was scheduled for deportation at 6am Thursday 14 January, but the deportation has now been temporarily stayed. Jared was returning to Israel after a holiday in the Czech Republic. Please protest to the Israeli Ambassador in your country Architect Frank Gehry withdraws from plan to build Museum of Tolerance in JerusalemAfter years of protests and an unsuccessful legal challenge, architect Frank Gehry has pulled out of a project to build a Jerusalem counterpart to the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance that is slated to stand on a site that was once part of an ancient Muslim cemetery. John Pilger: Boycott no longer a tabooIn the United States and Europe, trade unions, mainstream churches and academic associations have brought back the strategies that were used against apartheid South Africa. In a resolution adopted by 431 votes to 62, the US Presbyterian Church voted for a process of “phased, selective disinvestment” in multinational corporations doing business with Israel. This followed the opinion of the International Court of Justice that Israel’s wall and its “settler” colonies were illegal. A similar declaration by the court in 1971, denouncing South Africa’s occupation of Namibia, ignited the international boycott. Uphill battle for academic freedom in US universitiesDespite the expanding and momentous student-led BDS movement, open dialogue around the reality of the situation in occupied Palestine continues to be an uphill battle for many professors inside the classrooms. Educators who openly align with the BDS movement, or speak out against Israeli-US policy in Palestine and the region, are being harassed, threatened, blacklisted, denied tenure and fired from their academic posts. Please sign the petition: Five Fully Funded Scholarships at King’s College London for Gazan StudentsKings College London promised five scholarships for students from Gaza in return for Kings studnets ending their occupation in January 2009. These scholarships have not yet been provided. Israel prevented 17 Gazans from leaving for cornea transplant operationsIsrael prevented 17 sight-impaired Gazans from leaving for cornea transplant operations on time; a donation of dozens of corneas went down the drain The Israeli authorities at Erez checkpoint this week prevented the exit of 17 sight-impaired patients, suffering from various eye diseases, from the Gaza Strip in order to undergo cornea transplants, a treatment that is not available in the Gaza health system. Hebrew University archeologists destroy Palestinian homesArcheologists, led by Dr. Eilat Mazar of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and The Shalem Center, have destroyed homes in Silwan, a Palestinian neighbourhood just to the south of the Old City of Jerusalem. The archeologists are searching for the mythical ‘City of David’ which they claim lies under Silwan. The tunnelling for the excavations goes directly under homes, collapsing them. This compounds the destruction caused by the Jerusalem Municipality’s programme of home demolitions in Silwan. BRICUP endorses the Cairo declerationThe Gaza Freedom march issued a declaration while they were detained in Cairo by the Egyptian Government and prevented from reachin Rafah to enter Gaza. BRICUP has added its name to the declaration which calls for support for BDS to achieve:
Israeli film maker Udi Aloni says ‘Why I joined the movement for Sanctions against Israel’Leading Israeli film maker Udi Aloni has published an article on why he supports the cultural boycott and the Palestinian BDS call. PACBI reviews a year of progress on BDSThe new PACBI newsletter reviews a year of progress on BDS. It lists successful initiatives in the academic, cultural and commercial arenas and highlights the global spread of BDS activists and initiatives. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem bans conference on war on GazaThe Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Monday cancelled a conference organized by the leftist Hadash Party branch after learning that it was meant to focus on the “dreadful and damned Zionist war,” referring to Israel’swar against Hamas a year ago. Hebrew U students who are members of Hadash had received authorization to hold the conference on campus, but the institution eventually canceled what it referred to as a “conference of incitement” against the IDF and the State of Israel. A pamphlet circulated ahead of the conference read, in Arabic, “A year has passed since the war in Gaza was launched; don’t let it be forgotten. Members of the Hadash branch invite you to an evening in which we will remember the dreadful and damned Zionist war.”
UN expert repeats call for threat of sanctions against Israel over Gaza blockadeThe United Nations independent expert on Palestinian rights has again called for a threat of economic sanctions against Israel to force it to lift its blockade of Gaza, which is preventing the return to a normal life for 1.5 million residents after the devastating Israeli offensive a year ago. “ Obviously Israel does not respond to language of diplomacy, which has encouraged the lifting of the blockade and so what I am suggesting is that it has to be reinforced by a threat of adverse economic consequences for Israel,” Richard Falk, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, told UN Radio.
1 Year after Gaza Massacre: Over 500 US Academics and Cultural Workers Call for BoycottThe United States Campaign for an Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USCABI), with whom BRICUP has close links, is asking US and International academics and cultural workers to sign their decleration. Over 500 have already done so.
Email USCABI with your full name and institutional affiliation if you are an academic or field if you are a cultural worker and if you fully endorse the Mission Statement of USACBI Campaign and authorize them to use your name publicly. BRICUP UK tour a resounding successBRICUP organised a highly successful tour in five UK cities with speakers from Palestine and South Africa.
PGFTU reaffirms full support for BDSA recent report in the Jewish Chronicle stated that a Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions had to a visiting delegation from the UK Trade Union Friends of Israe that the PGFTU did not see BDS as a priority. The PGFTU has responded to this with by reaffriming unequivocal support for BDS. The Palestinian Boycott National Committee has issued a statement of clarification
The Palestinian Boycott National Committee issued a statement in response.
British business man threatens Israeli Academic who criticised IsraelMichael Gross is a prominent member of Britain’s Jewish community, a long-time donor to Ben-Gurion University (BGU) and a member of its international board of governors. After seeing a Channel 4 Dispatches programme last month, Gross emailed Professor David Newman – a British-born lecturer who has emigrated to Israel – and wrote: “I saw your disgusting contribution to the Dispatches programme. I will use whatever influence I have at BGU to have you thrown out… I hope you perish.” In a second message, he said: “The sooner you are removed from BGU and the face of the earth, the better.” It is worth noting that David Newman was sent to Britain by Israel in 1997 to campaign against the Academic Boycott. Christian Palestinian leaders support the boycott callThe leaders of all the main christian denominations in Plaestine have issued ‘The Kairos Document’ This document makes it clear tha tall Palestinians, regardless of religious affiliation, are united in opposition to Israeli occupation and blockade and in support of the BDS call. “Our word to the international community is to stop the principle of “double standards” and insist on the international resolutions regarding the Palestinian problem with regard to all parties. Selective application of international law threatens to leave us vulnerable to a law of the jungle. It legitimizes the claims by certain armed groups and states that the international community only understands the logic of force. Therefore, we call for a response to what the civil and religious institutions have proposed, as mentioned earlier: the beginning of a system of economic sanctions and boycott to be applied against Israel. We repeat once again that this is not revenge but rather a serious action in order to reach a just and definitive peace that will put an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories and will guarantee security and peace for all.” French academics take boycott actionThe newly formed French academic boycott organisation, Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP) has taken its first public action. AURDIP has written to le Collège de France to protest about the day it held promoting the work of Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.
Tom Hickey addresses the Kerala Film FestivalTom Hickey, a member of the BRICUP organising committee was invited to speak at the 14th Kerala Film Festival. He spoke about the situation of Palestinians under occupation and blockade and explained the case for the film and cultural boycott of Israel.
BRICUP supports Bethlehem Now: Alternative lessons and songs of protest for PalestineJews for Boycotting Israeli Goods organised a concert to highlight the tragedy of modern day Palestine with an evening of poetry, prose, song and theatre at St Pauls Church, Covent Garden, London. BRICUP was pleased to be a sponsor of tis event. The concert was successful and well attended. It was a moving testiment of the strugle of the Palestinian to survive under and resist Israeli occupation and blockade. The evening raised over £1500 for Free Gaza, Wi’am and Interpal Academic Boycott of Palestinian Students: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?Isabelle Swerissen, an intern with FFIPP has written powerfully about the effects of Israeli disruption of education in Palestine. The article concludes: ” The focus of this article has been on the legal aspects of the denial of the right to freedom of movement and the right to education, both under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. A discussion of these aspects can only lead to one conclusion: Israel’s restrictive policy is legitimized by de jure security reasons, which, by their unjust use, come down to a de facto academic boycott of Palestinian students from Gaza. “ Right-wing groups creating climate of fear at Israeli universitiesRight-wing groups in Israel want to create a climate of fear among left-wing scholars at Israeli universities by emulating the “witch-hunt” tactics of the US academic monitoring group Campus Watch, Israeli professors warn. The watchdog groups IsraCampus and Israel Academia Monitor are believed to be stepping up their campaigns after the recent publication in a US newspaper of an Israeli professor’s call to boycott Israel.
Bethlehem University Student is Blindfolded, Handcuffed, and Taken to Gaza by ForceBerlanty Azzam, 21, was arrested while crossing from one part of the West Bank to another – just because her address in the Israeli-controlled Population Registry is registered in the Gaza Strip. The Military Legal Adviser’s Office promised not to remove her to Gaza pending a court petition this morning by Gisha challenging the removal. Despite the promise, Berlanty was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken to Gaza by force.
Academic freedom in Israel and PalestineSteven Rose, a founder member of BRICUP has written an article on ‘Academic freedom in Israel and Palestine’ in EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Reports. Professor Rose says: “T he ultimate test of a boycott must be the role it has in changing the policies of those boycotted. The vociferousness of the opponents of the boycott, their ad hominem accusations against its signatories, and the mobilisation of the Israel lobby in the USA to challenge the legality of what is above all an individual moral decision, makes it clear that it has touched a sensitive nerve. For Israel, its academy is second only to the military in national prestige. Being part of the European Research Area symbolizes Israel’s aspirations to be regarded more as a part of Europe than of the Middle East.” Leading Israeli journalist tells how sanctions are bitingSever Plocker wrote in Ynet news The current anti-Israel wave is particularly dangerous especially because it is not limited to the media and to leftist groups that traditionally were classified as “Israel haters.” This wave is rising, expending, drawing young people, and painting the perceptions of the well-established middle class and influential elites. Israel’s image has hit a nadir; it is isolated, unwanted, and perceived as bad. The world is telling us that should we continue along the same contemptible path, we will lose our legitimacy. French trade union issues boycott callThe CNT has joined the international BDS movement. The international secretary of the union said it would also invite each of its constituent members to join the BDS campaign and participate in its activities. “Our joining this Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions campaign is coherent with our solidarity with Palestine, defined by our statement of support of the Palestinian people’s struggle, adopted by the CNT during its 2006 congress. This statement is the expression of the anti-colonial and internationalist principles of our union,” the statement continued. Hebrew University Student Union demands another wallAccording to the Jerusalem online newspaper Mynet, Hebrew University’s Student Union Chairperson, Ofer Raviv, recently recommended that a Separation Wall between the university’s Mount Scopus campus and the nearby Palestinian village of Issawiya be constructed. Duke University professor lays out the argument for BoycottFred Moten, professor of English at Duke University argued for the acaemic boycott in address he delivered at the American Studies Association Annual Meeting on 7 November 2009 in Washington, D.C. The justification of the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions is quite simple and quite clear: the victims of a sovereign brutality instantiated in racial-military domination have come to an overwhelming consensus, in the very shadow of the state that has come to exemplify The State and its exception, that boycott is the most immediate form of international support they require…. Urge Norwegian University to support the boycott callThis is a petition to be sent to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Board of Directors in Trondheim, Norway urging them to vote YES on Nov. 12, 2009 to academically boycott Israel. Many Universities and campuses are considering same but this University is he first university to actually bring this to a vote to the Board of Directors. This petition must be given to the University by November 9, 2009. Sussex students vote to boycott Israeli goodsFollowing a landmark referendum, students at Sussex University have voted to boycott Israeli goods. The decision will become part of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, which calls upon Israel to respect international law and end the occupation of Palestine. The referendum result mandates the Students’ Union to remove all Israeli produce from its stores, and review its sources for food outlets. This makes Sussex Students’ Union the first in the UK to implement a full boycott of Israeli goods. The vote was one of the largest and closest contested in the Union’s history, with 562 votes for and 450 against the boycott. Zionists pressurise Manchester hospital to ban Physicians for Human Rights (Israel)Miri Weingarten was due to speak at the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the widely respeected PHR(I). The venue was cancelled at short notice, allegedly following pressure from the Zionist Central Council. University of Johannesburg staff oppose links with Ben Gurion UniveersityA staff petition has been sent to the management of the University of Johannesburg by staff outraged at moves to link with Ben Gurion University and they are demanding the Univerity rescinds their recently signed Memorandum of Agreement with Ben Gurion University. Review of worldwide progress on BDSThe latest issue of American’s for Middle East Understanding’s bulletin is a round up of progress on BDS. Page 10 focuses on the academic boycott. Bethlehem University was forced to close on Yom KippurBethlehem University was forced to close on 28 September, reports Mazin Qumsiyeh, because the Israeli authorities imposed a “closure” of the West Bank because of Yom Kippur holiday. As our students and faculty from Jerusalem cannot get to Bethlehem (a mere 5 miles away) because of this closure, the educational activities cannot be carried out. Also all Palestinians who are lucky enough to have permits to cross into Palestinian Jerusalem (for work, educatin etc) are also thus forced to take a day off. In the meantime, the repression does not take days off. Israeli authorities are very busy in continued colonial activities from ethnic cleansing to stealing water (80% of the West Bank water is taken by Israel), to kidnapping and holding political prisoners, to starving Gaza, and to violence against people and against nature. Israeli sewage still flows down the valleys of Salfit while Israel forbids Palestinians from building sewage treatment plants. News today is that Israel has told hundreds of citizens in East Jerusalem that they will cutoff the water to their homes (which used to be a mere one cubic meter per person per month, barely enough to drink and cook let alone take showers). The forms of ethnic cleansing continue to morph. Israel tries to prevent seminar at Norwegian UniversityIn a move which Foreign Ministry sources defined as “unusual,” Israel’s embassy in Norway has officially protested the launch of a high profile academic seminar there delivered exclusively by lecturers known for their highly critical views of Israel. Israel’s Foreign Minister last week described Norway’s attitude toward Israel as “hostile.”… Cambridge scientist refused entry at Ben Gurion AirportUpon arriving at the airport, I was detained for 9 hours and interrogated repeatedly with no access to food. Humiliated by the numerous strip searches, I was given no reason for my detention, before finally being told that my access to Israel had been denied. I was then taken by police to a detention centre where I was locked in a cell for another 9 hours awaiting deportation back to Britain. Israeli academics defend war crimes and attack GoldstoneLeading representatives of Israeli academia are rallying to the Government campaign to deny the charges in Justice Goldstone’s report on war crimes in Gaza. Professor Asa Kasher author IDF’s ethical code defends the ‘most moral army in the world’ and Dr. David Altman, Senior Vice-President, Netanya Academic College accuses Goldstone of being like a collaborator with the Nazis. Adalah issues report on the silencing of Gaza Protests – identifies academic complicityLeading Israeli Human Rights group Adalah has issued a report on the silencing protests during the assault on Gaza. Ha’aretz’s item on the report says:
Ariel Universrsity excluded from international architecture competitionFollowing pressure from Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine and the Palestine Boycott National Committee Ariel University College (College of Judea and Samaria) has been barrd form participating in the Madrid Solar Decathlon. The Decathlon is a major international competition to promote sustainable housing. Many architercts ptoested that a building on illegally occupied land cannot be celebrated for its sustainability.
A turning point for the US solidarity movementAt the eighth annual US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation national organizers’ conference held in Chicago, delegates from the approximately 300 member groups that make up the US Campaign voted in favor of an academic and cultural boycott of Israel. Australian students banned from supporting PalestineAt the University of Sydney the Students for Palestine group have been told by their Student Union that they are not entitled to form a club, and benefit from the facilities, for reasons no-one is allowed to disclose. All present at the relevant meeting have been sworn to secrecy. So they’ve called a protest rally later this month, which is also being advertised by students from other universities: universities like Macquarie, also in Sydney, whose Head of Security reportedly frogmarched several of them off the campus for the ‘crime’ of leafleting outside the library, occasioning complaints of “offensive behaviour”. British Trades Union Congress endorses boycottThe TUC passed a motion, moved by the Fire Brigades Union committing the British Trade Union movement to “encourage trade unionists to boycott Israeli goods” and “encourage campaigns of disinvestment from companies associated with the occupation”. Israel’s embarrassing grovellingGideon Levy wr ites in Ha’aretz how Israel craves the attention of any performer who will visit Israel. The converse is how much tjhe cultural boycot hursts Israel. Israel Bars Some Foreign Academics Who Teach in the West BankAn article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (the leading US publication covering Higher Education) on 3 September details further steps by Israel to disrupt Palestinian HE.
World Council of Churches re-iterates boycott callThe World Council of Churches have issued a statement on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The statement includes:
BRICUP has published conclusive evidence, in its regular newsletters and elsewhere, that Israeli Universities are complicit in in the occupation and notes that the WCC declaration reinforces the call for the academic boycott of Israel. John Greyson withdraws film in protest at Tel Aviv celebrationCanadian gay film-maker, John Greyson withdrew his film ‘Covered’ from the Toronto International Film Festival in protest against their inaugural City-to-City Spotlight on Tel Aviv. In the Canadian Jewish News, Israeli Consul General Amir Gissin described how this Spotlight is the culmination of his year-long Brand Israel campaign. Israeli director Udi Aloni is supporting the Canadian protest and is calling on Israeli artists to take the same steps.
Curators pull out of Tel Aviv art biennial over Gaza war protestTwo international curators, Viktor Misiano from Russia, and Zdenka Badovinac from Slovenia, who were to participate in the planning of ArtTLV, an art biennial taking place in Israel in September, have pulled out of the project after their Israeli counterparts refused to publish articles condemning Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza and to arrange a symposium on art and war. Janina Struk declines invitation from Yad VashemJanina Struk has declined an ivitation to atend a semianr at Yad Vashem because of Israel’s actions in Gaza. She is author of Photographing the Holocaust: Interpretations of the Evidence, a freelance photographer and writer and a former senior lecturer in photography, University of Westminster in London. The Peace Industry or BDS?Faris Giacaman, a Palestinian student from the West Bank, attending his second year of college in the United States, argues that ‘peace industry’ efforts are harmful and undermine the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel — the only way of pressuring Israel to cease its violations of Palestinians’ rights. Neve Gordon of Ben Gurion Universtiy writes in the LA Times in support of BDSNeve Gordon, chair of the Politics and Government Department at Ben Gurion University whose research interests include the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, has written an article in the Los Angeles Times in support of BDS, “Boycott Israel: An Israeli comes to the painful conclusion that it’s the only way to save his country“
Tel Aviv University – A Leading Israeli Military Research CentreThe School of African and Asian Studies (SOAS) Palestinian Socienty have published a ten page report detailing the close links between Tel Aviv University and the Israeli military. The report identifies the leading role played by TAU in developing an explicit military doctrine of “disproportionality” calling for the targeting of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians and civilian infrastructures. All of the data assembled and clearly sourced in the briefing paper is publicly available and widely known both at TAU and to the wider Israeli public. Boycott movement takes hold in British unionsThe international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel has won several important victories in recent months. At this summer’s trade union conferences in Britain, BDS activists have made significant progress. While the campaign has been building momentum in unions globally since the 2005 Palestinian call for BDS, Israel’s winter invasion of Gaza has spurred several trade unions and union federations in Britain and Ireland to pass motions more explicitly in favor of BDS. Several are calling for BDS for the first time… International archeological conference in Ramallah excludes Israeli academicsArcheology in Palestine/Israel is intensely political, even when it is not wrapped up with home demolitions and ethnic cleansing asit is in Silwan. When the World Archeological Congress held their latest conferenece in Ramallah Israeli archeologists could not attend because the Israeli Government bans its citizens from visiting Ramallah and all other Area A poarts of he West Bank. WAC’s decision to site the conference in Ramallah stemmed from past problems with archeologists being refused visas to attend the WAC’s events in Washington and because Palestinians had difficulties getting visas to many countries. Despite this the Jerusalem Post claimed WAC bias BRICUP calls for boycott of Ariel conferenceAriel College, established as a settler university on illegally occupied Palestinian land, is attempting to hold a conference in November on “Media Influence on Public Opinion”. Despite its location in Ariel Settlement in occupied Palestine, it is giving the location of the conference as “Ariel, Israel “. Among the topics are to covered is “*Revealing and Confronting Media Bias”. We do not expect that the coverage given to Palestine in such channels as the Jerusalem Post, Fox News or the Daily Mail will be the subject of critical attention. BRICUP calls on all its supporters to boycott his conference and to oppose any financial support being given to anyone in the institutions where they work to attend this event. This is a provocation and not an academic gathering. PACBI publishes Guidelines for Applying the International Cultural Boycott of Israelthe Palestinian cultural boycott against Israel applies in the following situations: (1) Cultural product is commissioned by an official Israeli body
Ken loach boycotts Melbourne Film FestivalLeading British film directort, Ken Loach, is boycotting the Melbourne Film Festival and withdrawing his film ‘Looking for Eric’. Loach tried to get the festival to refuse Israeli funding and took this action when the festival valued income over integrity. Read the correspondence between Loach and the festival organisers Pro-Israel Lobby Alarmed by Growth of Boycott, Divestment MovementThe movement to call Israel to account for its crimes against the Palestinian people is growing, it is “invading the mainstream discourse, becoming part of the constant and unrelenting drumbeat against Israel.” It could eventually threaten the existence of the Jewish state by undermining the support it receives from its strongest backer, the U.S. government. That was the message of alarm delivered by the Executive Director of the American Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Howard Kohr, to the AIPAC Policy Conference on May 3.[i] The YesMen say no to the Jerusalem Film FestivalWe 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 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. Israeli academics call on Professor Jessica Benjamin to cancel her visitIsraeli academics, on behalf of ‘BOYCOTT! Supporting the Palestinian BDS call from within’, have written to leading American theorist of gender and psychoanalysis Professor Jessica Benjamin demandng she cancel her propodsed vist. 230 Israeli lecturers vow not to obey law banning Nakba commemorationTwo hundred and thirty lecturers from Israeli universities and academic institutions signed a declaration this week to “publicly violate” the proposed Nakba and Citizenship laws, should they pass through the Knesset. According to the declaration, the proposals are “harshly anti-democratic, and all gravely violate basic rights essential to democracy and to freedom of expression.” Gisha report reveals: Israel Uses Diplomats as “Security Guards” in Gaza Exit
Read press release UCU Congress 2009Overwhelming support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions UCU debated 5 motions on Palestine at its Congress and passed them all overwhelmingly. One motion was ruled invalid. This was not because the union leadership wanted to frustrate Congess but because they were under a well organised and funded legal attack by boycott opponents (and, by implication, massacre apologists). The Union is committed to encouragoing discussion of the BDS call in branches and to an calling an international trade union conference on the implementation of BDS UCU congress decisons on Palestine (see motions 24-29) Ilan Pappe ‘The necessity of cultural boycott’If there is anything new in the never-ending sad story of Palestine it is the clear shift in public opinion in the UK. I remember coming to these isles in 1980 when supporting the Palestinian cause was confined to the left and in it to a very particular section and ideological stream. The post-Holocaust trauma and guilt complex, military and economic interests and the charade of Israel as the only democracy in the Middle East all played a role in providing immunity for the State of Israel. Very few were moved, so it seems, by a state that had dispossessed half of Palestine’s native population, demolished half of their villages and towns, discriminated against the minority among them who lived within its borders through an apartheid system and divided into enclaves two million and a half of them in a harsh and oppressive military occupation. 230 Israeli lecturers vow not to obey law banning Nakba commemorationTwo hundred and thirty lecturers from Israeli universities and academic institutions signed a declaration this week to “publicly violate” the proposed Nakba and Citizenship laws, should they pass through the Knesset. According to the declaration, the proposals are “harshly anti-democratic, and all gravely violate basic rights essential to democracy and to freedom of expression.” Free Gaza Movement calls for books for GazaIn partnership with Al-Aqsa University, the Free Gaza Movement (FG) is launching its “Right to Read” campaign which will use the FG fleet to deliver textbooks and other educational supplies to universities throughout the occupied Gaza Strip. More details and how to send books Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI) launchedPalestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI) has been launched by students in Gaza. PSCABI calls upon freedom-loving students all over the world to stand in solidarity with us by boycotting Israeli academic institutions for their complicity in perpetuating Israel’s illegal military occupation and apartheid system. We note the historic action taken by thousands of courageous students of British and American universities in occupying their campuses in a show of solidarity with the brutally oppressed Palestinian people in Gaza. … read the full statement Protest concerning the proposed Australia-Israel cultural exchange trip to Israel to be led by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Julia GillardOver 60 Australian academics and cultural workers have signed an open letter As citizens of conscience we would like to protest in the strongest possible terms against the proposed Australia-Israel cultural exchange trip to Israel to be led by Julia Gillard and involving other parliamentarians, academics, business people, and journalists. We consider this trip a dreadful affront to the many Palestinians left maimed, wounded, traumatised and homeless by Israel’s devastating assault on the Gaza Strip in late 08/early 09. Student distributing fliers against university policy arrested at Ben Gurion UniversityA student distributing leaflets expressing opposition to the new anti-Nakba Day Knesset bill outside the Ben-Gurion University campus in Beersheba on Sunday was arrested by police. The arrest resulted in a student protest later that night that took place alongside a ceremony attended by the school’s board of governors and VIPs being awarded honorary doctorates. .. full story from the Jerusalem Post Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights Organisations call for End to International Donor Complicity in Israeli Violations of International LawPalestinian and Israeli human rights organisations, note that by agreeing to reconstruction without specific, binding assurances from the State of Israel, international donors are effectively underwriting Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). International law – including, international human rights law, international humanitarian law (IHL), and the law of state responsibility for wrongful acts – places specific, binding obligations on the State of Israel (based, inter alia, on its duties as an Occupying Power) with respect to the maintenance and development of normal life in occupied territory. By repeatedly restricting their action to providing aid, without holding Israel accountable for its specific obligations, international donors are relieving Israel of its legally binding responsibilities… [signed by 14 civil society organisations] full statement Edinburgh International Film Festival refuses Israeli funding folowing protestsGinnie Atkinson, Managing Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has confirmed that EIFF will not be taking Israeli Embassy money to help fund the 2009 film festival. Atkinson was unwilling to admit EIFF was influenced by Scottish PSC, or by the protest emails the EIFF received, and said that the decision was “a natural conclusion to having realised that we had made a mistake in the first place”. Their decision follows the Scottish PSC call earlier today for a protest outside the Filmhouse in Edinburgh where the EIFF is based. Mention of the Israeli Embassy on the EIFF’s ‘Honour Board’ was removed after Atkinson and the EIFF admitted that “it was a mistake to accept the £300 from the Israeli Embassy”. Leading Catalan music group ‘LA CARRAU’ joins boycott“LA CARRAU IS CANCELLING ITS VISIT TO ACRE” After having talks with the platforms promoting the boycott of Israel and with representatives of Catalan institutions and gathering as much information as possible about the events taking place on 24-25 May at Acre, Israel in which La Carrau has been invited to participate, we feel that we should make this public statement.
US Artists Against Apartheid launch email organising listThere’s now an email list for organizing around www. artistsagainstapartheid.org Any artists, arts professionals, or other concerned individuals internationally whio would like to endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel call and be involved in the ongoing discussion with Artists Against Apartheid, please join here. 725 doctors from 43 countries protest to the WMAWe the undersigned 725 physicians represent both academic medicine (114 professors) and clinical practice in 43 countries. A matter of grave concern to us, and a threat to the public reputation of the World Medical Association, has brought us together in this perhaps unprecedented medical initiative. We wish to publicly protest and appeal against the recent appointment of Dr Yoram Blachar, longstanding President of the Israeli Medical Association, as President of the World Medical Association. We believe that his Presidency makes a mockery of the principles on which the WMA was founded in 1947, which was as a response to egregious abuses by German and Japanese doctors in World War Two. read the full letter and signatory list Read the exchange of letters between Yoram Blachar and Derek Summerfied in the Lancet British firefighters vote to ratchet up the heat on Israeli ‘ethnic cleansing’AS the Fire Brigades Union conference ended on Friday, delegates gave overwhelming support for a boycott of Israeli goods and backed calls for sanctions in solidarity with the Palestinian people. 20 Israeli Organizations Call on Norway to Divest from the Israeli OccupationTwenty Israeli organizations sent an appeal to the Norwegian people to withdraw Norwegian national pension fund’s investments in all Israeli and international corporations which are involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. “We, Israeli organizations …, call upon the Norwegian people to join us in our efforts and to stop investing in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.” This appeal follows and expands a previous call on the Norwegian fund, by two Palestinian West Bank villages and eleven other organizations from around the world to divest from Africa-Israel, an Israeli corporation involved in building Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land. BDS reaches the northernmost university in the world!Twenty-one staff members of the University of Tromsø have signed a call for boycott of all Israeli academic institutions. The initiative calls for the University to “establish an academic boycott of Israel”, of Israel‘s “institutions of education, research and culture, and the institutions‘ representatives, regardless of religion and nationality.” The University of Tromsø has 9000 students and is known in Norway as the “peace university.” Mordechai Vanunu and Desmond Tutu were both granted honorary doctorates by the university. The University was a leading force in Norway during the massive boycott of the Apartheid regime in former South Africa. The call follows the outline of the PACBI call. The city of Tromsø also has a twinning relationship with the city of Gaza, and the people of Tromsø mobilized in good numbers for the Gaza demonstrations in January. One of the Norwegian physicians who worked in Gaza at Shifa Hospital, Mads Gilbert, is also a part of the Palestine movement in Tromsø Website (in norwegian) BRICUP deplores McCarthyite campaign against Omar BarghoutiThere has been an orchestrated campaign to hound Omar Barghouti a leading figure in PACBI. Omar has registered for a PhD at Tel Aviv University and is being accused of hypocrisy by boycott opponents. It has never been PACBI’s policy, or BRICUP’s to call for Palestinians not to study at Israeli Universities. Because of the restrictions on Palestinian Universities, Israeli universities are the only places that many Palestinians can study at. This is particularly true at doctoral level where Israeli occupation and blockade has prevented all but a few programmes being offered within the Occupied Territories. It is difficult for many Palestinians to study abroad, even if they can get scholarships and exit visas they run a high risk of losing their residencies rights when they try to return. This is an especial issue for those with Jerusalem IDs. Omar as a holder of an Israeli ID is, through Israel’s version of the Pass laws, not allowed to enter the areas of Palestine where the universities are sited. Omar’s decision to study at TAU, where despite the recent fuss he has been a student for ten years, highlights the pressure that Palestinian Universities are under and reinforces the argument for an international boycott of Israeli higher education. There is hypocricy here, but it comes from the Zionist claque, not from Omar who BRICUP is proud to have as a friend. Read PACBI’s statement on the campaign against Omar Barghouti PACBI calls on London Science Fiction Festival not to pay tribute to IsraelThe Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) is writing to the organizers of the Sci-Fi-London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantasy Film to urge you to cancel the special “Focus on: Israel” in your festival in London from 29 April – 4 May. We also urge the attendees of this festival, if its organizers insist on the special tribute to Israel, to protest the inclusion of this session and to boycott the focus on Israel. Honoring Israel in any field right after its massacre in Gaza shows either apathetic disregard for the lives and rights of the Palestinian people or, worse, complicity in Israel’s grave violations of international law and human rights principles. BRICUP calls on Leonard Cohen to cancel Israel visitBRICUP has issued a call to Leonard Cohen to cancel his proposed vist to Israel to perform at a concert on 24 September. We are calling on all supporters to read our open letter to Leonard Cohen and send messages to him via his manager, Robert Kory, asking him to abandon this trip.
Read a poem by Cohen that we believe he should re-read. This is Cohen's own comment on the poem
Scottish TUC endorses BDSScotland today (22 April 2009) joined Ireland and South Africa when the Scottish Trade Union Congress, representing every Scottish trade union, voted overwhelmingly to commit to boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. This is the third example of a national trade union federation committing to BDS and is a clear indication that, while Israel can kill Palestinians with impunity and Western support, it has lost the battle for world public opinion. It is now seen to be a state born out of ethnic cleansing and still expanding through the violent dispossession of the Palestinian people. Australian Academic Boycott of Israel launched“Responding to the CALL of Palestinian civil society to join the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, we are an Australian campaign focused specifically on a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, as delineated by PACBI (Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel)…” Report on Gaza universitiesThe UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has issues a report on Gaza’s universities following Israel’s invasion. They report “Many university students who lost relatives or whose homes were destroyed during the recent 23-day Israeli offensive are finding it difficult to cope, according to university officials and students. Some have been unable to register for the new semester due to lack of funds; others are still traumatised.” Lebanese academics call for sanctions and boycott“We thus stand, as academics in Lebanon, in urging our colleagues, regionally and internationally, to oppose this ongoing scholasticide and to support the just demand for academic boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. Specifically, we ask our colleagues worldwide to support the call by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel to comprehensively and consistently boycott and disinvest from all Israeli academic and cultural institutions, and to refrain from participation in any form of academic and cultural cooperation, collaboration or joining projects with Israeli institutions as a contribution to the struggle to end Israel’s occupation, colonization and system of apartheid.” Read full statement and view signatures Jewish Canadians Concerned about Suppression of Criticism of IsraelOver 150 Jewish Canadians signed a statement expressing their concerns about the campaign to suppress criticism of Israel that is being carried on within Canada. The signatories include many prominent Canadians, including Ursula Franklin O.C., Anton Kuerti O.C., Naomi Klein, Dr. Gabor Mate, and professors Meyer Brownstone (recipient of Pearson Peace Medal), Natalie Zemon Davis, Michael Neumann, and Judy Rebick. Two leading Canadian papers the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail refused to print this statement. We are pleased to publicise it. BRICUP’S protest to the Science Museum about Israel Science DayWith amazing and insensitive bad taste the Science Museum in London (and the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry) are allowing their premises to be used for an ‘Israel Day of Science’ sponsored by the Zionist Federation. The research of seven Israeli universities is to be showcased. The planned dates are March 3 (Manchester) and March 5 (London). This cannot be allowed to happen. These universities are without exception complicit in the mechanisms and policies of the Israeli occupation, and in developing the military technology used in the massacre in Gaza. Protests are rolling in from scientists and non-scientists alike BRICUP has drafted a statement to be sent to the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the London Science Museum Lord Waldegrave.
The leaflet distributed outside the Science Museums The deadline for signing up is 21 February 21. BRICUP will then send the statement in to the Science Museum with a list of signatories and maximum publicity.
Lancet special issue on ‘Health in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’The Lancet has published a special issue on Palestine. This is on the health status of 3·8 million people living in the occupied Palestinian territory details one of the most important flashpoints not only in Middle East politics, but for global security. The Lancet report examines aspects of the Palestinian health predicament: health services; maternal and child health; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes and cancer; health and human security; and the future of the healthcare system. The report has been written by a team of health scientists in the occupied Palestinian territory, together with international colleagues from WHO, associated UN agencies, and academic institutions in the USA, UK, Norway, and France. Read the whole issue (free registration required) British Medical Journal discussion on the Perils of criticising IsraelThe British Medical Journal published an article in 2004 by BRICUP member Derek Summerfield ‘Palestine: the assault on health and other war crimes‘ This attracted a deluge of critical emails. Karl Sabbagh analysed these emails in ‘Perils of criticising Israel‘ and drew conclusions about the orchestrated nature of the attacks that articles critical of Israel attract. The editors contributed an editorial describing their ways of managing such campaigns and invited other contributions including one from Michael O’Donnell, whose journal, World Medicine, closed as a result of an earlier co-ordinated campaign. Editorial: What to do about orchestrated email campaigns Canadian Union of Public Employees opens discussion on academic boycottCUPE Ontario university workers committee are considering a peaceful boycott of Israeli academic institutions that builds on our existing policy aimed at bringing about Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories and a negotiated peace in the region. Columbia faculty demand statement on Academic Freedom in PalestineOver 120 Columbia University, NY, faculty have written to the University’s president, Lee Bollinger, demanding he speak out on Israeli restrictions on academic freedom. Bollinger led the campaign in the USA against the academic boycott call, claiming it breached academic freedom. He has never expressed any concern about repeated breaches of Palestinian academic freedom. Mike Cushman responds to Jewish Peace News on the boycott callThere has been a series of postings on Jewish Peace News about the boycott which reflected an intense debate between the editors of JPN on the issue. In the course of the debate they circulated a a series of comments critical of the boycott call. They then agreed to circulate a response from Mike Cushman on behalf of BRICUP. 56 French academics call for boycott“We who have signed this text commit ourselves to cease all collaboration with Israeli institutions participating in the occupation, and declare our solidarity with those who in Israel struggle courageously for the human, social, and political rights of Palestinians.” Chicago protests at Israeli dance troupePeople arriving at Israeli dancers’ performance in Chicago greeted by dozens of people wearing bandages smeared with fake blood to represent Palestinian casualties in Gaza. Palestine solidarity activists issued a call late last year for protest against the Tel-Aviv based Batsheva Dance Company Full story from Ynet news 60 Cambridge academics support their occupying studentsCambridge academics wote to the Vice-chancellor to express continued support for the initiative taken by Cambridge University students in asking this University to respond to the recent humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Palestine and to contribute to the reconstruction of the educational infrastructure there. Their ‘occupation’ at the Law Faculty was a peaceful, dignified and humanitarian show of constructive solidarity with suffering civilians, particularly their fellow students in Palestine. Read the letter in full Alan Dershowitz threatens Hampshire College over divestmentHampshire College in Massachusetts, USA has promised to divest from six companies with connections to Israel’s military operations in the West Bank and Gaza. as part of a review of investments that do not meet their ethical standards. Alan Dershowitz, Harvard law Professor and virulent opponant of the Academic Boycott has urged donors to boycott the college in response. Full story Israeli Academics support Manchester students occupying in Gaza protestTwelve Isaeli academics and students have written to the President of Manchester University expressing their support for the students who are occupying the University in support of Gaza New research published on UK corporate links with Israeli settlementsUK economic links with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory A research paper prepared for the Sir Joseph Hotung Programme for Law, Human Rights and Peace Building in the Middle East, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London New US academic boycott callOver 90 University staff have signed a decleration, organised from Virginia Tech University, calling “upon institutions of higher education in the U.S. to cut ties with Israeli academic institutions, dissolve study abroad programs in Israel, and divest institutional funds from Israeli companies, using the 1980s boycott against apartheid South Africa as a model [and] on all people of conscience to join us in boycotting Israeli products and institutions until a just, democratic state for all residents of Palestine/Israel comes into existence. South African dock workers will not handle Israeli goodsCOSATU have announced that dockers in South africa will not handle Israeli goods and are refusing to unload a ship due to dock in Durban on 8 February. Read the COSATU statement Jerusalem’s Al-Quds University to cut ties with Israeli academiaAl-Quds University will cease all forms of academic cooperation with Israeli academic institutions soon, the school’s board determined on Sunday. “In cooperation with all sides and under an accepted timetable,” the university will phase out programs and cooperation, the university board said in a statement. It added that, “If the two-state solution is as far away today as it was ten years ago, there is no justification for continued academic cooperation based on reaching that solution.” Sign the open letter to Haruki MurakamiLeading Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami, intends to travel to Israel for the Jerusalem Book Fair and to receive the ‘Jerusalem Prize’. Sign the open letter asking him to refuse the prize Israeli Apartheid Week 2009 may be coming to a campus near youTori Cheifetz, Jerusalem Post 29 January
Spanish university professors, stakk and students call for academic boycottIs an Israeli Jewish sense of victimization perpetuating the conflict with Palestinians?Report from Ha’aretz of an important study by Professor Daniel Bar-Tal of Tel Aviv University, one of the world’s leading political psychologists, and Rafi Nets-Zehngut, a doctoral student. Read the Ha’aretz report Irish Call for Justice for Palestine and for BDSAn advert in the Irish Times on 31 January was signed by over 300 people including include 5 MEPs (from Proinsias de Rossa to Marian Harkin), many TDs and Senators (FF, SF, Green, Independent and Labour), some MLAs, Gerry Adams, the presidents or general secretaries of the major trade unions (ICTU, Siptu, Impact, Nipsa, Unite, Mandate and others) , professors, well known musicians and cultural figures, and loads of citizens. Inappropriate appointmentThe Tel Aviv University faculty members who oppose the appointment of Col. Pnina Sharvit-Baruch, head of the international law division (ILD) in the Military Advocate General’s office, to a post at the university’s law faculty, are right. … One of the important reasons not to appoint Sharvit-Baruch to the law faculty is her sanctioning, as head of the division, of the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, many of them children, women and elderly people, during the three weeks of the war. Read the Ha’aretz editorial Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday responded to opposition to the appointment by saying Israel would no longer support institutions that discriminate against IDF officers because of their military service. “In my opinion, any university that takes part in the disqualification of lecturers on such grounds before an examination [of their service] has finished, will be an institution not suitable for funding from the Israeli government.” IDF colonel to teach TAU law course, despite critics’ bid to stop her Israeli Academic Institutes Join the Iron Fist Policy: Hundreds of Special Forces Brutally Suppress a Demonstration by Arab Students in Haifa UniversityTwelve students were arrested and many more assaulted and injured, one of whom hospitalized, during a demonstration arranged by the Arab students of Haifa University against the Gaza massacre. The University administration called for the interference of the police and Special Forces, who entered the campus in order to suppress the demonstration and prevent the students from expressing their solidarity with the people of Gaza and their anti-war attitude. New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi Calls for Government Action on IsraelNZ trade unions call for a wide range of sanctins against Israel European parliament socialist group opposes extension of trade relations[The Socailsat Group] Stresses again that any upgrading of political relations between the EU and Israel must be strongly conditioned on respect for international humanitarian law, on real commitment to a comprehensive peace settlement, on the end of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and on respect for full implementation of the EC-PLO Interim Association Agreement. As long as the situation remains so critical the Socialist Group shall maintain its negative position on the EP’s vote of assent to further participation of Israel in EC programmes. Israel Bombs University Teachers Association in Gaza–Boycott Now!PACBI learned today from its Steering Committee member, Dr. Haidar Eid, that the headquarters of the University Teachers Association-Palestine, in Gaza, was bombed by the Israeli occupation forces during their indiscriminate, willful destruction campaign in the Tal el-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday. full story Tel Aviv University celebrates its support for the Israeli militaryThe latest issue of Tel Aviv University’s Magazine declares how “TAU is playing a major role in enhancing Israel’s security capabilities and military edge.” U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel launchedBRICUP welcomes the action of US academics of issuing a US appeal to support the PABI call. We hope that US readers will support this call as well as joining many other US academics in becoming supporters of BRICUP BRICUP now has videos availableThere are videos now available on this site. The first set are from our public meeting on the Occupation and Civil Society. Read extensive notes of talks at the meeting Birmingham and Oxford vote for boycott.City councillors of Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, from all major parties endorse the logic of boycott. They were joined by Oxford City Council Read full story on Birmingham The Grand Hotel Intercontinental (Paris) cancels the Israeli Tourism FairConfronted with the indignation expressed by so many people in France and abroad who had heard about the scheduled Israeli Tourism Fair in this great Parisian hotel, the management of this establishment has made the decision to cancel this event, which was supposed to open on January 15. In Gaza as the storm clouds gatheredMike Cushman and Jonathan Rosenhead of BRICUP report on their visit in December 2008. If you would like to ask Mike or Jonathan to speak at a meeting or ask them a question about their visit send a mail to GazaSailors@bricup.org.uk EU must hold Israel to its agreementsLetter to Guardian with 297 signatories including many academics Norway oil fund’s Israel holdings under scrutinyNorway’s finance minister has ordered a review of investments by the country’s $300 billion wealth fund in companies active in the Palestinian territories after Israel’s crackdown in the Gaza Strip, officials said. 475 Israelis call for UN sanctions on IsraelThey stated “We are calling on the world to stop Israeli violence and not allow the continuation of the brutal occupation. We call on the world to condemn and not become an accomplice in Israel’s crimes.” They signed a call on the world to implement the call by Palestinian human rights organizations. UK Liberal-Democat leader Clegg calls for suspension of Israel/EU agreementThe European Union should use today’s emergency meeting of foreign ministers to suspend a new co-operation agreement between the EU and Israel, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has said. We must stop arming Israel Nick Clegg in the Guardian British telecom firm severs ties with Israeli counterparts – posted 1 JanuaryBritish telecommunications firm FreedomCall has terminated its cooperation with Israel’s MobileMax due to the IDF operation in Gaza. BRICUP members back from Gaza – posted 16 December
While they were there: they met trade unionists and civil society groups; and toured Gaza and saw the effects of the blockade and of Israeli bombing and shelling. Read press releases from FreeGaza and Bricup Two videos of interviews of Mike Cushman and Jonathan Rosenhead by Haim Brasheeth about their visit.
Bricup has a new banner – posted 3 DecemberYou can view a picture of our new banner The Bilbao Initiative – civil society action for justice in Palestine–Final Declaration and Action Plan – posted 27 NovemberThe international conference held in Bilbao at the end of October issued a 10 point action plan starting with “To raise awareness about and implement the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign against Israel” UNGA head accuses Israel of apartheid (and calls for BDS)UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann said the international community should consider sanctions against Israel including “boycott, divestment and sanctions” similar to those enacted against South Africa two decades ago. Public Meeting – The Occupation and Israeli Civil SocietyPublic Meeting The Occupation and Israeli Civil Society Speakers:
Implications of the Occupation for Palestinian civil society Saturday 29 November, 2pm Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental & African Studies A Museum of Tolerance to be built on top of a Muslim Cemetery in Jerusalem? posted 30 October 2008The State of Israel and the Jerusalem municipality is building a Museum of Tolerance on the site of a Muslim Cemetery in the heart of Jerusalem. BRICUP calls on all its supporters to suppport the campaign launched by the Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information – IPCRI against this obstacle to peace and a just settlement. BRICUP issues press release on threats to UCU posted 30 October 2008BRICUP denounced the effort by unnamed members of the University and College Union (UCU) to prevent free debate of Israel’s actions in the union. The legal challenge to the UCU, said BRICUP, demonstrates the desperation and the hypocrisy of those of those who wish to defend Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. Read full press release
Israel Targets Palestinian Students posted 23 OctoberReport from Inter Press Service on how Isreal is blocking students leaving Gaza to take up courses of study abroad PGFTU support for the boycott re-affirmed posted 16 SeptemberAt their meeting at the TUC earlier this month Trade Union friends of Israel attempted to confuse the audience about the Palestinian Genetral Federation of Trade Unions’ support for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). You can view a copy of the original BDS call countersigned by Shaher Saad, PGFTU secretary-general. Further, as announced in May 2008, PGFTU is a member of the BDS National Committee (BNC). Since then BNC have issued several statements, explicitly listing the names of the constituent organizations and unions in the BNC. At no time has anyone in PGFTU objected to the inclusion of their name Gideon Levy on the Israeli military in Israeli universities posted 9 SeptemberGideon Levy has an article in Ha’aretz The Shin Bet’s academic freedom on 8 September which details the special privileges given to members of the IDF in universites and their demands for more.
Give students in Gaza a chance to study! posted 19 AugustTrpped in Gaza: Azhar, Samer, Zeinab, Wael and Izideen are just five out of hundreds of students trapped in the Gaza Strip, prevented from reaching the universities around the world to which they have been accepted. Since June 2007, Israel has imposed a nearly total closure on the Gaza Strip, violating the right to freedom of movement for 1.5 million Palestinian residents – including hundreds of students in danger of losing their chance to access study programs not available in Gaza… Sign the petition from Gisha: Legal Center for Freedom of Movement Paul McCartney cancels Israeli gig posted 13 August 2008Paul McCartney will not be performing in Israel next month as planned. Boycott the Israel Medical Association website launched posted 13 August 2008The Medical Committee for Boycott of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) will document the systematic torture of Palestinian people by agents of Israel. Snoop Dogg cancels Israeli gig posted 13 August 2008Rapper slated to perform in Rishon Lezion Amphitheater reneges on tour date and joins the list of other no-shows this summer, including Chris Cornell, Björk and Siouxsie Sioux. Irish Congress of Trade Unions report supports boycott posted 13 August 2008Irish Congress of Trade Unions launches the report of a senior union delegation visit to Israel and Palestine which recommends support and promotion for a “boycott campaign of Israeli goods and services and a policy of disinvestment from Israeli companies.” Sue Blackwell publishes response to Gordon Brown on the Guardian website posted 13 August 2008Sue Blackwell published an article on the Guardian website rebutting the argumetns made by Gordon Brown for closer links with Israel International Jewish Solidarity Network sends open letter to Mercedes Sosa posted 13 August 2008The International Jewish Solidarity Network has written to the Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa asking her to cancel her propsed visit to israel BRICUP open letter to Branford Marsalis posted 23 June 2008BRICUP has sent an open letter to Jazz Musician Branford Marsalis. We are asking him not to play in Tel Aviv in July as part of Israel’s 60th birthday celebrations Independent publishes rebuttals of Fitzsimons posted 12June 2008The Independent published four letters from BRICUP supporters rebutting the article they published a week earlier by Lorna Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons, Chief Executive of BICOM – the well funded pro-Israeli propaganda and PR organisation – had seriously misrepresented the decisions of UCU congress. Jean-Luc Goddard refuses to go to IsraelProminent Frenc nouvelle vague film director, Jean Luc Goddard has supported the cultural boycott of Israel by rwefusing to go to the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival. Read the report in the Washington Post UCU congress passes complicity and greylisting motion posted 3 June 2008On 28 May the UK Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) Annual Congress in Manchester overwhelmingly passed a motion re-affirming its opposition to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and its determination to highlight the extent of the complicity of Israeli Higher Education Institutions in the occupation.
Medical ethical violations in Gaza posted 27/05/08Article in the Lancet December 22-29 2007 Uri Davis motion to Israeli Anthropological Association posted 26/05/08Professor Uri Davis has proposed a motion suppporting the academic boycott to the Israeli Anthropological Association. This has not yet been debated but is being posted on their website. Report of debate at Institute of Social Studies, The Hague posted 22/05/08Acknowledging the past, Imagining the future: Confronting the impasse between Israel and the Palestinians A public debate with Omar Barghouti, Independent Palestinian Analyst and Commentator and Salomon Bouman, former correspondent for NRC Handelsblad in Israel. Video and audio streams of the debate Statement from End The Occupation South Africa posted 19/05/08End The Occupation South Africa sent a message out to supporters of the Palestinian liberation movement. The advertisement appeared on page 41 of the Citizen (15 May 2008). Read this powerful statement signed by many prominent veterans of the struggle against apartheid Breaking News: Russel Banks refuses to go to IsraelWriter Russell Banks refuses to attend the International Writers’ Festival in Israel in May soon after BRICUP publishes an open letter requesting him to boycott the event. This contrasts with Nadime Gordimer rejecting our plea which has attracted much negative comment in South Africa and elsewhere. Breaking News: BRICUP launches its podcast servicePodcasts will now be available on this site. The first two feature Palestinain academics who visited us as part of the UCU tour and the third an Arab Israeli UCU member talking about her experiences
BRICUP sends open letter to Nadine Gordimer posted 15 April 08BRICUP sends an open letter to Nadine Gordimer deploring her decision to participate in the International Writers’ Festival in Israel in May. Take Archaeology in Jerusalem out of the Hands of Elad
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