BDS | KADAITCHA

May 25, 2012December 11, 2020

South African Artists Against Apartheid Ask the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Respect Boycott of Israel

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
c/o Warner Music
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10019
USA

23 May 2012

Dear Red Hot Chili Peppers,

South African Artists to Red Hot Chili Peppers: Don’t Entertain Apartheid, Choose the Right Side of History!

We are South Africans artists who have recently learned that in the course of your upcoming international tour (which will include Bulgaria, Greece, Lebanon and Turkey) the Red Hot Chili Peppers are also planning to perform in Israel in September.

We appeal to you to heed the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel. As you may know, the boycott enjoys the support of the overwhelming amount of Palestinian civil society (including artists and artist groups) and an increasing number of progressive Israelis.

You might wonder what purpose refusing to perform in Israel might serve? As a people whose parents and grandparents suffered under (and resisted) Apartheid in South Africa, our history is testament to the value and legitimacy that the international boycott had in bringing an end to the Apartheid regime in our country. When artists and sportspeople began refusing to perform in South Africa, the world’s eyes turned to the injustices that were happening here. This then created a wave of pressure on politicians and world leaders representing their constituencies, to insist on a regime-change – this contributed to a free, democratic and non-racial South Africa. The same is not only possible for Palestine-Israel, but inevitable. The question is: on which side of history do you want to be? Performing in Apartheid South Africa during the 80s, or in Israel today, is choosing to be on the wrong side of history.

As South Africans, we recognise the role that internationally-recognised artists like yourselves played in helping us to end apartheid in our country. It is this recognition, along with our belief in you, that leads us to join the many others around the world who are calling on you to cancel this part of your tour.

We understand how difficult it would be for you to reject an opportunity to share your enthusiasm and skills with others. Bands like you are the reason artists want to exist. Your music motivates beyond concert stages, penetrating into the intimate personal spaces of individual human lives and transforming them forever, the way only true art can.

Unhappily, matters are not so simple in this context. Art does not simply take place in a vacuum. The belief that cultural activities are “apolitical” (or that you are simply performing music, not getting involved in politics) is a myth. You performing in Israel will be a slap in the face of Palestinians (who have, since 2005, asked international artists not to perform there) but it will also be tacit support for the Israeli regime and its practices of apartheid.

The audiences before whom you would perform at Haryakon Park in Tel Aviv will not include your Palestinian fans from Gaza or the West Bank – they are barred from traveling to Tel Aviv. They are excluded, like how Blacks were excluded under Apartheid in South Africa, by laws which shut them out of places in a land which, historically, is as much their own as those who are permitted to attend.

These are laws which the International Court of Justice (the highest court on this earth) has declared to be illegal and in violation of international human rights law, just as apartheid was declared to be illegal in our country. The Court found that the fundamental rights of people who would otherwise be enjoying your performances have been violated and their rights to a cultural life and to self-determination denied. By agreeing to perform before segregated audiences – whether in Israel, Gaza, or the West Bank – the Red Hot Chili Peppers would be used by those responsible to claim legitimacy (with or without your consent) for the injustices and humiliations they are inflicting on Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza as well as those living anywhere else in Israel.

From our own experience of the cultural boycott of South Africa which we ourselves called for, we had no sense of being its unwilling victims and isolated from the rest of the world. In fact, our experience was precisely to the contrary – we were strengthened by a powerful sense of world-wide solidarity with us and support in our struggle for freedom.

As Palestinians (and an increasing numbers of progressive Israelis) have themselves called for the boycott, we have no doubt that they will feel as heartened and encouraged in their struggle as we were.
We urge to you to stand by them, to exclude Israel from your tour, and be on the right side of history.

Joni Barnard, Mpho Madi, Aslam Bulbulia and the rest of the SA Artists Against Apartheid collective

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

SOURCE

Yousef Munayyer in the NY Times “Not All Israeli Citizens are Equal” :

‘Tragically for Palestinians, Zionism requires the state to empower and maintain a Jewish majority even at the expense of its non-Jewish citizens, and the occupation of the West Bank is only one part of it. What exists today between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is therefore essentially one state, under Israeli control, where Palestinians have varying degrees of limited rights: 1.5 million are second-class citizens, and four million more are not citizens at all. If this is not apartheid, then whatever it is, it’s certainly not democracy. ‘

U.S. report criticizes Israel’s treatment of African migrants

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton presented on Thursday the State Department’s 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices that criticizes Israel for its treatment of African migrants, an issue vigorously debated in Israeli public discourse lately.

The report states that Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers, which are about 85 percent of African migrants in Israel “were not allowed access to asylum procedures but were given renewable ‘conditional release’ documents that deferred deportation and had to be renewed every few months.”

The report quotes statistics provided by the UNHCR, showing that during the year out of 4,603 new asylum applications 3,692 were rejected. Only one was approved. 6,412 cases remained pending at year’s end.

The report also critically mentioned that the Israeli government officials “often negatively referred to asylum seekers as ‘infiltrators’ and periodically characterized asylum seekers as directly associated with rises in crime, disease, and terrorism.”
The report specifically mentions December 2011 interview of the Minister of Interior Eli Yishai with the IDF radio, in which he promised to “ensure that the last of the Sudanese, and the Eritreans, and all of the infiltrators, to the last of them, will return to their countries.”

Thoughts on an attack by a Jewish mob
UK student union to support campus boycott initiatives
Ilan Pappé: the boycott will work, an Israeli perspective

May 21, 2012December 11, 2020

Boycott of Apartheid Israel Is For Human Rights, Justice and Freedom

Members of the Irish media absorbed in pillorying human rights activists who called on Irish band Dervish to boycott apartheid Israel might instead consider the declaration of South African Artists Against Apartheid below. It appears these Irish ‘journalists’ are incapable of reading the threads on Dervish’s facebook wall in order to ascertain the facts about where the ‘avalanche of negativity’ referred to by singer Cathy Jordan actually emanated from – in fact, it oozed from fanatical defenders of Israeli apartheid after the band announced its respect for boycott.

Cathy Jordan of Dervish said “I abhor all violence for whatever reason. I loathe any violations of people’s human rights and dignity, and I believe that all citizens have the right to live in peace, free from persecution. I’m an idealist, a pacifist, a humanitarian.” Her words resonate well with the principled boycott of Israel which addresses non-violently the apartheid state’s crimes against humanity. The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement is inspired by the successful boycott of apartheid South Africa, and the call to the international community by Palestinian people to boycott is grounded solidly in international human rights law, affirmative of justice, freedom and equality. It was in this positive humanist spirit that Dervish was encouraged by human rights activists to cancel its date with apartheid Israel.

Adding weight to the call of Palestinian people for boycott of Israel until they attain their full rights, South African Artists Against Apartheid made the following supportive declaration in November, 2010.

As 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.”

Apartheid and Collaborating with it

Collaborating with institutions linked to the state of Israel cannot be regarded as a neutral act in the name of cultural exchange.

In an official report commissioned by the South African government in 2009, the Human Sciences Research Council confirmed that Israel, by its policies and practices, is guilty of the crime of apartheid. Numerous others, including South Africans who have a deep familiarity with racial oppression (and resistance to it), have spoken of life in the shadow of Israeli repression as akin to or worse to that under apartheid in South Africa.

Artistic performances in Israel promote a “business as usual” attitude that normalizes and “whitewashes” a state that is guilty of daily forms of exclusion, violence and war crimes. Operation Cast Lead in Gaza saw over 400 children killed by the Israeli military; and the unconscionable attack by Israel in international waters aboard the Freedom Flotilla resulted in the death of nine humanitarian aid workers. (Both have been described as crimes in violation of international law – the former by the 2009 Goldstone report and the latter by the UN Human Rights Council.)

As artists of conscience we can act to resist the normalization of Israel’s apartheid policies. Some may hide behind the excuse that art is apolitical. However, artists have not been hesitant in taking a position against racism and inequality. As South Africans we benefited from such a position of conscience. For example, members of the British Musicians’ Union, pledged not to perform in South Africa as long as apartheid was in effect. Numerous organizations and artists in film, television, theatre and other arts fell in line against the South African regime and contributed to the denormalisation of South African apartheid which eventually led to that regime’s demise – and to the birth of a free and democratic country, for all.

Joining the International Momentum

Inspired by the boycott of Apartheid South Africa, Palestinians have made a call for a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign of Israel. This call has been actively supported by Israelis as well.

British writer John Berger, Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, US poet Adrienne Rich, British film director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty are just some of the prominent voices that have joined this call. In a movement that continues to gain momentum, a string of artists have recently either cancelled shows or pledged their refusal to be complicit in Israeli Apartheid. Some names include: Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Gil Scott-Heron, Dustin Hoffman, Meg Ryan, Faithless and Massive Attack. For futher details, refer to the attached Record Sheet.

When the Cape Town Opera proposed to perform in Israel, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said:

“Just as we said during apartheid that it was inappropriate for international artists to perform in South Africa in a society founded on discriminatory laws and racial exclusivity, so it would be wrong for Cape Town Opera to perform in Israel.”

“Cape Town Opera should postpone its proposed tour next month until both Israeli and Palestinian opera lovers of the region have equal opportunity and unfettered access to attend performances.”

“the thickest-skinned South Africans would be comfortable performing before an audience that excluded residents living, for example, in an occupied West Bank village 30 minutes from Tel Aviv, who would not be allowed to travel to Tel Aviv, while including his Jewish neighbours from an illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian territory.”

“The Tel Aviv Opera House is state sponsored. By luring international artists to perform there, it advances Israel’s fallacious claim to being a ‘civilized democracy’. Yet, every day, millions of citizens are denied the right to educational and cultural opportunities in Israel and the Palestinian territories it occupies.”

“Please, fine singers of the Cape Town Opera: Much as it offers you opportunities to travel abroad and show the world what we can do, listen to your conscience. God loves Jews and Muslims equally. To perform Porgy and Bess, with its universal message of non-discrimination, in the present state of Israel, is unconscionable.”

Israel uses culture shamelessly and deliberately to promote its political branding, to obscure its crimes against humanity given impunity by the failure by governments to enforce international law. Soon after the Palestinian boycott was called in 2005, Nissim Ben-Sheetrit, a deputy director general from the Israeli Foreign Ministry said: “We are seeing culture as a hasbara tool of the first rank, and I do not differentiate between hasbara and culture”.

Artists who are intending to play in apartheid, colonial Israel should discover for themselves the unconstrained, horrific nature of Israel’s crimes against humanity and support the unified call of Palestinian people to boycott, lest they are conscripted as tools of Israeli propaganda and contribute to the terrible harms committed against oppressed Palestinians by the racist, criminal Israeli regime.

Related Links

Another BDS win in South Africa – “BDS spokesman Muhammed Desai said in a statement that Ayee’s announcement came at the request of students and staff, as hosting Finkelstein would have violated the “academic boycott” of Israel. ” That’s Yaakov Finkelstein, deputy ambassador.
SA university pulls plug on Israeli Embassy

‘Professor Ayee’s announcement came after the university was called on by students and staff to cancel the hosting of Finkelstein as it would have violated the “academic boycott” of Israel. Palestinians issued a call to the international community in 2005 for a program of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until Israel abides by international law and basic human rights.

Early last year, another SA University, the University of Johannesburg, became the world’s first university to impose an academic boycott on Israel by ending its institutional relation with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University. In addition several student movements, including the South African Students Congress (SA’s largest and oldest studdent body), have publicly backed the academic boycott and BDS call.

UKZN School of Social Sciences senior lecturer, Dr Lubna Nadvi commented:”This is a positive and encouraging move by UKZN. Israel is fast becoming a pariah state, like Apartheid South Africa did, that no one really wants to be associated with – including academics and students. It can be safe to assume that UKZN’s cancellation represents the general sentiment among students and staff”.’

Desperate Lies and Smears by Israeli Apartheid Supporters Highlight BDS Strength in Ireland
Thanks, Dervish for Respecting the Boycott of Apartheid Israel
Israeli Tourism Ministry brings African Americans to Israel to promote false “sexy” image

May 18, 2012December 11, 2020

Was JLo Pressured by Israel’s Hasbara Apparatus?

17 May 2012 UPDATE: JLo has not yet confirmed she will be entertaining apartheid Israel. Her management has been asked, we are waiting for a response. In June 2010, Reuters reported that Lopez made a choice to boycott playing in Turkish-held Cyprus:

“Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse,” a statement on Lopez’s website said.

On 25 April, it was reported by Danielle Berrin for the Jewish Journal that a group of 30 leading music executives, entertainment lawyers, and talent agents met at the Ziffren Brittenham law offices with the infamous CCFP (Artists Against Apartheid has called for a boycott of the CCFP) and David Seigel ( the Counsel General of Israel in Los Angeles). Atar Dekel, the cultural attache for the Israeli Consulate was also a the lunchtime presentation.

Music moguls at the meeting represented artists such as Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Aerosmith, Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lopez.

Just 2 weeks after the article was published, the Israeli press and Israeli twitter accounts announced with great fanfare that Jennifer Lopez will perform for Israel in late 2012. Her planned performance most likely comes as a response to the intense pressure of the CCFP, as well as the Counsel General of Israel in Los Angeles.

The above tweet was created by the State of Israel Official Twitter Channel, which seems to be dedicated to using many artists’ good names to promote their agenda of hostility to Palestinians.

There is no doubt that the BDS movement can be effective enough to lead to democracy, justice and equal rights in Israel, so it scares those who are loyal to an Israel that excludes people who are not deemed good enough to be “privileged.” BDS also contributes to mass awareness of the present situation of apartheid in Israel. BDS is spreading because absolutely anyone can participate in it, and it is not necessary to travel to a protest or risk suffering from tear gas grenades. (Though many BDS movement volunteers certainly possess the passion to risk their lives to see freedom, justice & democracy for Palestinians and many do just that).

This seeming abuse of Jennifer Lopez in order to appease the CCFP and the Counsel General of Israel in Los Angeles is disturbing.

First, a concern exists over whether Lopez herself was informed of the boycott by whichever powerful music mogul who pulled the strings to get her on the Zionist State’s artist playlist.

Second, is Lopez expected to concur with the motives of the CCFP? Is she in any jeopardy if she does not comply with the Counsel General of Israel in Los Angeles’ expectations? It is hard to imagine that a 42 year old, self assured woman with a definite passion for woman struggling for their rights in Juárez, Mexico, (Lopez produced and starred in Bordertown), would close her eyes to the struggle that Palestinian woman must endure due to Israel’s siege on Gaza and forceful occupation of the West Bank.

Next, is Lopez aware of how her good name has already been used by the CCFP to promote the false notion that Israel is a safe haven for refugees among many other lies and deceptions on the CCFP website?

It takes true courage and a very powerful sense of meaning and self to stand up to the intense pressure that many artists face to perform for apartheid Israel. Playing on the wrong side of history most certainly creates an ugly stain on any artists’ resume.

Lopez has not confirmed her concert yet, and she may very well follow in the steps of Bruce Springsteen. Last November 2011, Springsteen’s name was plastered all over the Israeli press. He has yet to book a gig for Israel. He most likely understands that apartheid builds walls music cannot cross. It appears that the Boss won’t be bossed around by the music moguls. (See Springsteen, the Boycott, and Israel)

SOURCE

Related Links

While Israel uses African Americans for sexy hasbara, Interior Minister say ‘most African refugees are criminals’
On the hasbara from Israel’s ambassador to the US: “He is afraid of BDS. And calls it a more “sinister” tactic than what? Than violence? Yes; he would prefer violence. We don’t know how to fight Gandhi, the Israelis say.”
With implacable logic, Ilan Pappe explains why BDS of Israel is essential and will work to end its crimes against humanity.

Israel / Palestine Links

Israel can’t handle the truth about its crimes, bans history.
Lieberman’s macabre fascist opportunism is in the tradition of Herzl’s political zionism “the anti-semites shall be our best friends”
Despite its insidious, massively funded hasbara shillery, or perhaps partly because of it, Israel is on the nose.
How Israel’s apartheidists are (1) appropriating middle eastern cuisine (2) attempting to rebrand Nakba Day with their vile cultural appropriation, all during the Palestinian mass hunger strike.

From Kim Marie: ‘Seriously disgusting Zionist hasbara – Happy Hummus Day, which has been designated May 15, is being promoted on the web and FB. After seeing this on Sol’s FB page and his comment pointing out what “distasteful timing” it was, I started to do quick search – within in 3-5 mins it became clear that this part of a Zionist Hasbara campaign to rebrand Israel. If you look at the bottom left hand side of the Hummus Day website you will find the words “Innovation Israel Hackathon” – click on them and it takes you to a website by this name which states: “Innovation Israel Hackathon – Making Israel Go Viral! The Innovation Israel Hackathon is an initiative aiming to gather Israel’s brightest talent to make Israel go viral”. Everytime I think Zionist can’t get any more disgusting, I am always proven wrong – not only do they steal Arab culture/cuisine and trying to claim for themselves, they do so on a day that marks the destruction of Palestinian society by Zionism. Seriously how is this any different to Holocaust denial? ‘

MK Haneen Zoabi, who calls for equal rights, is vilified by disgusting rightwing racist, sexist “journalist”

May 13, 2012December 11, 2020

BDS Maroc Protest Against Moroccan Government Delegation to Tel Aviv Agriculture Exhibition

BDS Maroc expresses its condemnation of the Moroccan Government sending an official delegation to the International Exhibition of Agriculture to be held in Tel Aviv from the 15th – 17th May.

English translation [Google]:

To the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

After greeting, initiative followed in my DSL Morocco through the written press and electronic outraged news about an official delegation will represent Morocco in the International Exhibition of Agriculture, Tel Aviv between 15 and May 17, 2012.

While the exercise by the Zionist ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people and the worst kinds of oppression and exploitation affects humans and the earth and the trees of administrative detention and destruction of homes and depriving the peasants of their land and their water … and at a time of growing concern across the world calling for a boycott of the entity Zionist note that your ministry complicit in breaking the isolation of this entity the offender and contribute to the strengthening of its economy by opening the Moroccan market in the face of agricultural machinery and seeds coming from the occupied territories. The International Exhibition of Agriculture, Meknes, in addition to the published website of the Zionist Central Bureau of statistics on trade between Morocco and the Zionist entity, leaving no room for doubt.

We inform you, Mr. Minister, as our condemnation of this policy cooperating with the occupation and call for your ministry through the Moroccan government to stop all forms of cooperation and cut off all relations with “Israel” whatever it is.

Please accept, Mr. Minister, and believe our feelings.

Guidelines from Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) promote boycott of events which are not framed in co-resistance and which normalise Israel’s criminality, specifically in a Palestinian and Arab context:

“as the participation in any project, initiative or activity, in Palestine or internationally, that aims (implicitly or explicitly) to bring together Palestinians (and/or Arabs) and Israelis (people or institutions) without placing as its goal resistance to and exposure of the Israeli occupation and all forms of discrimination and oppression against the Palestinian people.” [2] This is the definition endorsed by the BDS National Committee (BNC).

Related Links

BDS Maroc on Facebook

May 12, 2012December 11, 2020

Desperate Lies and Smears by Israeli Apartheid Supporters Highlight BDS Strength in Ireland

In the wake of Irish traditional band Dervish’s cancellation of their dates in apartheid Israel, an astonishing campaign of lies and smears has played out in the Irish press- mainly in the Sunday Independent – and has had substantial and deeply worrying contributions from the Irish Minister for Justice and Defence, Alan Shatter.

When the Dervish dates in Israel became known to Palestine solidarity campaigners, DPAI set up a Facebook page, Dervish, Don’t Bring Your Travelling Show to Apartheid Israel, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) wrote an open letter to the group, musicians supportive of BDS contacted the band and people posted on the band’s Facebook page. There was no abuse of the band, no ‘venom’ directed at them (there never is), there was a concerted campaign to give Dervish information about the terrible situation of the Palestinian people, to tell them about their call for solidarity in the form of BDS and to ask them to join other artists of conscience in refusing to play in Israel.

When Dervish cancelled, stating that they had been unaware of the cultural boycott of Israel: “At the time we agreed to these performances we were unaware there was a cultural boycott in place. We now feel that we do not wish to break this boycott. Our decision to withdraw from the concerts reflects our wish to neither endorse nor criticise anyone’s political views in this situation.” (Official Facebook page here), they were congratulated by the IPSC, DPAI, who wrote a letter of thanks, and many other supporters of the Palestinian people. The cancellation, of course, sparked the usual hate-filled posts from zionists and that’s where the ‘venom’ referred to in Dervish’s second statement came from.

Here are some examples of the positive statements made by BDS advocates:

“Respect and thanks for having the courage to refuse breaching the Palestinian call for boycott.”

Raymond Deane, Cultural Liaison Officer IPSC: “Dervish – I salute you for this courageous and morally correct decision. You will now be subject to massive defamation from Zionists and their fellow-travellers – you should see this as proof that you have made the correct decision, because it will reveal to you the viciousness and mendacity of Israel’s apologists.”

Zoe Lawlor: “Well done and thanks Dervish. You have joined a growing list of artists refusing to play for apartheid. You are on the right side of history and with the Palestinian people in their struggle for justice. Respect.”

“Thank you so much for refusing to support apartheid, history will remember artists like you. It is not always easy to do what is right. You are not alone, Nelson Mandela and many other peacemakers have said they themselves cannot feel free until there is an end to the brutal occupation and colonisation of Palestine.”

“This cannot have been an easy time for any of you. I hope one day you play Tel Aviv again with laughter and lightness and when this difficult week is just a dim bad memory. Thank you for not breaking the boycott… you paid a much higher price than most people ever have to. Respect !”

Martin O’ Quigley, IPSC Chair: “Thanks Dervish for not playing to Apartheid. Supporting Human Rights is not expressing hate; supporters of the South African boycott didn’t hate white South Africans, just the policies of the Apartheid regime.”

Some of the negative comments from supporters of Israeli apartheid:

“LMAO at this band attempting to sit on the fence while simultaniously boycotting a country surrounded by a bunch of Arabs that want to see it destroyed. Israel has been at war with the savages that refuse to tollerate Israels existence, yet the world is siding with the intollerant Muslims while demonizing Israel. The world turning against Israel, now was this not prophesied to happen. Everything is right on schedule thanks for doing your part in satans agenda you bunch of lunatics.”

“Congratulations! You are now part of a cynical negative political campaign promoting nothing but hatred. Shame on you.”

“let it be kbown that i have heard that the bds uses some pretty shady tactics to threaten artists to cancel shows in the name of peace. oddly, much like hamas.”

“Wow Dervish! UNLIKE! Once again proving how anti-Semitic the Irish are! Please do not come back to Montana, we prefer real world music! I will do my best Not to promote you at every opportunity. Booooo Hisssss…get off the Stage!!!”

” white liberals. jeeeesus. take care all. i dont even like Dervish”

“For shame, Dervish, for so ignorantly taking a side in this misguided movement. Your statement that “Our decision to withdraw from the concerts reflects our wish to neither endorse nor criticise anyone’s political views in this situation” is so absurd as to be comical. How, by joining a boycott, are you not endorsing a position? Way to land on the wrong side of history. Pathetic.”

“this is the day the nusic of dervish die for me”

The posts above are representative of the reaction on the Dervish page and absolutely refute any smears against IPSC members and those standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people. They make Alan Shatter’s press release of 4th May look even more baseless when the evidence is there for anyone to see on the Internet. Instead of doing this and working on the basis of factual information, Shatter instead chose to write an outrageous press release accusing the IPSC (erroneously referred to as the IPSG) of “cyber bullying” and infringing on Irish citizens’ rights to travel. He also makes a link between Al Quaeda and the IPSC that is so ridiculous as to be laughable, except that this is a minister, in our government, paid for by our taxes, charged with upholding justice and protecting Irish citizens, IPSC members included. The statement defies belief and has been reported as fact in Irish newspapers, their journalists too lazy to actually investigate and report properly and accurately. The Irish Times and Independent are guilty of this and also claiming that there is no ‘official’ boycott of Israel, thereby displaying the usual orientalism of completely ignoring Palestinian voices. Meanwhile Shatter employs the all too familiar and predictable zionist tactic of mentioning Syria, demonstrating a profound inability to comprehend the simple tenet that the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is just that, a campaign in solidarity with PALESTINE, not Syria…… rocket science and all that. By the way, his concern for Syria doesn’t extend to the Golan Heights….

While Palestinians live under occupation, oppression, siege, are frequent victims of Israeli war crimes and while over 2,000 of them are currently on hunger strike to protest the illegal practice of detention without charge or trial, Shatter has been silent. Could it be that the Minister for Justice has no sense of justice when it comes to Palestinians?

In the wake of the Dervish cancellation, there has been much hysteria in the Irish media, accompanied by increasingly poor standards of journalism – even journalists with no apparent pro-Israel agenda have managed to mischaracterise both BDS and the campaign around the Dervish tour. Above all else, they keep spectacularly missing the bloody point. Palestinians living through their 64th year of brutal occupation, betrayed by the so-called international community, have called for a comprehensive boycott of Israel – that’s their call, that’s one of the means by which they choose to resist the apartheid imposed on them. Solidarity groups support that call, that’s what solidarity means.

Raymond Deane, IPSC Cultural Liaison Officer, was interviewed by the ignorant and boorish Marc Colman on Newstalk radio (about 20 mins in) and subjected to personal attack by the uninformed and rude Eamon Delaney, both of whom trotted out the usual zionist cliches, familiar to any observer of the defenders of Israel and rehearsed multiple times on this blog. He was ‘accused’ of calling for the boycott himself, then it was claimed that it was a Hamas led boycott. Delaney even said that Israel shouldn’t be ‘picked on’ as it is a country made up of people who are white and European originally, very telling.

The thing about democracy is that, of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion but let’s make them based on knowledge not empty rhetoric or lazy thinking. If you’re going to be against the cultural boycott, at least be informed as to where it came from, what it entails, how it fits into the struggle, the truth about Israel’s constant repression of Palestinian culture. What we have seen here is the usual knee-jerk reaction of Israel’s supporters, who often don’t know what it is exactly they are against, all they know is that they will defend the apartheid state no matter what.

As with all the BDS campaigns I have seen, there is no harrassment of those who would cross the picket line, there is however a sincere and very urgent campaign to educate them and try to persuade them not to endorse apartheid. This is what campaigning for justice and human rights looks like, it’s what it looked like in the campaign agaisnt South African apartheid. That the Irish Minister for Justice either cannot or refuses to see this is disturbing. That journalists can produce copy based on lies, inaccuracies and mistruths is worrying.

This is the IPSC’s official response to Minister Shatter.

The Palestinian led cultural boycott is growing every year, more and more artists are choosing not to perform for apartheid Israel. It is an honourable campaign and one I am proud to be part of, as should all involved especially the artists who make the decision to join.

BDS until apartheid ends – if you don’t like it, then let’s see your work to end injustice.

SOURCE

Letter to Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) concerning defamation by Senator Paschal Mooney

More mendacious drivel in the Irish Times regurgitating speculation about venom.

All comments made prior to Dervish’s cancellation on their page: