The Info Underground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Q1daqgqHk

BDS victories in 2018 reflect a growing movement
https://mondoweiss.net/2018/11/victories-reflect-movement/

Most people date the global boycott campaign to end South African apartheid to the 1980s.  By then, many student governments in the US were asking their university administration to divest from South African companies, activists were calling upon artists not to perform in South Africa, and most conscientious shoppers knew to avoid South African oranges.  The 1980s were the decade of mass concerts for progressive causes ("We are the world," "Do They Know it's Christmas," etc.) and none other than Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band's Steven Van Zandt organized the performance of "Sun City," with its star-studded cast that included Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton, and many, many more, vowing they will participate in the cultural boycott of South Africa by refusing to perform there. One would think, looking back at the stellar line-up of 58 artists, that everyone who was anyone was on board.  But of course, this was never the case. Paul Simon, for example, crossed the picket line, as he insisted on performing in the pariah state.

And of course, the powerful Western governments, from the US's Reagan administration to  the UK's Margaret Thatcher, insisted that boycotts were not the way to bring justice to South Africa.  Reagan insisted on "constructive criticism," engaging with "moderates" in South Africa, so they could bring about some reform in their country, and even vetoed a bill to impose sanctions on South Africa, only to be overruled by Congress.  But the official embrace of the hateful racist system did not detract the grassroots activists, who persisted in their campaign, and ultimately won, despite the ongoing political and diplomatic immunity the US and UK offered South Africa, until the very eve of the official abolition of this violent system.  Indeed, as Steven Van Zandt put it, after visiting South Africa twice before organizing "Sun City," you can't reform apartheid, you need to abolish it completely.

What is frequently omitted from a discussion of the South African boycott campaign is that, while it picked up most in the 1980s, as people everywhere, catalyzed by the global rise against colonialism and segregation, sided with the oppressed, against the oppressor regimes, the call for boycotts was not issued in the 1980s, but in 1959.  Between 1959 and the 1980s, when most people were finally aware of the magnitude of state-sanctioned oppression in South Africa, the more committed activists were doing the non-glamorous work of educating, educating, and educating some more. A change in the narrative was needed, and it took decades to bring it about. But then, in the 1980s, a critical mass had finally been achieved:  Hampshire College was the first college to vote in favor of divestment, in 1977, by 1984, 53 schools had voted for divestment, inching up to 128 in 1987, and 155 in 1989.  Just as with the cultural boycott, some heavyweights refused to be on the side of justice: Harvard University, for example, only very reluctantly agreed to a partial divestment.  Nevertheless, there was no denying the domino effect.

Today, we are witnessing a similar grassroots phenomenon, as throughout the country, acts of resistance are bubbling up to the surface. Prof. John Cheney-Lippold, and graduate student Lucy Peterson, both at the University of Michigan, refused to write recommendation letters for students wishing to participate in a Study Abroad in Israel program.  The student government at Pitzer College voted to end their Study Abroad program in Haifa, citing Israel's official discriminatory policies as the reason for their vote.   And the entire state of Vermont, as well as the city of Northampton, in Massachusetts, both  just voted to end their police training exchange program with Israel.  It is as if the boycott movement were a pot of water that has been heating up on a stove, and is now approaching boiling point, and one watches with anticipation, looking for the next bubble...

However, even as we list "BDS victories" over 2018, we must note that this is not your "average roundup." Indeed, one of the more encouraging aspects of these breakthroughs—for that is what they are—is that most were accomplished by local individuals, groups, and coalitions with no direct involvement from the "leaders" of the BDS movement, the steering collectives of various groups focused on BDS.  Pitzer's decision to cancel its Study Abroad program, while fully in compliance with USACBI's national campaign, launched earlier this year, was taken independently of USACBI. Vermont's decision to cancel a training trip in Israel, a victory for JVP's Deadly Exchange campaign, was the outcome of a community effort that involved a coalition of Jews, Muslims, Christians, veterans, immigrants, and lawyers who, according to JVP deputy director, Stefanie Fox, "came together practically overnight" to express their collective rejection of the program.  Of course, they could not have come together "practically overnight" without all of the behind-the-scenes work by hundreds of activists and organizers.  Indeed, some of the earlier discussions around BDS focused on the identity of its "leaders," and I recall explaining that it is not a leader-less movement, but a leader-full movement, as every single individual can not only engage in boycotts, but can initiate a boycott campaign–so long as it complies with the BDS call's principles, grounded in human rights and anti-racism.  This is the spontaneity we are now witnessing, which must be celebrated as the most irrefutable proof of the change in progressive activist scenes.

Each of these victories is extremely  significant on its own terms, but also illustrates that the many years of political discussion that were catalyzed by the 2005 Palestinian call for BDS against Israel—a call that itself came after decades of diligent education–are bearing fruit.  The greater political context, the rise of fascism, is not to be ignored, and also corresponds with the climate of the 1980s, when Reagan was US president, and Margaret Thatcher prime minister in the UK. If we must make lemonade out of lemons, if we must look for the silver lining of the otherwise stormy days we live in, where a respected political commentator is fired for stating that Palestinians deserve human rights,  then we can indeed appreciate the resistance to fascism, racism, xenophobia that is rising amongst the grassroots, as more coalitions form to confront the hatred.  And we can celebrate our grasp that we, the people, have agency, and can bring about change.

So, here's to more "random acts" of boycott, resistance, and joint action in 2019!

BDS victory: HSBC divests from Elbit Systems
https://mondoweiss.net/2018/12/victory-divests-systems/

On the 10th anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, Israel's murderous assault on Gaza which killed over 1000 Palestinians in 3 weeks, the movement to 'Stop Arming Israel' is stronger than ever before.

We have great news to share with you as we end 2018: HSBC have announced they have divested in full from Elbit Systems, which is Israel's largest private arms security firm, who market their weapons as "battle-tested" due to them being tested on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

This victory comes after a campaign calling on HSBC to end its financial support for Israel's military, led by PSC, War On Want and Campaign Against the Arms Trade with huge support from the British public. The campaign saw more than 20,000 individuals writing to HSBC, monthly protests outside 40 local HSBC branches across the UK, social media actions and student campaigns aimed at UK universities. At HSBC's AGM in April, no issue received more questions than HSBC's complicity in supporting the arms trade with Israel.

PSC thanks all of our branches, activists and members who made this victory possible with relentless determination to campaign for freedom, justice and equality for the Palestinian people.

HSBC's investments in Elbit Systems was a primary target, making this victory a significant milestone in the campaign. However, HSBC still invest over £800 million in, and provide syndicated loans worth up to £19 billion for, companies arming Israel. This includes shares worth approximately £100 million in Caterpillar, a company which supplies the Israeli army with weaponised bulldozers to demolish Palestinian communities, construct Israel's illegal settlements and apartheid wall. We will continue to campaign and amplify the call for HSBC to end all of it's complicity with Israel's arms trade.

This is a great step forward for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and a huge boost for us all as we head into 2018. Thank you for supporting PSC and we look forward to campaigning with you all for freedom, justice and equality for the Palestinian people in the new year.

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HSBC 'divests' from Israeli arms company Elbit Systems
Bank faced pressure from pro-Palestinian activists over its dealings with firm, which makes drones and weapons systems.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/12/hsbc-divests-israeli-arms-company-elbit-systems-181227152127652.html

Banking giant HSBC has pulled out its investments in Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems after a campaign by pro-Palestinian activists, according to sources.

Sources within HSBC confirmed the move to Al Jazeera on Thursday, but the bank has not issued an official statement on the decision.

The company says it does not take positions on political issues but "observes international human rights principles" that apply to businesses.

According to a 2017 report by activist group War on Want, HSBC had 3.1m British pounds ($3.92m) invested in Elbit Systems.

The activist group, which says it is committed to rooting out the causes of poverty and human rights abuse, said HSBC had a total of 831.5m British pounds ($1.05bn) invested in companies that provided equipment to the Israeli military.

Several of the companies listed, such as Rolls Royce and BAE Systems, had a large civilian customer base, too.

Based in the city of Haifa, Elbit produces military and civilian-use equipment, including drones, aircraft, weapon control systems and artillery.

The company's customers include the Israeli army, the US Air Force, and the British Royal Air Force.

Elbit also provides the US Customs and Border Protection agency with surveillance equipment for use along the US-Mexico border.

'Positive first step'
War on Want said more than 24,000 people emailed HSBC with concerns over its investment in Elbit and activists picketed retail branches of the bank in the UK.

Ryvka Barnard, a senior campaigner with War on Want, said the bank had taken "a positive first step" but added that it needed to act further.

"Doing business with companies like Elbit means profiting from violence and human rights violation, which is both immoral and a contravention of international law, " Barnard said.

"HSBC continues to do business with over a dozen companies selling military equipment and technology used in human rights violation, including Caterpillar, whose bulldozers are used in demolition of Palestinian homes and properties, and BAE Systems, whose weapons are used in war crimes by Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other repressive regimes."

BDS movement
The BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) movement started in 2005, after a call issued by Palestinian civil society groups for "people of conscience" around the world to help end Israel's abuses against Palestinians, by cutting off cultural, academic and economic ties with the state.

With the advent of social media in recent years, the movement has gained traction and popularity among supporters of the Palestinian cause.

Its successes have been enough to earn the ire of senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sought to ban organisations that promote BDS in Israel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohrkhZnG4Ww

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=658&v=V12mF-aPvIo

Leaked: Pro-Israel Lobby Groups Secretly Admit BDS Is Effective
https://israelpalestinenews.org/leaked-pro-israel-lobby-groups-secretly-admit-bds-is-effective/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=48148fe1-3f45-48da-a7f1-3df3418d57f5

Ali Abunimah discusses a leaked report from Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), a front for Israel government-backed lobby group StandWithUs, which admits the cultural boycott is "constantly growing" and "innovative".
from IMEMC

TRNN Video & Transcript
BEN NORTON: It's The Real News Network, and I'm Ben Norton.

As the campaign to boycott Israel for Palestinian rights is growing internationally, even pro-Israel lobby groups are secretly admitting on the inside that the boycott tactic is effective. A new confidential report from Creative Community for Peace, CCFP, which is a Los Angeles-based pro-Israel lobby organization that targets the entertainment and art industry, a leaked report from this group reveals that the cultural boycott against Israel has an even deeper impact than was previously recognized.

The CCFP was recently exposed by the progressive organization Jewish Voice for Peace to be a front organization for Stand With Us. Stand With Us is a staunchly right-wing pro-Israel lobby group that is, in fact, partially funded by the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs, so it receives money from the Israeli government. And CCFP, its goal is to attack and organize smear campaigns against artists who participate in the cultural boycott of Israel.

So joining us to talk about what this means for the International BDS, Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, movement against Israel is Ali Abunimah. Ali is co-founder of the award-winning online publication The Electronic Intifada, and he's the author of One Country and The Battle for Justice in Palestine. Thanks for joining us, Ali.

ALI ABUNIMAH: Thank you, Ben.



BEN NORTON: So, Ali, can you walk us through who CCFP is, and specifically what its links are to Stand With Us? These are right-wing, pro-Israel lobby organizations. Can you explain to the viewers what the cultural boycott is, and why these groups are so aggressive against the cultural boycott?

ALI ABUNIMAH: CCFP, Creative Communities for Peace, poses as a sort of a nonprofit peace group that tries to counter the cultural boycott of Israel by telling artists who have been approached by Palestinian rights campaigners and asked not to go to Israel, then CCFP steps in and tries to tell them, you know, music is the universal language, and dialogue is better than boycotts. And so it tries to give this soft, you know, lovey-dovey image that it's a peace group, and that it just wants everyone to come together in peace and love.

The reality, as you've mentioned, is that it's a front for Stand With Us. Now, Stand With Us is a far-right pro-Israel group that a few years ago, the Prime Minister's Office in Israel, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, decided to fund directly in order to do propaganda for Israel. Now, it's not clear if that funding ever went through. It was widely reported that the funding was awarded, but then Stand With Us subsequently denied ever receiving the funding. But nonetheless, Stand With Us is part and parcel of the network of propaganda organizations that work closely with the Israeli government to spread an anti-Palestinian message and try to sabotage and thwart the nonviolent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

BEN NORTON: Now let's look at the specific report. This report, that was a confidential report from CCFP and has been cited by Jewish Voice for Peace, it really clearly spells out the organization's politics. One of the things that the report does is condemn intersectionality, which is the idea that multiple systems of oppression are linked together. And specifically the report is very critical of the fact that there are a lot of civil rights organizations and black American organizations and feminist groups in the United States that are increasingly in solidarity with Palestine. In fact, CCFP describes the growing black Palestine solidarity and the growing feminist support for Palestine as a, quote, "troubling and growing trend." So it's very clear that this is a right-wing organization. So can you talk about why this report was confidential, and what CCF has to hide?

ALI ABUNIMAH: Right. Well, there's a couple of really important things that need to be kind of teased out. One is the the observation–which is not unique to CCFP. Other Israel lobby groups, and in fact the Israeli government, have said very clearly time and again that they view growing black solidarity with Palestine to be a real threat to their efforts to shore up support for Israel in the United States. Why? Because black support for Palestine is rooted in such historic struggles; the identification was the Palestinian struggle based on the black struggle for liberation from American state racism, apartheid, and Jim Crow, and of course the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. So Israel fears that black support not only widens the base of support for Palestinians, but gives the Palestinian cause much more progressive credibility. That's exactly what the CCFP report is saying.

But you'll remember, Ben, that the recently-leaked Al-Jazeera film on the Israel lobby, in that film you hear an Israeli official saying the same thing, that Black Lives Matter is a threat. Now, where this really concerns CCFP is that, because they're intent on fighting cultural boycott, is that they see many black cultural figures really being in the forefront of speaking out on Palestinian rights. And that's artists in the hip hop community. It is also not just in music, but also in sports. We've seen NFL players refusing to go on propaganda junkets to Israel, or speaking out for Palestinians.

So they fear that black support for Palestine combined with the willingness of black cultural figures to speak out is really something very dangerous for Israel's efforts to whitewash its apartheid regime.

BEN NORTON: Yeah. And then finally can we talk, maybe, about some of the specific performances and cancellations from artists that CCFP have targeted? This report cites a few different incidents, including the German pop culture festival. They also talk about a dance group called Batsheva. But we've also seen that in the past CCFP has really gone after artists like Roger Waters, and other pop stars who have canceled performances in Israel. Sometimes these artists, like Roger Waters, have explicitly done so in support of Palestinian rights. Sometimes other artists, like Ariana Grande and others, have not necessarily said it was because of the conflict in Israel-Palestine and the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, but it's clear that that was one of the reasons they canceled. So maybe can you talk about some of the specific artists that CCFP has targeted?

ALI ABUNIMAH: Yeah. Well, over the past year in general we've seen a massive growth of the cultural boycott. We saw, you know, just over a year ago we saw Lorde, the New Zealand pop star, cancel a performance in Tel Aviv, which was huge international news. In the past year we've seen Gilberto Gil, we've seen Shakira, and other big names refusing to go. And you mentioned the German pop culture festival, where a number of bands refused to participate for the second or third year running in that festival because of sponsorship from the Israeli government. And we've seen literally hundreds of independent artists and bands and deejays stating publicly that they will abide by the boycott. All this has happened in the last year.

Now, what's significant is Israel has really tried to thwart this through a carrot and stick approach. The carrot is offering artists very large paydays–and of course, also, Lana Del Rey canceled recently, despite reportedly being offered a massive amount of money to go and play at the festival in Israel. But she canceled after a campaign. So that's the carrot approach, is offering large paydays for these artists. And the stick is to really smear them and go after them, as has happened to Roger Waters, where there have been efforts to prevent him from performing in public stadiums, or to have his shows canceled, or just generally to smear him. But what this report shows is that neither approach is working, neither the carrot nor the stick.

And the report says very clearly that this, what they call the 'silent boycott,' is growing. You mentioned Ariana Grande and others, where they just refuse to go to Israel. They don't necessarily come out with a statement saying, you know, I'm taking a stance in solidarity with the Palestinians. They just view Israel as toxic. They don't see it worth the the public relations nightmare. Or perhaps they even agree with the view that Palestinians should have full human rights, but they just don't want to say it. But for whatever reason, the silent boycott is seen by Israel as really an even bigger threat than, let's call it, the vocal boycott. And this was something that was also stated very clearly and explicitly in another leaked report which was written by the ADL, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Israeli think tank the Reut Institute that also leaked last year, and was published by the Electronic Intifada, where they said clearly that they view one of the biggest threats and one of the fastest-growing threats to be the silent boycott. And by the way, that silent boycott is not just in terms of culture and music and art, but also academia and scientific research, as well.

BEN NORTON: We'll have to end our conversation there. We were speaking with Ali Abunimah, who is an award-winning journalist and the co-founder of the Electronic Intifada. He is also the author of One Country and The Battle for Justice in Palestine. As always, thanks for joining us, Ali.

ALI ABUNIMAH: My pleasure. Thank you, Ben.

BEN NORTON: For The Real News Network. I'm Ben Norton.

(https://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/styles/original_800w/public/2018-12/181230-palestine-demo.jpg?itok=5yj7ObZV&timestamp=1546218131)

How did the Israel boycott campaign grow in 2018?
read the article at this link to see all the pictures and links and tweets:
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/how-did-israel-boycott-campaign-grow-2018

The year 2018 was one of victories by human rights activists despite heavy pressure, attacks and propaganda efforts by Israel and its lobby groups to whitewash its image.

Starting off the year, it was revealed that US President Donald Trump's alliance with white supremacist groups and anti-Semitic figures has pushed support for Israel to a low point, especially among young American Jews.

By October, it was confirmed in another survey that support for Israel is coming primarily from Trump's base, a hotbed of right-wing, white nationalist and Christian Zionist views, while support from other Americans continues to erode.

Early on in the year, AIPAC, Israel's powerful lobby group on Capitol Hill, was forced to admit that it was facing mounting problems in its efforts to shore up support for Israel among progressive American leaders.

However, AIPAC, along with the Anti-Defamation League and similar advocacy groups, continued to push for federal legislation – the Israel Anti-Boycott Act – that seeks to criminalize supporters of the boycott movement, even as the ADL determined behind closed doors that such bills are ineffective and unconstitutional:

But there were signals that even Israel's hardline supporters in Congress began pushing back.

Just in the past few weeks, Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Dianne Feinstein of California urged top congressional leaders to pull the Israel Anti-Boycott Act from an omnibus spending package, citing blatant First Amendment violations.

Following Israel's premeditated massacre of Palestinians in Gaza on 30 March, The Electronic Intifada's Ali Abunimah noted that not one Democrat in either houses of the US Congress spoke up to defend Israel's actions, a notable difference in policy of elected leaders who have reflexively done so in the past.

It reflected a recognition of Israel's increasingly toxic brand, especially among the Democratic base.

Israel's attacks on BDS activists were sometimes absurd – like when a Mossad-backed Israeli lawfare group sued two New Zealand activists for successfully encouraging pop star Lorde to cancel her Tel Aviv gig at the end of 2017.

The activists named in that lawsuit – which legal experts said could not be enforced – used the publicity generated by the case to raise money to support mental healthcare in Gaza and bring more attention to the humanitarian crisis across Palestine.

The Electronic Intifada's release of a censored documentary produced by Al Jazeera on the Israel lobby's tactics in the US helped reveal the efforts of Israel and its lobbyists to spy on, smear and intimidate US citizens who support Palestinian human rights, especially the BDS movement.

Despite Israel's attacks, smears and threats, boycott activists continued to make enormous gains – much to the dismay of Israeli leaders.

"We are exposing Israel's crimes and apartheid policies and building pressure to end them," noted prominent activists in the BDS movement in their annual roundup of boycott highlights.

Here are some of the top BDS victories as covered by The Electronic Intifada over the last year.

Israel remains a toxic brand
Performers continued to ditch their Israel gigs in 2018, following sustained appeals by human rights activists in Palestine and all over the globe.

Shakira and Gilberto Gil led a list of notable cancellations, while dozens of DJs and music producers took public pledges not to perform in the apartheid state.

Over the summer, Israel's Meteor Festival fizzled without its headliner Lana Del Rey, who pulled out of her gig just days before the festival began, stating that she wanted to "treat all my fans equally."

Sixteen other Meteor Festival acts, including Of Montreal, dropped out of the festival following sustained appeals by Palestinian and international activists to respect the boycott call.

Israeli-American actor Natalie Portman refused to receive an award in Jerusalem in April, ostensibly over Israel's massacres of Palestinians, much to the scorn and shock of Israeli leaders.

In June, 11 LGBTQ filmmakers refused to let Israel use them to pinkwash its crimes, joining the boycott of TLVFest – the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival.

Artists also boycotted the Istanbul Film Festival after it was revealed that Israel was sponsoring it.

The cultural boycott also saw gains in the sports world, as Argentina's football team canceled a high-profile match in June with Israel after an intense global campaign that kicked off in Argentina and swept Latin America and Spain. Fans and activists urged Argentina, and the team's star, Lionel Messi, not to help Israel whitewash its massacres of unarmed civilians in Gaza.

Earlier in the year, a motorcycle racing event sponsored by Honda in Israel was canceled following pressure by BDS activists.

Other Israel propaganda efforts ended in failure, with international chefs pulling out of the Round Tables festival in the fall while an Israeli diplomatic source admitted that the hundreds of cultural events included in the Saison France-Israël (France-Israel Season) "had zero success regarding Israel's image in France, or that of France here."

Meanwhile across Europe, activists continue to pressure television broadcasters not to allow Israel to host next year's Eurovision Song Contest as a part of its whitewashing campaign.

Protesters have held regular demonstrations outside performances by Netta Barzilai, Israel's 2018 Eurovision winner who has been deployed as part of the country's officially backed international propaganda efforts.

Churches, corporations, unions ditch Israel
In December, banking giant HSBC confirmed it was divesting from the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems following a grassroots campaign.

The company has already been excluded from pension and investment funds around the world over its involvement in supplying surveillance systems and other technology to Israel's wall and settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Saying it was the first British church to take such a step, the Quaker Church announced in November it would not invest any centrally held funds in companies that profit from Israel's human rights violations.

Joining other Christian denominations in the US, the Episcopal Church voted to adopt an investment screen to avoid profiting from human rights abuses against Palestinians. It also resolved to safeguard the rights of Palestinian children and Palestinians in Gaza, support Palestinian self-determination and to call for continued US aid to Palestinian refugees.

Another resolution demands equal access to Jerusalem and opposes the Trump administration's move of the US embassy to the city.

In August, trade union workers and boycott activists in the Arab world forced Israel's shipping line Zim to indefinitely halt its routes to Tunisia.

Tunisia's main labor federation, the UGTT, called on its members to prevent the Israel-linked ship Cornelius A from landing in Tunisia, and backed demands for an official inquiry into clandestine trade with Israel.

Jordanian workers refused to supply materials for a Jordan-Israel gas pipeline, while French firm Systra committed to pulling out of plans to expand Israel's light rail project.

And in November, vacation rental giant Airbnb announced it was dropping its listings from Israeli settlement properties in the occupied West Bank. All Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal under international law.

Though there has been some confusion recently around if – and when – the policy change will be implemented or if the company, under Israeli pressure, will backtrack on its announcement, it helped highlight corporate complicity with Israeli war crimes.

Local governments back the boycott
Despite Israeli lobby efforts to interfere in local and national politics, city councils in Europe and Latin America passed strong resolutions in support of the BDS campaign, in a growing wave of resistance to Israel's war crimes against Palestinians.

In June, Monaghan became the fifth county or city council in Ireland to declare its support for BDS. It followed Dublin's vote in April to endorse a boycott against Israel, becoming the first European capital to do so, and its subsequent dropping of a contract with HP, a computer firm that has long been complicit in Israel's military occupation.

Around the same time, the city council of Valdivia in Chile passed a motion to endorse the BDS campaign and declared the city an "apartheid-free zone."

A wave of similar "apartheid-free zone" measures passed in more than 30 cities in Spain.

In May, Bologna, Italy's seventh largest city, also called for a military embargo on Israel.

In June, Norway passed a motion that supported individual cities' rights to boycott Israeli settlements, dealing a blow to right-wing politicians who attempted to appeal boycotts passed in the cities of Trondheim and Tromsø.

In the UK, members of the Labour Party voted overwhelmingly to support an arms sales freeze against Israel.

Anti-BDS laws blocked, challenged
In 2018, US laws attempting to muzzle the right to boycott were blocked.

Federal courts ruled against anti-BDS laws in Arizona and Kansas, while lawsuits were filed in Texas and Arkansas courts against mandated Israel loyalty oaths.

In February, human rights activists in the New Jersey town of Maplewood helped defeat a local resolution that would have condemned the BDS movement. The resolution was introduced to the town council by representatives of Israel advocacy groups which had lobbied other nearby towns to adopt similar resolutions.

And activists in Missouri and Massachusetts successfully campaigned to block state anti-BDS measures.

In Germany – which has been hostile to BDS activism and has ruled to conflate Palestine rights advocacy with anti-Semitism – local boycott activists won a significant victory in September that could set a legal precedent across the country.

The Oldenburg municipal court ruled that a previous decision by the city council to cancel a BDS event in 2016 was unlawful and violated freedoms of expression and assembly. It was the first time that a German administrative court had declared it unlawful to disallow a BDS event.

Students pass sweeping resolutions protecting Palestinian rights
Resisting Israel lobby pressure, shadowy blacklisting websites and targeted harassment campaigns, student activists across the US, Canada and Europe stood strong in support of Palestinian rights and urged university administrations to divest from Israel's crimes of occupation and apartheid.

In May, students at California State University, East Bay voted unanimously in favor of a resolution calling for divestment from companies found to be complicit in Israel's violations of Palestinian rights, including Caterpillar, HP, G4S and Motorola.

And student senators at the University of Oregon passed a resolution to ensure that student funds are divested from 10 companies that profit from Israel's violations of Palestinian rights.

A referendum to support divestment passed at Barnard College in New York City. The vote passed in spite of recent and historic attempts by the administration and Israel lobby groups to bully and smear students and faculty supportive of Palestinian rights at Barnard and its partner, Columbia University.

Students at New York University also voted in a landslide in favor of divestment in early December, with more than 60 campus groups and 35 members of faculty supporting the measure.

At the University of Minnesota, students passed a referendum urging the administration to act on its socially responsible investment policy and divest from companies that profit from Israel's human rights abuses as well as from private prisons, immigrant detention centers and corporations that violate the sovereignty of indigenous communities.

The Canadian Federation of Students, the largest student organization in Canada, voted in November to support the BDS movement, to condemn Israel's ongoing occupation and atrocities in Gaza and to provide financial donations to various Palestine solidarity organizations.

The federation, which represents more than 500,000 students across Canada, also said it would support local chapters to begin weapons divestment campaigns targeted towards their individual university administrations.

The Union of Students in Ireland, representing 374,000 students in higher education, voted to join the BDS movement and condemned Israel's "brutal" military occupation and human rights violations.

The union resolved to boycott Israeli institutions which are "complicit in normalizing, providing intellectual cover for and supporting settler-colonialism" and to lobby Irish universities to divest from companies that profit from Israel's rights violations. It also affirmed the right of return for Palestinian refugees expelled by Israel.

The vote followed a March measure passed by students at Trinity College Dublin to support the BDS campaign.

Students leaders at the University of Pisa in Italy also adopted a motion in a near-unanimous vote in the spring, calling for attention by the academic community toward Israel's apartheid policies and to support the academic boycott campaign.

In November, Leeds became the first UK university to divest from firms involved in the Israeli arms trade, after a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign by Palestine solidarity activists.

Professors also continued to show their support for Palestinian rights in 2018.

In March, a union representing faculty of the Los Rios College Federation in California voted nearly unanimously to back divestment by their pension fund from companies that profit from Israel's occupation.

Two instructors at the University of Michigan resisted Israel lobby attacks and defended their decision not to write recommendation letters for students wishing to join discriminatory study abroad programs in Israel.

And faculty at Pitzer College in California called for the suspension of study abroad in Israel programs with the University of Haifa, citing Israel's policies of discrimination based on ancestry and political speech. The faculty also backed students' rights to support the BDS campaign.

Here's to the victories of 2018, as activists organize for more to come in 2019.

Temporarily, at least, Democrats in the Senate have blocked legislation that would criminalize the BDS movement.   Emphasis on the word temporarily.

Senate Democrats Block Rubio Mideast Policy Bill That Sparked Heated BDS Debate
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/senate-democrats-block-rubio-mideast-policy-bill-that-sparked-heated-bds-debate-1.6824813

Nearly all Senate Democrats vote against proceeding debate on bill, which includes U.S. security assistance to Israel and Jordan, and steps against Syrian regime

Amir Tibon  Washington  Jan 09, 2019 2:32 AM

WASHINGTON – Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill on Tuesday regarding Middle East policy proposed by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio that ignited heated debate in Washington about the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

Rubio's legislation included a number of bills regarding U.S. security assistance to Israel and Jordan, as well as a set of new steps against the Syrian regime of President Bashar Assad.

It also contained a bill in support of states passing laws against the BDS movement.

Nearly all Senate Democrats, including many who have previously supported legislation against BDS and in favor of security assistance to Israel, voted against proceeding the debate on the bill.

The official party line expressed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is that no bill should come up for a vote until U.S. President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans agree to end the ongoing government shutdown.

Minutes after the vote, the Republican Jewish Coalition put up a tweet attacking the Democrats for blocking it, highlighting the security elements of the bill and the fact that 43 out of 47 Senate Democrats voted against it.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America supported the party line, saying in a tweet that Senate Democrats "are right to insist on reopening the government and ending the" government shutdown. It also criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for "playing politics with Israel."

Rubio criticized Democrats for blocking the bill and said earlier this week that the shutdown was only an excuse for the party to vote against the bill.

According to Rubio, a "significant number of Senate Democrats" actually support the BDS movement against Israel – an accusation that was fiercely denied by Democrats, who noted that no Senator in their party has ever expressed support for BDS.

Before the vote on Tuesday, Rubio pushed back against criticism that his bill against boycotts of Israel and the settlements was harmful to free speech.

"Opposition to our bill isn't about free speech. Companies are free to boycott Israel. But local and state governments should be free to end contracts with companies that do," Rubio wrote on Twitter.

Defending his claim about Democrats in the Senate supporting BDS, Rubio wrote: "Many claim they oppose BDS. But shielding BDS from counter-boycotts is de facto support of BDS."

AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israeli lobby, told Haaretz on Tuesday it won't comment on Rubio's claim that many Senate Democrats support BDS.

The organization takes pride in promoting bipartisan support for Israel and tries to stay away from partisan debates in the Senate. It also strongly supported the legislation Rubio promoted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InNbAovmtSI

Long, somewhat balanced report about BDS in the mainstream media, which must be viewed as a success.  If they're not careful, stupid Americans might start to think, and wonder why the fuck Israhell is running their country for the benefit of Israhell.

Israel fights boycott movement as pro-Palestinian campaign gains global support
The campaign is also reverberating in the U.S., where the Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would allow states to punish businesses that take part in Israel boycotts.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-fights-bds-movement-pro-palestinian-campaign-gains-global-support-n965691

JERUSALEM — Gil Sima doesn't support Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

But that hasn't stopped filmmakers from dropping out of his Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival to protest the country's policies toward Palestinians.

"We are a very human-rights-oriented film festival. Here in Israel, they think we're left-wing queer weirdos," Sima, its executive director, said. "But outside, it's the same: 'You're from Israel, you're right-wing, you're an occupier.'"

Like many other entertainment and cultural events here, the film festival has been targeted by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign.

Founded in 2005, BDS calls for "recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality." It also advocates for the return of millions of Palestinians to the homes their ancestors left or were forced from when Israel was established in 1948.

Israeli officials allege the BDS movement is anti-Semitic and seeks to destroy the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has spent at least $15 million on combating BDS since 2015.

"Did freedom destroy Alabama? Did it destroy South Africa?"

The campaign is reverberating in the United States, where the Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would allow states to punish businesses that take part in Israel boycotts.

But despite vigorous efforts to quash BDS, the pressure from those who support it is mounting.

Measures calling for boycotts of Israel, many of which are modeled on the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, including divesting from companies that sell to Israel's army, are roiling college campuses.

During the summer, more than a dozen performers backed out of Israel's Meteor Festival after headliner Lana Del Rey canceled.

Image: Lana Del ReyLana Del Rey Michael Tran / FilmMagic file
Last month, some 50 artists, including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, singer Peter Gabriel, and pop band Wolf Alice published a letter calling for this year's Eurovision song contest to be moved from Tel Aviv because of "Israel's systematic violation of Palestinian human rights."

Scientists, academics and even fruit fans have backed BDS: Grape exports to Europe from the Jordan Valley in the West Bank have fallen by 80 percent since 2007 because of boycotts, according to the head of the regional council there.

Airbnb announced Nov. 19 that it would stop listing some 200 properties in Jewish settlements in the West Bank — an area Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East War. Palestinians and most governments consider growing settlements — thought to house some 435,000 Jewish residents — illegal and a hindrance to peace. Around 3 million Palestinians also live in the West Bank.

The Airbnb decision prompted outbursts from Israeli officials and allies, with Israel's tourism minister calling the decision "hypocritical and disgusting," and threatening the company with legal action.

Senior Airbnb executives visited the West Bank and met with local Israeli officials and the company appeared to waver on its decision. And at the end of January, it was still possible to post new properties, and make and accept reservations on the site.

When asked to comment on its current position, an Airbnb spokesman pointed to a Jan. 17 statement that said it was "working with experts to develop and validate the means to implement our policy."

Michael Oren, an American-born former Israeli ambassador to Washington, was among those who called for a boycott of Airbnb in November. He criticized the company for not applying similar policies to Tibet or to Turkish-occupied Cyprus.

Oren, who also serves as a minister in Netanyahu's government, explained his reaction this way: BDS unfairly singles out Israel and is "designed to take us down."

He referred to the BDS battle as a new stage in an ongoing Palestinian effort to destroy Israel, but not through terrorism. Instead, he argues, the country's enemies want to delegitimize the country.

Oren said that the right of return is "code for the destruction of the state of Israel, flooding us with 6 million Palestinians who claim they are refugees."

He also rejected the notion that the issue revolves around free speech, describing the boycott as "a bigoted assault on an American ally."

Measures barring boycott supporters are another sign of how seriously Israel is taking the issue. In January 2018, the government released a list of 20 organizations whose members it bars from entering Israel because they support BDS. The list includes the American Friends Service Committee (a Quaker organization) which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 for rescuing victims of the Nazis, as well as the left-wing Jewish Voice for Peace.

In October, Israel detained for more than two weeks an American student as she tried to enter the country, accusing her of supporting BDS.

Sima Vaknin-Gill, who serves as the director general in Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, and is among those charged with implementing anti-boycott laws, says the BDS campaign could be a "challenge, in the mid-and long term, regarding international public opinion and its perception of Israel about one very critical issue: Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state."

After Amnesty International on Jan. 30 released a scathing report calling on Airbnb and fellow online travel giants Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor to stop listing in Jewish settlements, including eastern Jerusalem, the minister for strategic affairs Gilad Erdan announced that he had instructed officials to look into ways of barring the London-based human rights group from the country.

Erdan is a very public face in the battle against BDS and has already pushed for Omar Shakir — the Israel and Palestine director of Human Rights Watch — to be deported from the country, citing alleged support for the campaign.

In the U.S., at least 26 states have also passed laws targeting BDS.

Legislation similar to the bill that passed the Senate this week has been opposed by the ACLU and the liberal Jewish advocacy group J Street, as well as Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. It has been backed by major Jewish organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League.

Many of those who oppose the legislation do not back boycotts of Israel.

"While I do not support the BDS movement, we must defend every American's constitutional right to peacefully engage in political activity," Sanders tweeted last month.

Regardless of the pressure on pro-BDS activists and others who criticize Israel over its treatment of Palestinians, one of the movement's founders said he is optimistic.

The election of BDS supporters Rashida Tlaib and Ilham Omar to Congress, and support from senior senators, indicate that the movement has reached a "tipping point," according to Omar Barghouti.

"Major Jewish politicians like Feinstein and Sanders, progressive politicians, are defending the right to BDS," said Barghouti, a Columbia University-trained engineer.

"Israel throws a lot of dirt, hoping some of it will stick. But none of it is really sticking," he said. "Now Israel's battle is with the ACLU, not with us."

He acknowledged that Israeli legal efforts to hobble the organization — for example by forcing the online donation site Donorbox to freeze its account in December — had jolted some supporters into action.

"People took it very seriously, and money started pouring in like never before," Barghouti said. However, he also acknowledged that the case had an "enormous" chilling effect.

Barghouti rejected charges that BDS is anti-Semitic, pointing to its charter and the involvement of a number of Jewish organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace. Instead, he said, it is simply seeking justice for Palestinians in Israel, the occupied territories and beyond.

"Freedom, justice and equality, if that would destroy Israel, what does that say about Israel?" he said. "Did freedom destroy Alabama? Did it destroy South Africa?"

On Thursday, Amnesty called for Israel to ease travel restrictions on Barghouti, a resident of Israel.

The group said that a "de facto travel ban" was part of long-standing attacks by authorities, citing a March 2016 call for "targeted civil eliminations" of BDS leaders by Yisrael Katz, minister of transport, intelligence and atomic energy. At the same event, Erdan, the strategic affairs minister, said BDS activists and leaders had to "pay the price." Erdan added later that he was not referring to "physical harm."

Earlier this month, the Israeli government released a report claiming to show links between BDS and militant groups.

The report claimed current or former members of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — both designated terrorist organizations by the U.S., European Union and Israel — are involved in BDS activity through Palestinian and international nongovernmental organizations.

Most links were based on accusations of affiliation or expressions of sympathy for militant groups, in some case linked to acts that took place years ago.

The BDS movement dismissed the findings as a "wild fabrication."

Shurat HaDin, an organization that represents victims of terrorism, has been on the forefront of the battle against BDS.

The group filed a lawsuit on behalf of Israeli teenagers against New Zealand-based activists who it says persuaded the pop singer Lorde to reconsider performing in Tel Aviv. An Israeli court ordered the activists to pay more than $12,000 in damages.

It is also working with the government to deport Human Rights Watch's Shakir.

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Shurat HaDin's founder, said Airbnb's move amounted to "discrimination" under a housing law that prohibits such acts based on race and religion.

However, she insisted that the "BDS movement doesn't have financial effect" on the country, and instead she is combating BDS for the "minds of young people."

"Young people will become professionals and then decision-makers over the next few years," she said. "You don't want poisoned minds to take positions and to start acting against Israel."

Darshan-Leitner believes the battle against BDS is one part of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian struggle.

"We are in a war with them," she said. "We have got to fight back. If they see BDS as a legitimate step they can take, they cannot expect Israel to sit idly by."

Copenhagen awards BDS activists persecuted in Germany
The Humboldt3 on resisting apartheid, interviewed at the Danish Parliament
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=iJAvGjV9TGU

boycott apartheid
Premiered Feb 8, 2019
Jonathan Ofir interviews the #Humboldt3 (Stavit Sinai, Majed Abusalama and Ronnie Barkan) after they were awarded the 2019 Copenhagen Courageous Award for speaking up against Israeli crimes against humanity.

The three BDS human rights activists face trial in Berlin, which is scheduled for March 4th 2019, for peacefully protesting Israeli parliament member Aliza Lavie's talk at the Humboldt University in Berlin in June 2017. The three – two Israeli-Jewish citizens and a Palestinian from the open-air prison of Gaza – confronted Lavie for her role as a representative of a criminal apartheid regime and her personal responsibility for the 2014 war on Gaza.

Following the protest, a media frenzy ensued which involved slander and false accusations against the activists. The Berlin Intelligence Agency reproduced the fictitious narrative and now they are facing trial for two counts of criminal charges. While the German prosecution is interested in criminalizing their dissenting voices, the three will be taking on the State of Israel in front of the German courts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ONvbLgVLc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaitA0dpBa8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=100&v=p0wsv-2Z9eY

Students at Brown University voted in favor of BDS, but the university president blocked it.  So, this can be considered a success, because of the student's vote in favor of BDS. 

Brown University president rejects student-approved BDS referendum
https://www.foxnews.com/us/brown-university-president-rejects-student-approved-bds-referendum

A student-approved referendum calling on Brown University to divest from companies "complicit in human rights abuses in Palestine" has been rejected by the president of the Ivy League institution.

"Brown's endowment is not a political instrument to be used to express views on complex social and political issues, especially those over which thoughtful and intelligent people vehemently disagree," Brown president Christina Paxson said in response to the March 21 vote, according to reports.

The vote made Brown the first Ivy League school to approve a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) referendum, the Forward reported last week. The student government at Barnard College, affiliated with Columbia University, passed a similar measure last year.

The publication reported that student or faculty BDS resolutions have passed at 31 universities across the U.S. since 2015, according to Amcha Initiative, a nonprofit that tracks campus anti-Semitism.

The BDS movement supports Palestinian rights and opposes Israel's occupation of the West Bank. Israeli officials have called the movement anti-Semitic.

Students approved the non-binding referendum in a landslide, 69-39 percent, according to reports.

The referendum urged Brown to divest from nine companies that the student coalition Brown Divest identified as facilitating human rights abuses in Palestine, the student newspaper the Brown Daily Herald, reported Tuesday.

Brown Divest said the referendum's approval was a "historic day for Brown as we take an emboldened and clear stand against the university's complicity in human rights abuses in Palestine and in similar systems of oppression around the world," according to the Forward.

Another student group,, Brown Students for Israel, said the referendum was "a defeat for all students who believe there is a better way to pursue peace between Israelis and Palestinians, who seek intellectually honest discourse about Israel and the conflict, and who prioritize a safe and inclusive community at Brown."

From PressTV:
BDS' impact on Israeli economy
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/01/30/587162/BDS-Impact-On-Israeli-Economy

[jwp=425,344,image]http://217.218.67.233/video//program/20190129/INSIDE20190130EP09.mp4[/jwp]
http://217.218.67.233/video//program/20190129/INSIDE20190130EP09.mp4

France's Alstom quits settler railway, Israeli partners say

This article contains many links, which can be read here:
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/frances-alstom-quits-settler-railway-israeli-partners-say

Israel having trouble finding global firms willing to expand Jerusalem light rail, which links its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to Jerusalem.

Two Israeli companies sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asking for an urgent extension of the deadline for bids to build the next phase of the Jerusalem light rail.

The Israeli firms, Dan and Electra, asked for the delay after it emerged that French train maker Alstom intends to pull out of their consortium bidding to expand the settler tramway – citing human rights concerns.

This is the latest sign of trouble for Israel's effort to expand the tramway which links Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to each other and to occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel's construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank is a war crime.

Harmful to human rights
"On Friday, we received with astonishment the official position of Alstom, which in effect prevents Electra and Dan from being able to submit a bid in the tender, as the deadline is tomorrow," the letter states.

"This position is based entirely on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the point of departure presented to Electra and Dan is that the tender and the implementation of the project are ostensibly harmful or liable to harm human rights," the letter adds. "Moreover, Alstom claims that its participation is contrary to French law."

France, despite its strongly pro-Israel policies, warns companies against doing business in settlements.

The French foreign ministry states that trade and business "in or benefiting the settlements entails legal and economic risks tied to the fact that Israeli settlements, under international law, are built on occupied territories and are not recognized as part of Israel."

With the apparent collapse of the bid involving Alstom, another European firm, Barcelona transit operator Moventia, would also be forced out, because it is part of the same consortium.

Stampede for the exit
News of Alstom's planned withdrawal comes just days after The Electronic Intifada revealed that a rival consortium led by Canadian engineering giant Bombardier had also quit the tender.

Bombardier pulled out after Macquarie, the Australian investment fund, withdrew its support from the consortium.

Another consortium which includes Germany's Siemens also dropped out of the competition for the massive contract, citing risks related to Israel's occupation.

This means that the number of consortiums likely to take part has dwindled from an initial eight to no more than 2-4, according to Israeli business publication Calcalist.

But even that may be optimistic, as the remaining bidders face a host of problems.

A consortium bringing together Israeli firm Shafir and Spanish train maker CAF is hampered by the fact that the Spanish firm's official workers council has voted against participation in the settlement project.

The bid from a Greek-led consortium including contractor GEK Terna and state-owned Athens transit company STASY is also in doubt over financing problems.

Calcalist also says that other bidders include Chinese firms operating in Iran, which could pose a problem "against the background of the sanctions imposed by the US government on Iran, and the American criticism of Chinese companies operating in Israel."

One of the consortiums still in the running includes Chinese train maker CRRC, which is developing Iran's high-speed rail network.

The Chinese firm recently dismissed concerns that tightened US sanctions on Iran would affect its work in that country.

The US has been exerting pressure on Israel to limit Chinese investments in the country ostensibly over security and espionage fears.

"Major victory"
Currently the Jerusalem light rail operates a single line, the Red Line.

Under the new project, the Red Line will be extended to penetrate deeper into the occupied West Bank, connecting the settlements of Pisgat Zeev and Neve Yaakov, which are part of the ring of colonies Israel is building to isolate Palestinians in Jerusalem from those in the rest of the occupied West Bank.

The entirely new Green Line is planned to run from Mount Scopus in occupied East Jerusalem to the settlement of Gilo, southwest of Jerusalem.

Alstom has until now been willingly complicit in this project, a key part of Israel's efforts to entrench and expand its colonization of Palestinian land.

Alstom makes the railroad cars for the existing light rail line and its wholly owned subsidiary Citadis Israel has the contract for maintenance for 22 years, monitoring group Who Profits notes.

In 2013, Alstom sold its 20 percent stake in CityPass, the consortium that currently operates the tramway, to an Israeli buyer.

"However, Alstom, along with the Ashtrom Group, remains the engineering and construction contractor for the project," Who Profits states.

In 2015, after a years-long campaign by human rights activists, French firm Veolia also sold its stake in CityPass.

That Alstom is now reconsidering any further involvement in the Jerusalem light rail shows the impact of the growing legal and human rights consensus that doing business with Israel's settlements involves unavoidable complicity in major human rights abuses, including war crimes, and that such trade should be banned.

Palestinian campaigners certainly see it that way.

"Alstom's exit would be a major victory for human rights activists in France, Palestine and several other countries where BDS campaigns have denied the company lucrative contracts and hurt its reputation," the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) said on Sunday.

"Pressure on Alstom must continue until it confirms its withdrawal from the project."

https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/1127619279002664960

"Palestinian victims of the Jerusalem light rail, like all other Israeli projects that violate international law, are entitled to reparations for damages incurred to their livelihoods and property," the BNC added.

"Corporate involvement in the crimes of Israel's regime of occupation and apartheid against the Palestinian people is not just morally reprehensible and a legal liability. It hurts business too."

Alstom spokespersons have not responded to requests for comment from The Electronic Intifada.

Berlin Jewish Museum supports BDS.

BERLIN JEWISH MUSEUM TAKES HEAT FOR TWEETING LINK TO PRO-BDS STORY
https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Antisemitism/Berlin-Jewish-Museum-takes-heat-for-tweeting-link-to-pro-BDS-story-592217

The Berlin Jewish Museum is under fire for tweeting a link to a pro-BDS story.

At issue is an official tweet sent June 6 by the museum encouraging followers to read an article in the left-wing daily newspaper Taz about a petition in which 240 Jewish and Israeli scholars criticized a May 17 Bundestag resolution labeling the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel as antisemitic.

The nonbinding, nonpartisan resolution bars the BDS movement — and any group deemed antisemitic — from receiving federal funds and using public space.

Facing a storm of criticism the museum, which has come under fire for welcoming anti-Zionists such as scholar Judith Butler and representatives of the Iranian regime, tweeted on June 9 that it merely wanted to call attention to the discussion and "has in no way positioned itself against the resolution of the Bundestag."

On Tuesday, Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, slammed the museum for what he called "the last straw."

"The Jewish Museum Berlin seems to be completely out of control. Under these conditions, one has to wonder whether the term 'Jewish' is still appropriate," he wrote.

The Bundestag in its resolution described BDS' "patterns of argumentation and methods" as antisemitic, including disputing Israel's right to exist.

British Society for Middle Eastern Studies Endorses Palestinian Call to Boycott Complicit Israeli Academic Institutions
https://imemc.org/article/british-society-for-middle-eastern-studies-endorses-palestinian-call-to-boycott-complicit-israeli-academic-institutions/

In an historic vote, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies joins a growing number of academic associations refusing to be complicit in Israel's grave violations of international law.

We warmly salute the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) for voting overwhelmingly to support the Palestinian call for a boycott of complicit Israeli academic institutions.

BRISMES joins a growing number of academic societies that are taking a stand for Palestinian rights by refusing to be complicit in Israel's grave violations of international law. Israeli academic institutions play a well-documented role in not only justifying but also planning, implementing and maintaining Israel's system of oppression that denies Palestinians' basic human rights, including the right to education.

This historic vote gives us hope. It is a beautiful act of meaningful solidarity with Palestinian students and faculty who face Israel's institutionalised racism, armed raids on campus, military checkpoints and systemic attempts to undermine Palestinians' basic right to education.

We urge international academic societies worldwide to take similar, effective measures in academia against racism and oppression.

Workers reject Spanish firm's bid for Israeli settlement project
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/workers-reject-spanish-firms-bid-israeli-settlement-project

Last month, the workers council of Spanish train manufacturer CAF voted against participation in the Jerusalem light rail.

The council urged the Basque Country-based company to withdraw from the tender for the expansion of the tramway linking Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to Jerusalem.

"Any transit project in any city in the world, including Jerusalem, must be built while respecting human rights and international law," the workers council stated.

"Both the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as the International Court of Justice, through different resolutions, have opposed the occupation of the territories through which the tramway will pass."

The transfer of Israel's civilian population to settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as to Syria's Golan Heights, is a war crime under international law.

Today, more than 200,000 settlers live in and around East Jerusalem, and more than 400,000 others live in the rest of the West Bank.

The CAF workers can count on the support of ELA, the most influential trade union in Basque Country.

"It is incomprehensible that the management of CAF is bidding for this tender," the trade union stated. "CAF's workers do not deserve to assume the responsibility for carrying out a job rejected by the overwhelming majority of the international community."

Erroneous media reports in recent weeks stated that CAF itself had refused to take part in the project, but this is not the case.

The company "has not refused to participate in the tender of the Jerusalem tram," CAF spokesperson Iñaki Escrig informed The Electronic Intifada by email.

Rather, it is the workers council – the legally mandated framework for labor representation – which has rejected participation.

If the company wins the tender, it could be a prelude to action by the trade unions.

Light rail expansion
Last June, companies were invited to bid for the expansion of the Jerusalem light rail, which includes extending the existing Red line and developing a second line, the so-called Green line.

The extension will penetrate deeper into the occupied West Bank, connecting the settlements of Pisgat Zeev and Neve Yaakov, which are part of the ring of colonies Israel is building to isolate Palestinians in Jerusalem from those in the rest of the West Bank.

The second line will run from Mount Scopus in occupied East Jerusalem to the settlement of Gilo, southwest of Jerusalem.

A consortium of the Israeli company Shapir Engineering and the Spanish train manufacturer CAF is reportedly shortlisted to develop the second line.

Competing consortia include the Canadian engineering giant Bombardier, Australia's Macquarie and Japan's Hitachi.

The bid must cover the operation costs for at least 15 years and the maintenance costs for 25 years.

CAF's spokesperson told The Electronic Intifada that it "does not provide information or publish statements on ongoing bids."

Entrenching settlements
The light rail is part of the 1990 Jerusalem Transportation Master Plan, sponsored by the Israeli government and the occupation authorities running the Jerusalem municipality.

A well-functioning transport system makes living in a settlement even more attractive. The light rail network therefore helps Israel entrench its occupation of the West Bank and the system of apartheid that comes with it.

International human rights organizations and the United Nations have all warned against complicity in Israel's settlements through trade or business.

"Businesses play a key role in facilitating the overall settlement enterprise, contributing to Israel's confiscation of land and the transfer of its population through commercial development," the United Nations human rights office said last year.

That is why CAF should listen to its workers and withdraw its bid to help expand the settler railway on Palestinian land.

QuoteThe global campaign to pressure technology giant HP – also known as Hewlett-Packard – to drop its Israel contracts recently won an important victory.

During its executive council meeting last month, Unite the Union resolved to end purchases of HP products and replace its existing products with new ones, according to the Palestinian BDS National Committee.

Unite the Union is the second largest British and Irish trade union. It boasts more than 1 million members, including more than 100 members of the British House of Commons and others in the European Parliament.

https://twitter.com/benabyad/status/1151180497432797186

"Solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle is an essential part of building a just world," stated union member Joseph Bleach.

"While Israel escalates its occupation, apartheid and colonization against the Palestinian people, Hewlett Packard companies profiteer from this grave violation of international law and Palestinian human rights," Bleach added.

HP has long been a focus of activists because its businesses have supplied the Israeli military with racial profiling technology for its checkpoints restricting the movement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Israel also uses HP technology to maintain a population database that it uses to enforce its system of segregation, and HP products are used to support infrastructure in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Unite's move follows that of Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging, Netherland's largest trade union, which voted to spike HP from its partnerships in April.

Last year, Dublin, Ireland became the first European capital city to endorse the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions and committed the city to discontinue contracts with HP and with its subsidiary, DXC.

In June 2018, the Students Federation of India, with more than 4 million members, passed a resolution endorsing the BDS movement and also joined the Boycott HP campaign.

Dozens of US churches have pledged to boycott HP products.

Much more to read, and many links to connect to, here:
Major UK trade union dumps HP
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/major-uk-trade-union-dumps-hp

In victory for activists, Vancouver city council votes against adopting IHRA antisemitism definition   
https://mondoweiss.net/2019/07/activists-antisemitism-definition/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=activists-antisemitism-definition

The City of Vancouver, Canada might seem to be an odd place for a battle over the IHRA definition of antisemitism. But that is exactly what happened in the last week, and it all concluded with a temporary victory for free speech, human rights and common sense.

At the end of June, the federal government of Canada endorsed the IHRA definition as part of its new official "Anti-Racism Strategy" announced by minister Pablo Rodriguez. This was a unilateral move by the government which did not involve a vote in the House of Commons. The Israel lobby however, in their ecstatic gloating over the endorsement, made it clear they would be pushing to have the IHRA definition adopted at all levels of government, including provincial and municipal.

Which brings us to the Vancouver City Council, where one Non-Partisan Association (NPA) councillor introduced a motion to be heard at the last meeting before summer break. The motion contained the standard reasoning that one has come to expect from the Israel lobby promoting the IHRA definition and concluded with adoption of the definition and its examples; it also explicitly instructed staff to share the definition with various city departments including the Police Department, School Board, Parks Board and the Public Library for "review and consideration as an additional practical tool". What the outcome would be of this "additional practical tool", especially by the Police Department, one could only speculate. The history of what has transpired so far in other countries regarding the IHRA definition is extremely troubling, and was called out a year ago by over 40 Jewish groups in an open letter. They noted that the definition is "intentionally worded such that it equates legitimate criticisms of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism, as a means to suppress the former."

Passing this motion would have set a dangerous precedent of being the first municipal council in Canada to endorse the IHRA definition. Vancouver, however, has a long and proud tradition of being both anti-racist and defending free speech and Palestinian rights. A popular campaign was immediately launched to tell Vancouver City Council why this motion should not be adopted – letter writing, social media and articles in local papers all happened. People from both within the Jewish community and other sectors were adamant in stating that this definition had more to do with squashing criticism of Israel than it did with contributing to the fight against racism. The Palestinian community also pointed out that the definition actually promotes anti-Palestinian racism, as it severely limits and defines what the Palestinian narrative can be. The Vancouver & District Labour Council (VDLC), the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) and civic parties like the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) all took the position that adopting the IHRA definition would be divisive and harmful.

The majority on City Council both heard and understood the message. In a vote of 6-5 (the dissenting 5 were all NPA councillors), the Council decided to not proceed with the motion and instead referred it to committee for recommendations on how to combat all forms of racism. Councillor Michael Wiebe was quoted as saying that "we need a policy that tackles all forms of racism, including white supremacy. It's too important to get this wrong."

"THAT Council refer this motion to the Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee to provide recommendations to Council on how the City of Vancouver can increase action to combat all forms of racism and hatred, including Antisemitism."

Although referral to committee is often the bureaucratic tactic to not deal with issues, in this case the instructions in the referral made it more meaningful. And most importantly, Vancouver City Council refused to set a precedent as the first Canadian city to endorse the IHRA definition.

Activists know that the struggle will continue at the committee level but the small amount of time they had to prepare for the council vote allowed them to educate many people on the dangers of the IHRA definition; they feel confident that more time is only to their advantage.

Canada's main Israel lobby group, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), was not happy with the outcome. They had invested heavily in promoting the motion and one of their officials stated he would be at City Hall when it was introduced. They issued a statement expressing their "disappointment", claiming that this was a "setback in the struggle against racism and bigotry". They went on to allege that, "By delaying the initiative to protect Jewish community members at a time of rising antisemitism, those councillors who voted against the motion are on the wrong side of history."

Vancouver residents do not need these lectures by a lobby group that is more interested in punishing critics of Israel than it is in fighting racism. Members of the Jewish community in Vancouver made this exact point in their submissions to Council. The active involvement of many progressive Jews against this motion endorsing the IHRA definition was one of the more uplifting aspects of this campaign, along with the support from broader sections of Vancouver society. This was also reflective of the majority of Canadians who support Palestinian human and national rights.

Palestinian activists have not had many occasions lately to be optimistic, especially in the Canadian political arena. Hopefully, what happened at Vancouver City Council is just the first step in pushing back against the censoring of free speech and the bullying of activists who support Palestinian rights.

Hydro-Québec ends collaboration with Israeli power firm
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/hydro-quebec-ends-collaboration-israeli-power-firm

Activists in Quebec are celebrating after their national electricity company declined to renew an agreement with its Israeli counterpart.

"This victory is important for us in Quebec," John Philpot, an international lawyer and a member of the Coalition BDS Québec, told The Electronic Intifada.

"We in Quebec are proud of succeeding in our solidarity campaign in support of the Palestinian people, victims of the Zionist and colonialist occupation of their homeland."

In May 2017, the national power generator Hydro-Québec and the Israel Electric Corporation signed a "partnership agreement" to share "best practices" in the field of cybersecurity.

At the time, Hydro-Québec board chair Michael Penner claimed it was "an extraordinary opportunity for Hydro-Québec to join forces with a company with world-renowned cybersecurity expertise."

But campaigners saw it as a collaboration with a state company that is deeply complicit in Israel's violations of Palestinian rights and international law.

The Israel Electric Corporation exploits Palestinians, a captive market due to military occupation and colonization.

It also supplies and profits from Israeli settlements built in the occupied West Bank.

Construction of such settlements is a war crime.

The Israeli company has also implemented cuts to Gaza's already desperately inadequate power supply, a collective punishment and a violation of international humanitarian law.

When asked why the Israel Electric Corporation implemented punitive power cuts affecting hospitals in Gaza that were ordered by the Israeli government, the company's director responded, "It's our job."

It was also an odd choice for Hydro-Québec to partner with any Israeli state firm in pursuit of "cybersecurity."

Israel and its war industry are notorious for electronic espionage that jeopardizes the privacy, security and even the lives of Palestinians as well as of journalists and human rights defenders all over the world.

"Not politically motivated"
Hydro-Québec confirmed Wednesday in an email to The Electronic Intifada that the agreement with the Israeli electricity company has not been renewed.

The Quebec company had also confirmed in an 18 June letter to Coalition BDS Québec that the agreement was allowed to lapse. The Hydro-Québec spokesperson shared a copy of that letter with The Electronic Intifada.

The company's email to The Electronic Intifada states that the decision "was not politically motivated in any way or the result of pressure from BDS Québec."

It added that the agreement "signed in May 2017, lasted two years. It ended, as initially planned, in May 2019."

However, Hydro-Québec's memorandum of understanding with the Israel Electric Corporation – which Philpot only this month succeeded in obtaining under Quebec's freedom of information law – states that the agreement "may be renewed with the written consent of both parties."

In early August, moreover, the company told the Journal de Québec newspaper that it had "learned a lot" from its collaboration with Israel.

Given that threats to cybersecurity are ongoing and evolving, Hydro-Québec could be expected to continue what it claims was a fruitful partnership.

What is clear is that Hydro-Québec did not renew the agreement.

Typically, corporations will say that pulling out of a particular activity is strictly a business decision.

And that is fair: Whether companies acknowledge it or not, reputational damage is a valid business concern, especially when it comes to partnering with major human rights violators.

In 2017, for instance, Air Canada confirmed to Palestine solidarity activists that it had terminated early a maintenance contract with an Israeli military firm.

It did not give a reason why.

Symbol of national pride
Hydro-Québec will be particularly sensitive to its reputation.

It played a key role in the Canadian province's development.

As such it has become a symbol of national pride in Quebec, a province where there has historically been strong solidarity with Palestine.

The firm also has its own colonial history: Indigenous people long resisted Hydro-Québec for its major role in their dispossession and the destruction of their homelands and way of life.

Palestinian solidarity activists hope Hydro-Québec's decision to end its collaboration with the Israel Electric Corporation will pave the way for more wins.

"This small step must be followed by campaigns to end Canadian political and economic support for Zionist policy," Philpot said. "Boycott, divestment and sanctions is one of many ways to defeat Zionism."

Portland Trail Blazers sever ties with company that supplies IDF with rifle scopes after campaign by activists

read the article and see the tweets here:  https://mondoweiss.net/2019/10/portland-supplies-activists/

Episcopal Church officially bars investments in companies benefitting from the Israeli occupation
https://mondoweiss.net/2019/10/episcopal-church-bars-investments-in-companies-benefitting-from-the-israeli-occupation/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-ets-email-mailpoet

This week, the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church adopted a human rights investment screen related to Israel and Palestine and will sell its holdings in Motorola Solutions, Caterpillar, Inc., and the Israel Discount Bank.

This is the latest step in response to a July 2018 General Convention Resolution (B016) which committed the Episcopal Church to a similar process taken by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America two years earlier. The action also follows steps previously taken by the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.

The human rights screen would bar Episcopal Church investments in "any corporation that supports or benefits from denial of human rights in or through the occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem or the Gaza Strip."

The criteria for deciding if a corporation meets this threshold were reported in a media release from the Episcopal Peace Fellowship's Palestine Israel Network:

"1) Does a corporation have a record of any of the following: supplying or doing business or providing goods or services in or to illegal settlements (as defined in international law) or contributing to the construction or maintenance of housing or other facilities in such settlements or seeking otherwise to profit from human rights violations in the OPT, or

2) Does a corporation have a record of directly or indirectly supplying or doing business with or providing goods or services to, or otherwise contributing to, the Israeli Defense Forces as the IDF operates in the OPT."

Acting on a recommendation of the Executive Council's Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CCSR), shares in three companies, Caterpillar, Inc., Motorola Solutions and the Israel Discount Bank, will be removed from the Church's investment portfolio and placed on its No Buy List.

In a posting summarizing the Executive Council meetings, the Episcopal News Service noted that the Church has engaged with those companies for years without persuading them to respond as requested to human rights violations in the Palestinian territories. Bishop Doug Fisher, chair of the CCSR noted, "we do take seriously the rights of human beings to live free of human rights violations. We have engaged companies about the occupation since we first filed a shareholder resolution with Motorola in 1994."

The actions adopted by the Council passed with very little debate or disagreement, in sharp contrast with the tension surrounding the resolution at last year's General Convention or even at the Spring 2019 Executive Council meeting when objections were raised to some of the proposal's language. One amendment, which asked the CCSR to investigate an upcoming stock offering by Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company for possible church engagement, was passed.

Reaction to the Executive Council's action has been positive thus far. The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, said, "I appreciate the hard work done for so many decades by so many to promote the Church's commitment to justice for all the peoples of the Holy Land."

In a statement, the Steering Committee of the Palestine Israel Network commended the entire Council for its work to address the Episcopal Church's complicity, through its investment funds, in the Occupation. "This action is timely as prospects for a two-state solution have diminished since the 2018 General Convention. [We have] noted with alarm recent actions taken by the U.S. and Israeli governments, including the Trump Administration's actions to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel... Israel's sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights, [and] the Nation-State bill passed by Israel," the statement reads in part.

While the total shares to be sold is small, about $1.2 million in Motorola, $125,000 in Caterpillar, Inc., and a smaller amount in the Israel Discount Bank, the symbolism is important. "This is a stewardship issue," said the Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry beyond The Episcopal Church. "The Church does not want to make profits from companies that contribute to the suffering of others."

According to their media release, the Council also directed the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, "to pursue continued engagement with Facebook, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor, urging them to address human rights violations through complicity in the occupation of the OPT, and seeking to assure that the companies take all necessary steps to end their complicity in the occupation."

Establishing a human rights investment screen for investments related to Israel and Palestine adds to the list of screens used by the Episcopal Church, including tobacco, fossil fuels and certain military contractors.

The 2018 General Convention also passed resolutions calling on its members to work to safeguard the rights of Palestinian children in detention, pursue justice in Gaza, reaffirm Jerusalem as the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian State, renew UNRWA aid to Palestinian refugees and support negotiations for a just peace.

(https://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/styles/original_800w/public/2019-10/oslo_city_hall.jpg?itok=jd9Hu6pG&timestamp=1572275084)
Norway's capital Oslo is the latest municipal government to ban procurement of Israeli settlement goods and services.

Norway's capital says it won't buy Israeli settlement goods
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/norways-capital-says-it-wont-buy-israeli-settlement-goods

Norway's capital is banning goods and services from Israeli settlements from public contracts.

The ban on purchases from Israel's colonies on occupied Palestinian land is contained in the platform of the Oslo city council's new ruling coalition.

In their 2019-2023 plan, the Socialist Left, Green and Labor parties commit to ensuring that public procurement does not include "goods and services produced on territory occupied in violation of international law by companies operating under the permission of the occupying power."

Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Syria's Golan Heights is a war crime.

"The Palestinian people, who have to deal with the illegal occupation of their territory every single day, deserve international attention and support," Sunniva Eidsvoll, leader of the Socialist Left Party in the Oslo city council, said. "It is a shared global responsibility to help ensure that human rights and international law are not violated."

"I am proud that the Oslo city council is now taking steps to prevent goods and services purchased by the city from supporting an illegal occupation of Palestine or other territories," Eidsvoll added.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the steering group for the global boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign, welcomed the move.

"A ban on goods and services from Israel's illegal settlements is the very least that government institutions should enact to cut their complicity with Israel's regime of apartheid, settler-colonialism and occupation," the BNC's Alys Samson Estapé said.

Estapé also urged Norway's government to end its arms trade and military collaboration with Israel.

Oslo's ban does not distinguish between Israeli and international corporations that operate in Israel's illegal settlements, the BNC notes.

Five other Norwegian cities including Trondheim and Tromsø have already adopted similar bans on settlement goods and services.

In 2018, the city council in the Irish capital Dublin voted to discontinue contracts with international firms that assist the Israeli military occupation.

A bill to ban trade in settlement goods throughout the Republic of Ireland is making its way through the state's legislative process in the face of stiff opposition from the Irish government, US politicians and the Israel lobby.

There is a growing consensus among human rights defenders and jurists that trading with settlements facilitates war crimes and must be banned.

Last week the UN's independent expert on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories reaffirmed the need for a ban.

Michael Lynk told the General Assembly's human rights committee that the UN must complete and publish its database of "businesses engaged in activities related to the illegal settlements."

The UN Human Rights Council voted for the creation of the database in 2016.

Human rights groups have expressed concern that Michelle Bachelet, the UN human rights chief, has so far failed to publish the database due to political pressure.

Israeli settlement products must be labeled as coming from occupied lands, top EU court rules
https://www.rt.com/news/473219-eu-label-israeli-products/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Any produce made in Israeli-occupied West Bank settlements must be labeled as such so that the European consumer isn't misled by the generic 'Made in Israel' tag, a top EU court said in a landmark ruling.

European Union member states must now mark products originating from Israeli settlements, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Tuesday. Such labels are to help consumers make informed choices relating to some "ethical considerations," the ruling reads.

The reasoning is that simply indicating that product is 'Made in Israel' – as it is usually done – could be misleading because, in fact, it comes from an occupied territory. Labeling settlement products will now state explicitly that the Jewish state "is present in the territories concerned as an occupying power and not as a sovereign entity."

The case was pitched up to the court after an Israeli settlement-based winery challenged France's application of a previous 2018 ECJ ruling on the labeling. That decision also enforced the use of identifying labels but wasn't legally binding.

Israel began settling the West Bank and East Jerusalem shortly after it seized both areas during the 1967 Six-Day War in the Mideast. Today, almost 700,000 people live there, amounting to nearly 10 percent of the country's Jewish population.The illegal occupation of the West Bank is recognized internationally; the EU, for its part, does not accept it as part of Israel.

Israel, in turn, doesn't consider those areas occupied, instead referring to them as "disputed." Back in 2012, a three-member committee headed by former Supreme Court justice Edmund Levy wrote in a comprehensive report that Israel's presence in the West Bank is not an occupation in the legal sense. The report was widely condemned outside Israel.

Israel is carrying on building Jewish settlements on occupied lands despite international condemnation. Earlier in June, Israeli officials published construction tenders to build more than 800 new units in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Ramot and Pisgat Zeev.

Brussels responded to the news with a strongly-worded statement, pointing out that settlement construction and expansion in the area "continues to undermine the possibility of a viable two state solution with Jerusalem as the future capital of both."

https://twitter.com/ZeinaHutchison/status/1201634983712088064

More here: 
US University Votes to Divest from Israeli Business
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/us-university-votes-to-divest-from-israeli-business/

Belgian Trade Delegation to Israel Cancelled
https://imemc.org/article/belgian-trade-delegation-to-israel-cancelled/

The trade mission would have taken place from the 8th to the 11th of December, will not go forward, due to criticism from the political opposition and several activist organizations, leading to its discontinuation, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.

The delegation would have consisted of representatives from the Walloon and Brussels governments, which are separate political entities in Belgium, and numerous companies from the respective regions.

The Walloon government had already withdrawn from the delegation at an earlier stage, but now the Brussels government has done the same, effectively leaving the rest of the mission without political representation.

In the last couple of weeks, the general criticism towards the trade mission has grown. Specifically Israel's disregard for international agreements concerning the blockade of the Gaza Strip, sparked the opposition's distaste for the mission.

"We're talking about participating in the Israeli colonization policy," said Stéphanie Koplowicz, member of the Flemish left-wing PVDA-party.

"The UN Human Rights Comittee has complained that over 200 companies do business in these illegal settlements. Does the government want to encourage Brussels' companies to participate in this?"

Violations of the Geneva Convention

Former Belgian prime minister, Elio Di Rupo, of the Walloon socialist Party stated that the reason for the withdrawal from the trade mission was "the lack of progress in the peace process, the lack of progress on the ground and the violations of important parts of the Geneva Convention by Israel".

The Brussels government is now following this line of reasoning.

Joel Rubinfeld, a former leader of Belgian Jewry and president of the Belgian League Against Anti-Semitism, said the move was discriminatory in light of Belgium's trade relations with nations accused of major human rights violations, including Iran and China.

Companies who were going to partake in the mission can still travel to the Middle-East on their own, however, they will have to cover their own expenses.

New poll shows nearly half of Democratic voters familiar with BDS support it; most voters oppose anti-BDS measures
https://mondoweiss.net/2020/01/new-poll-shows-nearly-half-of-democratic-voters-familiar-with-bds-support-it-most-voters-oppose-anti-bds-measures/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-08-at-2.35.55-PM.png)
Results from a new University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

A new University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll gives us further insight into what Americans think about the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

3,016 respondents were asked about BDS as part of the poll. 49% of them said they had heard of the movement. Among those who had heard of it, just 8% of Republicans said they "strongly or somewhat" support BDS. However, 48% of Democrats and 27% of independents said they did.

Respondents were also asked how they felt about two common arguments regarding BDS. "BDS is a legitimate, peaceful way of opposing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories," reads the first argument, "Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, BDS urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law. Opposing Israeli policy does not equal anti-Semitism." Overall, 43% disagreed with this argument; 69% of Republicans disagreed and 13% of Democrats.

"Regardless of how BDS defines itself, it is an anti-Israel organization attempting to weaken Israel and to undermine its legitimacy. Some of its supporters are opponents of Israel's very existence and may even be anti-Semitic," reads the other argument. 49% of Democrats disagreed with this statement and just 7% of Republicans did.

When asked about laws that penalize supporters of BDS, the majority of every political group said they were opposed to them: 80% of Democrats, 62% of Republicans and 76% of independents.

The polling indicates that awareness of BDS is growing. A J Street poll from last May found that almost 64% of Democrats had never even heard of the movement. Shibley Telhami is the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and the Director of these polls. "For a few years now, the polls have consistently shown a majority of Democrats wanting to take action against Israeli settlements, including imposing sanctions, while Republicans and independents wanted to do nothing or limit opposition to words," he explained in a write-up on the poll results, "But until this fall, I had not asked directly about the BDS movement, as it was not on the radar screen of most Americans. However, the recent debates in Congress and elsewhere have raised the profile of the issue."

A Data for Progress poll from last fall generated similar numbers, finding that 53% of Democratic voters thought the movement was legitimate and 44% supported it. Just 15% of the Democratic voters polled said that they opposed the movement.

All this polling and analysis seems to point to an obvious conclusion: the high-profile BDS battles of 2019 have raised awareness for the movement and that awareness has come with increased support.

[pdf]https://criticalissues.umd.edu/sites/criticalissues.umd.edu/files/UMCIP%20Middle%20East%20Questionnaire.pdf[/pdf]

Israel advocates lose legal battle over Olympia Food Co-op boycott
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/israel-advocates-lose-legal-battle-over-olympia-food-co-op-boycott

A near decade-long legal battle over the Olympia Food Co-op's decision to boycott Israeli goods has finally been put to rest.

Opponents of Palestinian rights, working in coordination with Israel, lost.

https://twitter.com/theCCR/status/1230534353157009410

https://twitter.com/theIMEU/status/1231077409082036224

On 20 February, a Washington state appeals court upheld a 2018 ruling that dismissed a lawsuit against former board members of the Co-op.

In 2010, the Olympia Food Co-op became the first grocery store in the US to remove Israeli goods from its shelves as part of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign for Palestinian rights.

"As a co-defendant, I am pleased, but not surprised, that the courts have once again found in our favor," said Grace Cox, a former Co-op board member.

Board members like Cox, who supported a measure to ban Israeli products from the store's shelves, were put through years of litigation by several former Co-op members who worked closely with the Israel advocacy group StandWithUs.

The right-wing Israel lobby group helped secretly plan the lawsuit in coordination with Israeli government officials.

The plaintiffs sought to block the store's boycott and secure monetary damages against board members who voted in favor of the measure.

A judge initially dismissed the lawsuit in 2012, saying it violated a state law preventing abusive lawsuits aimed at suppressing lawful public participation, otherwise known as SLAPP suits.

Two years later, an appeals court upheld that judge's ruling and the plaintiffs were ordered to pay $160,000 in statutory damages – $10,000 to each of the 16 co-op board members – as well as other legal fees.

The pro-Israel activists then took their case to the state supreme court, which sent it back to the lower courts in 2015.

In December 2017, co-op board members filed a motion to finally dismiss the lawsuit, which the court did in March 2018.

"When the plaintiffs first threatened to sue us, they promised a nuisance lawsuit, and they have delivered. It is well past time to end this abuse of the legal system by ending this baseless suit," Cox stated last week.

Vindicated
The Center for Constitutional Rights, which has represented the defendants during the entire legal battle, says that during the process of uncovering evidence, emails were revealed between the plaintiffs "celebrating the news from StandWithUs that the lawsuit had successfully discouraged other co-ops from boycotting Israeli goods."

The Israel advocacy group "took credit for filing the case, stating that it was a byproduct of the partnership between StandWithUs and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs," CCR notes.

"The Court of Appeals properly deferred to the business judgment of the Co-op board in making their boycott decision, which is a fundamental principle of governance that applies to every nonprofit corporation," said Bruce E.H. Johnson, an attorney who also represented co-op board members.

"In the face of widespread assault, the right to advocate for Palestinian freedom, including via the time-honored tradition of boycotts for social change, has again been vindicated," said Maria LaHood, CCR's deputy legal director.

"This victory demonstrates that although the fight can be long, it's necessary in order to achieve justice," she added.

'A huge and timely BDS victory': Microsoft divests from Israeli tech firm AnyVision
https://mondoweiss.net/2020/03/a-huge-and-timely-bds-victory-microsoft-divests-from-israeli-tech-firm-anyvision/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Microsoft has announced that its divesting its shareholding in the Israeli facial recognition company AnyVision. The move follows an audit which was forced by a BDS campaign targeting the company. Activists say that AnyVision's facial recognition technology is used to spy on Palestinians in the West Bank.

After Microsoft invested in the company last June, NBC News reported that AnyVision "powers a secret military surveillance project" in Palestine. "Face recognition is possibly the most perfect tool for complete government control in public spaces, so we need to treat it with extreme caution – said the ACLU's Shankar Narayan at the time. When NBC reached out to AnyVision CEO Eylon Etshtein for the story, he denied knowledge of the project, insisted that the West Bank wasn't occupied, and implied that the report was being funded by a Palestinian activist group.

During the summer of 2019, Jewish Voice for Peace launched a campaign calling on Microsoft to #DropAnyVision. This year they teamed up with the groups MPower Change, and SumofUs to organize a petition on the issue. It was ultimately signed by over 75,000 people and delivered to company headquarters by activists and Microsoft employees.

In November 2019, Microsoft hired former United States Attorney General Eric Holder (and his team at Covington & Burling) to conduct an audit on AnyVision to determine whether the company practices were in line with Microsoft's ethical principles. The findings concluded that the technology is used at border crossing checkpoints, but that the company "does not currently power a mass surveillance program in the West Bank that has been alleged in media reports."

Nonetheless, Microsoft decided to part ways with AnyVision. "After careful consideration, Microsoft and AnyVision have agreed that it is in the best interest of both enterprises for Microsoft to divest its shareholding in AnyVision," it said in a statement, "For Microsoft, the audit process reinforced the challenges of being a minority investor in a company that sells sensitive technology, since such investments do not generally allow for the level of oversight or control that Microsoft exercises over the use of its own technology."

"Microsoft's decision to dump AnyVision is a huge blow to this deeply complicit Israeli company and a success for an impressive BDS campaign led by Jewish Voice for Peace," said BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti in a statement, "Israel's war crimes against Palestinians, with the complicity of many corporations like AnyVision, continue despite the threat of the coronavirus, so our resistance to them and our insistence on freedom, justice and equality cannot but continue."

"Microsoft's decision to heed the calls of the campaign to drop the Israeli surveillance company AnyVision is a huge and timely BDS victory," tweeted the official account of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC).

https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/1244504679196905472

"Microsoft's decision to divest from AnyVision is an important victory for tech justice activists and the international community in solidarity with the Palestinian people," said MPower Change Campaign Manager Lau Barrios, This decision by Microsoft, a global leader in tech, also reinforces our belief that government, police, and military cannot be trusted with use of surveillance technology like facial recognition, which is increasingly being used in the U.S. and worldwide to monitor, surveil, and further criminalize Black, brown, immigrant, Palestinian, and Muslim communities."

  Palestine solidarity group wins major BDS victory at UK Supreme Court 
Court reverses ban that prohibited local governments from supporting the BDS movement
https://mondoweiss.net/2020/05/palestine-solidarity-group-wins-major-bds-victory-at-uk-supreme-court/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

The UK Supreme Court delivered the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) a major victory last month, after it reversed a ban that prohibited local governments from supporting the BDS movement.

https://twitter.com/PSCupdates/status/1255421772163420161

In 2016, the Department for Communities and Local Government's issued guidance which blocked Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) from pushing objectives that contradict the United Kingdom's foreign policy. This prohibition included divestment from companies connected to the Israeli occupation.

PSC launched a legal challenge against the move, winning in the Hight Court but losing in the Court of Appeal. "This landmark case is critical to pushing back against attempts to stifle the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions movement, and to defending the right of pension holders to refuse to be complicit in the oppression of the Palestinian people," said PSC chair Kamel Hawwash before the Supreme Court case began in November, "All of us should be able to choose not to be complicit in Israel's violations of international law and human rights – a win in this case would be a triumph for all those who believe in democracy, freedom of expression and justice."

In its statement celebrating the victory, PSC warned of further anti-BDS legislation developing in the UK: "...We know we will need to do more, and PSC is building a campaign alongside a broad range of allies who are concerned about attempts to bring in laws that seek to prohibit public bodies from making their own decisions about not investing in companies that are complicit in violations of international law – whether in relation to Palestine or elsewhere."

In response to the Supreme Court decision, UK lawmakers will reportedly now look to pass a law prohibiting local councils from supporting BDS. The Conservative Party's manifesto from last year's election included a promise to pursue such a law.

"Town hall boycotts undermine good community relations, weakening integration and fuelling antisemitism," said Communities Secretary Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP at the time, "Local public bodies should focus on their day jobs – such as running libraries and collecting bins, rather than running a divisive foreign policy from town halls."

Pro-Israel group fails to have BDS supporting professor removed
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200518-pro-israel-group-fails-to-have-bds-supporting-professor-removed/

A pro-Israel American campus group has failed in its bid to have a professor removed from the position of interim dean of a department at the George Washington University because of her support for the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

Professor Ilana Feldman was targeted by GW for Israel following her appointment as the interim dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs, a prestigious private Washington, DC university's training school for diplomats and other foreign policy specialists.

GW for Israel launched a petition demanding the removal of Feldman from the post citing her support for BDS. "Dr. Feldman is a fervent supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has a record of minimizing terrorism, delegitimizing the State of Israel, and advocating to suspend academic ties with Israeli institutions," said the petition.

Feldman is a member of the American Anthropological Association. In 2015 she led a campaign in which professors of anthropology voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution calling on the group to boycott Israeli academic institutions by a 1,040 to 136 margin at the association's annual business meeting.

Last year, she published a book on Palestinian refugees titled: "Life Lived in Relief — Humanitarian Predicaments and Palestinian Refugee Politics". It was shortlisted for the 2019 Palestine Book Awards.

Despite the protest from GW for Israel, George Washington University stood by its decision.

"Dr. Ilana Feldman has been an active faculty member at the Elliott School of International Affairs since 2007," the University's provost, Brian Blake, said last week in an email to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "As vice dean, Dr. Feldman has demonstrated her leadership ability and her respect for and commitment to all students, faculty and staff of the Elliott School community.

Dr. Feldman's appointment as interim dean was made based on strong support within the Elliott School, including from the current dean, the Dean's Council, as well as a number of faculty."

Feldman is the most recent academic to face the wrath of the pro-Israeli groups. In January JB Brager, a teacher at an elite New York City prep school, was fired for expressing remarks critical of Israel.

Agent for Israel drops lawsuit against National Lawyers Guild

read the article here to connect to the many links:
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/agent-israel-drops-lawsuit-against-national-lawyers-guild

A lawsuit intended to harass the National Lawyers Guild over its support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights has been voluntarily dismissed by the anti-Palestinian litigant who filed it.

The lawsuit was "part of a global effort, led by Israel, seeking to paint support for Palestinian human rights as discrimination," according to NLG.

David Abrams, the director of the Zionist Advocacy Center, filed his lawsuit after the civil rights group refused, in 2016, to publish an advertisement in its annual journal for his shadowy company located inside an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Abrams' company, Bibliotechnical Athenaeum, wanted to publish the ad claiming that Gush Etzion is part of Israel.

It was an effort to deliberately "antagonize NLG for its positions in support of international human rights law," the civil rights group said.

NLG believes that the company was explicitly created just to be able to submit the advertisement.

Abrams sought legal representation from the Lawfare Project, a pro-Israel group that works to silence activists by filing lawsuits against them and smearing supporters of Palestinian rights as anti-Semites.

Lawfare's director, Brooke Goldstein, has claimed that there is "no such thing as a Palestinian person."

Abrams and Lawfare alleged that NLG discriminated against the company when it rejected the advertisement.

The National Lawyers Guild's commitment to BDS includes boycotting institutions complicit in Israel's crimes, not Israeli individuals or organizations.

As part of the settlement, NLG has agreed to publish an advertisement for Abrams' company in its next journal, but it will not include the name of any settlement "nor make any claims that such settlements are part of Israel."

NLG will also "clarify and reaffirm its policy opposing all forms of discrimination and circulate it to members."

The nation's oldest progressive legal network was represented pro bono by First Amendment attorney Jonathan Wallace.

"We're pleased to end this time-consuming lawsuit for a payment of zero dollars and get back to our urgent work ensuring that vulnerable populations across the globe have access to housing, healthcare, income and other basic human rights," said Pooja Gehi, executive director of NLG.

Gehi added that the organization maintains its commitment to Palestinian liberation, including the BDS movement.

Suing human rights groups
Abrams has a lengthy history of filing legal complaints against groups that support BDS, boasting that his lawsuits intend to "serve notice" to non-governmental organizations that their activities are being "watched carefully."

His Zionist Advocacy Center is a registered foreign agent for the International Legal Forum, which is funded by and works for the Israeli government to target the BDS campaign.

In 2015, Abrams worked with the head of the Mossad-linked Israeli lawfare group Shurat HaDin to file a complaint against a US trade union that voted to back BDS.

In the past, Abrams has sued Norwegian People's Aid and the Carter Center, and recently boasted of his work attempting to sue Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA over an event on Palestinian rights.

In 2018, he filed a lawsuit on behalf of his company against Airbnb when the home rental corporation announced it was suspending rentals inside Israeli settlements.

Like many other settlers, Israeli government officials and US politicians, Abrams claimed Airbnb was discriminating against Israeli landlords. Airbnb quickly capitulated to the pressure and reversed its decision in April 2019.

However, as much as Abrams and his colleagues in the Israel lobby try to harass civil rights and human rights organizations into silence, "the movement for Palestinian rights, including BDS campaigns, continues to thrive in unique community-driven ways," said Radhika Sainath, senior attorney at Palestine Legal.

"With this settlement, NLG affirms that BDS is predicated on non-discrimination, and that the organization remains undeterred in working for justice in Palestine," she told The Electronic Intifada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QEEGnNsKRo

European Court of Human Rights backs BDS activists convicted in France, orders Paris to pay €101,000 in compensation
https://www.rt.com/news/491569-echr-france-bds-activists-compensation/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that France violated the rights of 11 pro-Palestinian activists when it convicted them for campaigning against Israeli goods, and has ordered the government to pay damages.

The criminal conviction against the activists with the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement "had no relevant and sufficient grounds," the ECHR said in its ruling on Thursday, arguing that their basic right to freedom of expression had been violated. The court ordered France to pay €101,000 ($115,000) in compensation to the activists.

The case dates back to 2009 when a group of protesters led by French activist Jean-Michel Baldassi staged a demonstration in a hypermarket in the eastern French town of Illzach. The group handed out leaflets calling for various forms of boycott against Israel in response to its treatment of Palestinians and occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Israel has long claimed that the movement is driven by anti-Semitism and a desire to deny Israel's right to exist.The French authorities charged the BDS activists with incitement to economic discrimination, and promoting racism and anti-Semitism.

France's highest court of appeals upheld the sentence in 2015. The defendants were each handed down a suspended fine of €1,000 ($1,133) and ordered to pay a total of €13,000 ($14,730) in legal fees and donations to organizations promoting French-Israeli friendship and combating anti-Semitism.

In its latest ruling, the ECHR concluded that the activists had every right to express their views as long as they did not promote violence, hatred or intolerance. France was ordered to pay €27,380 ($31,150) to each campaigner – a decision which it is bound to comply with as a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The BDS movement and Amnesty International hailed the ruling as a landmark decision that would help prevent the use of anti-discrimination laws to prosecute activists campaigning against human rights violations committed by Israel against Palestinians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=464aTprgk70

Pro-BDS Cori Bush defeats pro-Israel Missouri congressman in DNC primary
https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/pro-bds-cori-bush-defeats-pro-israel-missouri-congressman-in-dnc-primary-637646

Manchester University divests from companies complicit in the Israeli occupation
read about it here:  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200805-manchester-university-divests-from-companies-complicit-in-the-israeli-occupation/

Luton Town kicks out Israeli occupation sponsor Puma
read about it here:  https://bdsmovement.net/news/luton-town-kicks-out-israeli-occupation-sponsor-puma

Israel frees BDS coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa following international pressure
https://mondoweiss.net/2020/08/israel-frees-bds-coordinator-mahmoud-nawajaa-following-international-pressure/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Thanks to sustained international pressure, Palestinian human rights defender and BDS coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa was released after being held without charge by Israel for 19 days.

Today, Palestinian human rights defender and BDS coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa was released by an Israeli military court, after 19 days of illegal detention without charges. Since his arrest on July 30, the Israeli internal security Shin Bet has failed to present any formal charges against him.

In his first reaction after being released, Mahmoud Nawajaa said:

Quote"Pressure works. Sustained global pressure works even better. I thank Addameer for defending me against this military 'justice' system that is part and parcel of the apartheid and colonial regime against our people.

"I am deeply grateful to all those who pressured apartheid Israel to release me. From Europe and the Arab world, to Southern Africa, Latin America, North America and Asia, your solidarity gave me strength and kept alive my hope to be reunified with my loving family and my inspiring wider BDS family.

"I also thank Palestinian and international human rights organizations and networks, particularly the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council (PHROC), Front Line Defenders, Amnesty International and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who have played a critical role in defending me as a human rights defender despite the fabricated 'suspicions' and lies propagated by apartheid Israel against me.

"BDS is an idea, and an effective, morally-consistent, anti-racist strategy of peaceful resistance and solidarity. They cannot break us because they cannot crush an idea or counter our strategy, despite all the financial, intelligence, political, diplomatic and propaganda resources they've invested in their war of repression against BDS.

"Let's intensify our BDS campaigns to bring to an end this system of apartheid and oppression and free all 4,700 Palestinian prisoners. With our global networks of mutual solidarity with movements for Indigenous, racial, social, gender and climate justice, we can and we shall achieve freedom, justice and equality for our people and for all oppressed communities." 

In its statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Nawajaa, Amnesty International exposed attempts in the West, coordinated with Israel, to suppress BDS activism. It said:

Quote"Advocating for boycotts, divestment and sanctions is a form of non-violent advocacy and of free expression that must be protected. Advocates of boycotts should be allowed to express their views freely and take forward their campaigns without harassment, threats of prosecution or criminalization, or other measures that violate the right to freedom of expression."

Mahmoud Nawajaa's arrest came at a time when Palestinian civil society is calling for effective international accountability measures, including lawful and targeted sanctions, to prevent Israel's planned de jure annexation and to stop its apartheid regime and ongoing, de facto annexation.

As part of the international campaign to #FreeMahmoud, last Tuesday the Palestinian BDS National Committee, the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society, organized two protest rallies in Ramallah and Gaza in front of diplomatic missions of Germany, the current president of the EU Council. More than 150 representatives of Palestinian mass movements, trade unions, political parties and BDS activists joined the rallies, demanding that EU apply concrete pressure on Israel to release Nawajaa and respect Palestinian rights under international law.

(https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cc20f51ca525b73bdd50e3a/1598050877857-PG1VB92DOIUI4O4RRFHI/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kFPHnYUguBJStUr5DBBSEglZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWEtT5uBSRWt4vQZAgTJucoTqqXjS3CfNDSuuf31e0tVGxcjDIQW4JVi2Vl0Ax5TFEuwip_j-zJnjEyoQ-lr8jTw8_N2JkgOxwdZmAWjoEChc/Ann+Arbor+Synagogue.jpg?format=1000w)

Antisemitic Protests Outside Synagogue Are Allowed, District Judge Rules
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-45/antisemitic-protests-outside-synagogues-are-allowed-district-judge-rules

Antisemitic protests that have been staged outside a synagogue in Michigan, for nearly two decades will be allowed to continue, Judge Victoria Roberts ruled this week. The demonstrations, featuring signs that say "Jewish Power Corrupts" and "Resist Jewish Power," have been taking place during Shabbat services at Beth Israel Synagogue in Ann Arbor.

Some members said their right to worship had been violated by offensive signs that caused emotional distress. But Roberts said the protests were protected by the First Amendment, The Detroit News reported.

"There is no allegation that the protesters prevent plaintiffs from attending Sabbath services, that they block plaintiffs' path onto the property or to the synagogue, or that the protests and signs outside affect the services inside," Roberts said on Wednesday. Peaceful demonstrations were "entitled to the highest level of constitutional protection, even if it disturbs, is offensive and causes emotional distress," the judge posited.

Ziporah Reich, co-counsel for synagogue members, said a request for reconsideration was planned. "The court is effectively saying that the emotional distress experienced by Jews in reaction to the antisemitic slurs hurled at them every week for 16 years in front of their house of worship, is insufficient injury to grant them access to federal court," Reich stated. The protests outside the synagogue have been organized by "Witnesses for Peace," a vehemently anti-Zionist protest group started by Henry Herskowitz, who identifies as a "former Jew."

Antisemitic signs carried by the group outside the synagogue also call for boycotts of the State of Israel, denounce the "Holocaust" against the Palestinians and charge that the US government is controlled by Israel.

Antisemitic BDS Resolution Passes at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-49/antisemitic-bds-resolution-passes-at-the-university-of-illinois-urbana-champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's student government on Wednesday night voted in favor of a pro-BDS resolution calling for divestment from a number of companies over their alleged involvement in human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Companies mentioned in the resolution — titled "Human Rights Violations in University Investments and Police Forces" — included Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Company, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar and Elbit Systems.

The issue was complicated by the inclusion of language in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, which placed pro-Israel students in the position of appearing to vote against racial justice, something many saw as a deliberate tactic.

In response, several Jewish students wrote a declaration of principles, which they read into the record before the vote was taken via Zoom.

"We are steadfast in our commitment to stand up for Black life and against antisemitism," they said. "As Jews who have been targets of white supremacist hatred and feel the pain of antisemitism, we stand proudly in support of racial justice."

"The conflation of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement with the movement for racial justice distracts from the root cause of systemic racism in America," they added. "The introduction of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions tactics against Israel into the movement for racial justice is a brazen attempt to give Jewish students an impossible choice between renouncing Zionism or selecting a position inconsistent with our support for human rights and the quest for equity."

The resolution was passed by 22-11 margin, with seven abstentions.

In a statement published following the vote, the university's chancellor, Robert J. Jones, and other top officials, said, "Illinois Student Government (ISG) is an independent organization that can pass non-binding resolutions on any topic it chooses. It is unfortunate that a resolution before the group tonight was designed to force students who oppose efforts to divest from Israel to also vote against support for the Black Lives Matter movement."

The statement continued, "We are committed to dialogue and to supporting students as they navigate challenging conversations, and we will continue to plan programming designed to build understanding of different perspectives on complex and divisive issues."

"This resolution includes several points on which we can agree, but a foundational value of this institution is inclusion, and this resolution includes language that we cannot and will not support," it noted. "As one of the country's top public universities, we find ourselves in the difficult position of defending speech and expression, so we can talk together about difficult circumstances and have uncomfortable conversations. We must always balance that with our need to create a community where it is safe to live, learn and work."

The group Illini Students Supporting Israel issued its own statement, saying,  "After years of failed BDS referendums that showed our student body does not support BDS, and a presidential veto of a BDS referendum only months ago, this BDS resolution was passed in the guise of social justice, during a pandemic, over a Zoom call, all in the midst of the Jewish high holidays."

"The resolution was filled with slander, blood libel, and lies only lacking in fact and truth," the group noted. "The ISG has continued to tarnish the name of our great university and serves as nothing more than a kangaroo court and a laughing stock of our student body."

The group thanked the administration for its opposition to the resolution, but added, "We demand action that stands up to the consistent, hateful attacks on Jewish students often paid for with university dollars."

The president of the group, Daniel Raab, told The Algemeiner on Thursday, "I am far from surprised on the content and timing of this vote. The authors of this resolution are members of Students for Justice in Palestine, the largest grassroots hate group that exists on college campuses today. It is not their goal or intention to improve the lives of the Palestinian people but instead to harass and make the lives of Jewish students on college campuses miserable. This is the third ISG resolution that has been authored by SJP just this past year that has fallen over the high holidays, two BDS and one to define antisemitism to protect themselves from consequences of their actions by denying that anti-Zionism is antisemitism."

"They meticulously try to push these kinds of resolutions through around the high holidays to suppress our voices by making Jewish students decide between defending their beliefs and identity or focusing on their academics that we fall behind on because of the holidays," he pointed out.

The university's Hillel chapter said the resolution was "an attempt to paint Israel and Jews as the obstacle to racial equity, amidst the holiest time in the Jewish calendar."

"The Jewish students refused to submit to this antisemitic litmus test," it stated. "Instead they issued a joint statement of principles declaring their steadfast commitment to Zionism and racial justice. During the ISG meeting Senators made clear that they are driven by their Jewish values which call for social, racial and environmental justice."

"We are very proud of the statement of principles that the students read into the public record," they added. "We want to express our deep admiration of the brave Jewish student leaders who stood for their values."

The university's Chabad chapter also commented, saying it was "deeply disappointed" by the vote.

"The University of Illinois should be a place of inclusivity, safety, open-mindedness, and equality," Chabad said. "Rather, the Illinois Student Government has once again used its power to exclude, bully, and intimidate Jewish students."

"Jewish students should never have to choose between standing up for social and racial justice while also having to shed their Jewish identity and their connection to the Jewish homeland to do so," the group added. "Fighting for the rights of one marginalized community should not come at the expense of another marginalized group."

Rachel S. Harris, an associate professor of Israeli literature and culture at UIUC, told The Algemeiner, "It is disappointing to see misrepresentations of Israel in an academic environment. I would strongly encourage those interested in learning more about Israel to take courses and inform themselves on the complexity and diversity of Israeli society, rather than choosing to gather their information from propaganda."

"BDS resolutions have a negative impact on campus climate and have a tendency to inflame antisemitism against Jewish students on campus," she went on to say.

Emily Briskman —  the associate vice president for campus affairs and student engagement of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Chicago — stated, "Antisemitism was emboldened yet again at U of I this evening. For the sixth time in five years, Jewish students had to defend their very existence in the face of tremendous hatred. We applaud the students who, informed by their Jewish values, were able to stand up and speak out against antisemitism while also affirming their commitment to social justice."

Source:  https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/24/jewish-students-at-university-of-illinois-decry-passage-of-anti-israel-divestment-resolution-during-high-holidays/

Antisemitic BDS Resolution Passes at Columbia University
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-49/antisemitic-bds-resolution-passes-at-columbia-university

Undergraduate students at Columbia University in New York City have voted in favor of a referendum calling on their school to "divest its stocks, funds, and endowment from companies that profit from the State of Israel's apartheid system and military occupation" in the Palestinian territories.

According to Columbia College's student government, "the number of votes in favor of resolution (61.04%) exceeded both the number of votes against and in abstention."

The referendum was an initiative of the "Columbia University Apartheid Divest" (CUAD) student group — a "joint campaign launched by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine and Columbia/Barnard Jewish Voice for Peace."

Voting began last Tuesday and ran through Friday — during the Jewish High Holy Days. Shortly before the start of the vote, Columbia's student newspaper issued a statement apologizing for a pro-Israel ad opposing the measure it had run that it called "deeply inappropriate."

Celebrating the referendum's passage, CUAD posted the election results and congratulated itself on "[p]assing divestment by an incredible margin."

It then published a photo of students covering a sculpture in the middle of Columbia's campus with keffiyehs and Palestinian flags.

The Students Supporting Israel (SSI) branch at Columbia said, "It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of Columbia College's decision to divest from companies who do business in Israel. The news is extremely saddening, as this is not the decision that we wanted nor that we worked so hard for."

SSI continued, "It is an extremely saddening realization that antisemitism on our campus is not only a forgivable offense but an acceptable, celebratory alternative view to hold. It is an extremely saddening realization that our fellow students — of ivy league level — do not understand why boycotting Israel, but not any other country is a blatant double standard. More so than ever, we are worried about the future — we know that antisemitic attacks increase by x percent after BDS resolutions pass."

"But, this is not the end. We, Students Supporting Israel will continue to do what we do best; support, celebrate, and advocate for our homeland. We will, more so than ever, continue to get the message out: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism; Jews have a right to a homeland of their own indigenous rights, and Israel does have a right to exist. Going into the New Year, we're looking forward to fighting back, speaking up louder, and advocating for Israel," SSI concluded.

Columbia's President Lee Bolinger commented that while he was an "unflinching proponent of robust debate over contested issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between Israelis and Palestinians," changing Columbia's endowment "in order to advance the interests of one side is not among the paths we will take."

Source:   https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/29/passage-of-one-sided-pro-bds-resolution-at-columbia-decried-as-deeply-irresponsible/

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Victory: Liverpool arms fair canceled, Mayor vows policy against future arms fairs
After weeks of campaigning by a local coalition, event organisers cancelled this year's Electronic Warfare Europe. Campaigners are mobilizing against the next edition, set for Seville (Spain) in May 2021
https://bdsmovement.net/news/victory-liverpool-arms-fair-canceled-mayor-vows-policy-against-future-arms-fairs

This November, the city of Liverpool (UK) was due to host the arms fair Electronic Warfare Europe at the city-run ACC Exhibition Centre. Elbit Systems, Israel's largest private weapons manufacturer whose arms are regularly used by the Israeli military to kill and mame Palestinian civilians, was one of the fair's global partners.

For weeks a strong local coalition, Liverpool Against the Electronic Arms Fair, in partnership with Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), urged the city council not to host such an unethical event promoting violations of human rights.

On Wednesday September 16th, the event organisers cancelled this year's Electronic Warfare Europe and announced that the next edition will take place in Seville (Spain) in May 2021.

Groups continued to pressure Liverpool City Council for a commitment to ensure that no arms fair would take place again in the city in the future.

On September 21st,  following 40,000 emails from citizens and a video from Liverpool renowned comedian Alexei Sayle, the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson promised to develop an ethical policy that will prevent future arms fairs in the city.

(https://bdsmovement.net/sites/default/files/Liverpool%20Mayor%20Anderson%20tweet%2010.4.2020.png)

Sabreen Al-Najjar, mother of Gaza paramedic Razan Al-Najjar, murdered by Israel's army, welcomed the cancelation of the arms fair in Liverpool. She thanked everyone involved in the campaign and called on Liverpool Mayor Anderson to meet with Liverpool Against the Electronic Arms Fair Coalition to jointly agree on a ban on arms fairs in the city.

https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/1310918065211744258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1310918065211744258%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fvictory-liverpool-arms-fair-canceled-mayor-vows-policy-against-future-arms-fairs

Elbit sells its weaponry as "battle-tested" after testing it on the Palestinian population living under Israel's occupation. 85% of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) used by the Israeli occupation forces are manufactured by Elbit. This includes the Hermes 900 drone, which was among the drones the Israeli military used in its 2014 aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza that killed 164 Palestinian children.

The Italian transnational arms manufacturer Leonardo was another partner of the cancelled fair. Leonardo arms have been sold to the Saudi coalition responsible for war crimes in Yemen.

The Liverpool arms fair would have brought together many of the world's biggest arms companies with military buyers from around the world in order to promote weapons and military equipment. Previous fairs have been attended by delegations representing repressive regimes from across the world.

The next edition of Electronic Warfare Europe is scheduled to take place in Seville (Spain) in May 2021 where local organisers have started mobilising, inspired by the victory in Liverpool. No city should be profiting from blood money and grave human rights violations. We expect Seville to cancel this event as Liverpool has done. Cities must prioritise justice and human rights at home and abroad.

Butler students win BDS victory amid attacks from pro-Israel critics
Two resolutions designed to crack down on pro-Palestine activism at Butler University failed to pass the Student Government Association.
https://mondoweiss.net/2020/10/butler-students-win-bds-victory-amid-attacks-from-pro-israel-critics/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet


A big victory at Butler University. The Student Government Association was recently pushed to vote on two Student Senate Resolutions designed to crack down on pro-Palestine activism. The resolutions condemned the BDS movement and embrace the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a definition that includes some criticisms of Israel. Last night they both failed to pass, with sponsors pulling their support for the measures after hearing Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace members speak before the vote.

After the resolutions were shot down, SJP Butler emailed me this statement:

QuoteMeasures which vilify the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as those which equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, must be resisted however and whenever they manifest. Such resistance combats the continued disenfranchisement and silencing of Palestinians. The vicious attempt to stifle Palestinian speech at Butler University is not an isolated event; rather, it is a well-coordinated and heavily-funded disinformation strategy. It is a strategy which denies Palestinian students agency, and prevents the diffusion of critical knowledge on Palestine in order to misrepresent Students for Justice in Palestine's purpose and goals. Students for Justice in Palestine chapters challenge the racist, popular narrative surrounding Palestinians in academia, and are therefore invaluable resources both for the student bodies of the campuses they inhabit, and also for Palestinian students as vehicles of empowerment. Despite these deliberate attempts to censor the work of Students for Justice in Palestine at Butler University, we remain steadfast in our commitment to educating our campus on the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

In short, resolutions that oppose BDS and equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism not only harm Palestinians, but also uphold systems which have historically been used as weapons to silence marginalized voices across the Global South. We must reject and actively oppose such measures, while also reaffirming our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for all peoples through mass action and popular education, in our communities and throughout our campuses. 

The resolution push coincided with a campaign (launched by pro-Israel students and right-wing personalities) to attack an early October event that was sponsored by the Student Government Association and organized by SJP Butler. Boycott and Safe Protesting 101 was set up to inform students about their right to protest and how to safely do it during the COVID crisis. One of the speakers on the webinar was Dalit Baum, director of economic activism at the American Friends Service Committee. Baum briefly discussed the BDS movement and pointed out that it wasn't antisemitic.

These assertions were picked up by right-wing podcaster Eric Metheny, who posted a video on Twitter condemning the event and claiming that "your tax dollars are going to effectively indoctrinate students and guide them towards antisemitism." This narrative was then embraced by Ryan Fournier, who is the founder and "co-chairman" of something called Students for Trump. He told his many followers that their "hard-earned taxpayer dollars are going to a university that wants to indoctrinate students to hate Israel."

Brooke Beloso, an associate professor and faculty advisor of SJP, told The Butler Collegian that she was "deeply concerned" about the backlash as it "places the lives and well-being of our students in jeopardy." She also dismissed the ridiculous idea that BDS is somehow antisemitic. "This is a nonsensical notion," she said. "Somehow, we are all mostly capable of differentiating between a nation-state and a religion in every other circumstance."

San Francisco State University Student Government Passes BDS Resolution While School Faces Federal Antisemitic Accusations
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-56/sfsu-student-government-passes-pro-bds-resolution-while-school-faces-federal-scrutiny-for-hosting-palestinian-terrorist

The student government at San Francisco State University (SFSU) passed on Wednesday a pro-BDS resolution demanding the school divest from companies that do business with Israeli settlements, even as SFSU is facing a federal investigation for hosting an event with a Palestinian terrorist.

The resolution — promoted by the General Union of Palestine Students, with backing from the Black Student Union, League of Filipino Students and International Business Society — was approved by a 17-1 margin, with two abstentions.

The  Jewish News of Northern California quoted student representative Ja'Corey Bowens as saying, "I think this document is very reflective of the culture that we should be striving for at San Francisco State, in terms of supporting our students."

The director of the university's Hillel, Rachel Nilson Ralston, stated, "We regret the introduction of BDS to our campus, the ugly discourse it elevated, and the outcome of this vote."

"This resolution has, sadly, had a real and negative impact on our students' wellness and experience of their campus," she added. "But BDS's real danger is that it seeks to influence the open hearts and minds of tomorrow's leaders from a one-sided, deeply biased narrative against Israel."

Moreover, far from Bowens' claims of supporting students, Ralston noted that representatives themselves had been subjected to "extreme pressure and bullying tactics from activists from across the country."

Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco spokesperson Jeremy Russell expressed disappointment at the passage of the resolution, saying it would "further exacerbate tensions at SF State."

"We call upon the university leaders to ensure Jewish students are welcomed and protected," he implored.

SFSU is currently under scrutiny from the federal government after its Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies Program hosted an online seminar in September featuring Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled, prompting an uproar that led to all major social media companies denying a platform to the event.

Source:   https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/19/sfsu-student-government-passes-pro-bds-resolution-while-school-faces-federal-scrutiny-for-hosting-palestinian-terrorist/

From The Electronic Intifada.  Read the article here, if you want to connect to the many links:   https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/what-were-top-bds-victories-2020

What were the top BDS victories of 2020?

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2020 was surely a year like no other.

Yet despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a successful year for the global Palestinian rights movement. There were plenty of direct actions, court victories and significant calls to sanction Israel over its violations of international law.

This year saw achievements by activists, students, civil rights defenders and lawmakers to uphold the right to boycott Israel – even as lawmakers, Israel lobby groups and the Israeli government itself attempted to derail, smear, attack and imprison organizers.

"Despite its massive investment of financial, political, diplomatic, propaganda and intelligence resources in its war against the BDS movement, Israel has failed, as some of its own lobby groups today admit," says the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), the steering group for the Palestinian-led BDS campaign.

What a fitting way to mark 15 years of the BDS campaign.

At the beginning of the year, the United Nations published its long-awaited list of corporations that profit from Israel's war crimes.

The report released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights lists 112 companies involved in certain activities in the settlements, including the supply of equipment and materials for construction or home demolitions, surveillance and security, transport and maintenance, pollution and dumping of waste, and use of natural resources including water and land.

The BNC welcomed the release of the database, which came "despite bullying by [President Donald] Trump and Israel's far-right government."

https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/1227609742475964417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1227609742475964417%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fnora-barrows-friedman%2Fwhat-were-top-bds-victories-2020

In April, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Jordan announced that it would not be renewing its contract with G4S, a private security corporation with a lengthy history of involvement in Israel's crimes.

That means that all six UN agencies in Jordan have now canceled their contracts with the British firm.

An unnamed corporation in Jordan also announced it was not renewing its contract with G4S, stated activists with Jordan BDS.

In the UK, activists took to the roof of a factory owned by Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. The factory is accused of making engines for the Hermes drone.

The drone has been used by the Israeli military to fire missiles on Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

Here are some more of the top victories for Palestinian rights as covered by The Electronic Intifada in 2020.

Calls for sanctions grow louder
Public figures, politicians, trade unions and other organizations around the world called for sanctions on Israel over its plans to formalize illegal annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Over the summer, the Palestinian BDS National Committee urged all states to adopt "effective countermeasures, including sanctions, to end Israel's unlawful acquisition of Palestinian territory through use of force, its regime of apartheid and its denial of our inalienable right to self-determination."

These measures should include an arms embargo, an end to free-trade agreements with Israel, prohibition of all trade with Israeli settlements and accountability for Israeli war criminals, the BNC said.

With almost 60 Canadian lawmakers pledging to support diplomatic and economic sanctions over the annexation plan, a June poll found that nearly half of all Canadians would back such measures.

BDS boosted in courts
Israel lobby organizations took major hits in 2020 as US and European courts thwarted efforts to suppress the boycott movement.

In February, a Washington state appeals court upheld a 2018 ruling that dismissed a lawsuit against former board members of the Olympia Food Co-op.

In 2010, the grocery store became the first of its kind in the US to remove Israeli goods from its shelves as part of the BDS campaign.

For nearly ten years, plaintiffs working closely with Israel lobby group StandWithUs sought to block the store's boycott and secure monetary damages against board members who voted in favor of the measure; and when they lost each legal battle, they would appeal to a higher court.

StandWithUs helped secretly plan the lawsuit in coordination with Israeli government officials.

In June, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. unanimously affirmed an earlier dismissal of a lawsuit brought against the American Studies Association over its support of an academic boycott of Israel.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2016 after the ASA endorsed the boycott of Israeli institutions three years prior, claimed that the association's endorsement of the boycott was contrary to its charter.

But a judge threw out that key claim in 2017.

Notably, the lawsuit was backed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights, an Israel advocacy organization that has for years worked to smear Palestine solidarity activism as anti-Semitism and attempts to suppress it with frivolous lawsuits and bogus civil rights complaints.

The organization's former president, attorney Kenneth Marcus, represented the plaintiffs until February 2018 – when he was appointed as the Trump administration's top civil rights enforcer at the US Department of Education.

Marcus resigned in July amid calls by civil rights groups to investigate possible violations of federal law in his prioritizing of complaints filed by anti-Palestinian organizations. He is now back at the Brandeis Center.

Upholding the right to boycott
The European Court of Human Rights upheld the right to boycott Israel when it overturned the criminal convictions against 11 Palestinian rights activists in France, striking a significant blow to Israel's anti-BDS efforts.

The court ruled unanimously that the convictions against the activists for calling on shoppers to boycott Israeli goods violated the European Convention on Human Rights' guarantee of freedom of expression.

Even though France has defied the court's ruling by telling prosecutors to continue investigating those who call for boycotts of Israel, French activists continue to organize.

https://twitter.com/palestine69/status/1334910450010566660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1334910450010566660%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fnora-barrows-friedman%2Fwhat-were-top-bds-victories-2020

United Nations representatives warned the German government in October that its tightening crackdown on supporters of Palestinian rights violates freedom of expression.

Five special rapporteurs on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, human rights defenders, human rights in Palestine and freedom of religion sent Germany a letter complaining about its repressive behavior.

In April, the UK Supreme Court struck down an anti-divestment rule imposed by the government in 2016.

The law stated that councils could not use their pension policies "to pursue boycotts, divestment and sanctions against foreign nations and UK defense industries."

But the Palestine Solidarity Campaign challenged the government, and in 2017 the high court ruled in its favor.

That decision was overturned in 2018 by the Court of Appeal, but with the Supreme Court's final ruling, it cannot be appealed.

In the US, journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin sued the state of Georgia over its draconian anti-BDS law.

Martin was scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at a media literacy conference held at Georgia Southern University. When officials demanded that she sign a contract stating she would not engage in a boycott of Israel, Martin refused to do so and her keynote was canceled, as was the entire conference.

Martin's lawsuit against Georgia is one of several filed by activists, attorneys, educators and reporters in states across the US.

In 2020, the governors of Missouri and Oklahoma signed anti-BDS measures into law, but civil rights defenders are fighting them in courts.

Rebukes of whitewashing, pinkwashing
In September, Palestinians called for a boycott of The Next Nas Daily, a venture run by Nuseir Yassin, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, whose critics accuse him of whitewashing Israel's crimes by falsely equating a colonial occupier with its victims.

And in December, BDS groups in Arab countries launched one of their largest recent social media campaigns to amplify that call.

After sustained outcry from Palestinians and supporters of Palestinian rights, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pulled out of an October event to honor Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli prime minister who was assassinated by a Jewish extremist 25 years ago.

Her cancelation dealt a significant blow to Israel lobbyists seeking to whitewash Rabin's legacy of colonial violence in Palestine.

Earlier in the year, more than 130 queer filmmakers and film artists from around the globe pledged to boycott TLVFest, the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival, in a rebuke of Israel's pinkwashing campaign.

Students rise up
College students continue to stand up for Palestinian rights, even as university administrators capitulate to Israel lobby demands.

The University of Manchester in England divested more than $5 million from Caterpillar and the parent company of travel site Booking.com.

Activists said it was "a colossal win for the Palestine solidarity movement in Britain" and a "watershed moment."

The university had been a focus for campaigners since 2016 due to its investments in firms complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

Even though the university denied that their divestment had anything to do with the mounting pressure by human rights defenders, activist Huda Ammori told The Electronic Intifada that the University of Manchester "divesting from complicit companies shows the power of the grassroots student movement to hold our institutions to account."

In the US, students at Tufts University in Boston voted in favor of ending all foreign military training of the college's police department, while others at California State University campuses in San Francisco and Fresno passed resolutions calling for divestment from companies that play an active role in Israel's occupation.

A referendum at Columbia University's liberal arts college in New York City calling on the university to divest from "stocks, funds, and endowment from companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel's acts towards Palestinians" was supported by more than 60 percent of students.

And at Butler University in Indiana, two resolutions that would have condemned the BDS campaign and conflated criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish bigotry were defeated by student representatives.

Here's to the activism and victories in 2020, with more to come in 2021.

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shutterstock_283993130-998x667.jpg)

Arkansas' anti-BDS law violates the First Amendment, says court
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found a law that prohibits Arkansas from doing business with companies that boycott Israel unconstitutional in a 2-1 decision.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/02/arkansas-anti-bds-law-violates-the-first-amendment-says-court/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

The Arkansas Times has successfully challenged a law that prohibits the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.

The Little Rock-based weekly filed the lawsuit in 2018 and was represented by the ACLU. The paper takes no official position on BDS, but it launched the legal challenge after the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College refused to sign an advertising contract with The Arkansas Times, unless it signed the pledge. A U.S. district court judge dismissed the case in 2019, but last week the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found the law unconstitutional in a 2-1 decision.

https://twitter.com/pal_legal/status/1360309499630923776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1360309499630923776%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2021%2F02%2Farkansas-anti-bds-law-violates-the-first-amendment-says-court%2F

"We're thrilled by the court's ruling, which upholds the fundamental right to participate in political boycotts," said ACLU attorney Brian Hauss in a statement. "The government cannot force people to choose between their livelihoods and their First Amendment rights, which is what this law did. Political boycotts are a legitimate form of nonviolent protest, and they are protected by the First Amendment."

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad echoed these sentiments in a statement. "Today's federal ruling represents a critically important moment in the struggle to protect free speech here at home and advance human rights overseas," he said. "From Arizona, to Texas, to Arkansas, numerous courts now recognize the obvious: states cannot require individuals or corporations to sign an oath pledging support for the Israeli government as a condition for working with a state government."

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge expressed frustration with the ruling. The Attorney General is disappointed in the Eighth Circuit's decision, which interferes with Arkansas's law banning discrimination against Israel, an important American ally," a spokesperson from her office told The Associated Press.

On the same day of the Arkansas decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the UN Human Rights Council for publishing a list of companies that do business in the occupied territories. In his statement, Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel promotes anti-BDS laws within the United States: "In recent years, we have promoted laws in most US states, which determine that strong action is to be taken against whoever tries to boycott Israel."

Virginia gubernatorial candidate says he supports BDS movement
In a recent online event, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Lee Carter said he's a supporter of the BDS movement. Other candidates declined to support the movement, but all defended the right to boycott.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/03/virginia-gubernatorial-candidate-says-he-supports-bds-movement/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Lee Carter says he's a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS).

Carter's comments came during at the Virginia People's Debate, an online event hosted by a number of progressive organizations. The candidates who attended were asked if they would "discourage or criminalize" BDS if elected Governor. Carter, who is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, was the only candidate who said he supported the movement, but everyone on the call defended the right to boycott.

"No, I will never do that," said Carter. "I'm a supporter of the BDS movement. I believe that the human rights abuses that are being inflicted upon the Palestinian people are among the worst currently ongoing in the world."

Carter also criticized the Virginia Israel Advisory Board, which was created to help Israeli businesses in the state.

"There is only one state in America that has agency dedicated to increasing its trade deficit with a foreign country and that agency is the Virginia Israel Advisory Board," Carter explained. "I don't think we should have an agency like that on our books for any country, but specifically for a country that has a military occupation over a captive population like the Israeli government does over the Palestinian people."

Discussion of BDS begins at 1:54:


The only candidate to not appear at the event was Terry McAuliffe, who was Governor of the state from 2014-2018. McAuliffe has touted his pro-Israel record and championed the state's connections to the country. Polls show that nearly 50% of the state's voters are undecided.

A pro-Israel Twitter account accused Carter of being an antisemite after the event and he reiterated his support for the movement in response.

"Say whatever you want about me, I will never stop defending the human rights of the Palestinian people, which are being systemically violated each and every day," he tweet. "I'm not afraid of your smears."

https://twitter.com/carterforva/status/1372389824074747905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1372389824074747905%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2021%2F03%2Fvirginia-gubernatorial-candidate-says-he-supports-bds-movement%2F

Canada's New Democratic Party passes motion to sanction Israel
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/04/canadas-new-democratic-party-passes-motion-to-sanction-israel/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

At the New Democratic Party's (NDP) convention last week, party members overwhelmingly passed a motion to sanction Israel. The policy book forthe center-left political party, which has existed in Canada since 1961, will now include a boycott of goods from illegal settlements and an arms embargo on the country.

"The adoption of this policy today firmly positions the NDP as one of the few parties demanding the end of Canada's support for illegal settlements and suspending the flow of weapons to and from Israel until Palestinians are free," Geneviève Nevin, one of the resolution's organizers, said in a statement. "In a time of unparalleled and intersecting social, environmental, and economic crises, it is of paramount importance that the NDP stand with and take direction from marginalized communities and those fighting for peace and justice everywhere."

"For the first time, the NDP has endorsed concrete and proactive measures that the Canadian government can take to force Israel's compliance with international law," said Michael Bueckert, vice president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). "This is a major step forward for the NDP, and an encouraging development for all Canadians who want to see our political leaders respond to the call for action coming from Palestinian civil society."

Organizers were also hoping to vote on a resolution rebuking the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which infamously includes some criticisms of Israel. That resolution never came up for a vote, but NDP leadership faced immense pressure from pro-Israel groups to quash the effort. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) put out a statement attacking the NDP and sponsored a letter calling for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to reject the resolution.

"Even though there was no vote on this resolution, the NDP leadership needs to realize that there is widespread and growing opposition to the harmful IHRA definition within the party, who expect their leadership to take a clear stance against it," said Bueckert.

Pomona College Student Gov't Passes BDS Resolution
Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr denounced the ASPC for holding the vote "without representation from any student opposition" and urged the ASPC to revisit the matter to ensure that all viewpoints are heard. 
https://jewishjournal.com/news/335886/pomona-college-student-govt-passes-bds-resolution/

The Pomona College student government unanimously passed a pro-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution on April 22. The Claremont Independent reported that the resolution, which was authored by Claremont Colleges Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Claremont Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), called on the Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC) to cease funding student clubs that "invest in or purchase goods or services from companies that contribute to the settlement and occupation of Palestinian occupied territories by the UN-designated companies or the Israeli state" and to stop stores headed by the ASPC from selling such goods.

Claremont SJP celebrated the resolution's passage as "an important first step in reducing our complicity with a country that maintains an illegal military occupation and regularly commits crimes against humanity against the indigenous Palestinian population." JVP's Los Angeles chapter said in a statement that student activism in favor of the resolution "supports Palestinians in their own struggle for freedom and equality, and it brings the world closer to a future defined by a just and secure peace for all in Palestine and Israel."

However, Janie Marcus, who heads the Claremont Progressive Israel Alliance, told the Journal that Jewish students and the local Hillel were not notified about the resolution and didn't get a chance to weigh in on it before it was passed. "It really seems more than anything else that they wanted to do this in secret."

She added that the resolution "marginalizes Jewish students who view Israel as the Jewish homeland and directly targets these Jewish students" and pointed out that the Claremont Progressive Israel Alliance could lose funding if the resolution is enforced, as the club provides support to various Jewish organizations and Jewish companies. "I worry that our club could come under fire and lose funding just because we support Israel."

Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr denounced the ASPC for holding the vote "without representation from any student opposition" and urged the ASPC to revisit the matter to ensure that all viewpoints are heard. "The resolution's stated goal of eventually enacting requirements that all student clubs supported by ASPC — not just ASPC itself — comply with its divestment stance or lose funding is also of deep concern, as it would require all students, regardless of their views, to participate in a boycott," Starr said. "We urge ASPC to reverse course and allow for full discussion, and we welcome an open dialogue on this matter."

"WE URGE ASPC TO REVERSE COURSE AND ALLOW FOR FULL DISCUSSION, AND WE WELCOME AN OPEN DIALOGUE ON THIS MATTER." — POMONA COLLEGE PRESIDENT G. GABRIELLE STARR

Marcus said that she was "thrilled" about Starr's statement for putting pressure on the ASPC to rescind the resolution, but she won't be satisfied until such action is taken. "I think the first step is to create some sort of dialogue and to bring Jewish students and minority voices into the discussion... I'm curious what will happen when some of these other voices are included."

Jewish groups condemned the resolution. "The passage of this new Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) resolution by the Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC) is a disturbing trend we have seen in recent years on a number of the campuses in The Claremont Consortium," Anti-Defamation League Senior Associate Regional Director Natan Pakman said in a statement to the Journal. "BDS campaigns promote a biased and simplistic approach to the complex Israeli-Palestinian conflict and present this dispute over territorial and nationalist claims as the fault of only one party — Israel. The BDS campaign does not support Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and rejects a two-state solution to the conflict."

StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein similarly said in a statement to the Journal, "It is shameful that a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) resolution was passed by Pomona College's student government without the knowledge or input from the Jewish and Israeli community on campus. What is especially disturbing is that this resolution stated intent to deny funding to any student groups who do not support divestment. Passing this resolution without consulting important constituencies and attempting to deny funding to those who oppose efforts to demonize Israel is a blatant disregard for Pomona College ASPC's stated values of ethics. It is appalling to see such flagrant efforts to exclude students for their Zionist identities."

AMCHA Initiative Director Tami Rossman-Benjamin called the resolution "particularly sinister" in a statement to the Journal, noting that it would require pro-Israel student clubs "to disavow their support for Israel or lose their student government funding, effectively discriminating against and suppressing the free speech of Jewish and pro-Israel students. That is a direct violation of the First Amendment and cannot be left unaddressed. The university must not only condemn this resolution, they must immediately nullify it."

The ASPC did not respond to the Journal's request for comment.

Members of Pillsbury family join BDS fight against company
Five members of the Pillsbury family say the company should be boycotted as long as it operates in an illegal Israeli settlement.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/04/members-of-pillsbury-family-join-bds-fight-against-company/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Five members of the Pillsbury family have joined a boycott campaign targeting the company that bears their surname. They're calling on people to refrain from buying Pillsbury products until its parent company stops doing business on land that was illegally confiscated from Palestinians.

The boycott call was made in a Star Tribune op-ed authored by Charlie Pillsbury. It was also submitted on behalf of George, Leah, Lydia, and Sarah Pillsbury. "We take pride in seeing our family name associated with products sold around the world," it reads. "But in these times we no longer can in good conscience buy products bearing our name."

The article continues:

QuoteWe also are disappointed by the indifference General Mills has shown to this issue in its media statements. Instead of taking responsibility for building a factory on confiscated land, General Mills has boasted that the factory employs Palestinians.

Of course, hiring Palestinians is a good thing to do; but providing jobs to a few Palestinians does little to offset the enormous costs of a brutal occupation, nor does it excuse General Mills from profiting from Israel's war crimes.

The Boycott Pillsbury campaign was initiated by a number of human rights organizations, including American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the American Friends Service Committee.

The Pillsbury Company was founded by Charles Alfred Pillsbury and John S. Pillsbury in 1869, but purchased by General Mills in 2001. In 2020 the United Nations named General Mills as one of the 112 businesses that's violating international law by operating in the occupied territories.

Since 2002, General Mills has manufactured Pillsbury products at a factory in the Atarot Industrial Zone, an illegal settlement that Israel annexed during the 1967. According to a 2019 report on the settlement put out by Al-Haq, the factory also creates problems for Palestinians who still live in the area. "When they pour the flour [into the mixers which are outdoors], the flour comes into our house. Sometimes the bags of flour overflow into the house," explained in a resident.

"We call on General Mills to stop doing business on occupied land," reads the op-ed. "And we call on all people of good conscience and all socially responsible organizations across the globe to join in boycotting Pillsbury products until General Mills stops this illegal and immoral practice."

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/groupuse.jpg)

Massachusetts House rejects distorted IHRA definition of antisemitism
Activists rallied to defeat a bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives that would have adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism for the state.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/05/massachusetts-house-rejects-distorted-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected an amendment to the state budget which would have Massachusetts adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a definition that equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism, within its law on religious discrimination.

The problem amendment, called "Condemnation of Antisemitism and Adoption of IHRA Definition", was submitted by Rep. Howitt (R. Seekonk) as amendment #300 to the state budget bill, H.4000.

With only two days to respond before the amendment was considered, Jewish Voice for Peace-Boston, Massachusetts Peace Action, the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, and the Unitarian-Universalists for Justice in the Middle East mobilized quickly and contacted representatives and Palestinian rights supporters.   Over 400 people wrote to Aaron Michlewitz, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, to other Ways and Means leaders, and to their own representative and senator, warning of the serious damage that would be done by the amendment.  Legislators expressed their views as well.  One progressive representative, Liz Malia, who had signed on to the amendment thinking it was a legitimate anti-discrimination measure, dropped off the list of supporters once she realized what it really meant.   The amendment was then removed by the Ways and Means committee, effectively killing it.

We condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism.  But this amendment is the wrong way to fight anti-Jewish hate.

The IHRA definition is hugely controversial.  More than two hundred global experts on antisemitism, holocaust and Jewish studies who signed the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism have repudiated the IHRA definition as inadequate and misleading. They have asked governmental organizations not to sign it.  The American Civil Liberties Union, the Centre for Constitutional Rights, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the National Lawyers Guild, and and other civil rights organizations have condemned it on constitutional grounds. Over two dozen US based Jewish organizations oppose codifying it into law.

The IHRA definition is deceptive. Rather than focusing on right-wing white supremacist attacks on Jews, this definition says promotes the view that it's anti-Semitic to criticize Israeli violations of human rights, international law, and discrimination against Palestinians.  That actually makes it harder to identify actual forms of anti-Jewish hatred.

The definition threatens to silence our free speech in order to protect Israel.  Speaking out against violations of human rights and international law is protected political speech that has nothing to do with discrimination based on religion.  The first amendment protects our right to condemn the policies of any government.

This was just one more effort by Rep. Howitt (after his multiple failed prior bills and amendments) to get the Massachusetts legislature to penalize those who oppose Israeli policies.   Congratulations to those who mobilized quickly and successfully stopped this anti-democratic amendment!

This experience once again highlights the extreme secrecy and undemocratic procedure that the Massachusetts House of Representatives follows.  Critical amendments are decided on three days after being posted.  The meeting at which the amendment was discussed was not open to the public or even to legislative staff, but only to legislators, and no record was published of the discussion.   The amendment was rejected by the Ways and Means Committee leadership who then posted an amendment package.   That amendment package was then passed a few hours later by a vote of 159-0 with 1 not voting.  The Act on Mass coalition has been campaigning for the House to do its work with full transparency.  It abysmally failed at transparency this week, as it does every week, although the outcome was a good one in this case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIZ5o8J4YZc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMFNbypw1qs

BDS activists are targeting Puma in Boston
Puma is moving its corporate headquarters to Boston and BDS activists there are planning on targeting the shoe maker over its sponsorship of Israel's football league.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/05/bds-activists-are-targeting-puma-in-boston/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

In recent months supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) have been showing up outside a Puma store in the Boston suburb of Somerville to picket and hand out literature.

Puma became a target of the BDS movement in 2018 after the company signed a four-year deal to sponsor the Israel Football Association (IFA), which has multiple teams based in illegal West Bank settlements.

The IFA is an affiliate of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and, beyond the obvious violations of international law, the teams that play on occupied land shouldn't technically exist under FIFA's rules. Leagues under the FIFA umbrella aren't allowed to play games on the territory of another member association and the Palestinian Football Association is part of the federation. As Human Rights Watch has pointed out, FIFA acted swiftly in 2014 when the Russian Football Union tried to play games Crimea, but there's been no action when it comes to the IFA.

The IFA isn't the only way in which Israeli apartheid impacts local football. The country's many restrictions on Palestinian movement make it extremely difficult for athletes to compete. A recent report put out by BDS Boston quotes a 2020 piece by Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak:

QuoteEight years ago, my life changed forever. I was 22 and living my footballing dream. I was on the national team, had represented my country at the Olympics, and had just signed to a professional club in the West Bank. But on my way to meet my new team [from Gaza], I was seized by Israeli security forces. No charges were ever brought against me, nor was I brought to trial, and yet I was imprisoned for three years and brutally tortured. It was only after a 96-day hunger strike that international pressure forced the Israeli regime to release me.   

Local connection
Puma is set to have a much bigger presence in the Boston area as it's about to move its corporate headquarters there.

"When the BDS movement here in Boston found out that Puma was building its headquarters in Somerville we thought it was a unique opportunity to raise awareness about Puma sponsoring the IFA," Sanjay D'Souza, a scientist and Scientist and BDS Boston activist since 2019. told Mondoweiss. "We felt this could be really strategic for us because it's happening in our own backyard and it could be a lot more visible. We wanted to start to put pressure on Puma locally."

"The first action we are trying to focus on is talking to people who are trying to enter the store," D'Souza explained. "We tell them what Puma is doing, we hand out flyers that give them more information about the IFA. Eventually we want to draw more attention to the headquarters so that senior management might pay attention. We've sent them a few emails in recent months. Sometimes they reply, sometimes they don't. But the main goal at the moment is to educate people on why we are targeting Puma and to discourage people from shopping there."

Ragini Shah, a law professor and BDS Boston member since 2019, told Mondoweiss that the popularity of sports in the city provides an intriguing angle worth targeting. In addition to hosting the Boston Marathon every year, the local professional teams have enjoyed immense success over the last two decades. Marcus Smart, the dynamic Boston Celtics guard, is sponsored by Puma.

"Boston is such a big sports town," Shah told Mondoweiss. "We haven't really reached this phase of the campaign yet, but we thought we might be able to get some local athletes interested in this issue and interested in helping to call Puma out for what we see as hypocrisy."

Black Lives Matter hypocrisy
In recent months Puma has publicly embraced social justice causes. Puma certainly isn't the only company to embrace brand activism in response to the George Floyd protests but, as Shah points out, many find their pivot particularly egregious given the Israel connection.

"Puma is really branding itself as a company that supports Black Lives Matter, black athletes have been chosen as spokespeople for them, and yet they're sponsoring the IFA and engaging the oppression of Palestinians," she said. "So we thought that could be a compelling angle and hopefully that will come to fruition."

These sentiments were echoed by Mahmoud Sarsak. "Today, I see the sports world being forced to confront racism and hate by Black Lives Matter – and yet the prejudice which destroyed my career is largely ignored," he explained. Sportswear giant Puma has taken a public stance against hate, putting out ads and hosting 'honest conversations' on racism. And yet it continues to be complicit in the subjugation of my people."

Lea Kayali is a Palestinian community organizer and member of BDS Boston. She says it's telling that Puma management sent four cop cars full of police to question protestors during a recent action. "Any profit seeking corporation that is touting issues of racial justice deserves a level of scrutiny," she told Mondoweiss. "What's really clear in this case is that it's a hollow attempt to rebrand and seem like an ethical company. It's a trend we've seen since last summer. Every company wants to cash in on the BLM brand. As a Palestinian highlighting their complicity is a way to talk about how that branding is very surface level. If they're planning on sending the cops on peaceful protestors, that puts people of color in our group at risk. We've certainly seen terrible things happen over far less. It's important to highlight the irony in all this."

Global campaign
The BDS campaign against Puma has already notched some major victories in other parts of the world. Malaysia's largest university dropped its sponsorship deal with the company over its support for illegal settlements. UK clubs have also been pressured to act. Luton Town FC dropped their sponsorship with Puma and Forest Green Rovers FC pledged to not sign a contract with them. Additionally, over 200 Palestinian teams and athletes have called for a boycott.
- https://bdsmovement.net/news/largest-malaysian-university-ends-contract-with-puma-over-support-for-illegal-israeli
- https://bdsmovement.net/news/luton-town-kicks-out-israeli-occupation-sponsor-puma
- https://bdsmovement.net/news/forest-green-rovers-fc-pledges-boycott-puma-chair-says-palestine-greatest-injustice-his

Puma will hold its annual shareholders on May 5th and worldwide protests are planned to draw attention to the BDS efforts.

"The goal of any BDS campaign is to force people to confront their relationship with Zionism," Kayali told Mondoweiss. "Its the same goal locally, the campaign is a vehicle to do that. It's not just about sneakers and jerseys, it's about confronting the ties we have as taxpayers in this country."

Federal court rules Georgia's anti-BDS law 'unconstitutional' after case by journalist Abby Martin
https://www.rt.com/usa/524702-abby-martin-bds-lawsuit-georgia/

A Georgia law created to discourage the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement has been ruled as "unconstitutional," in a move that activists are celebrating as a "major victory."

The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed on behalf of journalist Abby Martin – formerly the host of Breaking the Set on RT. Martin refused to sign a contract pledging that she would refrain from boycotts against Israel ahead of a planned speaking engagement at Georgia Southern University in February 2020.

When Martin refused to comply, her appearance was canceled and she later filed a lawsuit with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF).

Judge Mark Cohen wrote in his ruling that Georgia's law "prohibits inherently expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment."

On Twitter, Martin said she was "thrilled" at the court's ruling and blasted Georgia's law that "so clearly violates the free speech rights of myself and so many others."

Martin went on to say that the current conflict between Israel and Palestine shows it has "never been more urgent to advance the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions movement against the Israeli regime."

https://twitter.com/AbbyMartin/status/1396869240913678338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396869240913678338%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fusa%2F524702-abby-martin-bds-lawsuit-georgia%2F

In 2016, Gov. Nathan Deal signed SB 327 into law, which required any person or business entering into a contract with the state worth more than $1,000 to sign a pledge not to support boycotts of Israel.

Activists marked the latest ruling on the Georgia law as a "huge victory."

https://twitter.com/ashahshahani/status/1396882872196386819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396882872196386819%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fusa%2F524702-abby-martin-bds-lawsuit-georgia%2F

https://twitter.com/pal_legal/status/1396883579259523078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396883579259523078%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fusa%2F524702-abby-martin-bds-lawsuit-georgia%2F

Similar anti-BDS laws exist in numerous other US states, and CAIR has filed lawsuits against those laws in Arkansas, Arizona, Maryland, and Texas, where they saw a victory after a federal court also ruled the law was unconstitutional in 2019.

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals also declared this year that Arkansas' anti-BDS law was a violation of free speech protections.

Patti Smith and Julian Casablancas among over 600 musicians to call for boycott of Israel
https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/patti-smith-and-julian-casablancas-among-over-600-musicians-to-call-for-boycott-of-israel

(JTA) — Patti Smith and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes are among the more than 600 musicians who have signed a letter calling for artists to avoid playing concerts in Israel.

"We call on you to join us with your name in refusing to perform at Israel's complicit cultural institutions," says the letter, which began circulating Thursday in media reports.

It claims Israel committed war crimes in its recent fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and that the "Israeli government operates a settler-colonial project committed to the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population."

Roger Waters, the former frontman of Pink Floyd and a longtime leading activist in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, is among the signers, but it is unclear if he spearheaded the letter. Waters has convinced a number of musicians to sign similar letters in the past, but this appears to be the largest such group of mainstream artists calling for a boycott.

Other big-name musicians who signed include the band Rage Against the Machine, rap group Run the Jewels, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, and the DJ and drummer Questlove. Some Jewish artists signed as well, including Peter Silberman of The Antlers, an indie band.

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San Francisco Teachers Union Endorses Antisemitic BDS Movement, Calls on U.S. Aid to be Fully Halted 
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-79/cww1bup7m0efoknvgb4vysxyyat10r

In a historic endorsement, the teachers' union for the San Francisco Unified School District passed a resolution on May 19th in support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement  against Israel.

The United Educators of San Francisco, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the country, is the first American K-12 union of public school teachers to officially support BDS, although other education and trade unions have done so. The resolution was passed right before Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire on May 20 after 11 days of fighting.

The measure, which was submitted to the UESF's assembly by 10 union members from several K-12 schools in San Francisco, including June Jordan and Washington high schools, Francisco Middle School and Clarendon Elementary, is titled "Resolution in Solidarity with the Palestinian People."

A call to support BDS comes at the very end of the resolution in a single sentence. The resolution also calls on the Biden administration to end aid to Israel. The 388-word document also denounces Israel's "forced displacement and home demolitions" of Palestinians in Jerusalem and "a regime of legalized racial discrimination."

"Whereas, as public school educators in the United States of America, we have a special responsibility to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people because of the 3.8 billion dollars annually that the US government gives to Israel, thus directly using our tax dollars to fund apartheid and war crimes," the resolution reads.

It also calls for Israel to end its "bombardment of Gaza and stop displacement at Sheikh Jarrah," referring to the neighborhood in East Jerusalem that has become a flashpoint of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to the online magazine Tempest, which describes itself on its Facebook page as a "revolutionary socialist organizing project," four San Francisco union members spoke against the resolution while "about a dozen" spoke in support. The final vote, according to the magazine, was 23 in favor, six opposed and seven abstentions.

UESF president Susan Solomon, whose organization represents some 6,200 teachers and school employees, told J. that resolutions are "presented, discussed and debated" by the union's assembly members.

In a statement to J., Jewish Community Relations Council executive director Tyler Gregory called the resolution "factually inaccurate" and "inflammatory."

"Rather than supporting all students whose families may be impacted by the conflict, Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, and Arabs, this vote will contribute to Jewish students feeling unsafe and unwelcomed in San Francisco public schools," he said. "We are committed to fighting for fair and inclusive policies to support Jews and other marginalized communities in public education."

A substitute resolution was also submitted by substitute teacher and former executive vice president of UESF Linda Plack, which omitted the endorsement of BDS, included a mention of Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and called on President Joe Biden to end the conflict through a cease-fire.

"Therefore, be it resolved, that United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) expresses its solidarity with families in San Francisco who are worried for the safety and security of their friends and relatives in the region," the substitute resolution read.

According to Jeff Schuhrke, a labor historian and visiting lecturer of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has written in support of teachers' unions endorsing BDS, it is the first time since 2016 that any union in America has officially backed the BDS movement.

Other unions to support BDS in the United States include the Industrial Workers of the World; the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers; graduate workers at the University of California (UAW Local 2865); UMass Amherst (UAW Local 2322); and New York University (UAW 2110), Schuhrke said.

Source:  https://www.jweekly.com/2021/05/25/sfusd-teachers-union-endorses-israel-boycott-movement/

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Students across the UK demand an end to university complicity in Israeli apartheid
University students across the UK are demanding immediate divestment from companies complicit in Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism as a part of Apartheid Off Campus's national day of action.
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/05/students-across-the-uk-demand-an-end-to-university-complicity-in-in-israeli-apartheid/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/E1h8o7-WYAINcPD.jpg)

On the 28th of May, university students across the country are gathering in unity with the Palestinian people to demand immediate divestment from companies complicit in Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism as a part of Apartheid Off Campus's national day of action.

The recent forced expulsions in Sheik Jarrah, the brutal attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque and the ruthless bombing of Gaza have brought students together in grief, anger and deep solidarity with Palestine. As a result, protests will be taking place on campuses of UK universities that are complicit in these human rights violations. In total, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign database calculates UK universities to be investing £455,815,954 in companies that directly or indirectly assist the violent Israeli regime of dispossession and incremental genocide of the Palestinian people.

See Instagram here:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CPImYbiHSZc/

The events of the last few weeks has captured international attention, but the brutalisation of Palestinians in nothing new. Each time Israel has decided to "mow the lawn" and wage war on the captive people of Gaza, meting out death and destruction on a population who are mostly refugees, mostly children, the international community arises from its slumber only for as long as it takes for a cease-fire to be announced. Gazans are left alone to reconstruct some semblance of life and to continue to suffocate beneath an inhumane siege, until Israel's next criminal assault.

It would be natural for the victims of this endless cycle of brutality, momentary global interest, and then neglect and amnesia, to grow cynical towards any claim that something might really be changing, that some decisive shift in public consciousness might truly be underway. But United Nations spokesperson Chris Gunness was correct when he described Gazans as possessing an "indomitable dignity" and Palestinians in the West Bank and within the Green Line have also shown time and again that they will never be docile in the face of apartheid and settler-colonialism.

The growing Unity Intifada represents the complete rejection of a defeatism which Israel, with each barbaric wave of massacre and ethnic cleansing, has endeavoured to instill in Palestinians. "The Dignity and Hope Manifesto" circulated widely across Palestine, and published in Mondoweiss, reflects their irrepressible will for life and liberation:

Quote"This Intifada will be a long one in the streets of Palestine and in streets around the world; an intifada that fights the hand of injustice wherever it tries to reach, that fights the batons of cruel regimes wherever they try to strike." 

The question then falls to those of us living in the West, will we stand shoulder to shoulder with those courageous enough to resist their violent dispossession? Will our solidarity this time be unflagging, or will it evaporate in the next few weeks when Palestine no longer dominates news headlines?

Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch and Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem both published exhaustive reports accusing Israel of subjecting Palestinians to an apartheid system. The 1973 Apartheid Convention defines apartheid as "inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them" and it is recognised as a crime against humanity under international law. For decades, Palestinians have been ringing the alarm against Israeli apartheid, and with Israel's most recent act of criminal aggression in Gaza and East Jerusalem, a heightened awareness of Israel's settler-colonialism appears to be blossoming in the UK –  most especially among students.

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/apartheid-off-campus.jpeg)

As university students, we cannot allow the endorsement and material support of settler colonialism to continue. We have a moral obligation and duty to the Palestinian people to resist against the forces that profit from their oppression. Our dedication to justice and our anti-colonial, anti-imperialist, transnational solidarity means that we will use our collective voice to support the fight against Israeli apartheid and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

In 1971, the National Union of Students and the Anti-Apartheid Movement set up a network to co-ordinate student campaigns. Over the next decade, students at nearly every university and college in Britain organised anti-apartheid action, which included calling on these institutions to divest from South Africa. Students have, evidently, fought against apartheid through collective action & divestment campaigns in the past, and we, at Apartheid off Campus, wholeheartedly believe it can happen again. If universities say that they are committed to 'decolonising' themselves, then this is non-negotiable; this is the only the most basic, elementary action that can be taken, and any decolonisation which neglects it is performative. We hope you join us in linking arms with our Palestinian siblings and, once again, resisting apartheid in our institutions until Palestine is liberated.

Apartheid off Campus is a non-hierarchical student network of activists that organises for UK universities to adopt BDS. This involves pressuring universities to break their links with and divest from companies complicit in Israeli Apartheid and sign an Apartheid Free Pledge to commit to disengaging with apartheid regimes. 

You can find us on the following social media pages to find your closest protest, follow our work and join the student network:

Facebook page – Apartheid Off Campus  https://www.facebook.com/apartheidoffcampus
Twitter – @AOC_movement  https://twitter.com/AOC_movement
Instagram – @apartheidoffcampus  https://www.instagram.com/apartheidoffcampus/

From Phil Giraldi:
Abby Martin Beats the Israel Lobby
Attack on Free Speech and Association Fails Court Test
https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/abby-martin-beats-the-israel-lobby/

Abby Martin's efforts must be applauded for she has won a major victory in the struggle to maintain freedom of speech in the United States.

Many Americans who follow developments overseas would concede that Israel and its supporters in the United States exercise a fairly high level of control over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Some are also aware of Congressional attempts to introduce legislation that would define criticism of the Jewish state as a federal hate crime. That would narrow the options for discussion, infringing on First Amendment free speech rights, and further tighten the grip on policy. It would also make violators of the new law subject to fines and even imprisonment at the hands of the Department of Justice, which has traditionally responded favorably on issues of concern to Israel and its supporters.

Still fewer Americans, however, are aware of the ability of the Lobby to promote legislation favorable to Israel and its perceived interests at state and local levels. Possibly the most insidious program being advanced by the friends of Israel is the attempt to make boycotts and public criticism of Israel a punishable offense. Legislation is now in place in many states that requires prospective recipients of government jobs, services or compensation to agree not to participate in boycotting or otherwise seeking to damage the Israeli economy. The details on how the legislation works and what exactly it covers varies from state to state, but the intention is to create disincentives for anyone who seeks to harm Israel as defined by Israel itself. It particularly targets the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is popular on many university campuses. And the prohibition goes beyond just sanctioning those who are taking action personally, as in a number of states one also cannot publicly or even privately encourage others to take action that might be damaging to the Jewish state. In some U.S. states, the recipient must even sign a legal document under oath indicating that he or she will not engage in anti-Israeli activity.

One might well ask by what authority state governments can demand that citizens not be free to discuss or even peacefully oppose the activity engaged in by a foreign government, particularly as the government in question is an apartheid regime that is a serial violator of international law and guilty of numerous war crimes. Indeed, many who have observed the corruption of constitutional government in the United States by Israel and its friends have asked just that and have predictably not received any credible response. Recently, some believers in the Bill of Rights have, however, gone one step further, going to court after refusing to swear fealty to Israel. Highly respected international journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin is one of the latest to do so.

Abby's tale will strike many as bizarre, but it has been verified by multiple independent sources and is absolutely true. It demonstrates how in 21st century America government at all levels can strip citizens of their fundamental rights with the stroke or a pen and how the lawmakers will feel absolutely no remorse after they have done so.

In 2016 in Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed off on a law designated SB 327, which is similar to legislation currently active in at least thirty states. The bill is entitled "State Purchasing; prohibit the state from entering into certain contracts unless such contracts contain a certification; does not presently conduct a boycott of Israel" and reads "A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure relative to state purchasing, so as to prohibit the state, including all of its subdivisions and instrumentalities, from entering into certain contracts with an individual or company unless such contracts contain a certification that such individual or company does not presently conduct a boycott of Israel and will not conduct such a boycott for the duration of such contract; to exclude certain contracts from these requirements; to provide for definitions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes."

In simple language, the law requires any person or company that enters into a contract with the State of Georgia worth $1,000 or more to sign a loyalty oath pledging not engage in political boycotts of the Israeli government based on its treatment of Palestinians.

Abby Martin had agreed to give the keynote address at the International Critical Media Conference that was to be held at Georgia Southern University in 2020, but her participation was canceled by the authorities controlling the University System of Georgia when she refused to sign the document. Her advocacy for BDS was already well known to college authorities when she agreed to speak. She responded with a lawsuit filed on her behalf by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund seeking to overturn both the decision and the law, arguing that her speech was protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Last Monday, Judge Mark Cohen of the Federal District Court in Atlanta ruled in her favor, declaring that the University System of Georgia had violated Martin's constitutional rights when it cancelled her speaking engagement over her refused to sign the state-mandated oath pledging not to engage in boycotts of Israel, which the court determined to be protected by the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution.

The Georgian government defense argued absurdly that it had canceled Martin's speech because it had "an interest in furthering foreign policy goals regarding relations with Israel." Dismissing that contention, the judge countered with "Defendants fail to explain how Martin's advocacy of a boycott of Israel has any bearing on Georgia's ability to advance foreign policy goals with Israel." One might also add that the U.S. Constitution grants to the federal government alone the conduct of foreign affairs for the entire United States, so, in a sense, Georgia has no foreign policy.

The judge specifically cited how the law's clear intention to stifle discussion of BDS "prohibits inherently expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment," and therefore "burdens Martin's right to free speech." He also observed that requiring Martin to sign under oath to refrain from certain otherwise legal activity is "no different than requiring a person to espouse certain political beliefs or to engage in certain political associations."

Abby Martin was, of course, pleased over the outcome of her case, even though the judge has not yet gone so far as to overturn the law itself. She enthused "I am thrilled at the judge's decision finding this law unconstitutional as it so clearly violates the free speech rights of myself and so many others in Georgia. My First Amendment rights were restricted on behalf of a foreign government, which flies in the face of the principles of freedom and democracy. The government of Israel has pushed state legislatures to enact these laws only because they know that sympathy and support for the population they brutalize, occupy, ethnically cleanse and subject to apartheid, is finally growing in popular consciousness ––they want to hold back the tide of justice by preemptively restricting the right of American citizens to peacefully take a stand against their crimes."

Abby Martin's efforts must be applauded for she has won a major victory in the struggle to maintain freedom of speech in the United States. May it be one of the first in the many battles that will have to be fought to have the courts finally determine decisively that laws drafted by states (and the federal government) specifically to serve Israel's perceived interests are all unconstitutional and will have to be overturned.

Seattle teachers union endorses BDS, demands end to police partnership with Israel
Seattle educator and union member Emma Klein tells Mondoweiss, "Educators and institutions from around the world have come forward, as part of a vibrant and growing international movement in opposition to Israeli colonization and apartheid. We call on others to join us."
https://mondoweiss.net/2021/06/seattle-teachers-union-endorses-bds-demands-end-to-police-partnership-with-israel/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

The Seattle Education Association (SEA) has passed a resolution expressing solidarity with Palestine and endorsing the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement (BDS). The resolution also demands an end to collaboration between the Seattle Police Department and Israeli military.

"The SEA leadership will use all the existing means of communication (email, Facebook, texts, and any other social media the union uses) to encourage all SEA members and community allies to learn about these issues and to encourage people in their communities to stand in solidarity with unions and oppressed people in Palestine," declares the resolution.

"As a Jewish Educator, I am proud to be a member of SEA," Seattle educator and union member Emma Klein told Mondoweiss in a statement. "Our Representative Assembly took a bold, vocal stand against injustice from Seattle to Palestine and called attention to the inexcusable relationship between Seattle Police and Israeli military and police. The SEA Recommendation is not an isolated action.  Educators and institutions from around the world have come forward, as part of a vibrant and growing international movement in opposition to Israeli colonization and apartheid.  We call on others to join us."

These sentiments were echoed by Cameron Payne, a Palestinian-American educator and union member. "It's wonderful to see that our union stands by that sentiment when it comes to our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are being denied accessible and equitable education in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem," Payne told Mondoweiss. "I hope this mobilization will continue because for us, this is just the beginning."

https://twitter.com/GuyOron/status/1404696337967312896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1404696337967312896%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2021%2F06%2Fseattle-teachers-union-endorses-bds-demands-end-to-police-partnership-with-israel%2F

The United Educators of San Francisco and chapter chairs of the United Teachers of Los Angeles passed similar resolutions recently. These moves have led to swift backlash from pro-Israel groups. A coalition of organizations (including the Coalition for Jewish Values and Alliance for Constructive Ethnic Studies) recently sent American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten a letter demanding that she take action against the unions.

"This is a terrible message to send at a moment when clarity and leadership are needed,
reads the letter. "We saw once again in recent weeks how inflammatory and dishonest anti-Israel rhetoric, when left unchallenged, can escalate to physical attacks on Jews. It is unacceptable that the teachers' union you head has affiliates that are using the AFT's name and infrastructure to promote this kind of hateful rhetoric."

Nike to end sales in Israeli shops 
Israel has been dealt a hammer blow by sports clothing manufacturer Nike
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211006-nike-to-end-sales-in-israeli-shops/#

Israel has been dealt a hammer blow by sports clothing manufacturer Nike. The mega-brand has announced that it will end the sale of its products in stores within the occupation state in a move welcomed by social media users as another victory for the international Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

"Following a comprehensive review performed by the company and considering the changing marketplace, it has been decided that the continuation of the business relationship between you and the company does no longer match the company's policy and goals," Nike is reported as saying in a letter sent to shops in Israel.

Nike's decision is expected to hit retailers hard. As one of the most popular sporting brands in the world, its products account for a large proportion of sales.

Although the company has apparently made the decision in line with its global plan to reduce the number of stores it works with and channel business through its website, the move has triggered an online debate over its motives.

The decision follows the decision by ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's to end sales in the occupied Palestinian territories. Founders Bennett Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, explained earlier this year why they believe that the company "is on the right side of history" by taking the decision to boycott business in the occupied West Bank. Amnesty International praised the decision, describing it as "a legitimate and necessary response, in line with its responsibility to respect international law and human rights."

Prior to Ben & Jerry's announcement, several high-profile reports concluded that Israel is practising apartheid. In April, the pre-eminent human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) joined a host of other prominent groups to declare that Israel is committing the crimes of apartheid and persecution.

Prior to HRW's report, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem branded Israel as an "apartheid" state that "promotes and perpetuates Jewish supremacy between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River." Echoing the UN's 2017 report which concluded that Israel was practising apartheid, B'Tselem dismissed the popular misconception that it is a democracy within the Green (1949 Armistice) Line.

In an article in June, two former Israeli ambassadors to South Africa also denounced Israel as an apartheid state by drawing parallels with the system of formal racial segregation in South Africa which ended in 1994. The message has also been embraced by American Jews, a quarter of whom believe that Israel is an apartheid state, according to a recent report, as do nearly two-thirds of American scholars and academics.

Irish literary prodigy Sally Rooney, who supports the 'BDS' boycott of Israel, is blasted for 'refusing to publish book in Hebrew'
https://www.rt.com/news/537223-irish-writer-book-israel/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney has stirred anger by turning down a book deal with a publisher whose clients include the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Accusers say her support for the boycott of Israel was ill-advised.

Rooney is considered one of the premiere millennial authors. She is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is meant to put economic and moral pressure on Israel to change its policies toward Palestinians. A model for the BDS is the movement targeting apartheid South Africa, which arguably was essential for dismantling the exclusively white government of the country.

Her first two books, 'Conversations with Friends' and 'Normal People', became bestsellers and won critical acclaim. The latter had a successful adaptation for the silver screen by the BBC, with a TV series based on the former currently in the works by the British public broadcaster.

Her third novel, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', which was released in September, got embroiled in a scandal this week, after it was revealed on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rejected a request by a leading Israeli publisher to translate and publish it.

Modan Publishing House said it was snubbed by the author because she supported the cultural boycott of Israel, according to Haaretz. The same house translated and published Rooney's two other books.

The news has been making waves in traditional and social media, with many critical reports focusing on the fact that Modan was hoping to publish 'Beautiful World' in Hebrew.

"Rooney has chosen a path that is anathema to the artistic essence of literature, which can serve as a portal for understanding different cultures, visiting new worlds and connecting to our own humanity," Forward columnist Gitit Levy-Paz wrote in a scolding rebuke.

"The very essence of literature, its power to bring a sense of coherence and order to the world, is negated by Rooney's choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity," she added.

Levy-Paz stopped short of calling Rooney antisemitic over the decision, but said it was "dangerous" because of "the rise of antisemitism in recent years, especially in Europe."

Similar and harsher criticisms of Rooney were flung on social media.

Some took a particular issue with the fact that she writes in English, "the most imperialist, blood-stained language the world has seen," according to one sarcastic remark.

It remains unclear whether Rooney actually was against publishing her new book in Hebrew or simply didn't want Modan to do it. The publisher is one of the largest in Israel and counts among its clients the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which a supporter of the Palestinian cause like Rooney might find objectionable.

The Irish author's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a secret. For example, she was among thousands of people who signed an open letter by Palestinian artists calling on fellow creators "to exercise their agency within their institutions and localities to support the Palestinian struggle for decolonization to the best of their ability." The letter was published in May in the wake of the latest surge of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants.

In 2019, she was among hundreds of artists who publicly supported Pakistani-British writer Kamila Shamsie, after her Nelly Sachs Prize was taken away from her over her support of the BDS cause.

The Israeli government considers the movement a threat to national security and has leveraged its influence in many other countries to undermine it. Some states in the US, for example, have put in place legislation penalizing individuals and businesses participating in BDS activities.

Quote from: yankeedoodle on October 12, 2021, 10:01:51 AM
Irish literary prodigy Sally Rooney, who supports the 'BDS' boycott of Israel, is blasted for 'refusing to publish book in Hebrew'
https://www.rt.com/news/537223-irish-writer-book-israel/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney has stirred anger by turning down a book deal with a publisher whose clients include the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Accusers say her support for the boycott of Israel was ill-advised.

Rooney is considered one of the premiere millennial authors. She is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is meant to put economic and moral pressure on Israel to change its policies toward Palestinians. A model for the BDS is the movement targeting apartheid South Africa, which arguably was essential for dismantling the exclusively white government of the country.

Her first two books, 'Conversations with Friends' and 'Normal People', became bestsellers and won critical acclaim. The latter had a successful adaptation for the silver screen by the BBC, with a TV series based on the former currently in the works by the British public broadcaster.

Her third novel, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', which was released in September, got embroiled in a scandal this week, after it was revealed on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rejected a request by a leading Israeli publisher to translate and publish it.

Modan Publishing House said it was snubbed by the author because she supported the cultural boycott of Israel, according to Haaretz. The same house translated and published Rooney's two other books.

The news has been making waves in traditional and social media, with many critical reports focusing on the fact that Modan was hoping to publish 'Beautiful World' in Hebrew.

"Rooney has chosen a path that is anathema to the artistic essence of literature, which can serve as a portal for understanding different cultures, visiting new worlds and connecting to our own humanity," Forward columnist Gitit Levy-Paz wrote in a scolding rebuke.

"The very essence of literature, its power to bring a sense of coherence and order to the world, is negated by Rooney's choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity," she added.

Levy-Paz stopped short of calling Rooney antisemitic over the decision, but said it was "dangerous" because of "the rise of antisemitism in recent years, especially in Europe."

Similar and harsher criticisms of Rooney were flung on social media.

Some took a particular issue with the fact that she writes in English, "the most imperialist, blood-stained language the world has seen," according to one sarcastic remark.

It remains unclear whether Rooney actually was against publishing her new book in Hebrew or simply didn't want Modan to do it. The publisher is one of the largest in Israel and counts among its clients the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which a supporter of the Palestinian cause like Rooney might find objectionable.

The Irish author's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a secret. For example, she was among thousands of people who signed an open letter by Palestinian artists calling on fellow creators "to exercise their agency within their institutions and localities to support the Palestinian struggle for decolonization to the best of their ability." The letter was published in May in the wake of the latest surge of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants.

In 2019, she was among hundreds of artists who publicly supported Pakistani-British writer Kamila Shamsie, after her Nelly Sachs Prize was taken away from her over her support of the BDS cause.

The Israeli government considers the movement a threat to national security and has leveraged its influence in many other countries to undermine it. Some states in the US, for example, have put in place legislation penalizing individuals and businesses participating in BDS activities.

Irish author targeted by Israel supporters 'would be honored' to print new book in Hebrew... if it's boycott-compliant
https://www.rt.com/news/537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Bestselling BDS-supporting writer Sally Rooney, who was widely accused of ostracizing Hebrew-speakers with her refusal to let an Israeli publisher print her latest book, said she would love to see a Hebrew translation.

"If I can find a way to sell these rights that is compliant with the BDS movement's institutional boycott guidelines, I will be very pleased and proud to do so," she said in a statement, referring to the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

https://twitter.com/maricohen95/status/1447907515795128325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447907515795128325%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds%2F

Rooney was responding to the wave of outrage that targeted her earlier due to her decision to reject a request by Israeli publisher Modan to translate into Hebrew and release her third novel. The book, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', was released last month and is expected to be an international hit, just like the previous works by the Irish writer.

Many critics claimed that Rooney was against the translation of her book into Hebrew rather than against doing business with an Israeli company. Forward columnist Gitit Levy-Paz said her "choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity" was against "the very essence of literature," and called the decision "dangerous" because of "the rise of antisemitism in recent years, especially in Europe."

BDS, Rooney said, is "a nonviolent grassroots campaign calling for an economic and cultural boycott of complicit Israeli companies and institutions modelled on the economic and cultural boycott that helped to end apartheid in South Africa."

The Israeli government considers BDS a national threat and claims that people supporting it are denying Israel's right to exist.

In April, Human Rights Watch declared that Israel had crossed a line and now meets the definition of an apartheid state due to its policies towards Palestinians. Prominent Israeli rights group B'Tselem announced the same conclusion in January.

Rooney is a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause. In May, she was one of thousands backing an open letter by Palestinian artists calling for an international boycott of Israel.

"I understand that not everyone will agree with my decision, but I simply do not feel it would be right for me under the present circumstances to accept a new contract with an Israeli company that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the UN-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people," she said, explaining why she snubbed Modan.

https://twitter.com/ronanburtenshaw/status/1447893646271975426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447893646271975426%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds%2F

The Israeli publishing house translated and printed Rooney's two previous novels. It also has a long-standing contract with the Israeli Defense Ministry to publish books and pamphlets for them.

Pro-Palestinian sentiment has many supporters in Ireland, where people see a parallel between their struggle against Israel and the historical resistance of Irish people against Britain. The very term 'boycott' stems from the Irish fight for independence, derived from the surname of 19th century English land agent Charles Boycott. He was targeted by a campaign of ostracism and threats after trying to evict Irish tenants.

(https://israelpalestinenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-05-at-2.21.21-PM.png)


Texas: home of the latest fight for the right to boycott Israel
https://israelpalestinenews.org/texas-home-of-the-latest-fight-for-the-right-to-boycott-israel/

This Palestinian American is fighting a Texas law that requires him to renounce his right to boycott Israel – the country that turned his family into refugees 73 years ago and continues to oppress them to this day.
by Kathryn Shihadah

Rasmy Hassouna, an immigrant from the Gaza Strip, has lived in the US for over 30 years and is an American citizen. He usually minds his own business – a Texas construction company – and avoids political confrontation.

He has been averaging $100,000 a year in business with the city of Houston for two decades.

Last month, when his contract came up for renewal, it included a new paragraph – requiring that he pledge not to participate in the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement against Israel.

The clause is there thanks to a 2017 law – the so-called anti-BDS law. Texas is far from alone: over 30 other states have similar laws, put in place with great effort by Israel supporters across the country.

When I spoke with Hassouna by phone, he expressed outrage that his government is demanding such a thing of its citizens.

"I believe in liberty and freedom," he said. "I just want to live my life, but when they shoved this in my face, I said I'm not going to sign it."

Hassouna, together with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), is suing the city of Houston and the Attorney General of Texas over the constitutionality of the law.

Hassouna hopes the lawsuit will draw Americans' attention to the folly of anti-BDS legislation – He would love to see the case reach the Supreme Court, the law overturned, and Americans' First Amendment right to boycott nationwide restored.

The right to boycott has long been considered protected by the First Amendment, and has been used by Americans on a variety issues – by both liberals and conservatives.

In 2019, constitutional scholars called Israel anti-BDS laws "an easy First Amendment case...clearly directed at the suppression of speech with which the state disagrees."

Flashbacks
Hassouna described to me how he felt the moment he saw that clause in his contract. "It was like a movie playing in front of my eyes," he said. He recalled the interactions he was forced to endure as he made plans to leave Gaza and attend graduate school in the States. 

"In 1988, I applied for a visa to the US [for graduate school], and Israel had to get involved. I had to come to the Israeli intelligence compound at 7 am every day for two months. They would take my I.D. and make me wait outside till 5 pm. On the last day, they finally called me in for an interview, and their questions were pointless. They didn't want to know anything about me, just to torture me for two months.

"The night that I was supposed to leave for the States, Israel imposed a curfew on my neighborhood. I had to sneak away in the dark and walk six miles with my luggage, hoping I would not meet an Israeli soldier. Luckily, I made it to the airport."

Most of Hassouna's family still lives in Gaza, in the Jabaliyya Refugee Camp. One of their homes was damaged during Israel's attack in May, in which 260 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed; 66 of the Palestinians and 2 of the Israelis were children.

"After all that has happened, how can my government say 'do not boycott Israel'?" Hassouna asked. "Give me a break."

Constitutional rights
CAIR attorneys point out that "The principle of boycott is enshrined in our first amendment, our freedom of expression, our freedom to redress our grievances against the government. This is just an abhorrent attack on our first amendment rights."

"We don't ask state contractors in Texas to pledge allegiance to the United States of America," they added. "We're asking state contractors to pledge allegiance to Israel. And that is illegal."

They added that an unconstitutional law will be unenforceable by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Until the matter is settled, Hassouna's company has asked the court to issue an order to prevent Houston from offering the contract to another company. Attorneys also indicate that they are seeking a new contract without the anti-BDS clause.

The anti-BDS mandate is statewide in Texas, and applies to contracts worth over $100,000 with companies that have more than ten full-time employees. Previously, the law had no minimum contract value or employee number.

Finland Introduces Bill to Stop Imports from Israeli Settlements
https://imemc.org/article/finland-introduces-bill-to-stop-imports-from-israeli-settlements/

A pivotal bill was recently introduced in the Finnish parliament that would prohibit all merchandise imported from the illegal Israeli colonies in the occupied West Bank, the Jerusalem Press reported.

Veronika Honkasalo, the Finnish Member of Parliament (MP) proposed a draft law, which would ban all imports coming from the Israeli settlements which were built on expropriated Palestinian land, a breach of International Law.

Honkasalo stated, "Clearly, laws that ban such imports help businesses and consumers to act responsibly. Palestinians are suffering from the longest occupation in modern history and policies and human rights abuses that systematically violate international law. We must stop supporting Israel's illegal settlements."

The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) issued a press release https://www.eccpalestine.org/finland-to-debate-a-bill-banning-trade-with-illegal-settlements/  hailing the proposed legislation and reminded other European officials of their commitment under International Law, the Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA) reported.

The ECCP added that Amnesty International and the International Court of Justice have both urged states to abide by their legal obligation not to support the annexation of occupied territories or war crimes, which the Israeli occupation has been committing in Palestine for many decades.

Quote from: yankeedoodle on October 13, 2021, 01:59:43 PM

Quote from: yankeedoodle on October 12, 2021, 10:01:51 AM
Irish literary prodigy Sally Rooney, who supports the 'BDS' boycott of Israel, is blasted for 'refusing to publish book in Hebrew'
https://www.rt.com/news/537223-irish-writer-book-israel/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Bestselling Irish author Sally Rooney has stirred anger by turning down a book deal with a publisher whose clients include the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Accusers say her support for the boycott of Israel was ill-advised.

Rooney is considered one of the premiere millennial authors. She is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is meant to put economic and moral pressure on Israel to change its policies toward Palestinians. A model for the BDS is the movement targeting apartheid South Africa, which arguably was essential for dismantling the exclusively white government of the country.

Her first two books, 'Conversations with Friends' and 'Normal People', became bestsellers and won critical acclaim. The latter had a successful adaptation for the silver screen by the BBC, with a TV series based on the former currently in the works by the British public broadcaster.

Her third novel, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', which was released in September, got embroiled in a scandal this week, after it was revealed on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rejected a request by a leading Israeli publisher to translate and publish it.

Modan Publishing House said it was snubbed by the author because she supported the cultural boycott of Israel, according to Haaretz. The same house translated and published Rooney's two other books.

The news has been making waves in traditional and social media, with many critical reports focusing on the fact that Modan was hoping to publish 'Beautiful World' in Hebrew.

"Rooney has chosen a path that is anathema to the artistic essence of literature, which can serve as a portal for understanding different cultures, visiting new worlds and connecting to our own humanity," Forward columnist Gitit Levy-Paz wrote in a scolding rebuke.

"The very essence of literature, its power to bring a sense of coherence and order to the world, is negated by Rooney's choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity," she added.

Levy-Paz stopped short of calling Rooney antisemitic over the decision, but said it was "dangerous" because of "the rise of antisemitism in recent years, especially in Europe."

Similar and harsher criticisms of Rooney were flung on social media.

Some took a particular issue with the fact that she writes in English, "the most imperialist, blood-stained language the world has seen," according to one sarcastic remark.

It remains unclear whether Rooney actually was against publishing her new book in Hebrew or simply didn't want Modan to do it. The publisher is one of the largest in Israel and counts among its clients the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which a supporter of the Palestinian cause like Rooney might find objectionable.

The Irish author's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a secret. For example, she was among thousands of people who signed an open letter by Palestinian artists calling on fellow creators "to exercise their agency within their institutions and localities to support the Palestinian struggle for decolonization to the best of their ability." The letter was published in May in the wake of the latest surge of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants.

In 2019, she was among hundreds of artists who publicly supported Pakistani-British writer Kamila Shamsie, after her Nelly Sachs Prize was taken away from her over her support of the BDS cause.

The Israeli government considers the movement a threat to national security and has leveraged its influence in many other countries to undermine it. Some states in the US, for example, have put in place legislation penalizing individuals and businesses participating in BDS activities.

Irish author targeted by Israel supporters 'would be honored' to print new book in Hebrew... if it's boycott-compliant
https://www.rt.com/news/537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

Bestselling BDS-supporting writer Sally Rooney, who was widely accused of ostracizing Hebrew-speakers with her refusal to let an Israeli publisher print her latest book, said she would love to see a Hebrew translation.

"If I can find a way to sell these rights that is compliant with the BDS movement's institutional boycott guidelines, I will be very pleased and proud to do so," she said in a statement, referring to the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

https://twitter.com/maricohen95/status/1447907515795128325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447907515795128325%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds%2F

Rooney was responding to the wave of outrage that targeted her earlier due to her decision to reject a request by Israeli publisher Modan to translate into Hebrew and release her third novel. The book, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', was released last month and is expected to be an international hit, just like the previous works by the Irish writer.

Many critics claimed that Rooney was against the translation of her book into Hebrew rather than against doing business with an Israeli company. Forward columnist Gitit Levy-Paz said her "choice to exclude a group of readers because of their national identity" was against "the very essence of literature," and called the decision "dangerous" because of "the rise of antisemitism in recent years, especially in Europe."

BDS, Rooney said, is "a nonviolent grassroots campaign calling for an economic and cultural boycott of complicit Israeli companies and institutions modelled on the economic and cultural boycott that helped to end apartheid in South Africa."

The Israeli government considers BDS a national threat and claims that people supporting it are denying Israel's right to exist.

In April, Human Rights Watch declared that Israel had crossed a line and now meets the definition of an apartheid state due to its policies towards Palestinians. Prominent Israeli rights group B'Tselem announced the same conclusion in January.

Rooney is a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause. In May, she was one of thousands backing an open letter by Palestinian artists calling for an international boycott of Israel.

"I understand that not everyone will agree with my decision, but I simply do not feel it would be right for me under the present circumstances to accept a new contract with an Israeli company that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid and support the UN-stipulated rights of the Palestinian people," she said, explaining why she snubbed Modan.

https://twitter.com/ronanburtenshaw/status/1447893646271975426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447893646271975426%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F537362-irish-writer-hebrew-bds%2F

The Israeli publishing house translated and printed Rooney's two previous novels. It also has a long-standing contract with the Israeli Defense Ministry to publish books and pamphlets for them.

Pro-Palestinian sentiment has many supporters in Ireland, where people see a parallel between their struggle against Israel and the historical resistance of Irish people against Britain. The very term 'boycott' stems from the Irish fight for independence, derived from the surname of 19th century English land agent Charles Boycott. He was targeted by a campaign of ostracism and threats after trying to evict Irish tenants.

Sally Rooney's boycott of Israel publishers gets backing of 70 writers
https://www.jta.org/2021/11/22/global/sally-rooneys-boycott-of-israel-publishers-gets-backing-of-70-writers

(JTA) — Seventy notable writers and publishers including Rachel Kushner, Francisco Goldman and Eileen Myles have signed a letter supporting Irish novelist Sally Rooney in her refusal to have her third novel translated into Hebrew by an Israeli publisher.

The letter calls Rooney's boycott of Israeli publishers "an exemplary response to the mounting injustices inflicted on Palestinians."

Rooney published her newest novel, "Beautiful World, Where Are You," in September, but wouldn't accept an offer to sell the Hebrew translation rights to Modan, the Israeli publisher responsible for putting out her first two novels in Israel. She said she was refusing to do further business with Modan out of support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, a Palestinian initiative against Israeli rule.

In response, Israel's largest booksellers decided to remove Rooney's earlier novels from their shelves. The two books, which were popular in Israel, will no longer be available in the 200 retail locations of bookstores chains Steimatzky and Tzomet Sefarim nor on the chains' websites.

On Nov. 22, a pro-Palestinian group called Artists for Palestine UK announced it had organized a letter of support for Rooney with a list of signatories from the United States and Great Britain.

"Like her, we will continue to respond to the Palestinian call for effective solidarity, just as millions supported the campaign against apartheid in South Africa," the letter said. "We will continue to support the nonviolent Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality."

In defending Rooney, the letter said that Modan markets texts published by Israel's Ministry of Defense and cited a Human Rights Watch report from April that Israel is guilty of instituting a regime of "apartheid."

Malaysia refuses to grant Israel squash players entry
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211124-malaysia-refuses-to-grant-israel-squash-players-entry/

Malaysia has refused to grant Israeli players entry to next month's squash championships.

The Men's World Team Squash Championship is due to be held in Malaysia on 7 December. Kuala Lumpur cited security concerns for its refusal to allow Israeli players entry.

According to Israeli media reports, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia resident Gerard Monteiro said that Malaysia "would not be able to guarantee [Israeli players'] safety and well-being" during the games.

Israel and Malaysia do not have diplomatic relations.

The Israeli Squash Association said it plans to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it is not resolved. Last month, Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saifuddin Abdullah, refuted Israeli claims that his country will join "the train of normalisation with the Zionist entity."

I'm tempted to damage Sodastream displays when I see them at Walmart.

But that would only hurt myself & Walmart.

Belgium has decided to Label Squatter-Settler goods from Occupied Palestine as Not from Israel — Will it start a Wave?
https://www.juancole.com/2021/11/squatter-occupied-palestine.html

( Middle East Monitor ) – Labelling Israeli settlement products "strengthens extremists, does not help promote peace in the region, and shows Belgium as not contributing to regional stability," according to Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll. He lashed out at Belgium's announcement that it would start applying more restrictive measures on goods produced by Israeli companies based on occupied Palestinian territory. Following the 2019 EU Court of Justice ruling that settlement products must be labelled as such, the EU Commission has so far left the decision to implement this legal requirement up to individual countries.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh had urged the EU to move beyond its usual condemnations and prevent settlement products from reaching markets across the bloc. This is simply unacceptable for Israel. "It is inconsistent with the Israeli government policy focused on improving the lives of Palestinians and strengthening the Palestinian Authority, and with improving Israel's relations with European countries," said the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Since the US has indirectly tasked Israel with helping the PA to regain some degree of control, following the damage that it brought on itself by cancelling the Palestinian elections and killing activist Nizar Banat earlier this year, the Israeli government is now attempting to create an image of itself being shackled as it tries to "improve the lives of Palestinians".

The claim by the ministry is, of course, ludicrous. If settlements violate international law and are deemed a war crime by the International Criminal Court (ICC), any products derived from settlements are tainted. The use of cheap Palestinian labour by Israeli companies in illegal settlements is one way in which the state profits from settlement produce; the Palestinian labourers are simply struggling to survive. It is worth noting that the UN's Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk agreed with the ICC's designation of settlements as a war crime.

Belgium's decision is a tiny step in comparison with what the EU should be advocating for and implementing: sanctions against Israel for its colonial violence. Yet that step was enough for Israel to strike an aggressively defensive posture, even though the EU is far from making such policies mandatory upon its member state, as it should be if the Court of Justice has any credibility.

If Israel is intent on continuing its de facto annexation of Palestinian land, why should Belgium — or anyone else — not draw attention to Israel's violations of international law? Far from singling out Israel, Belgium's decision merely points out the politics of colonial violence so that its citizens can make informed decisions as consumers. The repercussions that Israel might face as a consequence of Belgium's clarification about colonial expansion are related directly to Israel's actions. If Belgium sets a precedent for other EU countries to follow, which is unlikely at a regional level given the EU's ties to Israel, the settler-colonial state is not in a position to criticise other countries for trying to adhere to international law.

The EU has regularly expressed "concern" over Israel's settlement expansion, yet it has continued to work closely with the apartheid state and strengthen its diplomatic ties. Belgium's decision, however, has proved to other EU member states that they do not require the bloc to mandate action that is in line with international law. So far, non-binding rulings regarding Israel have largely lain dormant, if not dead in the water. The labelling move by Belgium is thus to be welcomed. If it does set a precedent and is followed by other EU countries, there may well be a significant challenge to Israel's colonial violence as well as ongoing EU complacency.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.


Via ( Middle East Monitor  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211125-can-belgium-set-a-precedent-by-labelling-israels-settlement-products/

University of Toronto Student Union Bans "Pro-Israel" Kosher Caterers
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-96/university-of-toronto-kosher-food

The University of Toronto's Scarborough Campus Student Union (SCSU) passed a motion Wednesday where they pledged to only order from kosher caterers who "do not normalize Israeli apartheid," according to the 86-page meeting agenda.

The vague litmus test to filter out supposed pro-Israel caterers is unclear, though some Jewish students and student groups now understandably fear they will not be able to keep kashrut rituals.

"Even for something as simple as ordering jelly donuts for Hanukkah, Jewish students at SCSU will now be forced to prove that kosher caterers do not support their Jewish homeland, which is basically impossible," Gabriela Rosenblum, a Hasbara Fellow at the UofT (University of Toronto) Scarborough campus, said.

Hillel UofT said it was "deeply disappointed" by the union's position, further calling on the union executive "to take immediate steps to reverse this shameful resolution."

"In addition to potentially limiting the availability of food to Jewish students, notice that only Kosher food is mentioned," said Jewish on Campus, an organization dedicated to combatting antisemitism on university campuses. "It is only Jews who are subjected to the anti-Israel litmus test- in this case just in order to eat."

University campuses have become something of a battleground on the Israel-Palestine political issue, as the BDS movement is most popular in North American college campuses. Just last year, Ivy-league school Columbia University passed their first-ever BDS referendum, bringing the total of schools that have approved a BDS resolution to 44. In comparison, the 700,000-strong Canadian Union of Public Employees voted overwhelmingly against a BDS resolution (68% to 32%) this past Thursday – just one day after the student union's decision.

"Whether the SCSU likes it or not, Israel is an essential part of Jewish identity," Daniel Koren, executive director of Hasbara Canada, said in a statement. "They do not have the right to tell Jewish students how to practice Judaism on campus."

Source:  https://m.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/university-of-toronto-student-union-bans-pro-israel-kosher-caterers-687177/amp

Quote from: yankeedoodle on November 24, 2021, 12:44:04 PM
Malaysia refuses to grant Israel squash players entry
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211124-malaysia-refuses-to-grant-israel-squash-players-entry/

Malaysia has refused to grant Israeli players entry to next month's squash championships.

The Men's World Team Squash Championship is due to be held in Malaysia on 7 December. Kuala Lumpur cited security concerns for its refusal to allow Israeli players entry.

According to Israeli media reports, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia resident Gerard Monteiro said that Malaysia "would not be able to guarantee [Israeli players'] safety and well-being" during the games.

Israel and Malaysia do not have diplomatic relations.

The Israeli Squash Association said it plans to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it is not resolved. Last month, Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saifuddin Abdullah, refuted Israeli claims that his country will join "the train of normalisation with the Zionist entity."

Malaysia: squash championship cancelled over Israeli visa issue
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211130-malaysia-squash-championship-cancelled-over-israeli-visa-issue/

The Men's World Team Squash Championship which was scheduled to take place from 7-to 11 December in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled after Malaysia refused to grant entry visas to players from Israel.

The World Squash Federation (WSF) announced yesterday that it "believes in an open and inclusive" event, and it was forced to cancel "due to the lack of confirmation over the issuing of visas and travel authorisations."

WSF president Zena Wooldridge added that officials have sought to "influence the highest authorities of Malaysia" to ensure the ability of all participating teams, including Israel, to enter Malaysia and compete. "It is important to the WSF that no nation which wishes to compete misses out on the event."

The tournament was moved to Malaysia from New Zealand earlier this year due to coronavirus-related travel restrictions. Malaysia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations and Israelis are barred from visiting the country.

In a statement issued to mark International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah reiterated the country's "unwavering support and profound solidarity" with the Palestinian people and urged an end to the "repeated violence and aggression perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians" and the "systematic oppression and crimes of apartheid."

Earlier this year, Israel was found by B'Tselem and Human Rights Watch to be imposing an apartheid system on Palestinians. Apartheid is a crime against humanity

Kosher food becomes a BDS flashpoint on a Toronto college campus
https://www.jta.org/2021/12/05/global/kosher-food-becomes-a-bds-flashpoint-on-a-toronto-college-campus


(JTA) — After an outcry and a rebuke from the University of Toronto president, the student union at a satellite campus modified a proposed ban on kosher foods in any way affiliated with Israel, but a campus Jewish campus group said the change made matters worse.

The board of directors of the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Student Union convened for an emergency meeting Dec. 1 to address the outcry after a Nov. 24 resolution affirming the union's boycott, divestment and sanctions policy regarding Israel placed restrictions on kosher food distribution.

The emergency meeting removed from the earlier pro-BDS resolution a passage that said: "Efforts should be made to source kosher food from organizations that do not normalize Israeli apartheid, however recognizing the limited availability of this necessity then exemptions can be made if no alternatives are available."

The revision came after condemnations by Jewish students on campus, the university leadership and Canadian Jewish organizations. B'nai B'rith Canada said the original resolution would have "effectively shut down Jewish life" on the campus because the union "controls clubs funding, room booking and many other aspects of student life at the Scarborough Campus."

Meric Gertler, the university president, said that the original resolution was inconsistent with the university's "core values of freedom of speech and inclusion."

"A requirement that providers of food as a religious accommodation be required to apply for an exemption, or even be asked about their views about issues elsewhere in the world is unacceptable," Gertler said.

A Jewish student campus group, UTSC Jewish Student Life said the revision made matters worse because the pro-BDS resolution retains a passage that says the union will "refrain from engaging with organizations, services, or participating in events that further normalize Israeli apartheid."

Jewish Student Life said this requirement could conceivably apply to kosher food providers that have anything to do with Israel — and there was no longer an exemption for kosher food, however restrictive that exemption was.

"With the new motion there is still a ban on affiliation or even interaction with organizations that 'normalize Israeli apartheid,'- and this still includes food providers who identify as Zionists as do the vast majority of Canadian Jews," Jewish Student Life said on its Facebook page. "Now, however, there is no opportunity for an exemption."

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported erroneously earlier this week that a separate resolution upholding the rights of Jewish students had replaced the pro-BDS resolution. That was not the case; the resolution on Jewish student rights passed simultaneously with the pro-BDS resolution on Nov. 24.

Jewish students on campus had advanced the pro-Jewish rights resolution knowing that the pro-BDS resolution was sure to pass and sought to mitigate its effects, said Renan Levine, a political science professor at the university who advises the JSL.

The pro-Jewish rights resolution passed, albeit with some passages stripped out. Levine said the removal of the passages weakened the resolution, because it preserved rights for individual Jewish students, but did not extend them to Jewish organizations like Hillel.

The effect, he said, could prevent Jewish student organizations from receiving "financial and promotional support" and "access to student activity spaces controlled by" the student union.

Levine said that the passage of the Jewish rights resolution would still have positive effects because of elements that addressed an increase in hostility after the Israel-Gaza conflict in May.

"In light of multiple controversies about hateful messages about Jews and Israel posted in May when there was an escalation in violence in the Middle East, we find important language preserved in the motion that prohibits hostile, hateful and abusive behavior on social media by both student leaders and in forums controlled by the students, and protects Jewish students from being blamed for actions taken by the Israeli government," Levine said in an email.

Two years ago, an official of the university's Graduate Student Union said the union would not back a Hillel initiative to bring kosher food to campus because Hillel is "pro-Israel." The union later apologized.

Saw this article today

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Palestinian-American (whatever that means, the US gives $$$ to the Terror State that is murdering his family members in Gaza) takes Texas to Court - and WINS - or it's in process or something.


'I thought I was a free man': the engineer fighting Texas's ban on boycotting Israel

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Erum Salam

For more than two decades, Texan civil engineer Rasmy Hassouna was a contractor for the city of Houston. Hassouna has consulted the city on soil volatility in the nearby Gulf of Mexico – a much needed service to evaluate the structural stability of houses and other buildings.

He was gearing up to renew his government contract when a particular legal clause caught his eye: a provision that effectively banned him or his company, A&R Engineering and Testing, Inc, from ever protesting the nation of Israel or its products so long as his company was a partner with the city of Houston.

For Hassouna – a 59-year-old proud Palestinian American – it was a huge shock.


"I came here and thought I was a free man. It's not anybody's business what I do or what I say, as long as I'm not harming anybody," he told the Guardian. "Were you lying all this time? If I don't want to buy anything at WalMart, who are you to tell me not to shop at WalMart? Why do I have to pledge allegiance to a foreign country?"

But Hassouna's reaction did not stop at anger. He took action, launching a case that is challenging the Texas law and – by example – similar provisions that have spread all over the US that seek to stop government contractors from boycotting Israel and can be found in more than 25 US states. Along with the Arkansas Times newspaper, A&R Engineering and Testing Inc is now one of only two companies fighting this kind of law in the nation.

Hassouna's case – which was filed on his behalf by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – will be heard in federal court on Tuesday and is based on the idea that such laws violate free speech. If ruled unconstitutional, the 2019 ban on boycotting Israel will be illegal in the state of Texas.

But Hassouna's decision to sue is not without a price. It could cost him a substantial amount of his yearly revenue, his lawyer said.

"They weren't counting on Rasmy Hassouna from Gaza, whose family has suffered so greatly. He believes that Americans have the right to boycott whatever entity, foreign or domestic, that they want to. That's what he's doing – putting his money where his mouth is," said Gadeir Abbas, a senior litigation attorney for CAIR who is representing Hassouna.

Hassouna first set foot on American soil in 1988. Like many immigrants, Hassouna's first experience of the US was New York's JFK airport. However, his final destination was the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the university at which he planned to study civil engineering. "Regardless how long it was going to take or how hard I had to work, I was going to keep aiming toward my goal," he said.

As a Palestinian under Israeli occupation, Hassouna had no claim to citizenship, so he had to get permission from Israeli officials in order to leave his home in Gaza, an area described by humanitarian organizations and politicians as an open-air prison.

"For almost two months every day, I left the house and I took a cab to the center of Gaza city. I gave [Israeli officials] my government application, my ID. I went to the gate and waited from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening. You're looking at the month of June and July in the sun, just standing there."

After two months Hassouna finally secured clearance to travel to the United States for his university studies. Since Palestine is not recognized as a country, he was not issued a passport, but rather an Israeli travel document that stumped customs agents at every step of the journey.

When the time came for Hassouna to leave for the US, his neighborhood in Gaza was placed under a curfew. This meant that he had to escape under the cover of night if he was to make his flight. He recalled walking five miles behind his father, luggage in tow, to his cousin's house, an area just outside the designated curfew zone. That was the last time he saw his father, who died before they could meet again.

Hassouna's college experience was not unlike that of most American students. He recalled living with three roommates and surviving off the modest stipend from his teaching assistant position.

After graduating, Hassouna moved to Houston, Texas, in August 1992. Though he had a comprehensive background in his field, Hassouna's early career was uncertain and tumultuous. He worked odd jobs at a Stop N Go gas station and convenience store before becoming a technician.

"Back then, I would work 11-7 at the convenience store and 8-5 at the company. One of my students [from South Dakota] was my supervisor, making three or four times what I was making. She used to come and ask me for advice."

Finally, he was hired for an engineering position at another company with a starting pay of $24,000 – what he described as half of what most engineers were making at the time.

Hassouna has come a long way since then. Along the way, he got married and had two now-teenage sons. His mother died a few years after his father, but due to travel and visa restrictions for Gaza, Hassouna was unable to see her or attend the funeral. In 2005, Hassouna became an American citizen. His place of birth listed on his certificate of citizenship read 'Israel,' a statement with which he took issue.

"I went to the lady who was giving the certificates away and told her I didn't want Israel on my certificate. She told me to go to the immigration center and that they would take care of it. I explained to them that my place of birth was not Israel, it was the Gaza Strip in Palestine. They told me 'Palestine was not in the system.'"

Hassouna handed the certificate back to the immigration official and asked them to return his green card to him, explaining he would rather not be a citizen than be designated as Israeli by birth. After much deliberation, the immigration office conceded and mailed him a new certificate with his place of birth listed as 'Gaza Strip'.

In 1999, he and his friend Alfred started their own company, A&R (Alfred and Rasmy) Engineering. Together, they secured contract work for the city of Houston. Some 25 years later, Alfred has sold his share in the company to Hassouna, who is now the sole owner.

Now, Hassouna's loyalty to his homeland is being tested. After reading the most recent city contract, he wrote a letter to the city asking them to remove the Israel boycott ban clause from the contract, arguing that it was his constitutional right to boycott Israel if he so desired. City officials said it was out of their hands.

Now it is in the hands of a judge. If things don't go Hassouna's way, he said he is more than prepared to suffer the financial consequences.

"I want to stay working with the city and any other government entity. The thing is, I want to do it with my freedom intact and my dignity intact," he said.

CUNY Law Student Gov't Passes Antisemitic BDS Resolution Targeting Groups Like Hillel
https://www.stopantisemitism.org/antisemitic-incidents-98/cuny-law-student-govt-passes-pro-bds-resolution-targeting-groups-like-hillel

The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law's Student Government Association passed a resolution endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on December 2nd targeting groups like Hillel.

The resolution accuses CUNY and CUNY Law of being "directly complicit in the ongoing apartheid, genocide, and war crimes perpetrated by the state of Israel against the Palestinian people through its investments in and contracts with companies profiting off of Israeli war crimes" as well as their collaboration with Israeli academic institutions. "Israeli academic institutions are complicit in the occupation and colonization of Palestine and the state's violence against Palestinians by developing military hardware, weapons, drones, and surveillance technologies; offering military training courses and posts for high-ranking military officers; declaring, via their leaders and other surrogates, their support for Israeli military offensives; discriminating against Palestinian students; and repressing voices in support of Palestinians and their struggle for self-determination," the resolution added.

Additionally, the resolution alleged that CUNY and CUNY Law faculty have ties to the Israeli Defense Forces and linked to a professor's faculty page. It also alleged that "a number of student organizations across CUNY receive money from the State of Israel, or from organizations lobbying on behalf of the State of Israel, and whose mission includes support for the State of Israel, and whose practices include surveillance, intimidation, harassment of Palestine solidarity activists on campuses. These organizations include Hillel, CAMERA, StandWithUs, Bulldogs for Israel, Israel Independence Day Committee, United 4 Israel, Israel Student Association, Students Supporting Israel at City College of New York."

The resolution concluded with a call for the university to divest from companies that conduct business with Israel, end all Israeli exchange programs and "to cut all ties with organizations that repress Palestinian organizing and end its complicity in the ongoing censorship, harassment, and intimidation of Palestine solidarity activists, including through ending contracts, academic collaborations, and refusing to be complicit in the targeted harassment and silencing of Palestine solidarity activists."

CUNY Law Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA), who co-sponsored the resolution, celebrated its passage on Twitter. "This resolution demands that @CUNYLaw live up to its claim of being the #2 law school for racial justice by ending its complicity in Israeli war crimes. @CUNYLaw students want an end to the violent occupation of Palestinian lands and call on all @CUNY campuses to join us!"

Other Jewish groups denounced the resolution.

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein similarly said in a statement to the Journal, "We're proud to support Israel and students who face the ignorance and hatred represented by this shameful resolution. Attacking Jewish organizations and trying to shut down study abroad programs makes clear that this has nothing to do with human rights or justice. This campaign is about isolating the Jewish community on campus, undermining academic freedom, and preventing students from traveling to Israel to broaden their education and make up their own minds. The CUNY Law and the larger CUNY system should strongly condemn this hateful agenda, which undermines the basic purpose of the university as a whole."

AMCHA Initiative Director Tammi Rossman-Benjamin also said in a statement to the Journal, "This shameful student government resolution targets multiple Jewish campus organizations, including Hillel, as well as a specific Jewish academic, placing her in harm of being doxxed or worse, and it calls for actions that directly subvert the educational opportunities and academic freedom of CUNY students and faculty. Last week when the NYU Review of Law and Social Change endorsed an academic boycott, NYU immediately condemned the move. CUNY must do the same with its Law School student government." The Journal reported on the aforementioned NYU incident on November 24.

"CUNY's campuses are known for pervasive hostility toward Jewish students and now its law students are going even further and attempting to take away Jewish students' rights and marginalize Jewish and pro-Israel students and faculty on campus," Rossman-Benjamin added. "The Chancellor must take this opportunity to make it abundantly clear that targeting, harming and discriminating against Jewish students and faculty will not be tolerated, and the student government should now be at risk of having its charter revoked for this egregious abuse of power in their targeting of an entire campus community group for harm."

Students and Faculty for Equality (SAFE) at CUNY, a bipartisan group of CUNY faculty and students that protests against the exclusion of Zionist Jews on campus, said in a statement to the Journal, "It's important to understand that this resolution, which is dripping with hate and discriminates based on nationality, ethnicity, and religion, does not represent the views of the vast majority of CUNY students. This, and the entire CUNY BDS and anti-Zionist movement, is organized not by students, but by bigoted faculty members and PSC-CUNY delegates and officers. It is no coincidence that this resolution takes the next hateful step forward from the PSC-CUNY resolution of June 10." The PSC, which stands for the Professional Staff Congress and is the professors' union, passed a resolution on June 10 that accused Israel of displacing Palestinians and subjecting them to apartheid.

"CUNY must act immediately to denounce this bigoted, discriminatory resolution and take decisive action to ensure that the illegal and hateful measures called for therein are never realized," the group added. "In February 2021, CUNY and the PSC-CUNY were already found responsible by the EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] and for discriminating against Zionist and Observant Jews; they have done nothing in response to these findings of liability. The PSC's discrimination and harassment of Zionist and Observant Jews has only escalated and CUNY's failure to act and to comply with the law has led to horrific harassment of Zionist and Observant Jews on its campuses; this is yet the latest example."

The university, law school and student government did not respond to the Journal's requests for comment.

Israel lobby threatens legal action against UoL for City University's vote to support Palestine
City's Friends of Palestine society hailed the vote as "a victory for the Palestinian cause and for the BDS movement,"
http://vpalestine.org/2021/12/13/israel-lobby-threatens-legal-action-against-uol-for-city-universitys-vote-to-support-palestine/

The University of London was threatened with legal action after one of its student unions voted overwhelmingly to support a boycott of Israeli companies, the Jewish Chronicle reported.

Israel lobby group, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) intervened, claiming that it would be "illegal" for the union to do so, using the argument that the student union is a registered charity.

UKLFI claimed that the vote was not in line with the charitable status of the student union, or compliant to the aims and objectives of the organisation, including "the advancement of education of students" and "promoting the interests and welfare of students at city".

The letter asserted that, in UKLFI's view, there was a "fundamental distinction" between improving the lives of BAME students and supporting a cause of "Palestinians against Israel."

UKLFI stated in its letter: "Students are entitled to support a political campaign as individuals, provided they do so in a lawful way.

"They are not entitled to have CSU conduct the campaign because it is a charity, and its resources, facilities and time of its staff and officers may only be used to promote its charitable objects.

It continued: "There is a fundamental distinction between a campaign to improve the environment for BAME students at City University and a campaign to promote the cause of Palestinians against Israel. The former is in principle within CSU's charitable objects, the latter is not."

Last week, London's City University's student union hosted a meeting, holding a vote as to whether or not to include Israel in its "Decolonise City" campaign.

A whopping 93 per cent of the attendants voted in favour of divestment from Israeli companies.

City's Friends of Palestine society hailed the vote as "a victory for the Palestinian cause and for the BDS movement," and said that it will be working with the University and its union "to initiate investigations into its involvement with companies complicit in Israel's illegal actions within international law", and cautioned that if the Board of Trustees did not approve the motion, then it would undermine democracy.

The group stated: "Failing to support this motion, which has been democratically voted for by students, would mean that the Trustees would be failing City students and democracy."

Footballers 'boycott match' due to Israeli former Chelsea manager
https://www.rt.com/sport/543616-algeria-fifa-legends-israel-grant/

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino declared he was "uniting the world" at an exhibition match in Doha but a trio of Algerian footballers reportedly pulled out of the occasion because of the presence of Israeli coach Avram Grant.

Doha hosted a FIFA Arab Legends versus FIFA World Legends match on Friday as part of the build-up to the FIFA Arab Cup final.

However, the involvement of former Chelsea manager Grant – who led the Blues to the Champions League final in 2008 after taking over from Jose Mourinho – apparently proved too much for Algerian icons Rabah Madjer, Rafik Saifi and Rafik Halliche, according to The Times of Israel.

Each had initially been listed as among the participants but were not named on the teamsheets for the actual match which appeared on the FIFA website.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, FIFA made no mention of the withdrawals in their official report.

https://twitter.com/james_corbett/status/1471606210533146629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471606210533146629%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fsport%2F543616-algeria-fifa-legends-israel-grant%2F

The FIFA World Legends team featured the likes of Marcel Desailly, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo and Lothar Matthias, while their Arab rivals boasted former Saudi striker Sami Al-Jaber. 

The Arab legends won on penalties after mounting a fightback at Al Thumama Stadium in the Qatari capital.

"Tonight we unite the Arab world with the entire world," FIFA President Gianni Infantino had crowed to the crowd.

"We are all one team!"

https://twitter.com/youridjorkaeff/status/1471938796858056706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471938796858056706%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fsport%2F543616-algeria-fifa-legends-israel-grant%2F

Grant, 66, has enjoyed a long career in coaching, including as Israeli national team manager.

He is a friend of Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich and was appointed Blues boss in September 2007 after initially serving as director of football at the London club.

His spell was to be short-lived as he left the position after Chelsea's penalty shootout defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League final in Moscow in May of 2008.

He later worked at Portsmouth and West Ham, as well as at Partizan Belgrade and with the Ghana national team.

The Algerian trio who reportedly refused to compete against Grant would not be the first to do so from their homeland.

Algeria has no diplomatic ties with Israel and is a fervent supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine withdrew from the the Olympics in Tokyo earlier this year to avoid a potential showdown with an Israeli opponent.

Nourine was later slapped with a 10-year ban by the International Judo Federation.

THE ELECTRONIC INTIFADA

What were the top BDS victories of 2021?
Read this lengthy article here, if you want to connect to the many links:  https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/what-were-top-bds-victories-2021

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 was a year of accelerated boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigning, successful grassroots actions and significant legal victories for Palestinian rights.

Pension funds dumped Israeli firms, cultural figures refused to cross the picket line and a major ice cream maker pulled its products from illegal Israeli settlements.

Sustained direct actions in Oakland, California successfully exacted a price on Israel after it carried out a lethal 11-day attack on Gaza during May.

In early June, as part of an international wave of protests under the banner of #BlockTheBoat, activists and longshore workers prevented an Israeli cargo ship from docking at the city's port for more than two weeks after its scheduled arrival date.

The vessel ostensibly attempted to avoid the picket line, and left the Bay Area port with its cargo intact.

And in the UK, protesters with Palestine Action forced Israeli arms factories to shut down operations at several of their 10 locations in Britain.

Activists have carried out sit-ins and sabotage against the Israeli-owned Elbit Systems premises, shutting factories down, smashing windows, damaging equipment, graffiting and splashing walls with red paint to symbolize Palestinian blood.

Palestine Action – formed during 2020 – carried out more than 70 actions against Elbit in its first year, including 20 high-profile occupations of sites and factories.

In December, Palestine Action won an important legal victory, as campaigners who defaced an Israeli drone engines factory were acquitted of criminal damage charges.

"We're going to continue to take direct action in order to shut down and undermine Israel's arms trade," Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori told The Electronic Intifada.

After years of organizing in the US and by Palestinian boycott campaigners, Ben & Jerry's – the ice cream maker owned by Unilever – announced in July it would no longer sell its products in illegal Israeli settlement colonies, saying such sales were "inconsistent with its values."

Israeli leaders and lobby groups melted down over the news, using smears against the ice cream company and its board members.

Yair Lapid, Israel's foreign minister, vowed to lean on the more than two dozen US states that have passed anti-BDS measures to "enforce these laws against Ben & Jerry's," while Prime Minister Naftali Bennett promised to "act aggressively" against the ice cream maker.

But amid the threats, the company has so far defended its decision.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee has urged Ben & Jerry's to "end all operations in apartheid Israel."

In late December, a notorious anti-Palestinian blacklisting site named the company's board chair as its "top anti-Semite of the year," prompting civil rights group Palestine Legal to remark how such accusations ring hollow.

https://twitter.com/pal_legal/status/1475947065909800964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1475947065909800964%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fnora-barrows-friedman%2Fwhat-were-top-bds-victories-2021

"The decision by Ben & Jerry's to stop profiting off of Jewish-only settlements built on stolen land is the bare minimum the brand could do to live up to its advertised commitment to social justice," the group stated.
Here are some more of the top BDS victories for Palestinian rights as covered by The Electronic Intifada in 2021.

Israeli firms dumped
Pension funds around the world dumped Israeli firms from their investment portfolios over Israel's human rights abuses and international law violations.

A major UK local government pension fund divested from Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems. Though the pension fund initially tried to deny that the move related to the company's role in violence against Palestinians, campaigners had flooded the office with demands to drop Elbit from its portfolio.

The chair of the council's pensions committee nonetheless conceded that Elbit had been excluded by its new investment manager, Storebrand, "due to human rights and international law reasons."

Storebrand is a Norwegian firm which excludes Elbit due to human rights concerns.

New Zealand's $33 billion national pension fund announced this year that it had excluded five Israeli banks from its portfolio because of their role in financing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

An assessment by the NZ Super Fund concluded that holding shares in Israel's biggest banks would violate its responsible investment policy.

Pension funds in Norway and Scotland also divested from Israeli settlement profiteers, including construction companies, telecommunication corporations and banks.

Norway's largest pension fund KLP ​​dumped 16 settlement profiteers because it said there is "an unacceptable risk" that they will contribute to human rights violations.

A lawmaker in Finland introduced a bill in December that would ban the import of goods from Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian and Syrian land.

In September, the European Union was forced to register a European Citizens' Initiative that seeks to block trade with settlements in occupied territories.

The measure could potentially close off the lucrative access to EU markets enjoyed by businesses operating in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land in violation of international law.

Victories over anti-BDS laws, harassment of activists
Following similar federal court decisions in Arizona, Kansas and Texas, an anti-BDS measure in Arkansas was declared unconstitutional in February.

A US federal appeals court ruled that the 2017 state law requiring state contractors to declare they will not boycott Israel was a violation of free speech.

"This is the first federal appeals court to decide on the constitutionality of anti-boycott laws, and with this decision not a single anti-BDS law has been upheld on the merits," Palestine Legal stated.

"Every law that has survived a legal challenge has done so through legal tricks to avoid a constitutional analysis," the group added.

In January, a Spanish court dismissed a criminal complaint alleging hate crimes against eight BDS supporters – a major win for the right to boycott Israel in that country.

The court ruled that the activists were exercising their right to free expression in pursuit of legitimate political goals.

The judges cited a landmark decision in June 2020 by the European Court of Human Rights affirming that urging a boycott of Israel over its policies is not discrmination, but protected political speech.

The activists hailed their victory as a sign of how "the global Zionist strategy and [attempts by] its far-right allies to delegitimize the BDS movement are failing."

In the US, even as the Biden administration reanimated Trump and Obama-era policy pledges to fight BDS – with the Israel lobby demanding the new president escalate attacks on college activists – students won a precedent-setting legal victory.

A California judge ruled in March against demands by an anti-Palestinian litigant to be able to harass human rights activists over their support of BDS and Palestinian rights.

It marked the first time that a US court "has acknowledged the McCarthyite environment faced by those speaking out for Palestinian rights," according to civil rights group Palestine Legal, which represented eight defendants along with other attorneys.

The decision "rejects the notion that students lose their constitutional rights when advocating for the rights of Palestinians at a public university," Palestine Legal stated.

Canadians want end to Israeli arms sales
In Canada, the leader of the nominally progressive New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end arms sales to Israel.

Singh's move came after rank and file members of the party approved a motion to stop weapons deals with Israel.

The motion specified that the weapons trade between Canada and Israel must be suspended "until Palestinian rights are upheld."

The vote "sends a message that progressive and human rights-minded people in Canada do not support the status quo and see sanctions on Israel as not only appropriate but necessary," Amy Kishek, a lead organizer behind the resolution, told The Electronic Intifada in April.

Wide support for Palestinian rights, BDS
Despite enormous pressure by Israel lobby-backed leaders and supporters of the UK Labour Party, delegates at the party's September conference passed a resolution calling for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.

The resolution backs the International Criminal Court investigation into war crimes in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

It endorses other "effective measures" as "called for by Palestinian civil society" – an affirmation of the BDS movement that aims to end Israel's violations of Palestinian rights and international law.

It also explicitly affirms "the right of Palestinian people, as enshrined in international law, to return to their homes."

Earlier in the year, a poll of Labour Party members revealed that more than 60 percent support the BDS campaign.

In the same survey, almost half of those polled agreed with the statement that "Israel is an apartheid state, systematically discriminating against Palestinians."

In the US, a March poll indicated that the majority of Democrats want the US to put more pressure on Israel.

Culture and sports
Though many performers, cultural figures, writers and athletes had to cancel or postpone their tours, gigs and appearances due to the pandemic, a cadre of musicians ramped up campaigns to urge artists to not book shows in Israel.

Rage Against the Machine, Patti Smith, Noname, Vic Mensa, Thurston Moore and Run the Jewels were among the initial signatories of the Musicians for Palestine initiative, which has continued to attract supporters.

An Algerian athlete refused to compete against an Israeli in the Tokyo Olympic Games in July and braved administrative punishment by the International Olympic Committee.

Fethi Nourine forfeited a 26 July elimination match against Sudanese counterpart Mohamed Abdalrasool, as the winner of that round would have gone on to compete against Israel's Tohar Butbul.

"Any competition held under the Israeli flag is a recognition of not only the state of Israel, but also of the legitimacy of their occupation of Palestinian land," Nourine wrote on Facebook in late July.

His withdrawal eliminated the possibility of facing off against the Israeli.

Nourine explained that he refused to normalize with a representative of a "colonizer and an occupier."

The athlete and his coach Amar Benikhlef were stripped of their Olympic accreditation and sent home.

And finally, best-selling Irish author Sally Rooney respected the boycott call in October by refusing to allow an Israeli company to buy the Hebrew translation and publication rights for her latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) hailed Rooney for joining "countless international authors in supporting the institutional cultural boycott of Israel's complicit publishing sector."

Rooney stated that she would be happy to sell the manuscript rights for Hebrew-language translation should it be possible to find a company that does not violate the principles of the BDS call.

"I simply do not feel it would be right for me under the present circumstances to accept a new contract with an Israeli company that does not publicly distance itself from apartheid," Rooney said.

Australia artists boycott Sydney Festival over Israel funding
The Israeli embassy in Australia gave $20,000 to the Sydney Festival organisers to allow Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin to perform
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220104-australia-artists-boycott-sydney-festival-over-israel-funding/

Almost 30 Australian artists and organisations are boycotting the 2022 Sydney Festival due to the Israeli Embassy providing $20,000 to put on a performance by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin.

Melbourne funk/soul band Karate Boogaloo are the latest act to withdraw from the event as part of an ongoing cultural boycott.

In a statement shared yesterday on Instagram, the band wrote: "Boycotts and divestments have a strong track record of holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions."

"Karate Boogaloo is standing in solidarity with Palestinian people, and boycotting the Sydney Festival as a result of it accepting money from the human rights abusing regime that is the Israeli Government."

In addition, Blake Prize-winner Khaled Sabsabi, musician Malyangapa and Barkaa, Bindi Bosses, the Arab Theatre Studio and the Bankstown poetry slam and comedian Nazeem Hussain have withdrawn from this year's festival which is due to be held from 6-30 January.

Last week, the Palestinian Justice Movement Sydney said in a statement that the deal was signed in May – the same month that Israel launched the 11-day offensive on Gaza, killing 256 Palestinians.

"The Israeli government uses culture to hide its apartheid practices and present itself as a free, fair and enlightened democracy. By partnering with Israel, Sydney Festival will be complicit in Israel's strategy to art-wash its crimes, and contribute to the normalisation of an apartheid state", the advocacy group said in a statement.

However, in response, Chair of the festival's board David Kirk said the money would not be returned nor the performance stopped, however, similar donations may not be accepted in future.

"All funding agreements for the current Festival – including for Decadance [the Israeli-sponsored performance] will be honoured, and the performances will proceed. At the same time, the Board has also determined it will review its practices in relation to funding from foreign governments or related parties," the statement read.

Victory in Oldham: Elbit forced to sell Ferranti after sustained direct action campaign
https://www.palestineaction.org/victory-in-oldham/

PRESS RELEASE
10/01/21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

- Palestine Action's sustained campaign of direct action against Elbit Ferranti in Oldham proves ultimately successful as Elbit sell the subsidiary and pack their bags.

- The Power and Control Business of Ferranti Technologies has been sold to TT Electronics, as Elbit undertake huge business restructuring after over a year of targetted action taken at the Oldham site.

- Occupations of the site have caused weeks of forced factory closure, and have cost millions in damages to the company. At the end of November 2021, Elbit began packing up their

- Oldham operation – now the majority of the Ferranti business has been sold off.

- Palestine Action: "Direct action works – the brave individuals who occupied the factory over the past year can proudly say that drone technologies are no longer in production in Oldham".

After 18 months of sustained direct action taken at the Elbit Ferranti site in Oldham, Greater Manchester, with 36 people arrested, Elbit have now sold Ferranti technologies, with its continued operation in Oldham appearing unfeasible. Activists have occupied, blockaded, smashed, disrupted, and protested regularly at the site, ultimately succeeding in ending the factory's production of specialist military technologies for Israel's fleet of combat drones.

In November 2021, anonymous sources revealed to Palestine Action that mass redundancy notices had been issued to staff working at the factory, and that premises were being cleared in preparation for Elbit leaving the site. Today, it was publicised that Ferranti has indeed been sold to TT Electronics, a British electronics firm. This major restructuring – selling a subsidiary which Elbit has consistently promoted as a success and which has helped Elbit to land multi-million pound contracts with the British government – suggests that Elbit is under significant pressure to tighten its UK operations. This is most likely due to the impossibility of continuing at the often-occupied site, the massive financial impact of occupations, and an attempt to avoid more bad publicity.

Early in 2021, Elbit attempted to make the Oldham factory a viable production site by improving security. Elbit increased spending massively for round-the-clock security, and also benefitted from a rapid police response for protestor removal. Neither of these measures succeeded in keeping out activists, with the site continuing to be targetted regularly.

The first action taken in Oldham by Palestine Action, in late August 2020, involved spraying premises in blood-red paint, symbolising the Palestinian bloodshed made possible with Elbit Ferranti technologies. Following this, actions accelerated. Windows were smashed in an occupation in November 2020, while an action taken in collaboration with XR North in February 2021 caused over £20,000 in damages. In April 2021, activists not only occupied the site but gained entry to the factoy, smashing the roof, windows, air vents, and undermining future operations by covering equipment and computers in red paint – over £100,000 of damages were caused, and the site remained shut for well over a week. On July 5th, three activists gained entry to the site, allegedly causing £500,000 of damage and closing the factory for a number of weeks. More recently, in August of this year, activists blockaded the factory – blocking roads with vehcles and locking onto gates – and occupied the factory itself again. There have been a number of other actions taken at the Oldham site, with the factory forced to closed for a significant number of weeks in total due to damage caused.

The site has also been subject to regular protests called by Oldham Peace and Justice and Manchester Palestine Action, with large crowds gathering outside the factory on a weekly basis since the massive and brutal bombardments of Gaza by Israel in May. Sustained pressure, through both protests and an extended campaign of effective direct action, has generated immense challenges for Elbit, who have now sold the subsidiary and left the site.

A Palestine Action spokesperson has stated:

"The sale of Ferranti and the closure of the Oldham factory is a huge victory for the movement. So far, our actions have undermined and disrupted operations – but this news vindicates our long-term strategy. Direct action works – the brave individuals who occupied the factory over the past year can proudly say that drone technologies are no longer in production in Oldham. But its not enough that just one of these death-factories shuts down. We want to see Elbit itself shut down for good, and all of their businesses forced out of Britain – we will keep escalating our actions until that happens."

This site had been targetted due to the crimes committed against Palestinian civilians using Elbit Ferranti products. The Oldham factory was used for the manufacture of specialist military products and technology, including the SkEyepersistent surveillance system aboard Elbit's Hermes 450 and 900 drones. Ferranti also manufacture the SpectroXR ultra long-range imaging system for Hermes drones. Hermes drones have been used extensively by Israel in bombardments of Gaza, notably during Operation Protective Edge in 2014 in which over 2,200 Palestinians were killed, including 526 children. The site was also used for the production of IronVision helmets for use in battle tanks such as the Carmel – specficially designed for operations in densely built urban areas, such as Gaza.

---

---

Previous TiU reports about Elbit Systems
http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=27582.msg95159#msg95159

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=28036.msg94456#msg94456

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=28349.msg94448#msg94448

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=26927.msg92550#msg92550

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=26579.msg92040#msg92040

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=25501.msg90614#msg90614

http://theinfounderground.com/smf/index.php?topic=18495.msg73801#msg73801

Arab authors boycott Emirates festival hosting Israeli
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/tamara-nassar/arab-authors-boycott-emirates-festival-hosting-israeli

Several Arab writers withdrew from a literature festival in the United Arab Emirates to protest the participation of an Israeli author.

David Grossman's planned virtual presence next month at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai prompted writers from several states in the region to withdraw.

Among them are Omani author Bushra Khalfan and the entire Kuwaiti delegation that was participating in the festival, including writers Muna al-Shamari and Ali Ashour al-Jaffar.

https://twitter.com/gulf_can/status/1481564399701688325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1481564399701688325%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Ftamara-nassar%2Farab-authors-boycott-emirates-festival-hosting-israeli

The Gulf Coalition Against Normalization called on Sultan al-Musa, Osama Muhammad al-Muslim and Ahmad al-Ali from Saudi Arabia to back out of the event as well, among others.

https://twitter.com/gulf_can/status/1480796637249380354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1480796637249380354%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Ftamara-nassar%2Farab-authors-boycott-emirates-festival-hosting-israeli

Their decision was applauded by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and the Gulf Coalition Against Normalization.

Grossman's participation is a "clear and explicit violation" of the cultural boycott of Israel, the groups charged, calling on Arab authors to withdraw.

"The participation of an Israeli Zionist novelist and the celebration of him as a 'peace activist' in a festival held in an Arab land" is a ploy to "pull Arab writers into the swamp of cultural and literary normalization with the Israeli enemy," the groups added.

The groups noted Grossman's opposition to the Palestinian right of return and said he was a "supporter of apartheid."

Grossman started his service in the intelligence branch of the Israeli military in 1971 and saw no problem with it at the time.

"I worked in intelligence and most of it I liked," he told The Guardian in 2010. "I felt I was doing something important, that I wasn't doing anything against my principles."

Initially, the author supported Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon, and only towards the end called for a ceasefire. His son was killed in the fighting.

Despite opposing settlements and occasionally attending protests in the West Bank, Grossman was always a supporter of the Israeli army and has expressed pride in being a reservist.

More recently, Grossman has hinted that he actually agrees with the growing global consensus that Israel commits the crime of apartheid against Palestinians.

The Palestinian-led boycott campaign of Israel is modeled on the economic, cultural, academic and sporting boycott that helped end aparthied in South Africa.

https://twitter.com/BDS_Arabic/status/1480903539857801217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1480903539857801217%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Ftamara-nassar%2Farab-authors-boycott-emirates-festival-hosting-israeli

The withdrawal of so many participants is an indication that the United Arab Emirates will have a hard time turning its close alliance with Israel brokered by the Trump administration into a "warm peace."

The Emirates Literature Foundation, which organizes the event, was founded by royal decree in 2013.

The festival's main sponsor is Emirates, the airline owned by the Dubai government.

The Emirati ministry of culture, the Dubai government and the Dubai police are all partnering in the event. The US consulate in Dubai is among the sponsors.

It is also supported by Oxford University Press.

"We deplore that festival organizers insisted on including an Israeli author among dozens of Arab writers and creators," PACBI and the Gulf Coalition Against Normalization added.

The groups said this is just the latest "desperate" attempt to force normalization onto Arab masses, who are "aware of this danger and reject it completely."

Sydney Festival upended by BDS campaign
According to BDS Australia, 100 individuals and organizations have withdrawn from the annual festival, disrupting more than 40% of the scheduled events.
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/01/sydney-festival-upended-by-bds-campaign/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Artists and companies continue to drop out of the Sydney Festival over its sponsorship deal with the Israeli government. The annual festival is a major arts event in the city attracting approximately 500,000 visitors a year. According to BDS Australia, 100 individuals and organizations have withdrawn, disrupting more than 40% of the scheduled events.

"The actions of so many artists, companies and arts workers in supporting the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions in light of Israel's apartheid policies and ongoing human rights abuses against Palestinians, clearly shows the solidarity and intersectional nature of this struggle," said BDS Australia patron and Sydney University professor Jake Lynch in a statement.

The boycott efforts were sparked by a $20,000 deal to stage a production of Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin's Decadance. Israel's government says that it was asked to contribute the money by a member of the festival's management team.

According to the Palestinian Justice Movement Sydney, the sponsorship deal was negotiated last May while Israel was launching an air assault against Gaza that ultimately killed 256 Palestinians.

https://twitter.com/PalestineRising/status/1473512555557515269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1473512555557515269%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F01%2Fsydney-festival-upended-by-bds-campaign%2F

"They told us about it ... and we were happy and honored to support it," Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Australia Ron Gerstenfeld told ABC radio last week. "We didn't think about it twice ... and there were no strings attached. We didn't ask any promises from [the festival] or the dance company to do something, we didn't intervene in anything, so it's a bit of hypocrisy to say we are doing some sort of art-wash in order to hide some kind of Israeli activities in any other sphere."

Gerstenfeld also referred to the boycotters as "agents of chaos."

The Guardian has reported on a December correspondence between festival board chairperson David Kirk and organizations pressuring the festival to sever its relationship with Israel. Kirk told the groups that the $20,000 would not just be used to put on a performance, but to hold a a Q&A event at the Sydney Opera House hosted by the Israeli embassy.

The Meanjin Quarterly, an Australian literary journal, published an open letter from group of writers and artists condemning the festivals partnership with Israel. "While Palestinians are intimately familiar with the rhetorical shields and strategies deployed by so-called progressives to ignore, deflect, block and even censor Palestine and its supporters, Sydney Festival's insistence on crossing the picket line despite hearing directly from Palestinian artists and activists—including artists whose works were programmed in the Festival—is particularly disgraceful," it reads.

Another open letter, signed by over 70 Jewish individuals and organizations, accuses the festival of "artwashing"–using art as a tool to justify Israeli apartheid. "We Jews are eager, honored, and humbled to stand alongside our Palestinian siblings and echo their calls. We refuse to be complicit in Israel's actions. We stand in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians," it declares.

Organizers of the festival have addressed the boycott call, but they haven't backed down on the issue. "We see it as the core role of the Sydney Festival to present art and to provide an inclusive platform for all artists," said its board in a statement. "We aim to profile a diverse representation of work by artists and companies locally, nationally and internationally. We respect the right of any artist to withdraw from the Festival and hope that they will feel able to participate in future festivals."

Journalist and boycott leader Jennine Khalik reacted to the statement on Twitter. "This is not about some dance," she tweeted. "We couldn't care less, it's about the money. Get the money elsewhere. Don't accept Israeli apartheid regime money. Don't make apartheid your 'star'."

https://twitter.com/jennineak/status/1478223654051790853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1478223654051790853%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F01%2Fsydney-festival-upended-by-bds-campaign%2F

One of the groups who endorsed the boycott was the production team of Chewing Gum Dreams, a play written by Michaela Coel. Coel is the creator, star, and co-director of the critically-acclaimed HBO series I May Destroy You.

"The Chewing Gum Dreams company will be withdrawing the show from the Festival in solidarity with the Palestinian people," said the team in a statement shared on Instagram. "To the Palestinian community we say: We see you. We hear you. We are with you."

The pro-Israel organization StandWithUs has circulated its own petition, thanking the Sydney Festival for refusing to budge on the sponsorship deal. "We commend the Sydney Festival organizers for standing firm and sending a clear message that boycotts of any kind are not welcome!," it reads. "Thank you for standing against hate!"

Creative Community for Peace, a front group for StandWithUs, also produced an open letter condemning the boycott. It's been signed by over 100 people, including KISS' Gene Simmons and the Israeli-American megadonor Haim Saban. The letter includes a quote from Australian musician Nick Cave on the BDS movement: "The cultural boycott of Israel is cowardly and shameful. Israel is a real, vibrant, functioning democracy – yes, with Arab members of parliament – and so engaging with Israelis, who vote, may be more helpful than scaring off artists or shutting down means of engagement."

The Sydney Festival began on January 6 and will run through the end of the month.

(http://vpalestine.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BDS-Bundestag-678x455-1-678x405.png)
Activists protest against the anti-BDS resolution adopted by German parliament.

Germany: federal court rules anti-BDS policy to be 'unconstitutional'
The court ruled that the resolution "violates the fundamental right to freedom of expression."
http://vpalestine.org/2022/01/26/germany-federal-court-rules-anti-bds-policy-to-be-unconstitutional/

A German federal court has described as "unconstitutional" the city of Munich's refusal to allow a public venue to be used for a debate on its 2017 anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions resolution, The Electronic Intifada has reported. The court ruled that the resolution "violates the fundamental right to freedom of expression."

Munich City Council passed a local resolution in December 2017 outlawing BDS events promoting the rights of the people of occupied Palestine from being held in the city's public facilities. The council called the peaceful BDS movement "anti-Semitic".

Subsequently, Munich resident Klaus Ried sought to use a room in a city museum in September 2018 to host a discussion about how the municipality's anti-BDS resolution would affect freedom of speech.

He filed a legal challenge after the museum denied him the space. A lower court initially ruled against him, claiming that Munich had the right to impose such restrictions. He appealed in 2020 and won.

Nevertheless, the city council took the case to the federal court, but failed again. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig issued its ruling on 20 January siding with Ried, affirming that German law "guarantees everyone the right to freely express and disseminate their opinion."

Munich City Council, said the court, was not allowed to violate that right by denying permission for an event because it disagreed with the expressed views of the BDS campaign and its objectives. The court also pointed out that the council's anti BDS-resolution is not a law.

The landmark decision sends a warning to councils and other bodies across Germany that have passed similar resolutions and have been banning BDS-related events in public venues. This includes the German parliament, which in 2019 voted to define BDS as "anti-Semitic".

Parliamentarians argued that the movement's "Don't buy" stickers, which identify products of Israeli origin so that consumers can choose whether or not to buy them, "arouse associations [with] the Nazi slogan 'Don't buy from Jews'... reminiscent of the most horrific phase in German history".

The Palestinian Authority slammed this as "dangerous", while Palestinian NGOs argued that such moves delegitimise peaceful resistance to the Israeli occupation, of which BDS is part. The campaign started as a Palestinian grassroots initiative to put pressure on the state of Israel to abide by international law in its treatment of the Palestinian people.

Quote from: abduLMaria on December 07, 2021, 09:34:49 AM
Saw this article today

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Palestinian-American (whatever that means, the US gives $$$ to the Terror State that is murdering his family members in Gaza) takes Texas to Court - and WINS - or it's in process or something.


'I thought I was a free man': the engineer fighting Texas's ban on boycotting Israel

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Erum Salam

For more than two decades, Texan civil engineer Rasmy Hassouna was a contractor for the city of Houston. Hassouna has consulted the city on soil volatility in the nearby Gulf of Mexico – a much needed service to evaluate the structural stability of houses and other buildings.

He was gearing up to renew his government contract when a particular legal clause caught his eye: a provision that effectively banned him or his company, A&R Engineering and Testing, Inc, from ever protesting the nation of Israel or its products so long as his company was a partner with the city of Houston.

For Hassouna – a 59-year-old proud Palestinian American – it was a huge shock.


"I came here and thought I was a free man. It's not anybody's business what I do or what I say, as long as I'm not harming anybody," he told the Guardian. "Were you lying all this time? If I don't want to buy anything at WalMart, who are you to tell me not to shop at WalMart? Why do I have to pledge allegiance to a foreign country?"

But Hassouna's reaction did not stop at anger. He took action, launching a case that is challenging the Texas law and – by example – similar provisions that have spread all over the US that seek to stop government contractors from boycotting Israel and can be found in more than 25 US states. Along with the Arkansas Times newspaper, A&R Engineering and Testing Inc is now one of only two companies fighting this kind of law in the nation.

Hassouna's case – which was filed on his behalf by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – will be heard in federal court on Tuesday and is based on the idea that such laws violate free speech. If ruled unconstitutional, the 2019 ban on boycotting Israel will be illegal in the state of Texas.

But Hassouna's decision to sue is not without a price. It could cost him a substantial amount of his yearly revenue, his lawyer said.

"They weren't counting on Rasmy Hassouna from Gaza, whose family has suffered so greatly. He believes that Americans have the right to boycott whatever entity, foreign or domestic, that they want to. That's what he's doing – putting his money where his mouth is," said Gadeir Abbas, a senior litigation attorney for CAIR who is representing Hassouna.

Hassouna first set foot on American soil in 1988. Like many immigrants, Hassouna's first experience of the US was New York's JFK airport. However, his final destination was the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the university at which he planned to study civil engineering. "Regardless how long it was going to take or how hard I had to work, I was going to keep aiming toward my goal," he said.

As a Palestinian under Israeli occupation, Hassouna had no claim to citizenship, so he had to get permission from Israeli officials in order to leave his home in Gaza, an area described by humanitarian organizations and politicians as an open-air prison.

"For almost two months every day, I left the house and I took a cab to the center of Gaza city. I gave [Israeli officials] my government application, my ID. I went to the gate and waited from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening. You're looking at the month of June and July in the sun, just standing there."

After two months Hassouna finally secured clearance to travel to the United States for his university studies. Since Palestine is not recognized as a country, he was not issued a passport, but rather an Israeli travel document that stumped customs agents at every step of the journey.

When the time came for Hassouna to leave for the US, his neighborhood in Gaza was placed under a curfew. This meant that he had to escape under the cover of night if he was to make his flight. He recalled walking five miles behind his father, luggage in tow, to his cousin's house, an area just outside the designated curfew zone. That was the last time he saw his father, who died before they could meet again.

Hassouna's college experience was not unlike that of most American students. He recalled living with three roommates and surviving off the modest stipend from his teaching assistant position.

After graduating, Hassouna moved to Houston, Texas, in August 1992. Though he had a comprehensive background in his field, Hassouna's early career was uncertain and tumultuous. He worked odd jobs at a Stop N Go gas station and convenience store before becoming a technician.

"Back then, I would work 11-7 at the convenience store and 8-5 at the company. One of my students [from South Dakota] was my supervisor, making three or four times what I was making. She used to come and ask me for advice."

Finally, he was hired for an engineering position at another company with a starting pay of $24,000 – what he described as half of what most engineers were making at the time.

Hassouna has come a long way since then. Along the way, he got married and had two now-teenage sons. His mother died a few years after his father, but due to travel and visa restrictions for Gaza, Hassouna was unable to see her or attend the funeral. In 2005, Hassouna became an American citizen. His place of birth listed on his certificate of citizenship read 'Israel,' a statement with which he took issue.

"I went to the lady who was giving the certificates away and told her I didn't want Israel on my certificate. She told me to go to the immigration center and that they would take care of it. I explained to them that my place of birth was not Israel, it was the Gaza Strip in Palestine. They told me 'Palestine was not in the system.'"

Hassouna handed the certificate back to the immigration official and asked them to return his green card to him, explaining he would rather not be a citizen than be designated as Israeli by birth. After much deliberation, the immigration office conceded and mailed him a new certificate with his place of birth listed as 'Gaza Strip'.

In 1999, he and his friend Alfred started their own company, A&R (Alfred and Rasmy) Engineering. Together, they secured contract work for the city of Houston. Some 25 years later, Alfred has sold his share in the company to Hassouna, who is now the sole owner.

Now, Hassouna's loyalty to his homeland is being tested. After reading the most recent city contract, he wrote a letter to the city asking them to remove the Israel boycott ban clause from the contract, arguing that it was his constitutional right to boycott Israel if he so desired. City officials said it was out of their hands.

Now it is in the hands of a judge. If things don't go Hassouna's way, he said he is more than prepared to suffer the financial consequences.

"I want to stay working with the city and any other government entity. The thing is, I want to do it with my freedom intact and my dignity intact," he said. 

(https://english.wafa.ps/image/NewsThumbImg/Default/32a141c8-4919-4f10-9227-d1e10150fc67.jpg)

US federal court blocks Texas from enforcing anti-BDS law on contractor
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/127847

TEXAS, Sunday, January 30, 2022 (WAFA) –  A United States federal court has blocked the state of Texas from enforcing its anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) law against a Palestinian-American contractor who refused to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel.

Rasmy Hassouna, an engineer and executive vice president of the Palestinian-owned A&R Engineering and Testing Inc, filed the lawsuit in November challenging a Texas law that bars the state from doing business with companies participating in the BDS movement against Israel.

The firm said in its complaint filed in a Houston federal court that the law violates its First Amendment right to participate in economic boycotts as a form of protest.

"Texas's ban on contracting with any boycotter of Israel constitutes viewpoint discrimination that chills constitutionally protected political advocacy in support of Palestine," A&R Engineering attorneys wrote in the initial complaint, as quoted by Axios.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), who Hassouna worked with to file the suit, hailed the court ruling as "a major victory of the First Amendment against Texas's repeated attempts to suppress speech in support of Palestine".

"These regressive attempts to create a Palestine-exception to the First Amendment betray the central role boycotts have played in our history," said Gadeir Abbas, Cair's senior litigation lawyer.

This news comes after another federal judge said in a May ruling that Georgia's anti-BDS law violated the First Amendment.

Quote from: yankeedoodle on February 01, 2022, 04:30:56 PM

Quote from: abduLMaria on December 07, 2021, 09:34:49 AM
Saw this article today

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Palestinian-American (whatever that means, the US gives $$$ to the Terror State that is murdering his family members in Gaza) takes Texas to Court - and WINS - or it's in process or something.


'I thought I was a free man': the engineer fighting Texas's ban on boycotting Israel

https://news.yahoo.com/thought-free-man-engineer-fighting-080021230.html

Erum Salam

For more than two decades, Texan civil engineer Rasmy Hassouna was a contractor for the city of Houston. Hassouna has consulted the city on soil volatility in the nearby Gulf of Mexico – a much needed service to evaluate the structural stability of houses and other buildings.

He was gearing up to renew his government contract when a particular legal clause caught his eye: a provision that effectively banned him or his company, A&R Engineering and Testing, Inc, from ever protesting the nation of Israel or its products so long as his company was a partner with the city of Houston.

For Hassouna – a 59-year-old proud Palestinian American – it was a huge shock.


"I came here and thought I was a free man. It's not anybody's business what I do or what I say, as long as I'm not harming anybody," he told the Guardian. "Were you lying all this time? If I don't want to buy anything at WalMart, who are you to tell me not to shop at WalMart? Why do I have to pledge allegiance to a foreign country?"

But Hassouna's reaction did not stop at anger. He took action, launching a case that is challenging the Texas law and – by example – similar provisions that have spread all over the US that seek to stop government contractors from boycotting Israel and can be found in more than 25 US states. Along with the Arkansas Times newspaper, A&R Engineering and Testing Inc is now one of only two companies fighting this kind of law in the nation.

Hassouna's case – which was filed on his behalf by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – will be heard in federal court on Tuesday and is based on the idea that such laws violate free speech. If ruled unconstitutional, the 2019 ban on boycotting Israel will be illegal in the state of Texas.

But Hassouna's decision to sue is not without a price. It could cost him a substantial amount of his yearly revenue, his lawyer said.

"They weren't counting on Rasmy Hassouna from Gaza, whose family has suffered so greatly. He believes that Americans have the right to boycott whatever entity, foreign or domestic, that they want to. That's what he's doing – putting his money where his mouth is," said Gadeir Abbas, a senior litigation attorney for CAIR who is representing Hassouna.

Hassouna first set foot on American soil in 1988. Like many immigrants, Hassouna's first experience of the US was New York's JFK airport. However, his final destination was the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the university at which he planned to study civil engineering. "Regardless how long it was going to take or how hard I had to work, I was going to keep aiming toward my goal," he said.

As a Palestinian under Israeli occupation, Hassouna had no claim to citizenship, so he had to get permission from Israeli officials in order to leave his home in Gaza, an area described by humanitarian organizations and politicians as an open-air prison.

"For almost two months every day, I left the house and I took a cab to the center of Gaza city. I gave [Israeli officials] my government application, my ID. I went to the gate and waited from 7 in the morning until 5 in the evening. You're looking at the month of June and July in the sun, just standing there."

After two months Hassouna finally secured clearance to travel to the United States for his university studies. Since Palestine is not recognized as a country, he was not issued a passport, but rather an Israeli travel document that stumped customs agents at every step of the journey.

When the time came for Hassouna to leave for the US, his neighborhood in Gaza was placed under a curfew. This meant that he had to escape under the cover of night if he was to make his flight. He recalled walking five miles behind his father, luggage in tow, to his cousin's house, an area just outside the designated curfew zone. That was the last time he saw his father, who died before they could meet again.

Hassouna's college experience was not unlike that of most American students. He recalled living with three roommates and surviving off the modest stipend from his teaching assistant position.

After graduating, Hassouna moved to Houston, Texas, in August 1992. Though he had a comprehensive background in his field, Hassouna's early career was uncertain and tumultuous. He worked odd jobs at a Stop N Go gas station and convenience store before becoming a technician.

"Back then, I would work 11-7 at the convenience store and 8-5 at the company. One of my students [from South Dakota] was my supervisor, making three or four times what I was making. She used to come and ask me for advice."

Finally, he was hired for an engineering position at another company with a starting pay of $24,000 – what he described as half of what most engineers were making at the time.

Hassouna has come a long way since then. Along the way, he got married and had two now-teenage sons. His mother died a few years after his father, but due to travel and visa restrictions for Gaza, Hassouna was unable to see her or attend the funeral. In 2005, Hassouna became an American citizen. His place of birth listed on his certificate of citizenship read 'Israel,' a statement with which he took issue.

"I went to the lady who was giving the certificates away and told her I didn't want Israel on my certificate. She told me to go to the immigration center and that they would take care of it. I explained to them that my place of birth was not Israel, it was the Gaza Strip in Palestine. They told me 'Palestine was not in the system.'"

Hassouna handed the certificate back to the immigration official and asked them to return his green card to him, explaining he would rather not be a citizen than be designated as Israeli by birth. After much deliberation, the immigration office conceded and mailed him a new certificate with his place of birth listed as 'Gaza Strip'.

In 1999, he and his friend Alfred started their own company, A&R (Alfred and Rasmy) Engineering. Together, they secured contract work for the city of Houston. Some 25 years later, Alfred has sold his share in the company to Hassouna, who is now the sole owner.

Now, Hassouna's loyalty to his homeland is being tested. After reading the most recent city contract, he wrote a letter to the city asking them to remove the Israel boycott ban clause from the contract, arguing that it was his constitutional right to boycott Israel if he so desired. City officials said it was out of their hands.

Now it is in the hands of a judge. If things don't go Hassouna's way, he said he is more than prepared to suffer the financial consequences.

"I want to stay working with the city and any other government entity. The thing is, I want to do it with my freedom intact and my dignity intact," he said. 

(https://english.wafa.ps/image/NewsThumbImg/Default/32a141c8-4919-4f10-9227-d1e10150fc67.jpg)

US federal court blocks Texas from enforcing anti-BDS law on contractor
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/127847

TEXAS, Sunday, January 30, 2022 (WAFA) –  A United States federal court has blocked the state of Texas from enforcing its anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) law against a Palestinian-American contractor who refused to sign a pledge not to boycott Israel.

Rasmy Hassouna, an engineer and executive vice president of the Palestinian-owned A&R Engineering and Testing Inc, filed the lawsuit in November challenging a Texas law that bars the state from doing business with companies participating in the BDS movement against Israel.

The firm said in its complaint filed in a Houston federal court that the law violates its First Amendment right to participate in economic boycotts as a form of protest.

"Texas's ban on contracting with any boycotter of Israel constitutes viewpoint discrimination that chills constitutionally protected political advocacy in support of Palestine," A&R Engineering attorneys wrote in the initial complaint, as quoted by Axios.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), who Hassouna worked with to file the suit, hailed the court ruling as "a major victory of the First Amendment against Texas's repeated attempts to suppress speech in support of Palestine".

"These regressive attempts to create a Palestine-exception to the First Amendment betray the central role boycotts have played in our history," said Gadeir Abbas, Cair's senior litigation lawyer.

This news comes after another federal judge said in a May ruling that Georgia's anti-BDS law violated the First Amendment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjLGS5XW18

African Union suspends decision to grant observer status to "Israel"
The AU Summit unanimously votes on suspending "Israel's" observer status, and forms a committee made of seven heads of state, including Algeria.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/african-union-suspends-decision-to-grant-observer-status-to

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the African Union has suspended the decision to grant "Israel" observer status.

The decision, which was adopted unanimously by the Summit of the African Union's Head of State and Government, suspended the AU's Former Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat's 22 July decision to grant "Israel" observer status in the AU, and to establish a committee comprised of seven African heads of state to present recommendations to the summit, under whose jurisdiction the case will remain.

Read more: Israeli apartheid: Amnesty finally releases awaited report


According to our correspondent, the committee will comprise Macky Sall, the AU's new chairperson, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, and Cameroon's President Paul Biya.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh had asked the African Union on Saturday to revoke "Israel's" observer status as heads of state from the 55-member group convened for a two-day meeting.

He firmly proclaimed that "'Israel' should never be rewarded for its violation and for the apartheid regime it does impose on the Palestinian people."

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra had also arrived Tuesday in Addis Ababa to participate in the 40th regular session of the Executive Council of the African Union, which brought together the foreign ministers of the AU member states.

The African Union granted "Israel" observer status in July after a unilateral decision from the former AU chairperson, and the Israeli ambassador in Addis Ababa presented his letter of accreditation as an observer to the African Union.

(https://www.jta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02-08-2022-Illinois-BDS-1536x853.jpg)
Downtown Chicago, where Morningstar's headquarters is located, became the site of pro-Palestinian protests, featuring calls to boycott Israel, during last May's fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza.

Is finance giant Morningstar boycotting Israel? A new BDS battlefront emerges in investing world
https://www.jta.org/2022/02/08/israel/is-finance-giant-morningstar-boycotting-israel-a-new-bds-battlefront-emerges-in-investing-world

After brushing aside allegations of anti-Israel bias for nearly a year, a multibillion-dollar investment research firm has done an about-face, hiring an outside law firm to investigate the company's practices.

The change of tack at Chicago-based Morningstar came in early December, about two weeks before the Illinois Investment Policy Board was set to place the company on its blacklist, which would have barred state-run pension systems from investing in Morningstar.

According to complaints first raised by Jlens, which advocates for Israel in the investing world, Morningstar's subsidiary Sustainalytics steers investors away from Israel by improperly inflating the country's risk and controversy ratings — which, for Jlens and its allies, amounts to an antisemitic boycott of Israel.

"By its purchase of Sustainalytics in 2020, Morningstar has joined the anti-Israel and antisemitic boycott, divest, sanction movement, and is profiting from and promoting products and services that discriminate against and promote divestiture from Israel," Jlens CEO Julie Hammerman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency by email.

The dispute between Morningstar and pro-Israel activists is the latest front in the battle against the Israel boycott. Investors who want to put their money into socially responsible companies look to companies like Morningstar to screen for environmental, social and governance behavior, or ESG.

Because Israel is the frequent target of United Nations condemnation and has been criticized by several human rights groups, most recently Amnesty International, Israel supporters worry that companies such as Morningstar, unwittingly or under pressure from the boycott Israel movement, will add Israeli companies and companies to business in Israel to lists of bad corporate actors, causing capital to flee the country.

The only job of the seven-member Illinois Investment Policy Board is to ensure that state-run pension systems comply with an Illinois law against investing in certain companies doing business in Iran and Sudan, and prohibiting investments in companies that boycott Israel.

"We would be wholly justified in adding Morningstar to the state's list of prohibited investments today," said Andrew Lappin, chair of the board's Committee on Israel Boycott Restrictions, at its last quarterly meeting on Dec. 22, according to his written comments, obtained through an Illinois public records request. "Morningstar is, however, asking us to kick the can down the road once again."

Lappin called Morningstar's announcement of a third-party investigation by the law firm White & Case "a striking departure from its public statements over the past year." He said he agreed to delay the decision on Morningstar until the board's meeting in March when the investigation's findings are expected to be available.

Lappin is one of three members of the investment policy board who have ties to pro-Israel organizations. All were appointed by Illinois governors. A fourth member was also a gubernatorial appointee, and the three remaining seats are filled by representatives of Illinois' public pension systems.

Morningstar would be the first U.S.-based company to be placed on the list of companies that boycott Israel, joining 40 other firms from around the world.

The most recent company to make the list is the British conglomerate Unilever, the parent company of Vermont ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's, which announced last year that it would no longer allow its ice cream to be sold in the West Bank. Ben & Jerry's said it was "inconsistent with our values" for the ice cream to be sold in Palestinian territory that was occupied by Israel.

The announcement from Ben & Jerry's was one of the most prominent rebukes of Israeli policy by a major company. And even though it was targeted at sales beyond Israel's Green Line and not Israel proper, the movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel, known as BDS, embraced the move as a victory. It also drew widespread consequences for the company as Illinois and other states quickly triggered their newly written anti-BDS laws to punish Unilever.

Increasingly, investors seeking to "do well by doing good" are weighing their investments according to environment, social and governance, or ESG, factors.

"With the tremendous growth in ESG investment, this is the BDS tsunami we have to be focused on," Jay Tcath, executive vice president at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "Ben and Jerry's leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. But the Israeli economy and the Israeli palate really isn't threatened by Ben and Jerry's."

Tcath is part of a new task force of Jewish organizations paying close attention to Wall Street's tilt toward what's also called socially responsible investing. Convened by the Jewish Federations of North America, the task force includes Hammerman of Jlens, representatives from Jewish communal organizations in states with anti-BDS laws, and staff from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a right-leaning think tank.

The task force is examining to what extent companies engaged in the ESG movement are targeting Israeli companies and companies doing business in Israel.

"Jewish Federations along with other Jewish organizations have been concerned about some ESG companies appearing to unfairly single out Israel when scoring investment risks," Elana Broitman, JFNA's senior vice president of public affairs, told JTA by email. "This could well violate various anti-BDS state laws."

In Illinois, Tcath has been advising Lappin and other committee members. Emails obtained through an Illinois public records request show that Tcath and Lappin collaborated to devise a list of demands Lappin presented to Morningstar at the December meeting.

A senior official of the Chicago Jewish federation, Tcath said he has devoted considerable time to his work on Morningstar amid his regular federation responsibilities. "But this issue merits almost any expenditure of time, and not just by me," he said.

Another member of the task force is Richard Goldberg, who works for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies as a senior advisor. He authored Illinois' anti-BDS bill while serving as chief of staff to then Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican who lost his seat in 2018 to Democrat J. B. Pritzker.

During his first year in office, Rauner appointed four members to the board. They included Mitchell Goldberg, the brother of Richard Goldberg; Lappin, a longtime acquaintance of Richard Goldberg who serves on the board of several Israel advocacy groups, and Alicia Oberman, then executive director of the Jack Miller Family Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to defending Israel.

In 2018, the Rauner appointees set their sights on Airbnb after the company said it would stop listing vacation stays that are located in the West Bank. Later, however, Lappin began worrying that the push against Airbnb would fail, according to an email he sent to Tcath that turned up in an Illinois public records request.

Lappin wrote on Dec. 12, 2018, that two things combined to make him fret: Airbnb presented a "robust" defense to the board, and Illinois residents voted Rauner out of office. A new governor could choose to replace the board members with his own people.

In its defense, Airbnb said it opposes the Israel boycott and that it had been coming under continued attacks from BDS activists. The company noted that it did a lot of business in Israel and sees very little revenue from the few West Bank listings that appear.

Lappin wrote that he and his fellow Rauner appointees, Goldberg and Oberman, could see through this defense.

But he worried that new board members appointed by the incoming governor would not be "as fiercely committed to the principle and the nuance, within the context of the committee's mission, of protecting Israeli sovereignty, and as regards to Judea & Samaria, appreciative of the dire strategic ramifications that would result from failing to do," according to the email, which refers to the West Bank using its official Israeli name.

Lappin never had a chance to find out. After Pritzker took office he proceeded to strip various commissions and boards of Rauner appointees, but he didn't touch the Illinois Investment Policy Board. Later on, when Mitchell Goldberg resigned from the board to become a judge, Pritzker, a Democrat, appointed a Republican, Sidney Mathias. A former member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Mathias also once served on the board of Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

In the end, the Illinois board never had to make a decision about blacklisting Airbnb because the company backtracked in April 2019 and pledged in a letter to the board that it would not engage in a boycott of Israel.

The campaign targeting Morningstar traces back to April 2020, when the Chicago company announced it was acquiring full ownership of Amsterdam-based Sustainalytics. The Dutch company is one of the main global firms offering ratings of companies based on their social responsibility, and Morningstar wanted a bigger presence in the fast-growing ESG market. A Bloomberg Finance analysis from last year projected that financial assets classified as ESG investments will reach $53 trillion by 2025.

The announcement of the planned deal alarmed the pro-Israel group JLens, which shared its longstanding concerns about Sustainalytics' alleged bias against Israel with Morningstar. The company ignored Jlens and closed the deal. A few months later, Jlens secured a meeting with Morningstar staff and began a dialogue that ended in January 2021 with Jlens placing Morningstar on its "Do Not Invest" list and publicly accusing the company of supporting BDS.

According to Jlens, Morningstar was guilty of doing so in numerous ways.

Jlens said the company pressures other companies targeted by BDS to cave and divest from Israel, and  elevates the controversy ratings of certain companies, which causes investors interested in socially responsible finance to avoid doing business tied to Israel. It said the company disproportionately focused on Israel in its investments screens for human rights abuses.

Also in January 2021, Jlens reached out to the executive chairman of Morningstar's board of directors and raised the issue at the company's annual shareholder meeting. The organization introduced a shareholder proposal that would require the company to produce a report on the risks of its "economic activism."

Morningstar's board shot down the shareholder proposal. In March 2021, however, the company announced it had carried out an internal review of the claims against it, and the review "found no systematic bias and concluded that the claims are false."

It was soon after that Morningstar landed in the crosshairs of the Illinois Investment Policy Board.

Tcath, whose office at the Jewish federation is a short walk away from Morningstar's headquarters in downtown Chicago, also got increasingly involved. He had been thinking about the jeopardy to Israel from the rise of ESG investing for years, and wrote an article about it in 2017, titled "The Next BDS Battlefield."

One of the challenges in tracking what is happening in the ESG market is the limited access to data. The ratings produced by companies like Morningstar are proprietary, and clients who purchase reports from the companies often sign nondisclosure agreements.

"We only know the little bit that we know because we've come across documents in a haphazard, happenstance way," Tcath told JTA.

One such document that Jlens chanced upon turned out to be important. Produced by Sustainalytics in 2020 for the Austrian asset management firm Erste, the report examined about 100 companies through the prisms of the environment, human rights, business ethics and labor rights.

Tcath and Jlens presented the report as a damning piece of evidence when they met with Morningstar's executive chairman Joe Mansueto in October. Tcath argued that Israeli companies were overrepresented in the report, noting that while Israel was one of 71 countries in a region encompassing Africa and the Middle East, it accounted for 50% of the companies on Sustainalytics' radar.

"There was no even attempted defense of that finding in my discussion with Morningstar officials," Tcath said.

He added that he didn't think the company had been intentionally hostile to Israel, but that it had been led astray because it relied on information provided by the UN and its agencies, which have repeatedly — and unfairly, according to Tcath and other Israel advocates — condemned Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

Morningstar declined to comment while the investigation by the law firm it hired was ongoing, but a spokesperson said that the company "takes seriously all questions and concerns around our research."

The December meeting of the Illinois Investment Policy Board, at which the board tabled the vote on Morningstar, drew a crowd. The normally sleepy quarterly gathering saw a lineup of speakers requesting to participate during the public comment period.

The main topic of attention was Ben & Jerry's, which was about to become blacklisted by the board. Representatives from a coalition of pro-Palestinian groups criticized Israel's human rights record with some arguing that the Illinois law against boycotters of Israel is being used to take away the ice cream maker's right to free speech.

"Ben & Jerry's, as a privately owned company run by two Jewish men, is well within their right to stop selling their ice cream in illegal, violent Israeli settlements stealing land from Palestinians in the West Bank," said Liz Bajjalieh, from the advocacy groups Peace Action and Just Foreign Policy.

(Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield are the Jewish founders of the ice cream company but they sold it to Unilever in 2000 and have not run it since.)

"This law is just another example of Palestinian exceptionalism, where Palestinians are told that when they demand justice, they're going too far," Bajjalieh added.

A unanimous board ruled that the Unilever subsidiary had violated Illinois law and was therefore ineligible for investments by state-run pension systems. More than 30 states have passed anti-BDS laws and nearly 10 have taken action against Unilever following the announcement by Ben & Jerry's. 

Up next, at the board's March 22 meeting, is the matter of Morningstar.

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UPDATE NOVEMBER 2, 2022:

Morningstar Financial Services Firm Announces New Steps to Fight Anti-Israel Bias
https://combatantisemitism.org/latest-news/morningstar-financial-services-firm-announces-new-steps-to-fight-anti-israel-bias/

The Chicago-based Morningstar financial services firm announced new commitments this week to ensure its products are free of anti-Israel bias.

In June, after the conclusion in June of an independent investigation conducted by White & Case (W&C) LLP, Morningstar acknowledged that its Sustainalytics Human Rights Radar exhibited bias about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and discontinued the product. Morningstar also reiterated its opposition to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

In July, the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), Jewish Federations of North America, American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, Christians United for Israel, Hadassah, Jewish Funders Network, JLens, and The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law published a joint letter calling for further action by Morningstar.

On Monday, at the Jewish Federations of North America's General Assembly in Chicago, Morningstar announced it would take the following steps:

bar the use of biased and unreliable sources from its reporting, such as the UN Human Rights Council and WhoProfits;

use geographic names (e.g., West Bank, East Jerusalem) in relevant regions, rather than terms such as "Occupied Palestinian Territory" or "occupied territory."

provide guidance to analysts ensuring that businesses operating in Israeli-Palestinian conflict areas or contributing to Israel's defense against terrorism are not treated as de facto violators of human rights;

remove references to the BDS campaign;

provide ongoing anti-bias and antisemitism training to relevant staff;

bring in independent experts to ensure ESG ratings do not single out and discriminate against Israel or hold it to a different standard than other countries;

review and update existing data and analysis to align with the commitments described above.

CAM Advisory Board Member Elan S. Carr stated, "We are thankful that Morningstar has engaged in this ongoing process with Jewish community leaders and appreciate the company's commitments to change its sources and methods. We are eager to see these changes yield bottom-line results in Morningstar's ratings, watchlists, and engagements relating to companies doing business in Israel."

Israel pulls the plug on its anti-BDS app — 'a failure from the start'
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/03/israel-pulls-the-plug-on-its-anti-bds-app-a-failure-from-the-start/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Act.IL, the pro-Israel app at least partially funded by the country's government, has been deactivated. It has existed since 2017.

"Keeping up with the evolving trends of social media, Act-IL is decommissioning the App, and will continue working with all of our other social medial platforms and community channels," reads an email to the app's users. "We are not going anywhere! I invite you to remain active, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and all our other channels where we will continue to share daily calls to action and impactful educational content."

"I want to personally thank all of you who have been engaging with our app over the years. It was a wonderful tool in its day, and we are excited to explore new innovative community platforms with you in an ever-changing digital world!," it continues.

(https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-11-at-12.48.10-PM.png)

The social network service enabled its users to earn prizes by defending Israel online and attacking the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. For instance, a number of recent "missions" involve denouncing Amnesty International's report on Israeli apartheid.

https://twitter.com/AntiBDSApp/status/1488568955782549513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1488568955782549513%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F03%2Fisrael-pulls-the-plug-on-its-anti-bds-app-a-failure-from-the-start%2F

The app was mainly developed and operated by pro-Israel civil society groups, but it also received funding from the Israeli government. A 2019 report from Electronic Intifada found that the campaign was operating with a budget of over a $1 million.

The campaign was first unveiled in 2017 by Gilad Erdan, Israel's former strategic affairs minister and the current Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. At a Manhattan party Erdan declared that the country was launching an "Iron Dome of Truth" to combat online criticism of the country.

"The State of Israel is under constant attack by delegitimizers working to demonize Israel online and undermine our legitimacy as the nation-state of the Jewish people," said Erdan. "For this reason I am initiating an international effort to unite Israel's supporters around the globe and provide them with a platform that strengthens their activities, with tools that will help all of us fight hatred together, and with resources to spread the truth."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWD5xiiafBc

Michael Bueckert, vice president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, has followed the app since its creation and started a Twitter account tracking its missions.

"I'm surprised that the app lasted this long. Its content was always embarrassingly amateurish, and its missions rarely seemed to have made an impact. In my view, the de-activation of the app just confirms that this project was a failure from the start," Bueckert told Mondoweiss. "It was destined to fail because the problem facing Israel today is not the result of misinformation or lies, but of a growing awareness of the reality of Israeli apartheid itself – and this is something that an app is incapable of solving."

Middle East Studies Association Members Vote to Ratify BDS Resolution in Referendum
80% of MESA's Participating Members Voted in Favor of Resolution In Solidarity With Palestinians Seeking Education Rights
https://mesana.org/news/2022/03/23/middle-east-scholars-vote-to-endorse-bds

Washington, DC – In a 768-167 vote, members of the Middle East Studies Association have voted in favor of a resolution endorsing the Palestinian call for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel as a way to hold the government accountable for ongoing human rights violations. All full 2022 MESA members were asked to cast their votes electronically on the proposed resolution during a 50-day voting period that lasted from January 31 through March 22. Now that the resolution has been ratified, MESA's Board of Directors will work in consultation with its Committee on Academic Freedom to enforce it in a manner consistent with MESA's bylaws as well as relevant U.S. federal, state, and local laws.

"Our members have cast a clear vote to answer the call for solidarity from Palestinian scholars and students experiencing violations of their right to education and other human rights," said MESA President Eve Troutt Powell. "MESA's Board will work to honor the will of its members and ensure that the call for an academic boycott is upheld without undermining our commitment to the free exchange of ideas and scholarship."

The resolution states that the boycott will not target individual students or scholars, and reiterates the right of individual MESA members to choose whether or not they wish to participate in an academic boycott. It calls for an academic boycott of Israeli institutions for their complicity in Israel's violations of human rights and international law through their provision of direct assistance to the military and intelligence establishments.

Right to education violations cited in the resolution include: "restricting freedom of movement for Palestinians; isolating, undermining, or otherwise attacking Palestinian educational institutions; harassing Palestinian professors, teachers, and students; harassing Israeli professors and students criticizing Israeli policies; destroying, confiscating, or otherwise rendering Palestinian archival material inaccessible; and maintaining inequality in educational resources between Palestinians and Israelis."

During the 50-day period MESA members were casting their votes, the Israeli government also published new procedures that would allow it to restrict the employment of foreign lecturers and researchers, the acceptance of foreign students, and fields of study at Palestinian institutions of higher education in the West Bank. MESA is still evaluating how the new procedures will impact its membership.

"Since 2005, the BDS vote has been discussed among MESA members, who have organized various forums for conversations and debates regarding participation in an academic boycott of Israeli institutions and other ways of standing in solidarity with Palestinian scholars at risk under Israel's longstanding military occupation," added Troutt Powell. "We affirm our commitment to academic freedom for Palestinians, and for all scholars in all countries throughout the region."

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QuoteResolution Regarding BDS (2022)

Passed by the membership at the 2021 MESA Members Meeting on December 2, 2021, and passed in a referendum vote on March 22, 2022.

Whereas, Palestinian civil society issued a call in 2005 for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel; and

Whereas, Members of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) have organized various forums for discussion and debate of that call through MESA's commitment to academic freedom; and

Whereas, International intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations, including Palestinian and Israeli monitoring groups, have documented and verified successive Israeli governments' systematic violations of the human rights of Palestinians living under Israeli direct or indirect control; and

Whereas, Systematic violations include restricting freedom of movement for Palestinians; isolating, undermining, or otherwise attacking Palestinian educational institutions; harassing Palestinian professors, teachers, and students; harassing Israeli professors and students criticizing Israeli policies; destroying, confiscating, or otherwise rendering Palestinian archival material inaccessible; and maintaining inequality in educational resources between Palestinians and Israelis; and

Whereas, Israeli universities are imbricated in these systematic violations through their provision of direct assistance to the Israeli military and intelligence establishments; and

Whereas, The United States government has systematically shielded successive Israeli governments from being held accountable for such violations and facilitated them through unprecedented diplomatic, military, and economic support; and

Whereas, Recalling that the BDS campaign against Israel is one that targets institutions and not individuals; and

Whereas, Recalling that MESA recognizes the right of scholars to academic freedom as well as the right of scholars to choose whether or not to participate in an academic boycott; be it

Resolved, That the majority of the MESA membership:

      1)  Endorses the 2005 call of Palestinian civil society for BDS against Israel; and

      2)  Directs the MESA Board of Directors to work in consultation with the Committee on Academic Freedom to give effect to the spirit and intent of this resolution, in a manner consistent with MESA's bylaws as well as relevant US federal, state, and local laws.
https://mesana.org/about/resolutions

The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper of Harvard University, and the oldest college newspaper in America, has published an editorial supporting BDS.

QuoteEditorials
In Support of Boycott, Divest, Sanction and a Free Palestine
By The Crimson Editorial Board
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/4/29/editorial-bds/

When oppression strikes anywhere in the world, resistance movements reverberate globally. The desire for rightful justice spreads, like wildfire, moving us to act, to speak, to write, and right our past wrongs.

Over the past year, the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee has strived to do just that. Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine, PSC has hosted informational programming, organized weekly demonstrations of support through "Keffiyeh Thursdays," and even installed a colorful, multi-panel "Wall of Resistance" in favor of Palestinian freedom and sovereignty.

In at least one regard, PSC's spirited activism has proven successful: It has forced our campus — and our editorial board — to once again wrestle with what both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called Israel's "crimes against humanity" in the region.

We first and foremost wish to extend our sincere support to those who have been and continue to be subject to violence in occupied Palestine, as well as to any and all civilians affected by the region's bellicosity. We are not sure how these words will reach you, or whether they'll do so at all. But our stance isn't rooted in proximity or convenience, but rather in foundational principles we must uphold — even if (or perhaps especially when) it proves difficult.

This editorial board is broadly and proudly supportive of PSC's mission and activism, including its recent art display. The admittedly controversial panels dare the viewer to contend with well-established, if rarely stated, facts. They direct our eyes towards the property and land confiscations, citizenship denials, movement restrictions, and unlawful killings that victimize Palestinians day in and day out. Art is a potent form of resistance, and we are humbled by our peers' passion and skill.

In the wake of accusations suggesting otherwise, we feel the need to assert that support for Palestinian liberation is not antisemitic. We unambiguously oppose and condemn antisemitism in every and all forms, including those times when it shows up on the fringes of otherwise worthwhile movements. Jewish people — like every people, including Palestinians — deserve nothing but life, peace, and security.

Nothing about PSC's Wall of Resistance denies that. While members of our campus might well find its messages provocative, or disagree with their philosophical outlook, nothing about them is, in our view, worthy of that delegitimizing label. We have a certain community-wide tendency to dismiss opposing views as inherently offensive and unworthy, straw-manning legitimate arguments and obfuscating difficult but necessary discussions. Yet civil discourse and debate, even when trying, are fundamental steps towards a better reality.

Israel remains America's favorite first amendment blindspot. Companies that choose to boycott the Jewish state, or otherwise support the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement face legal repercussions in at least 26 states. Even for journalists, openly condemning the state's policies poses an objective professional risk. Only last year, the Associated Press prompted outcry after firing a news editor over college-age tweets critical of Israel. The controversial decision followed a long-established pattern: Dare question Israel's policies or endorse Palestinian freedom and you will be shunned from the newsroom, past accomplishments or legitimate arguments be damned. For college students like ourselves, speaking bluntly about events in the region can prompt online harassment or even land you on a blacklist.

What this immense opposition to student activists and journalists makes clear is the overwhelming power imbalance that defines and constricts the ongoing debate. This stark power differential extends far beyond the arena of free speech, shifting from rhetorical to lethal on the ground in Palestine, where Israeli soldiers have killed nearly 50 Palestinians, including eight children, this year alone.

As an editorial board, we are acutely aware of the privilege we hold in having an institutional, effectively anonymous byline. Even on this campus, many of our brave peers advocating for Palestinian liberation can be found on watchlists tacitly and shamefully linking them to terrorism.

These twin factors — the extraordinary abuses and our privileged ability to speak to them and face comparatively less unjustified retribution — compel us to take a stand. Palestinians, in our board's view, deserve dignity and freedom. We support the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement as a means to achieving that goal.

In the past, our board was skeptical of the movement (if not, generally speaking, of its goals), arguing that BDS as a whole did not "get at the nuances and particularities of the Israel-Palestine conflict." We regret and reject that view. It is our categorical imperative to side with and empower the vulnerable and oppressed. We can't nuance away Palestinian's violent reality, nor can we let our desire for a perfect, imaginary tool undermine a living, breathing movement of such great promise.

Two decades ago, we wrote that divestment was a "blunt tool" that affected all citizens of the target nation equally and should be used sparingly. Yet the tactics embodied by BDS have a historical track record; they helped win the liberation of Black South Africans from Apartheid, and have the potential to do the same for Palestinians today. Israel's current policy pushes Palestinians towards indefinite statelessness, combining ethnonationalist legislation and a continued assault on the sovereignty of the West Bank through illegal settlements that difficults the prospect of a two-state solution; it merits an assertive and unflinching international response. The arguments made against BDS could have been and indeed were once made against South Africa, and we are no longer inclined to police the demands of a people yearning to breathe free.

We do not take this decision lightly. BDS remains a blunt approach, one with the potential to backfire or prompt collateral damage in the form of economic hurt. But the weight of this moment — of Israel's human rights and international law violations and of Palestine's cry for freedom — demands this step. As a board, we are proud to finally to finally lend our support to both Palestinian liberation and BDS — and we call on everyone to do the same.

QuoteComing from the oldest continuously published campus daily in the United States, at the country's most selective college, the Crimson's support is certain to fuel concerns from pro-Israel advocates that college campuses are inhospitable to students who support Israel.
https://www.jta.org/2022/04/29/united-states/harvard-crimson-endorses-bds-movement-while-rejecting-antisemitism-in-potent-symbol-of-campus-sentiment-about-israel

Court overturns French ban on Palestine solidarity groups
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/court-overturns-french-ban-palestine-solidarity-groups

Emmanuel Macron's war against campaigners for Palestinian rights suffered another big setback on Friday.

The Council of State, which acts as France's supreme court ruling on government actions, suspended the president's order banning two Palestine solidarity groups.

The court upheld the right to call for a boycott of Israeli goods and found the government's accusations of "anti-Semitism" against the two groups to be unfounded.

In February, on Macron's instructions, interior minister Gérald Darmanin ordered the dissolution of Collectif Palestine Vaincra (Palestine Will Win Collective) and Comité Palestine Action (Palestine Action Committee).

The government accused the two groups of inciting hatred and violence in relation to Israel.

https://twitter.com/DissolutionCPV/status/1520022689750163456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1520022689750163456%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fali-abunimah%2Fcourt-overturns-french-ban-palestine-solidarity-groups

In a summary of its rulings , the Council of State said it suspended the government orders after finding no evidence "that the positions taken by these groups, although clear-cut and even virulent, constitute a call for discrimination, hatred or violence or a provocation to commit acts of terrorism."
With respect to the Palestine Action Committee, the court ruled that the government's order was "a serious and manifestly illegal violation of the freedom of association and freedom of expression."

In a finding relevant to the Palestinian-led BDS – boycott, divestment and sanctions – campaign, the Council of State stated that "the call for a boycott of certain Israeli products by Collectif Palestine Vaincra cannot by itself justify a dissolution order in the absence of other provocations inciting hatred and violence."

That is in tune with the unanimous June 2020 decision by the European Court of Human Rights that France's criminal prosecutions of activists who have called for such boycotts violate fundamental guarantees of freedom of expression.

The Macron administration has been trying to sidestep that European ruling in order to continue its pro-Israel repression.

No evidence of anti-Semitism

In a blow to efforts to equate criticism of Israel and its Zionist state ideology with anti-Jewish bigotry, the Council of State found that the government failed to provide evidence of "anti-Semitic acts" by the two groups.

The full ruling on Palestine Action Committee states flatly that "it is not established, contrary to the interior minister's claims, that the group disseminated anti-Semitic publications on its website."

The government must now pay around $3,000 to each of the groups. The ruling immediately suspends the order dissolving the two groups pending a final ruling expected at a later stage.

Decisions by the Council of State cannot be appealed.

Collectif Palestine Vaincra hailed the Council of State ruling for "reaffirming the legitimacy of supporting the Palestinian people" and said it was "celebrating that it could freely pursue its struggle."

The group thanked activists who had protested the government measure, and several solidarity organizations, including Association France-Palestine Solidarité and the Jewish-French Union for Peace (UJFP), that filed briefs in its support at the Council of State.

UJFP welcomed the ruling as a "victory against the criminalization of the solidarity movement."

https://twitter.com/contactujfp/status/1520358899861360640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1520358899861360640%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fali-abunimah%2Fcourt-overturns-french-ban-palestine-solidarity-groups

Almost 11,000 people had signed a petition against the dissolution orders.

Palestine Action Committee said it "would like to dedicate this victory to the Palestinian people and their struggle."

https://twitter.com/ComiteAction/status/1520398094013284352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1520398094013284352%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fali-abunimah%2Fcourt-overturns-french-ban-palestine-solidarity-groups

This is the second major rebuke in the space of a week against Macron's violations of the fundamental rights of French citizens.

On Tuesday, the Council of State, overturned a government decree ordering the closure of a mosque in Bordeaux.

Macron's interior ministry issued the order earlier this year on the pretext that the mosque was spreading hatred against France and Israel and inciting terrorism.

"Milestone" concept in Germany

https://twitter.com/elsclegal/status/1518589224764780546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1518589224764780546%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Felectronicintifada.net%2Fblogs%2Fali-abunimah%2Fcourt-overturns-french-ban-palestine-solidarity-groups

And in Germany last week, a court sided with the local Palestine solidarity committee against city authorities in Stuttgart.

The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), a group that defends free speech about Palestine, hailed the decision as a "milestone judgment" that "reaffirms the right to boycott."

Following a smear campaign in Israeli media, Stuttgart authorities began denying the solidarity group access to city premises and refused to advertise its events on the city's website.

The municipality cited the 2019 resolution passed by the Bundestag , Germany's lower house of parliament, smearing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement as "anti-Semitic."

The German court affirmed that the Bundestag resolution is nonbinding, and that the Palestine solidarity group's activities are constitutionally protected free speech.

ELSC noted that this recent decision is "consistent with a growing trend in German case law, which upholds the right of activists to use public facilities for BDS-related events."

BDS victory: General Mills says it will divest from Israel
After a two-year campaign targeting the company, General Mills says it will stop making Pillsbury products on stolen Palestinian land
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/06/bds-victory-general-mills-says-it-will-divest-from-israel/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-hgs-mailpoet

On May 31 General Mills announced that it divested its 60% stake in its Israeli subsidiary. For the last two years the company has been targeted by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) over the fact that some of its Pillsbury products are manufactured in an illegal Israeli settlement.

General Mills's statement doesn't reference the BDS campaign and claims that the move simply reflects the company's "strategic choices about where to prioritize our resources to drive superior returns." Bodan Holdings, an Israel-based company who previously owned the other 40% of the business, will take over the entire operation. As AFSC points out on Twitter, it remains unclear whether Pillsbury products can still be made in the factory under General Mills's license agreement.

"General Mills' divestment shows that public pressure works even on the largest of corporations," said AFSC's Noam Perry in a statement. "With this move, General Mills is joining many other American and European companies that have divested from Israel's illegal occupation, including Microsoft and Unilever just in the last couple of years. We call on all companies to divest from Israel's illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine, and from the apartheid system it is part of. We congratulate General Mills on this decision and hope this is the first step in cutting all its ties to Israeli apartheid and toward respecting universal human rights."

Since 2002, General Mills has run a Pillsbury products in the Atarot Industrial Zone, a settlement that Israel illegally annexed during the 1967 war. A 2019 report on the settlement, put out by Al-Haq, documents how the factory impacts Palestinians still living in the area. "When they pour the flour [into the mixers which are outdoors], the flour comes into our house. Sometimes the bags of flour overflow into the house," explained one resident. In 2020 the United Nations identified General Mills as one of the 112 companies that are violating international law by operating in the occupied territories.

https://twitter.com/gaychelquacker/status/1308103278610145280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1308103278610145280%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F06%2Fbds-victory-general-mills-says-it-will-divest-from-israel%2F

AFSC's No Dough For the Occupation was backed by human rights organizations like American Muslims for Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, as well as the Ainsworth United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. It was also endorsed by five members of the Pillsbury family, who published a Star Tribune op-ed in April 2021 calling for a boycott. "We take pride in seeing our family name associated with products sold around the world," it reads. "But in these times we no longer can in good conscience buy products bearing our name."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpSWZvlcN3E

"As long as General Mills continues to profit from the dispossession and suffering of the Palestinian people, we will not buy any Pillsbury products," it continues. "We call on General Mills to stop doing business on occupied land. And we call on all people of good conscience and all socially responsible organizations across the globe to join in boycotting Pillsbury products until General Mills stops this illegal and immoral practice."

AFSC celebrated the announcement on social media. "General Mills' divestment shows that public pressure works even on the largest of corporations," wrote the group. "We call on all companies to divest from Israel's illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine, and from the apartheid system it is part of. We congratulate General Mills on this decision and hope this is the first step in cutting all its ties to Israeli apartheid and toward respecting universal human rights."

JEWISH REPORT EXPELLED FROM PRESS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA AFTER REPORTING ON "RACIST UNDERTONES" OF BDS CARTOON
https://antisemitism.org/jewish-report-expelled-from-press-council-of-south-africa-after-reporting-on-racist-undertones-of-bds-cartoon/

The South Africa-based newspaper, Jewish Report, has been expelled from the Press Council of South Africa.

The move comes after a November 2020 article in the Jewish Report, which reported the opinion of two experts on antisemitism who argued that there was antisemitic imagery used in a cartoon advocating for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.

The cartoon, which was posted to the Facebook page of the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (SA BDS) Coalition, showed a grotesque, overweight banker in a pin-striped suit, with the logo of Israeli-owned dairy company Clover Industries on one shoulder, shovelling money into his mouth while a much smaller worker is left with much less. The words in the image read, "Don't buy clover products!!" and "Don't feed Clover's greedy bosses!"

The caption on the post says: "Greedy bosses connected to apartheid Israel. Blood curdling milk [and cheese, yoghurt, etc.]. Every reason to boycott Clover! Change your brand. Viva GIWUSA [General Industrial Workers Union of South Africa] and the struggle for a living wage! Clover was recently permitted by the Competition Commission and the department of trade and industry to be owned by Central Bottling Company (CBC), in turn owned by Milco, an Israeli concern operating in the Occupied Territories. The unions and Palestine solidarity organisations jointly submitted objections to the Competition Tribunal. Our objections were ignored."

Milton Shain, an Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Cape Town, said that, although the cartoon is not an obvious representation of a Jewish capitalist, "it has enough resonance with age-old antisemitic images and tropes."

David Saks, from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, agreed, saying that the image "helps confirm suspicions that stereotypes of greedy, exploitative Jews are being used to fuel the anti-Israel positions held by the various trade unions."

Following the publication of the Jewish Report article, and a complaint by a member of the Palestine Solidarity Alliance on behalf of the SA BDS Coalition and the General Industrial Workers Union of SA (Giwusa), the Press Council of South Africa, which offers its members a code of ethics to guide South African journalists, expelled the Jewish Report. This is the first time in twenty years that the Council has expelled a member.

In response, the Chairperson of the Jewish Report, Howard Sackstein, issued a statement saying: "Through its failure to recognise the racist undertones of the cartoon, the Press Council became party to the perpetuation of racism, hatred and bigotry in South Africa. By calling on the South Africa Jewish Report to apologise to racists, the Press Council discredited itself and failed the people of South Africa."

---

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Here's the cartoon they don't like:
(https://images.ctfassets.net/tyagww523muq/66awRM5o77OB0TDBZd5cir/9e31d310e90bead3acc67db7865d04d0/SAJR.jpg?w=1045&h=588&q=50&fit=fill&f=faces)

Big Thief cancel Israel concerts following backlash
The indie rock band Big Thief has canceled its Israel concerts after backlash from the BDS movement.
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/06/big-thief-cancel-israel-concerts-following-backlash/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-hgs-mailpoet

The indie rock band Big Thief has canceled two concerts in Israel that were scheduled to take place in July. Palestinians had urged the band to embrace the BDS movement and cancel the shows.

The move comes less than a week after the band put out a statement defending their decision to play in Tel Aviv, where bassist Max Oleartchik grew up and currently lives. "We are well aware of the cultural aspect of the BDS movement and the desperate reality of the Palestinian people," it read. "In terms of where we fit into the boycott, we don't claim to know where the moral high ground lies and we want to remain open to other people's perspectives and to love beyond disagreement. We understand the inherently political nature of playing there as well as the implications. Our intention is not to diminish the values of those who support the boycott or to turn a blind eye to those suffering. We are striving to be in the spirit of learning."

A new statement posted to social media explains the band's change of heart.

Quote"Since announcing these shows in Israel we have been in constant dialogue with friends, family, BDS supporters, allies, Palestinians, and Israeli citizens who are committed to the fight for justice for Palestinians," it reads. "It has been the only thing on our minds and in our hearts."

"Our intent in wanting to play the shows in Tel Aviv, where Max was born, raised, and currently lives stemmed from a simple belief that music can heal," it continues. "We now recognize that the shows we had booked do not honor that sentiment."

Big Thief's decision was celebrated by human rights organizations on social media. "We salute Big Thief's courage and their willingness to listen to the oppressed," said the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) in a statement. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) tweeted, "BDS Victory!..CJPME would like to thank Big Thief for acknowledging the cultural boycott and showing respect to the Palestinian people."

The Barby, the Israeli concert venue Big Thief was scheduled to perform at, attacked the band in a social media post, calling them "a bunch of miserable spineless musicians who are afraid of their own shadow," They also referred to BDS as "Nazi fear boycotts" and wished Big Thief "all the evil in the world."

Big Thief played Tel Aviv in 2017 and was scheduled to return in 2020 before the COVID pandemic.

BDS Victory: Sydney Festival Halts Foreign Government Funding after Mass Boycott
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bds-victory-sydney-festival-halts-foreign-government-funding-after-mass-boycott/

The board for one of Australia's biggest cultural festivals announced on Tuesday the immediate suspension of investments from foreign governments, a year after the event was rocked by controversy over funding from the Israeli embassy.

The Sydney Festival board announced the decision after "an independent review into the role of international government investment" commissioned by the festival board, according to its statement.

https://twitter.com/sydney_festival/status/1574610288640462865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574610288640462865%7Ctwgr%5E9e30a98739acd109bd69b71e0ac1af063a18ca46%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fbds-victory-sydney-festival-halts-foreign-government-funding-after-mass-boycott%2F

"Sydney Festival has today announced a range of important measures to improve the decision-making process around partnerships and sponsorships ahead of the Sydney Festival 2023 Program Launch," the statement read.

Quote"This includes an immediate suspension of investment from international governments and their cultural agencies."

The boycott of the 2022 edition of the Sydney Festival began last December and took place after it was revealed that the three-week event had received tens of thousands of dollars of funding from the Israeli embassy in Australia.

The funding was meant to help pay for a dance production choreographed by an Israeli.

Israel had been listed as a "star partner" on the festival's website due to the sponsorship.

https://twitter.com/jennineak/status/1574622318126837760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1574622318126837760%7Ctwgr%5E9e30a98739acd109bd69b71e0ac1af063a18ca46%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fbds-victory-sydney-festival-halts-foreign-government-funding-after-mass-boycott%2F

Pro-Palestine activists slammed festival management for its decision to approve the funding and called for a boycott of the event.

More than 20 acts pulled out of the festival over the funding.

The 2023 edition of the festival is set to take place in January.

Wellesley Students Call for Boycott of Apartheid Israelhttps://www.theinteldrop.org/2022/10/11/wesley-students-call-for-boycott-of-apartheid-israel/

The student body at Wellesley College of Liberal Arts in the US has called for the liberation of Palestine and listed companies supporting the Israeli occupation in an effort to encourage students to boycott them.

In an editorial published by the student body established at the liberal women's university, the group called for the liberation of Palestine and for boycotting the occupation, especially in Boston, Massachusetts, where the university is located.

The student body expressed support to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS), the Mapping Project in particular, which puts pressure on the Israeli regime through non-violent means.

According to the independent student newspaper of Wellesley College, Wellesley's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) raise awareness on campus of the mistreatment of Palestinians and the illegal nature of Israel's settlements.

The editorial said that the student body "unequivocally supports Palestinian students on campus, especially international students who may hesitate to speak in fear of retribution."

Touching on the Mapping Project, the editorial said it provides a vital service through collecting data about institutions that support Israeli apartheid, tracing their financial and political activities, and publicizing the information," and stressed that it is of great importance.

The Mapping Project, unveiled earlier in June 2022, identifies policing institutions, universities, weapons manufacturers, and Zionist lobby groups in the New England region that work in tandem to fortify structures of oppression and occupation in Palestine and across the world.

The hallmark of the project that is creating ripples is an interactive map that shows the physical locations of pro-Zionist groups in the Massachusetts area, sparking fears and concerns among pro-Israel lobbyists.

According to key members of the project, the idea is to build a knowledge base of institutions, corporations, and other entities that contribute to the colonization of Palestine, US imperialism, policing displacement, and other forms of oppression.

Giving an example on such institutions, the editorial read "The Mapping project notes that MIT is complicit in the militarization, propaganda/normalization, surveillance and US imperialism and has an active role in developing the technologies used to harm Palestinians."

Moreover, the student body journalists wrote that they have an obligation to document the truth, and that they are fortunate so far for being able to do it without facing violence, unlike journalists covering Israeli atrocities committed in occupied Palestine, such as Shirine Abu Akleh who was killed in May by Israeli occupation forces fire while covering an Israeli raid on Jenin.

The student body also expressed they are disheartened "to witness Wellesley's administration refusal to acknowledge the occupation of Palestine and the brutality that has been occurring under Israel's settler-colonial regime for decades."

"Wellesley's News Editorial Board called on our fellow students, professors and the Wellesley's administration and board of Trustees to acknowledge the atrocities of the Israeli regime and call for the liberation of occupied Palestine," the editorial concluded.

Following a widespread Israeli media attack, which slammed the College and claimed it was "a beacon of anti-Semitism, the university administration said it did not support the project.

However, the student body explained in the editorial, "We believe that support for a free Palestine is in no way anti-Semitic."   

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/10/11/690770/US-student-body-calls-for-boycotting-Israeli-regime-

Queen Mary SU votes to disaffiliate from NUS after Shaima Dallali's sacking
The student body also a endorsed Boycott, Divest, Sanctions motion
https://www.thejc.com/news/news/queen-mary-su-votes-to-disaffiliate-from-nus-after-shaima-dallalis-sacking-5g3wMONEK6JMsoP22YqMGe?reloadTime=1669770686937

Students at Queen Mary University, London have voted to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students (NUS) as a result of Shaima Dallali being fired as president.

In a vote last night at the university's student union, a motion in favour of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement was also passed.

These motions were passed in spite of strong opposition from the university's Jewish society, who wrote ahead of the votes that they feel "betrayed and let down by our Students's Union".

The JSoc and Union of Jewish Students said in a joint statement today that they are "disappointed yet unsurprised" by the votes, adding accused Queen Mary SU of "[shrugging] its shoulders at the expense of Jewish students."

The motion to disaffiliate from the NUS was described as a result of the firing of Shaima Dallali earlier this month as president of the national student union following an investigation into allegations of antisemitism.

The motion accused the NUS of having "contributed to the spread of anti-Palestinian racism" by firing Ms Dallali, and described her removal as an "affront to the democratic nature that the NUS purports to obtain".

It read: "Recently the NUS, for the first time in its entire history, removed its democratically elected President. The removal of an elected leader is an affront to the democratic nature that the NUS purports to obtain.

"Despite its commitment to anti-racism, the NUS has contributed to the spread of anti-Palestinian racism. This punitive reaction reflects a political context that has sought to toxify Palestine and is part of a wider pattern of endemic and systematic bigotry and prejudice. The Association of Student Activism for Palestine has said that the removal of the elected President Shaima Dallali is a direct attack on pro-Palestine student activism.

"The NUS has long ignored calls from Muslim students, organisations and the representative Muslim student body Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) – who have said that NUS is no longer a safe space for Muslim students."

Students also voted on and passed a motion in favour of the BDS movement, calling for a report on "the direct and indirect academic, economic, and corporate links Queen Mary and its affiliated institutions and companies have with organisations complicit in the Israeli regime".

It calls for divestment from companies identified in the report, and also demands that products sold in Israel, such as Coca-Cola, be removed from campus stores.

It demands that the SU "publicly reject the illegal occupation of Palestinian land, and hold companies that operate in these illegal territories accountable".

The impact on Jewish students at Queen Mary university was not mentioned in the text of either motion.

In a statement on Friday ahead of the votes on Monday, the Queen Mary Jewish and Israel Society said they were "deeply concerned and distressed" by the motions.

"We feel betrayed and let down by our Students' Union, who failed to notify us of these divisive motions which directly impact Jewish students.

"We believe that the BDS motion would foster unnecessary division and that it obstructs dialogue rather than promoting peace. We also believe that it would contribute to a hostile and uncomfortable environment for Jewish students at Queen Mary. The NUS disaffiliation motion disregards and ignores the lived experiences of Jewish and LGBTQ+ students, who have spoken out bravely about their experiences of homophobia and antisemitism both within NUS and at their own SUs.

"These motions come only a year after Jewish students were stripped of their right to define antisemitism which affects them deeply and heightens the vulnerability of Jewish students on campus. We will be fighting against both motions on Monday, and we encourage all students to stand in solidarity with us."

The impact of these motions on SU and university policy remains unclear. It is not yet known if the meetings were quorate, and nor is it clear whether a student referendum on NUS disaffiliation would need to take place.

The Queen Mary JSoc and the Union of Jewish Students, said in a statement today: "We are disappointed yet unsurprised by the motions passed last night at Queen Mary Students' Union endorsing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel and dismissing concerns about antisemitism and homophobia in the National Union of Students. This follows last year's annual student meeting in which Jewish students were denied the right to define antisemitism.

"At this year's meeting, no amendments to a highly contentious motion were allowed in spite of the repeated requests by Jewish students. It is vital that amidst a KC led investigation into antisemitism, Jewish students are free to express their experiences of antisemitism in the student movement.

"Jewish students at QMUL have been clear throughout the debate that these motions would lead to an environment on campus which is hostile for Jewish students, leading to division and preventing the very measures needed for peace. They now feel betrayed and let down by their Students' Union, with many Jewish students now feeling unsafe in their own Students' Union which shrugs its shoulders at the expense of Jewish students.

"This environment in which Jewish student experiences are ignored and silenced cannot go on. If any students need support they can reach out to Queen Mary JSoc or UJS at this time and always."

The Queen Mary Student Union and the National Union of Students have been approached for comment.

(https://yaledailynews.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/palestine_bz_CourtesyOfYalies4Palestine.jpg)
Yalies 4 Palestine

Yalies 4 Palestine launches Boycott, Divestments, Sanctions campaign
Yalies 4 Palestine is heralding a BDS campaign to put pressure on the University to end its contract with G4S, a leading British security company that provides services for Israeli prisons detaining Palestinian political prisoners.
https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/12/06/yalies-4-palestine-launches-boycott-divestments-sanctions-campaign/?ml_recipient=73955682651473251&ml_link=73955650863891823&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2022-12-08&utm_campaign=12+8+22+The+Shift

Until this semester, Yale was the only Ivy League college to have never had a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign — an international effort that works to end the oppression of Palestinians.

Yalies 4 Palestine, a campus group that has been cultivating conversations around human rights for Palestinians since 2019, is spearheading a BDS campaign that aims to terminate Yale's contract with the security company G4S, which currently supplies much of the University's surveillance, scanning and police department security services. The group is targeting this company specifically due to its alleged connections with the police and military violence committed against Palestinians and other minorities.

"Discourse around Palestine is so contentious and misconstrued at Yale that there has never been [a BDS campaign]," said Ruqaiyah Damrah '23, a Yalies 4 Palestine organizer. "We're hoping that our campaign will generate important discussions around what it means to stand in solidarity with oppressed and colonized people around the world and what we mean when we say that all struggles are fundamentally connected."

In the summer of 2014, the University implemented the Symmetry SR Retrofit System, which is provided by a G4S owned technology branch. The scanning required for entering dining halls and dormitories is affiliated with the system, along with the tracking of anomalous behavior in research facilities throughout the institution.

Part of the issue is that the appeal of G4S technology is rooted in its efficiency and capacity for violence, according to BDS committee head Craig Birckhead-Morton '24. He emphasized that this type of counter effort is not a new one, and that it was inspired by existing movements in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world to reduce the presence of G4S.

Beyond taking concrete actions — including hosting a Saturday afternoon teach-in on Palestinian history for members of the Yale community and launching a petition — the leadership at Yalies 4 Palestine hope that the BDS campaign will serve as a breakthrough conversation starter for a campus culture that has been largely silent on discourse surrounding Palestine.

Damrah said that currently, conversations on Palestine have been restricted by a confusion between general Palistine advocacy and anti-semitism, when, in reality, much of the advocacy on campus has less to do with Jewishness and more to do with "white supremacy modeled after European forms of colonialism."

Angel Nwadibia '25, one of the attendees at the teach-in, mentioned the existence of a "social media currency" that pressures users into siding with the majority without doing research — something affecting open discussion around Palestine.

The pressure is a feeling that Hanaé Yoshida '25 knows all too well. When Yoshida left Jordan for Yale in 2019, Yalies 4 Palestine did not yet exist and she said campus discussion about Palestine was limited. Yoshida said that others were not able to differentiate between criticism and education, something that was a "culture shock" for her.

When Damrah co-authored a statement in response to the forced expulsion of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah in summer 2020, she was swept into waves of media responses and online attacks. Among the criticism included two campus student groups — Hillel and the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish life at Yale — condemning the statement for having "antisemitic overtones."

What she was particularly disappointed by, however, was the fact that overseas outlets like the Israel Times covered the group's statement and the News did not, which she said evidenced the limited space for campus discourse on the issue.

In a similar vein, Birckhead-Morton is hopeful that the Yale BDS campaign will spark a new public consciousness of the challenges confronting Palestinians, stating that fragments of the oppression of Palestinians are very present and personal in the life of Yale students because of the University's ties with G4S.

"We're hoping to increase pressure on Yale's administration to question their affiliation with a company that so blatantly participates in human rights violations and imperial violence around the world," Damrah said.

138 countries around the world currently recognize Palestine as a country.

Five BDS wins in 2022 that you might have missed
2022 has been another monumental year in the growth of the Palestinian-led BDS movement. Here are some victories from the last year that you might have missed.
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/12/five-bds-wins-in-2022-that-you-might-have-missed/?ml_recipient=75288308935033864&ml_link=75288192056559335&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2022-12-23&utm_campaign=Daily+Headlines

In October, the United Nations' Mideast envoy announced that 2022 was set to become the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the organization started tracking fatalities back in 2005.

It's no surprise that this kind of violence has inspired further support for BDS, the nonviolent Palestinian-led movement aimed at pressuring Israel into meeting its international obligations. Here are some 2022 BDS moments from the United States that you might have missed.

Oakland Roots Drop Puma
Palestine became a big story during the World Cup as fans and players showed their solidarity with the country. Shortly before the tournament began, activists in California scored a big football-related victory.

The Oakland Roots (who play in the USL Championship league) became the first U.S. sports team to drop Puma as a sponsor. The squad had faced pressure from the Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), along with supporters' groups La Brigada Del Pueblo and Oakland Roots Radicals.

Puma has been targeted by BDS supporters since 2018, when the sportswear company signed a deal to sponsor the Israel Football Association (IFA). The IFA has multiple teams based in illegal West Bank settlements.

"PUMA is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association, which includes teams in illegal Israeli settlements," Oakland Roots Radicals told SFGATE last year. "The injustice Palestinian people suffer as they are displaced by illegal settlements is in direct opposition to the values of the Oakland community, and the values espoused by the Roots that make us so proud to support them. We are calling on the Roots to stand up and confront injustice, by severing ties to Puma until they end their support for Israel's regime of apartheid and military occupation."

As these things generally go, the club claims it was a purely coincidental decision that had nothing to do with politics, and pro-Israel websites have embraced that narrative. However, BDS advocates obviously see it as a win.

"This is a victory for the people of Palestine, the people of Oakland and the Bay Area, and all people fighting for a world free from oppression," said AROC's Lara Kiswani in a statement. "AROC celebrates the unprecedented action taken by the Oakland Roots. This is an example of what can be won when community institutions (businesses, sports teams, universities) work with and listen to the voices of their community calling for racial justice, and take substantial, tangible action to heed those calls.."

Big Thief Cancels Tel Aviv Shows
In June the indie rock band Big Thief canceled two concerts that were set to take place in Israel. After facing backlash over the dates the band originally put out a statement defending its decision to play Tel Aviv.

"We are well aware of the cultural aspect of the BDS movement and the desperate reality of the Palestinian people," it read. "In terms of where we fit into the boycott, we don't claim to know where the moral high ground lies and we want to remain open to other people's perspectives and to love beyond disagreement. We understand the inherently political nature of playing there as well as the implications. Our intention is not to diminish the values of those who support the boycott or to turn a blind eye to those suffering. We are striving to be in the spirit of learning."

Less than a week later the band reversed its decision. "Since announcing these shows in Israel we have been in constant dialogue with friends, family, BDS supporters, allies, Palestinians, and Israeli citizens who are committed to the fight for justice for Palestinians," explained their new statement. "It has been the only thing on our minds and in our hearts."

The Barby, the Israeli venue where the band was slated to play, denounced Big Thief as "a bunch of miserable spineless musicians" and referred to the BDS movement as a "Nazi fear boycott." However, the musicians didn't back down.

"We salute Big Thief's courage and their willingness to listen to the oppressed," said the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), "We recognize, too, the clear position of a majority of the group's fans of principled support for BDS."

Harvard Crimson Backs BDS
In April the editorial board of The Harvard Crimson (Harvard University's student newspaper since 1873) published an op-ed endorsing the BDS movement and calling for Palestine to be free.

"As an editorial board, we are acutely aware of the privilege we hold in having an institutional, effectively anonymous byline," it reads. "Even on this campus, many of our brave peers advocating for Palestinian liberation can be found on watchlists tacitly and shamefully linking them to terrorism."

"These twin factors — the extraordinary abuses and our privileged ability to speak to them and face comparatively less unjustified retribution — compel us to take a stand. Palestinians, in our board's view, deserve dignity and freedom," it continues. "We support the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement as a means to achieving that goal."

"In the past, our board was skeptical of the movement (if not, generally speaking, of its goals), arguing that BDS as a whole did not 'get at the nuances and particularities of the Israel-Palestine conflict.' We regret and reject that view. It is our categorical imperative to side with and empower the vulnerable and oppressed. We can't nuance away Palestinians' violent reality, nor can we let our desire for a perfect, imaginary tool undermine a living, breathing movement of such great promise."

The op-ed predictably ignited a firestorm, with faculty and alumni putting out statements expressing their outrage. However, many people affiliated with the school embraced the position.

The Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) says that the op-ed (and the backlash) prove that BDS activism is having a real impact.

"Institutional pushback is draining and frustrating, but as student activists, we have come to realize that our power lies in bringing attention to our cause amongst our peers," reads a piece from the group. "Rather than thinking about how to respond to Zionist alumni with big names and powerful positions, we seek power in galvanizing student support for Palestinian liberation. We seek to build solidarity with other social advocacy causes, pushing students who hide behind "neutrality" to engage with critical questions of oppression and inequality, and bringing conversations about justice to our friend circles, cultural spaces, and classrooms."

"The recent Crimson editorial goes to show that our approach is working. Students– those generally unengaged with PSC's work– are starting to listen and those are the audiences that matter. Faculty members are stepping in to lend a voice of support. We remain steadfast in our call for Palestinian liberation, inspired by decades of students before us– from PSC members to activists calling for divestment from the apartheid South Africa regime. This is just the beginning and our movement will only keep growing."

Polls Show Support for BDS is Growing Among Democratic Voters and Young People
For the last few years we have seen poll after poll indicating that support for Israel is declining among Democratic voters and young people in the United States, while support for Palestine continues to grow.

2022 was no different. An August survey of Democratic voters carried out by Brookings/the University of Maryland shows that Democratic voters who have heard about the BDS movement overwhelmingly support it, by a margin of 33 to 10.

A May survey by the same groups shows that a large plurality of Democratic voters believe that Biden nd Congress do not represent them in relation to Israel. Among Democrats aware of The White House's position on the issue, 26% said that The White House leaned closer to Israel than they do while just 3% said it leaned closer to Palestine than they do. The numbers are even more dramatic in relation to Congress. Among Democrats who had an opinion, 33% said their representatives lean closer to Israel than they do, while just 3% said their representatives lean closer to Palestine than they do.

These studies line up with a May survey from Pew which found that Democrats hold more favorable views of Palestinians than of Israelis by a margin of 64 to 60%. The gap is bigger among people under 30: 61 to 56%.

The Pew survey indicates that the vast majority of Democratic voters are still unaware of the BDS movement (85% said they'd never heard of it), but a surprising number of respondents said they support a democratic one-state outcome in the region. 36% of Democrats said they wanted to see a two-state solution and 19% said they want one democratic state.

Pillsbury Divests from Israel
In May General Mills announced that it had divested its 60% stake in its Israeli subsidiary.

The company's statement doesn't acknowledge the BDS movement and claims that the move was simply about "strategic choices about where to prioritize our resources to drive superior returns." However, for the last two years General Mills had been targeted by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) over the fact that some of its Pillsbury products were manufactured in an illegal Israeli settlement.

"General Mills' divestment shows that public pressure works even on the largest of corporations," said AFSC's Noam Perry in a statement. "With this move, General Mills is joining many other American and European companies that have divested from Israel's illegal occupation, including Microsoft and Unilever just in the last couple of years. We call on all companies to divest from Israel's illegal and brutal occupation of Palestine, and from the apartheid system it is part of. We congratulate General Mills on this decision and hope this is the first step in cutting all its ties to Israeli apartheid and toward respecting universal human rights."

Since 2002 General Mills had run a Pillsbury products factory in the Atarot Industrial Zone, a settlement that was illegally annexed by Israel during the 1967 war. In 2020 the United Nations identified General Mills as one of 112 companies that violate international law by operating a business within the occupied territories.

AFSC's No Dough For the Occupation campaign was backed by organizations like American Muslims for Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, as well as the Ainsworth United Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. It was also endorsed by five members of the Pillsbury family, who published a Star Tribune op-ed last year calling on people to boycott General Mills.

"We take pride in seeing our family name associated with products sold around the world," it reads. "But in these times we no longer can in good conscience buy products bearing our name."

"As long as General Mills continues to profit from the dispossession and suffering of the Palestinian people, we will not buy any Pillsbury products. We call on General Mills to stop doing business on occupied land. And we call on all people of good conscience and all socially responsible organizations across the globe to join in boycotting Pillsbury products until General Mills stops this illegal and immoral practice."

Israeli rugby team uninvited from South African tournament
The South African rugby board said they were reacting to backlash from 'stakeholders'
https://www.thejc.com/news/world/israeli-rugby-team-uninvited-from-south-african-tournament-79TifiGHLe5hZ67xnPEgIf?reloadTime=1675791208820

South Africa Rugby has withdrawn an invitation for Israel's only professional rugby team, the Tel Aviv Heat to participate in a tournament next month.

The Tel Aviv Heat is the first professional Israeli rugby union team and competes in the Eastern Conference of the Rugby Europe Super Cup.

On Thursday, a press release from SA Rugby said the Heat would join teams from Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Spain and six South African sides in the Mzansi Challenge beginning March 24, with the final set for June 17.

But the following day, the body announced that the Israeli team would not be welcome due to backlash from unidentified "stakeholders."

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said only that the decision had been taken after "we listened to the opinions of important stakeholder groups."

The South African government has become a vocal critic of Israel, often accusing the Jewish state of practicing "apartheid."

Pretoria downgraded its embassy in Tel Aviv in 2019 and pulled out its ambassador.

President Isaac Herzog last month slammed as a "blood libel" comparison of Israel's policies towards the Palestinians to South African apartheid.

"It is a dangerous and intensifying terrorism, since the legitimacy of the State of Israel and the justification of its existence is directly related to its ability to protect itself and hence they are trying to undermine this ability," he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaS8EbChKs

DC court dismisses lawsuit targeting academics over BDS support
"I hope that the ruling will deter pro-Israel outfits with no means of winning a debate beyond harassment and defamation from trying to impoverish those of us committed to the wellbeing of the Palestinian people," Dr. Steven Salaita said in a statement.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/03/dc-court-dismisses-lawsuit-targeting-academics-over-bds-support/?

After nine years of legal battles the Superior Court of Washington, DC has dismissed a lawsuit targeting academics over their support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The case was dismissed on the basis of a DC law aimed at discouraging Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are often used as a means to stifle and censor certain viewpoints by burdening public advocates with legal fees.

"This ruling should send a clear message to those trying to silence advocates speaking out against Israel's human rights abuses: boycotts are legally protected, and attempts to stifle such advocacy through the misuse of courts will not be tolerated," said Center for Constitutional Rights staff attorney Astha Sharma Pokharel, "These lawsuits will face strong opposition that will only grow the movement for justice and freedom in Palestine."

The Center for Constitutional Rights represented the defendants in the case.

In December 2013, the American Studies Association (ASA) voted on a resolution honoring Palestinian civil society's call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Over 66% of members endorsed the measure. "We believe that the ASA's endorsement of a boycott is warranted given U.S. 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 the support of such a resolution by many members of the ASA," read a statement from the organization's National Council at the time.

The pro-Israel Louis Brandeis Center sued the ASA in 2016 on behalf of four members of its members who opposed the resolution. The case was dismissed in 2019, but the group filed a complaint in the D.C. Superior Court. That effort was also dismissed, but the D.C. Court of Appeals was ordered to consider it again after the defendants launched their own appeal.

One of the defendants was Dr. Steven Salaita, the Palestinian rights advocate who was unlawfully fired from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign over tweets attacking Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza. The plaintiffs amended their lawsuit to include Salaita in 2018 despite the fact that he joined the ASA two years after they held the resolution vote.

"I welcome the judge's decision to dismiss this long-running lawsuit as a waste of time and money," said Salaita in a statement. "I am happy to finally be freed of this burden and hope that the ruling will deter pro-Israel outfits with no means of winning a debate beyond harassment and defamation from trying to impoverish those of us committed to the wellbeing of the Palestinian people."

In recent years a number of academic organizations and campus groups have endorsed the BDS movement, often leading to backlash from pro-Israel organizations. State authorities in New York recently opened a probe into the City University of New York (CUNY). The complaint that sparked the investigation alleges that Zionist and Jewish are being discriminated against because the faculty at CUNY Law School unanimously voted to endorse BDS. Additionally, New York Councilwoman Inna Vernikov pulled $50,000 in funding to a university program that provided free legal services in response to the BDS endorsement.

Oslo, the Capital of Norway, Announces boycott of Goods Produced in the Israeli-Occupied Territories
https://www.juancole.com/2023/04/announces-produced-territories.html

The city council of Oslo, Norway, the Scandinavian country's capital, has passed a decree boycotting the importation of goods from the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories seized in 1967. The city will also boycott Israeli companies involved in exploiting the resources in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza.

The Oslo city council announced, "foodstuffs coming from Israeli-occupied areas must be labelled with the area from which the product comes and must indicate that it is from an Israeli settlement, if that is its source."

The Norwegian government had already made a rule in 2022 that goods from the Occupied Territories could not be marked "Made in Israel," only those produced inside Israel within its 1949 borders.

It may not be an accident that Oslo made this decision now. Daniel Boguslaw at The Intercept raised the question of whether the far, far right government of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, which is filled with open racists, fascists and Jewish supremacists, might be the best ally the movement for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel has ever had. Global headlines have been full of the hate filled comments of cabinet ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Smotrich urged the ethnic cleansing of a Palestinian hamlet.

The Geneva Convention on occupied territories of 1949 and the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court in 2002 both strictly forbid countries that occupy the territory of neighbors in wartime from settling their own citizens in this territory. The stricture came in response to atrocities committed by the Axis powers in World War II, as when Germany occupied Poland in 1939 and settled it with German citizens even as the Nazis killed and displaced Poles– in a bid to make Poland German and "Aryan" and to wipe out Slavs.

Israeli authorities have since the 1970s assiduously ignored international law and have subsidized the settling of hundreds of thousands of squatters on privately owned Palestinian farms, orchards and town property. At the same time, the Israeli state permanently locked some 300,000 Palestinians out of the West Bank and Gaza and has exerted various forms of pressure on them to emigrate abroad. They have also illegally annexed Palestinian East Jerusalem and part of the Palestinian West Bank near it, into which they are also putting squatters. Israeli squatter settlements are Jews-only and discriminate against Palestinian residents in Palestine itself.

Oslo's principled stand is the form of BDS that I favor.

That is, I don't think it is fair to boycott ordinary Israelis, many of whom do not like the squatters or their goals. Israel sits in the United Nations as a recognized state, and Oslo is not interested in boycotting companies or products produced in the state as it came into the UN, under the borders of the 1949 armistice. However, virtually everything Israeli authorities have done in the West Bank and Gaza since they were seized in 1967 has been grossly illegal. Worse, Israeli authorities have deprived the occupied Palestinians of the basic right to citizenship in the state, keeping them without even the right to have rights.

Much post-war international law was passed in an attempt to implement a "Never Again" policy — no more aggressive wars, no more annexations of neighbors' territory, no more genocides against minorities such as Jews, Romani, gays and Poles. In flouting international law, Israeli authorities undermine their own alleged commitment to the principle of "Never again." They have launched aggressive wars, displaced hundreds of thousands of people (who now have 11 million descendants), illegally annexed territory, and have squatted on occupied territory. The Holocaust can be viewed through the lens of Jewish nationalism or Zionism, such that it becomes a justification for Jews to refuse to be bound by international law or yield to outside pressure. Or it can be viewed through the lens of a humanist universalism, such that it is one of many horrific genocides in the twentieth century — the Armenian, the Polish, the Cambodian, and so forth — and the lesson we take away from it is not a Likud or Religious Zionism 'get out of jail free' card allowing the flouting of all laws and norms but the urgent necessity of upholding the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and the Rome Statute with a determination that the lawlessness of the Nazis, of Mussolini's black shirts, and of the Japanese imperial armed forces should never be repeated.

Oslo's boycott is in furtherance of a rules-based international order, and is therefore highly praiseworthy.

Who Said BDS Has 'Already Failed'?: European Cities Boycott Apartheid Israel
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/who-said-bds-has-already-failed-european-cities-boycott-apartheid-israel/

By Ramzy Baroud

A succession of events starting in Barcelona, Spain, in February, and followed in Liège, Belgium, and Oslo, Norway, in April sent a strong message to Israel: The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) is alive and well.

In Barcelona, the city's Mayor canceled a twinning agreement with the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The decision was not an impulsive one, although Ada Colau is well-known for her principled positions on many issues. It was, however, an outcome of a fully democratic process, initiated by a proposal submitted by left-wing parties at the city council.

A few weeks after the decision was made, specifically on February 8, a pro-Israeli legal organization known as The Lawfare Project, announced its intentions to file a lawsuit against Colau because she, supposedly, "acted beyond the scope of her authority".

The Lawfare Project meant to communicate a message to other city councils in Spain, and the rest of Europe, that there will be serious legal repercussions to boycotting Israel. To the organization's – and Israel's – big surprise, however, other cities quickly advanced their own boycott procedures. They include the Belgian city of Liège and Norway's capital city, Oslo.

Liège's local leadership did not try to conceal the reasons behind their decision. The city council, it was reported, had decided to suspend relations with the Israeli authorities for running a regime "of apartheid, colonization and military occupation". That move was backed by a majority vote at the council, proving once more that the pro-Palestinian moral stance was fully compliant with a democratic process.

Oslo is a particularly interesting case. It was there that the 'peace process' resulted in the Oslo Accords in 1993, which ultimately divided the Palestinians while giving Israel a political cover to continue with its illegal practices, while claiming that it has no peace partner.

But Oslo is no longer committed to the empty slogans of the past. In June 2022, the Norwegian government declared its intention of denying the label "Made in Israel" to goods produced in illegal Israeli Jewish settlements in Occupied Palestine.

Though Jewish settlements are illegal under international law, Europe did not mind doing business – in fact, lucrative business – with these colonies over the years. In November 2019, the European Court of Justice, however, resolved that all goods produced in "Israel-occupied areas" had to be labeled as such, so as not to mislead consumers. The Court's decision was a watered-down version of what Palestinians had expected: a complete boycott, if not of Israel as a whole, at least of its illegal settlements.

However, the decision still served a purpose. It provided yet another legal base for boycott, thus empowering pro-Palestine civil society organizations, and reminding Israel that its influence in Europe is not as limitless as Tel Aviv wants to believe.

The most that Israel could do in response is to issue angry statements, along with haphazard accusations of anti-Semitism. In August 2022, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt requested a meeting with then-Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, during the former's visit to Israel. Lapid refused. Not only did such arrogance make a little difference in Norway's stance on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, but it also opened yet more margins for pro-Palestinian activists to be more proactive, leading to Oslo's decision in April to ban imports of goods made in illegal settlements.

The BDS movement explained, on its website, the meaning of Oslo's decision: "Norway's capital ... announced that it will not trade in goods and services produced in areas that are illegally occupied in violation of international law." In practice, this means that Oslo's "procurement policy will exclude companies that directly or indirectly contribute to Israel's illegal settlement enterprise – a war crime under international law."

Keeping these rapid developments in mind, The Lawfare Project would now have to expand its legal cases to include Liège, Oslo and an ever-growing list of city councils that are actively boycotting Israel. But, even then, there are no guarantees that the outcome of such litigations will serve Israel in any way. In fact, the opposite is more likely to be true.

A case in point was the recent decision by the cities of Frankfurt and Munich in Germany to cancel music concerts of pro-Palestinian rock and roll legend, Roger Waters, as part of his 'This is Not a Drill' tour. Frankfurt justified its decision by branding Waters as "one of the world's most well-known anti-Semites". The bizarre and unfounded claim was rejected outright by a German civil court which, on April 24, ruled in favor of Waters.

Indeed, while a growing number of European cities are siding with Palestine, those who side with Israeli apartheid find it difficult to defend or even maintain their position, simply because the former predicate their stances on international law, while the latter on twisted and convenient interpretations of anti-Semitism.

What does all of this mean for the BDS movement?

In an article published in Foreign Policy magazine last May, Steven Cook reached a hasty conclusion that the BDS movement "has already lost", because, according to his inference, efforts to boycott Israel have made no impact "in the halls of government".

While BDS is a political movement that is subject to miscalculations and mistakes, it is also a grassroots campaign that labors to achieve political ends through incremental, measured changes. To succeed over time, such campaigns must first engage ordinary people on the street, activists at universities, in houses of worship, etc., all done through calculated, long-term strategies, themselves devised by local and national civil society collectives and organizations.

BDS continues to be a success story, and the latest critical decisions made in Spain, Belgium and Norway attest to the fact that grassroots efforts do pay dividends.

There is no denying that the road ahead is long and arduous. It will certainly have its twists, turns and, yes, occasional setbacks. But this is the nature of national liberation struggles. They often come at a high cost and great sacrifice. But, with popular resistance at home and growing international support and solidarity abroad, Palestinian freedom should, in fact, be possible.

Brazilian City Ends All Ties with Israel, Denounces 'True Apartheid' (VIDEO)
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/brazilian-city-ends-all-ties-with-israel-denounces-true-apartheid-video/

The mayor of the Brazilian port city of Belem, Edmilson Rodrigues, has declared his city an Apartheid Free Zone, denouncing Israel's "expulsion of a people from their ancestral territory, a true apartheid", the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement announced on Tuesday.

Belem, the capital of the state of Para in the Amazonas, has a history of bringing indigenous and other people together in the struggle for justice and building solidarity.

Belem's decision follows those of other major cities in Europe.

https://twitter.com/PalestineChron/status/1658834417236713481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1658834417236713481%7Ctwgr%5Ea4de8ab324fd84c78e7f7235562993826d6fed8f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fbrazilian-city-ends-all-ties-with-israel-denounces-true-apartheid-video%2F

The mayor of Barcelona, Spain, decided to suspend institutional ties with apartheid Israel and end twinning with Tel Aviv.

Liège city council, in Belgium, also cut ties with Israel while the Oslo city council, in Norway, excluded from public procurements companies that directly or indirectly contribute to Israel's illegal settlement enterprise.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) applauded the mayor of Belem's move and called for other cities around the world to follow suit.

(https://www.palestinechronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ETUC-settlements-678x455.png)
The European Trade Union Confederation) decided to boycott products made in illegal Jewish settlements.(Photo: via ETUC)

European Trade Union Confederation to Boycott Products Made in Illegal Jewish Settlements
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/european-trade-union-confederation-to-boycott-products-made-in-illegal-jewish-settlements/

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), which represents over 45 million European workers and their trade unions, decided on Friday to boycott products made in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The organization also stressed the importance of regulatory measures to prevent EU legal entities from importing or exporting products manufactured in illegal Jewish settlements in accordance with EU treaties and international law.

The decision came during the confederation's 15th Congress, being held in the German capital Berlin on May 23-26.

Addressing the conference, the Secretary-General of the Palestine Trade Union Federation, Shaher Saad, welcomed the attendees and drew attention to the plight of the Palestinians as he noted the death toll so far this year, which has already reached 172 Palestinians.

https://twitter.com/mohmerai/status/1662081090234769408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1662081090234769408%7Ctwgr%5E5f459dd41f314269d3500303c04ebfcf61c77dfc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Feuropean-trade-union-confederation-to-boycott-products-made-in-illegal-jewish-settlements%2F

"Israel has been transformed entirely under the leadership of the far-right government to a hothouse and incubator of racism, terrorism and unbridled settler violence," he said.

"The occupying state is holding more than 4,900 prisoners, including 31 female prisoners, and 160 children, including a girl under the age of 18, in addition to 1,000 administrative detainees, including six children," he added.

According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the confederation emphasized the need to reach an agreement between Israel and Palestine that would lead to the implementation of the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.

BDS Movement Declares Victory as G4S Decides to Divest Completely from Israel
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bds-movement-declares-victory-as-g4s-decides-to-divest-completely-from-israel/

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement declared victory on Thursday in its years-long campaign against corporate security giant G4S.

"In a major win for human rights activism against corporate complicity, the world's largest private security company Allied Universal, which owns G4S, has decided to sell all its remaining business in apartheid Israel," BDS said in a statement, adding:

Quote"This follows years of an effective #StopG4S campaign waged by the BDS movement for Palestinian rights."

The BDS campaign against G4S was launched in 2012 by Palestinian prisoners' rights and human rights organizations to support the major hunger strike waged then by Palestinian political prisoners.

According to BDS, the pressure "led to high-profile divestment from G4S by the Church of Sweden, the United Methodist Church, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a Kuwaiti investment fund, UN agencies, trade unions, universities, and restaurant chains, among others, compelling the company in 2016 to divest from Israel's prison system, military checkpoints and illegal settlements. Yet the company remained invested in Policity."

https://twitter.com/BDSmovement/status/1664264234211893249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1664264234211893249%7Ctwgr%5E74b0ed52b56a04a664dc622ac0d87a3ce756b557%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Fbds-movement-declares-victory-as-g4s-decides-to-divest-completely-from-israel%2F

BDS has accused the company of a long, violent record of human rights abuses against Palestinians, as well as prisoners, migrants, and other communities worldwide, and has demanded it ends all business in Israel.

The BDS movement urged to intensify pressure on "other corporate criminals to make them respect their human rights obligations and stop profiting from oppression and injustice."

"We've won here, but our work is far from over. Now is the time to intensify BDS campaigns against Israel's regime of apartheid and settler colonialism, and against corporations and institutions that remain complicit in these crimes," the movement added.

UK university lecturers union votes to boycott Israel, but could be illegal under planned anti-BDS laws
https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/uk-university-lecturers-union-votes-to-boycott-israel-but-could-be-illegal-under-planned-anti-bds-laws/

An anti-Israel motion adopted by the university and college lecturers union could be outlawed by proposed new government legislation.

Delegates at the University and College Union's (UCU) congress in Glasgow confirmed their full support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement in a right to boycott motion.

The motion was titled "Israel oppression and the right to boycott" and was implies Israel is worthy of boycott because it is comparable to Nazi Germany.

It read: "Congress believes that civil society boycotts have an honourable tradition from anti-slavery campaigns through boycotts of Nazi trade to isolation of Apartheid South Africa."

However, the UCU's legal counsel warned it could fall foul of the incoming UK Government's proposed BDS and Sanction Bill.

The proposed bill would ban BDS to prevent further boycotts against Israel. It also follows a 2019 Conservative Party manifesto commitment to prevent local authorities from "adopting their own approach to international relations".  This move, pro-Palestine activists say, is in place to help businesses profiting from apartheid Israel.

If the proposed bill passed, the motion would be "void" as it would in effect ask members to break the law.

(https://bdsmovement.net/sites/default/files/puma%20bds%20bci.jpg)

PUMA's CEO Had BDS on His Mind. Join Global Day of Action, June 24, 2023
https://bdsmovement.net/puma-day9

You won't believe what PUMA's new CEO said in front of 200 shareholders in May.

BDS!

You can't make this stuff up. As he was talking about the Better Cotton Initiative, or BCI, he said BDS instead by mistake.

The BDS slip by PUMA's CEO is yet another sign that PUMA is alarmed by the growing boycott campaign over its complicity in Israeli apartheid.

PUMA is feeling the pressure. And it's about to increase!

Groups around the world are preparing for the Boycott PUMA Global Day of Action on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

It's no wonder PUMA's CEO has BDS on his mind. PUMA's complicity in Israeli apartheid was on display for all to see during its 75th anniversary shareholders meeting.

Ahead of the meeting, targeted online ads led customers googling "PUMA shoes" to the ThisIsPUMA.com spoof website.

Outside the meeting in Germany, PUMA shareholders and employees were met by Boycott PUMA banners and slogans.

Inside the meeting, activist shareholders spoke for 20 minutes about PUMA's partnership with the Israel Football Association, which governs and advocates for teams in illegal Israeli settlements.

While PUMA is celebrating its 75th anniversary, let's keep reminding it that Palestinians are marking 75 years of Israeli oppression.

We're keeping our pledge of #NoRestForPUMA until it ends support for Israel's regime of military occupation and apartheid.

I am past President of the American Anthropological Association and this is why I am voting to boycott Israeli academic institutions
Eight years since the American Anthropological Association first considered the academic boycott of Israel, conditions for Palestinians have only gotten worse, and Israeli academic institutions are complicit. That is why I am supporting the new boycott resolution.

ALISSE WATERSTON
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/06/i-am-past-president-of-the-american-anthropological-association-and-this-is-why-i-am-voting-to-boycott-israeli-academic-institutions/?

At this critical time, anthropologists who are members of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) face a momentous decision. The matter before them is a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions, positioned as a nonviolent act of resistance in common cause with the Palestinian people suffering the crimes of apartheid and persecution. Electronic voting on the resolution begins June 15 and will conclude on July 14.

I have grappled with this decision before. On November 20, 2015, a record-breaking 1400 members attended the association's annual business meeting. The long night of discussion and debate ended decisively: a motion passed by a wide margin to bring the resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions to the full membership for a vote the following spring. In unprecedented voter turnout, the resolution did not pass by a narrow margin. A record-setting fifty-one percent (51%) of the membership voted; the boycott was voted down, with 2,423 opposing and 2,384 supporting the boycott.

I know about this because at the close of that meeting, I was handed the president's gavel, becoming AAA's 84th president. Facing the matter at hand, my most difficult challenge was separating myself as an individual (and how I might act and how I might vote) from my duties as an officer of the association, a challenge I addressed by keeping true to the organization's democratic processes and returning repeatedly to its bylaws. Over the course of a difficult six months preceding the vote, I and others among the AAA leadership and staff received harassing and threatening emails and phone calls from people outside the association who would have us withdraw the resolution altogether.

During those six months, I made it my mission to get out the vote, urging members to look to their own conscience for guidance and providing them the information they needed to make an informed decision. Included among that information was the AAA Task Force report on Israel-Palestine and a comprehensive bibliography on Israel/Palestine. Meantime, I convened a working group that produced eight actions concerning Israel-Palestine approved by the Executive Board in May of 2016. Among these actions was a statement of censure of Israeli policies and practices focused primarily on the denial of academic freedom and freedom of expression for Palestinians; it included a call to repeal Israeli laws that make it a crime to speak publicly in favor of a boycott.

[pdf]https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/aaa-task-force-israel-palestine-2015-FINAL.pdf[/pdf]
https://mondoweiss.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/aaa-task-force-israel-palestine-2015-FINAL.pdf

Today, under different professional conditions, I find myself again facing the matter. On March 3, 2023, over 200 AAA members submitted a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions. As before, and following AAA bylaws, a decision on the resolution will be determined by the full membership by means of the electronic vote.

No longer in a leadership position, I am an ordinary association member who has searched my conscience for guidance and studied updated evidence to make an informed decision. I have re-read the old documents, studied the new resolution, and reviewed new materials including the information provided by AnthroBoycott and the arguments put forth by the Alliance for Academic Freedom/Academic Engagement Network. I come to this assessment:

In the eight years since the 2015 AAA Task Force report documented the long history of Palestinian displacement, housing, and land loss alongside the ever-growing number and size of Israeli settlements, horrendous restrictions on movement, suppression of freedom of speech, deprivation of academic freedom, preventable adverse health and welfare outcomes, and outright discrimination, the circumstances for Palestinians in Israel and the occupied West Bank and Gaza have worsened, becoming intolerable.

This is not a matter of opinion; the evidence speaks to the horrific conditions Palestinians endure as a direct result of Israeli laws, policies, and practices. This includes the Basic Law: Israel – The Nation State of the Jewish People that establishes the State of Israel "as exclusive to the Jewish People." Moreover, Israeli academic institutions have a long and documented history of working to advance the country's military and nationalist agenda, expanding its footprint into occupied territory, and neglecting the plight of the Palestinians. As one example, in a letter I received in December 2015 from the Association of University Heads, Israel, the 8 signatories representing sixteen Israeli universities, makes clear they perceive BDS as "an aggressive global anti-Israel campaign [that] is maliciously circulating vile slander and lies...with the sole objective of delegitimizing the State of Israel." There is no mention of concern for the ongoing violations—the denial of life, livelihood, freedom of speech and academic freedom—that harm Palestinians.

A situation once described as a conflict and Israeli state action as "the Occupation" is now named apartheid by several trustworthy organizations. For example, Amnesty International's research and data analyses have led it to conclude that Israel's apartheid, in violation of international law, is "a cruel system of domination and crime against humanity." Those words are abstract; the raw truth of the death and destruction experienced by Palestinians is practically unbearable to grasp. I read the multiple reports, the least I could do. There is no turning away from the painful facts.

Yet the United States does turn away from the facts. Since 2014, states began passing bills and executive orders against boycotts of Israel; today there are 35 states with legislation in effect. Rather than contest the long-held practice of conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel, an ever-growing number of states and the federal government have or are considering codifying this conflation by adopting the IHRA working definition. According to a Congressional Research Service report in March of this year, Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II, receiving $158 billion in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding; almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. It is not polemics to claim that taxpayer dollars support the cruel system of domination and crime against humanity.

Having sat in a leadership position in the association, I know firsthand the challenges of responding to the varied points of view among its members, aligning decisions with the organization's core values and mission, including that of protecting academic freedom, worrying about the association's sustainability, and keeping a moral compass with respect to the human and political issues at hand. I am also aware of potential harm that may come to the association: some may drop their membership, some donors may stop giving, and some annual meetings may not be held in public convention centers in states with anti-boycott state contract legislation.

With all this in mind, the proposed boycott deserves a close reading. It calls for the AAA to: undertake a boycott of Israeli academic institutions until such time as these institutions end their complicity in violating Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law; implement this boycott according to the association's governance procedures, bylaws and mission; recognize that this boycott pertains to Israeli academic institutions only and not to individual scholars, and that individual anthropologists who are members of the AAA are free to determine whether and how they will apply the boycott in their own professional practice; and support the rights of all students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Palestine and Israel and in support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

I recognize that at times certain principles come into contradiction. If the AAA boycott does any harm to academic freedom, this must be weighed against the dead bodies and ruined houses that are the Palestinian plight. If members drop their association membership and donors withdraw, those who support the boycott ought to pledge to bring in 1-2 members each and to provide financial support to the association above their membership dues. Any other threats or harm to the American Anthropological Association can be met with commitment to stand up on its behalf. If the boycott proves ineffectual, this must be weighed against complicity with the silencing of the condition of Palestinians under apartheid, leaving them isolated, lonely, and invisible.

In wrestling with a decision, I understand my special obligation as an anthropologist to consider the suffering of others. I also understand that safety and security can only come when all people are safe and secure; militarism, occupation, and apartheid are counter-productive to that goal. I am aware of the power structures that reproduce inequities and the social suffering that results, leading to a sense of responsibility to take action on behalf of those who are dehumanized, dispossessed, and displaced. I have examined the data and the arguments, and understand the risks that may befall the association, considering threats already made and those that may come. As a Jew, I have looked to the moral teachings from my mother's prayer book to help guide me. Perhaps none is more important or relevant than the imperative to pursue "justice, justice," a word written twice to "teach us that we must practice justice at all times, whether it be for our profit or for our loss, and towards all men [sic], Jew and non-Jew alike."

In the end, I will vote in favor of the resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions, the only decision my conscience will allow.

G4S withdrawal from Israeli apartheid a victory for activism
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/g4s-withdrawal-israeli-apartheid-victory-activism

Private security firm Allied Universal, the owner of G4S, has decided to sell all its remaining business in apartheid Israel.

In 2016, G4S already dropped its Israeli security business which provided services to Israel's prison system, military checkpoints and illegal settlements.

Allied Universal will now pull out of Israel's national police academy, where Israel's "finest" learn to repress Palestinians.

In a statement, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) claims the victory comes after human rights campaigns which caused G4S serious "reputational damage" and some lucrative investments and contracts.

"Along with the BDS movement, several other human rights campaigns have also targeted G4S over its long, violent record of human rights abuses against prisoners, migrants, and other communities worldwide, including the UK, South Africa and the US."

The G4S role in Israel's occupation of Palestine was most prominently exposed at the Russell Tribunal on Palestine in 2010.

At that tribunal, corporate watchdog WhoProfits unveiled research revealing G4S's services to Israeli jails, military checkpoints, settlement businesses and the Israeli police.

The report, The Case of G4S, laid a solid foundation for boycott campaigners ever since.

A long struggle
Palestinian prisoners' rights and human rights organizations gave a boost to the BDS campaign against G4S in 2012, when Palestinian political prisoners waged a major hunger strike.

The Electronic Intifada also exposed the relationship between Israel's violations of the rights of Palestinian prisoners and G4S's role in securing Israeli jails in several articles, while reporting on the many victories around the world as the campaign against G4S gained traction.

These included victories in Denmark, Finland, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US and the US-based United Church of Christ.

But G4S's 2016 decision to divest from Israel did not include the sale of its stake in the consortium that operates Israel's police academy.

The StopG4S campaign therefore kept up the pressure. arguing that the Israeli police has perpetrated "war crimes and grave human rights violations" against Palestinians over decades.

The final push to convince Allied Universal to end its complicity in Israel's human rights abuses appeared to have come with position taken by a large Canadian public pension fund manager, Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ), according to the BNC.

Trade unions, BDS campaigners and American Friends Service Committee pressurized CDPQ to use its influence as the largest shareholder in Allied Universal.

That led to Allied Universal's decision to sell its stake in Israel's police academy to G1 Secure Solutions, formerly G4S Israel. The sale is pending approval of the Israeli authorities.

ABA Endorses the Resolution to Boycott Israeli Academic Institutions
https://aba.americananthro.org/aba-endorses-the-resolution-to-boycott-israeli-academic-institutions/

The Association of Black Anthropologists hereby endorses the Resolution to Boycott Israeli Academic Institutions. In keeping with the AAA's "commit[ment] to the promotion and protection of the right of people and peoples everywhere to the full realization of their humanity," (1999 DAHR) we heed the resounding call from Palestinian civil society organizations to take action toward affirming their inalienable right to self-determination. We raise our voice in concert with the chorus of prominent American academic organizations that have already expressed support for the Resolution.

While some members of the AAA have publicly expressed concerns regarding the efficacy of the proposed boycott, we reject the colonial inclination to speak for oppressed peoples, instead respecting that the aforementioned Palestinian civil societies know what will be most useful in their struggle toward liberation. As past AAA president Alisse Waterston wrote, "If the boycott proves ineffectual, this must be weighed against complicity with the silencing of the condition of Palestinians under apartheid, leaving them isolated, lonely, and invisible."  Additionally, we challenge the sincerity of any notion that a boycott would diminish academic freedom at Israeli universities when many are actively colluding with the state in the repression of dissent against its apartheid project. Meanwhile, Israel undermines the free exchange of ideas at Palestinian academic institutions through such measures as imposing strict limits and quotas on international faculty and students visiting Palestinian universities for work and study.

As Black anthropologists whose work often centers around issues of structural subjugation, we recognize the striking similarities between the Netanyahu government's abhorrent treatment of Palestinians and Arabs on one hand and the South African National Party's institution of apartheid against Black Africans writ large.

Based on the above evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the Resolution, in addition to the case expertly presented by the Anthropologists for the Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions group and points expressed by countless others who support a boycott of institutions complicit in Israeli apartheid and violations of international law, we encourage all members of the AAA to vote in favor of the boycott.

In 2021, the ABA was a signatory on the AAA Middle East Section (MES)'s statement condemning the forced evictions and retaliatory violence by Israeli state forces against Palestinians. In 2023, the ABA stands once again in solidarity with Palestinian academics, against Israeli apartheid and the oppression of Palestinians.

As our colleagues of AnthroBoycott remind us, the time for action is now.

The Association of Black Anthropologists

Rejecting Normalization, Leading Arab Environmentalist Withdraws from EU Session due to Israeli Participation
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/rejecting-normalization-leading-arab-environmentalist-withdraws-from-eu-session-due-to-israeli-participation/

The director of the Arab Union for the Protection of Nature, Mariam Al-Geagea, withdraws from a training course called by the European Union in the Italian city of Bari, due to the presence of a delegation representing the Israeli occupation, Lebanon's Al Mayadeen news agency reported.

The Lebanon-based pan-Arab news network said that,

Quote"The director of the Arab Union for the Protection of Nature, Mariam al-Geagea, withdrew from a meeting entitled 'Regional training and study tour at the optimal level of irrigation management' called by the European Union in the Italian city of Bari, due to the presence of a delegation representing the Israeli occupation." 

No to Normalization
One of the organizers, representing a network of Arab civil society organizations, nominated al-Geagea to attend a training on water and irrigation dedicated to the Arab region, only to be surprised by the presence of a delegation representing the state of Israel.

After consulting with members of the 'Arab Union for the Protection of Nature and the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty', which includes 30 entities from 13 Arab countries, al-Geagea filed a public objection before withdrawing, stating that the EU contradicts itself by inviting Israelis to these sessions.

Al-Geagea indicated that she represents an organization dedicated to defending the environmental and agricultural sectors in Palestine and Jordan from "the criminal practices of the (Israeli) occupation," and rejects the use of the environment in such frameworks "to normalize relations with the occupation."

https://twitter.com/WesMed19/status/1671054010822934528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1671054010822934528%7Ctwgr%5Eaf9efd4375dc08bd178f7b7942fa93a9de50c882%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.palestinechronicle.com%2Frejecting-normalization-leading-arab-environmentalist-withdraws-from-eu-session-due-to-israeli-participation%2F

Political, Not 'Technical'
Al-Geagea also addressed the organizers, saying that "if they want to stop the conflict in a sustainable and just way, they must address its root causes such as occupation, theft of resources and violation of human rights."

She called on the organizers to adhere to international law, which is supposed to be an acceptable frame of reference to the organization.

Al-Geagea also rejected the claim made by some participants that "training is technical," not political.

The "Water and Environment Support" project has been sponsored by the EU since 2019 and has an estimated budget of €7.9 million (approximately $8.6 million).

18 years of BDS and 18 related impacts so far in 2023   
Take a look back at some highlights in our struggle for Palestinian rights in the first half of 2023.         
https://bdsmovement.net/news/18-years-bds-and-18-related-impacts-so-far-2023

As we approach the 18th birthday of the BDS movement for Palestinian rights, we take a look back at some highlights in our struggle for Palestinian rights in the first half of 2023:

1 - In a massive victory for human rights, G4S, the largest security firm in the world, decided to completely divest from apartheid Israel. This decision followed 13 years of tireless BDS campaigning with support from global partners.

2 - Barcelona's Mayor suspended institutional relations with apartheid Israel, including the twinning agreement with Tel Aviv. The decision was supported by over 54 prominent figures, including Mark Ruffalo & Susan Sarandon as well as progressive Jewish groups and individuals from 15 countries.

3 - Norway's capital, Oslo, announced it will exclude from procurement companies that directly or indirectly contribute to Israel's illegal settlement enterprise.

4 - The Belgian city of Liège voted to end all ties with Israel, citing its regime of "apartheid, colonization and military occupation" against Palestinians, and Verviers (Belgium) cut its ties with the Israeli apartheid regime to "strengthen its support for the Palestinian people."

5 - The mayor of Belém (Brazil) declares the city an Apartheid Free Zone.

6 - The PLO, the BDS movement, and Palestinian civil society and human rights organizations issue a historic anti-apartheid call to intensify global pressure to dismantle Israel's regime of settler-colonialism and apartheid.

7 - Palestinian trade union bodies and professional syndicates urge all trade unions, trade union federations, and professional syndicates worldwide to contribute to the Palestinian-led Anti-Apartheid Movement.

8 - Despite the hypocrisy of FIFA's decision to remove them as a host, Indonesia stood for Palestinian rights and called for the exclusion of apartheid Israel from the Under-20 Men's World Cup. while the governor of Bali opposed the inclusion of apartheid Israel team.

9 - Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Manitoba), which represents 37,000 workers, announced its support for the BDS movement to end Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.

10 - The Brit and Grammy award-winning artist Sam Smith canceled their performance in apartheid Israel, following pressure from fans and supporters of Palestinian rights.

11 - South African Rugby Union (SARU) rescinded an invitation to the Tel Aviv Heat, a team representing apartheid Israel, for the Mzansi Challenge.

12 - US Tech Companies shut down operations in Israel, following the lead of Israeli tech giants that have moved abroad, further undermining investor confidence in the troubled Israeli economy.

13 - Brazilian organizations forced the cancellation of a propaganda event at the University of Campinas featuring complicit Israeli universities. And UK scholar Sophie Grace Chappell withdrew from an ethics conference in apartheid Israel.

14 - Indigo Music Festival canceled an event in Sinai after popular pressure led by BDS Egypt because of Israeli participation in the festival in violation of the movement's anti-normalization guidelines.

15 - Balkan Trafik Festival in Belgium ends partnership with apartheid Israel.

16 - In response to the artworkers' strike against the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, due to its complicity in supporting Israeli apartheid, the Finnish National Gallery accepted new ethical guidelines leading to a substantial milestone for the art community.

17 - Following intense boycott pressure, including PACBI's call to boycott all films supported by the Rabinovich Foundation, the racist Israeli film fund will reportedly end its insistence that filmmakers seeking its support must sign a loyalty oath to deny in their films the reality of Israeli apartheid and ethnic cleansing against Indigenous Palestinians..

18 - Following a year long European Citizens Initiative (ECI) to ban trade with settlements, the European Committee on Petition (PETI) decided unanimously that the European Commission must respond to our demand to stop trade with illegal settlements.

Biden Administration bows to Int'l Law, Ceases funding Israeli research done on Stolen Land in Palestinian West Bank   
https://www.juancole.com/2023/06/administration-research-palestinian.html

The Biden administration has reverted to the longstanding practice of not funding Israeli institutions in the Palestinian West Bank. AFP reports that State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, "engaging in bilateral scientific and technological cooperation with Israel in geographic areas which came under the administration of Israel after 1967 and which remain subject to final-status negotiations is inconsistent with US foreign policy."

Rebekah Yeager-Malkin at The Jurist points out that in the 1970s, Washington established three foundations to promote cooperation between the US and Israel in scientific research. These are, she says, "the Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD), the Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation (BARD)."

The major Israeli research institution in the Palestinian West Bank, Ariel University, was built on land stolen from Palestinian families, and it had been the major beneficiary there of BIRD, BSF and BARD research monies.

President Donald Trump had more or less recognized the Palestinian West Bank as Israel, the same position as is taken by right-wingers in the Israeli government. Trump broke with US policy as it had been pursued since 1967, when Israel opportunistically seized the Palestinian West Bank and the Gaza Strip, making the Palestinians stateless and without basic human rights, including the right to own property securely. One Israeli squatter of US heritage was caught on video trying to steal a Palestinian home, and when he was rebuked by the rightful owner, he replied, "If I don't steal it somebody else will."

This decision by the Biden administration appears to have been taken two years ago, but it was not implemented in the run-up to the 2022 midterms. It was only communicated to the Israeli government this weekend, and confirmed by Miller on Monday.

Haaretz notes that the European Union also won't fund squatter Israeli institutions on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

In international law, occupying enemy territory during wartime is not forbidden. However, the Hague Regulations of 1907 and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 envision occupation as lasting for a brief duration during the war. They do not provide for it to last 56 years. In fact, they forbid the occupying power from making any significant changes in the lifeways of the occupied population. It is also forbidden to transfer people from the occupying nation into the occupied territory. That is a war crime, of which Israel is guilty on several hundred thousand counts.

Israel's occupation, I would argue, is by now illegal on the face of it, as are most Israeli actions in the West Bank. The ongoing blockade and siege waged against the Gaza Strip, a form of collective punishment that harms children and other noncombatants, is also illegal.

The Israelis have since 1967 locked several hundred thousand Palestinians out of the West Bank. Those who remain face a maze of Israeli checkpoints and must constantly be showing their papers. Their olive trees are cut down, their crops sabotaged, their property further stolen. South Africans who lived under Apartheid there and who have visited the West Bank say, appalled, that the situation for Palestiians under Israeli rule is much worse that what Blacks faced under South African Apartheid.

In recent days, Israeli squatters on Palestinian property have gone wilding, with thousands rampaging into Palestinian hamlets, setting fires and shooting them up. Only five of these black shirts have even been charged by the Israeli state. The Biden administration at least condemned these pogroms.

The least the US government can do is refuse to be a party to this Apartheid situation, toward which this decision is a small step. But it is mainly symbolic. If the Biden administration wanted to do the right thing and was serious about a two-state solution (which by now is probably impossible), they would stop exercising their veto on Israel's behalf at the UN Security Council. Israel's law-breaking is so egregious that the UNSC would certainly place it under economic sanctions if the US didn't block that step.

But don't hold your breath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lh8KVnXrBE

(https://bdsmovement.net/sites/default/files/puma%20day%20june%2024%202023%20collage.jpg)

Groups Across the World Join Boycott PUMA Global Day of Action
From Kuala Lumpur to Paris, from Tokyo to Berlin, from Kuwait City to London, actions were held at PUMA shops and retailers, at human rights festivals, football matches and anti-racist football tournaments urging PUMA to end complicity in Israeli apartheid.
https://bdsmovement.net/news/groups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action
On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action let PUMA know the campaign will only continue to grow until it ends complicity in Israeli apartheid.

From Kuala Lumpur to Paris, from Tokyo to Berlin, from Kuwait City to London, actions were held at PUMA shops and retailers, at human rights festivals, football matches and anti-racist football tournaments.

Front and center in many protests were images of young Palestinian footballers gunned down by Israeli soldiers over the past two years. Just days before the day of action, Israeli soldiers murdered 24-year-old footballer Omar Qatin, a father of two, who was defending his neighbors from armed Israeli settlers violently rampaging through his village of Turmus Ayya.

Thousands of leaflets were handed out informing shoppers of PUMA's complicit partnership with the Israel Football Association, which governs and advocates for teams in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land.

Online, #BoycottPUMA was a worldwide trending topic and the hashtag in English and Arabic had a reach of over 14 million.

Just as international graffiti artist Banksy has done with his kitten in Gaza, the day of action put the power of cats on social media to use for Palestinian rights with #CatsVsPUMA. Images of cats with Boycott PUMA signs and messages filled social media.

Last month, actions inside, outside and online during PUMA's annual shareholders meeting had the CEO so flustered that he said "BDS" instead of "BCI" while talking about the Better Cotton Initiative. The growing boycott campaign clearly weighs heavily on his mind.

Earlier this month, when PUMA held a promo event in London with NBA star Melo Ball, activists ensured fans knew about PUMA's role in supporting Israel's crimes against Palestinians.

We've pledged #NoRestForPUMA, and we are keeping that pledge until PUMA ends complicity in Israeli apartheid by ending its partnership with the Israel Football Association.

Join the campaign: pacbi@bdsmovement.net

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1673331962042302468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1673331962042302468%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1673248496672014336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1673248496672014336%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/ipsc48/status/1672705482769719296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672705482769719296%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1673309171314307073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1673309171314307073%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

We're still going!

Dublin for the #BoycottPUMA Global Day of Action.

Groups around the world are supporting the call from 200+ Palestinian sports teams to boycott @PUMA until it ends complicity in Israeli apartheid.

Take action online: https://t.co/Zm0n75jPBs https://t.co/fUk0KzxfZM

— PACBI (@PACBI) June 25, 2023

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672660891093938179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672660891093938179%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PSCupdates/status/1672580389695819776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672580389695819776%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672648741499596800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672648741499596800%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672632713226907652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672632713226907652%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/ClaptonCFC/status/1672565093278666752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672565093278666752%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672598689490038786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672598689490038786%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PSCupdates/status/1672624224308011010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672624224308011010%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672571536652357632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672571536652357632%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672557031901876224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672557031901876224%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672515171695067136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672515171695067136%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/ManchesterPSC/status/1672647840122777600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672647840122777600%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/BDSBerlin/status/1672633846838317057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672633846838317057%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/BDS_Arabic/status/1672651870408519681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672651870408519681%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/MovimientoBDS/status/1674515861011415040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1674515861011415040%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1672500893168566272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1672500893168566272%7Ctwgr%5E28931e1d02af65a84a0d4be61254b75bde8b0608%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdsmovement.net%2Fnews%2Fgroups-across-world-join-boycott-puma-global-day-action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPyxEImdOY

American Anthropological Association endorses academic boycott of Israel 
Members of the American Anthropological Association overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions with 71% of members supporting the measure.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/07/american-anthropological-association-endorses-academic-boycott-of-israel/?

Members of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) have overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution to boycott Israeli academic institutions. 71% of the members who voted backed the measure while just 29% opposed it.

"This was indeed a contentious issue, and our differences may have sparked fierce debate, but we have made a collective decision and it is now our duty to forge ahead, united in our commitment to advancing scholarly knowledge, finding solutions to human and social problems, and serving as a guardian of human rights," said AAA President Ramona Pérez in a statement. "AAA's referendum policies and procedures have been followed closely and without exception, and the outcome will carry the full weight of authorization by AAA's membership."

A previous Israeli boycott measure was enthusiastically endorsed at an AAA business meeting 2015, but ended up being defeated in a close vote the following year. In March 2023, over 200 AAA members submitted a petition to the Executive Board requesting a full-membership vote on the issue. The voting took place between June 15 and July 14.

"The Israeli state operates an apartheid regime from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, including the internationally recognized state of Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank and the 1973 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and the 1998 Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court (ICC) define apartheid as a crime against humanity," reads the resolution.

"Israeli academic institutions are complicit in the Israeli state's regime of oppression against Palestinians...including by providing research and development of military and surveillance technologies used against Palestinians," it continues. "..Israeli academic institutions do not provide protections for academic freedom, campus speech in support of Palestinian human and political rights, nor for the freedom of association of Palestinian students on their campuses."

Under the resolution, Israeli academic institutions can't be published in AAA's published materials, advertise in AAA publications, use AAA conference facilities for job interviews, participate in AAA events, or reprint articles from AAA publications. The resolution only applies to the institutions, not the scholars and students connected to them.

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1683400631426359297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1683400631426359297%7Ctwgr%5E000405d8fd42da95d85d8ac0c4ecccd629710191%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2023%2F07%2Famerican-anthropological-association-endorses-academic-boycott-of-israel%2F

"This resolution is a meaningful demonstration of solidarity by thousands of scholars standing alongside their Palestinian colleagues, whose work and lives are impacted on a daily basis by Israel's racist, discriminatory policies and brutal military rule," said Jessica Winegar, an anthropology professor and member of the Anthroboycott collective, a group that pushed for the measure. "As scholars with a long history of studying colonialism, anthropologists are all too familiar with the devastating harm of Israel's oppression and theft of Palestinian land. This vote is an important step in showing that support for Palestinian rights goes hand in hand with the AAA's values of human rights for all."

https://twitter.com/anthroboycott/status/1683480957880356865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1683480957880356865%7Ctwgr%5E000405d8fd42da95d85d8ac0c4ecccd629710191%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2023%2F07%2Famerican-anthropological-association-endorses-academic-boycott-of-israel%2F

Alisse Waterston, Professor of Anthropology at the John Jay College and former president of the AAA, detailed why she endorsed the measure in a piece at Mondoweiss earlier this year.

"I recognize that at times certain principles come into contradiction," she wrote. "If the AAA boycott does any harm to academic freedom, this must be weighed against the dead bodies and ruined houses that are the Palestinian plight. If members drop their association membership and donors withdraw, those who support the boycott ought to pledge to bring in 1-2 members each and to provide financial support to the association above their membership dues. Any other threats or harm to the American Anthropological Association can be met with commitment to stand up on its behalf. If the boycott proves ineffectual, this must be weighed against complicity with the silencing of the condition of Palestinians under apartheid, leaving them isolated, lonely, and invisible."

Might be true, or might be fake controversy generated by jews.   <:^0

US university 'investigating' Jewish professors for 'discrimination' against BDS activists
The academics have been outspoken about antisemitism and BDS activity at the City University of New York
https://www.thejc.com/news/world/us-university-investigating-jewish-professors-for-discrimination-against-bds-activists-2aefcM4xglS2cCcGL8uHt2

Four Jewish professors at a US university are understood to be under investigation after expressing concern over BDS activity on campus.

The pro-Israel academics have also been outspoken about alleged antisemitism at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Advocacy group SAFE CUNY, which represents Jewish students and staff at the university, announced the news about a university investigation on their Twitter account.

The group said: "Four Zionist Jewish professors who complained about antisemitism on their campuses have now been placed under investigation by CUNY for 'discrimination' against BDS and radical Islamist antisemitic activists.

"We have all the details but cannot share yet."

One of the professors, Jeffrey Lax, said he had been put under investigation by the university for speaking out.

https://twitter.com/SAFECUNY/status/1688263576736153600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1688263576736153600%7Ctwgr%5Ebaa16672f135debf14ec8dac624343b0b561ef87%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fus-university-investigating-jewish-professors-for-discrimination-against-bds-activists-2aefcM4xglS2cCcGL8uHt2

"For those asking, yes, I am one of the four," the political science academic wrote on his Twitter account on Monday.

"I said from the very beginning that I may have been the first one they did this to, but I would be FAR from the last.

"And, here we are. A 1930s Germany style purge of faculty in Academia."

Over the years, CUNY staff and students have reported several alleged antisemitic events on campus.

In May, graduate Fatima Mohammed delivered a speech in which she accused Israel of "Indiscriminately rain bullets and bombs on worshippers" and lauding CUNY's efforts to allow students to "speak out against Israeli settler colonialism."

At the time, Lax pointed to her speech as a sign of the school's attitude towards radicalism on campus.

He said: "What I find truly incredible is not just that Mohammed's speech is clearly evil – I'm not interested in a random evil student, even though she's now a graduate.

"What I'm much more interested in is that the faculty most likely saw that speech and approved it."

The university has also been accused of covering up antisemitism and refusing to cooperate with investigations into a campus environment that is hostile towards Israel and Jews.

In July 2022, CUNY administrators clashed with New York City council members at a hearing called to examine the school's handling of antisemitic incidents across its 25 campuses.

According to Jewish Insider, Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez did not show up for the hearing, despite it having been moved multiple times to accommodate his schedule.

The university also came under fire when CUNY's law school faculty endorsed a student government resolution backing the BDS campaign in May 2022.

The student resolution, passed in December 2021, charged the school with "complicity" in war crimes alleged to have been perpetrated by Israel, and called for ties to be cut between CUNY and Israeli institutions, as well a Jewish student groups on campus.

It criticised some students groups for supporting Israel and called for the school to "cut all ties with organisations that repress Palestinian organising".

A spokesman for CUNY told the JC: "CUNY does not comment on confidential personnel matters."

Calls grow to boycott Santo Domingo International Book Fair over plan to honor Israel     
More than 200 writers, academics, intellectuals, and activists have signed a call to boycott this year's Santo Domingo International Book Fair over plans by President Luis Abinader's right-wing government to honor the State of Israel.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/08/calls-grow-to-boycott-santo-domingo-international-book-fair-over-plan-to-honor-israel/?

A call to boycott this year's Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2023), scheduled for August 24th to September 3rd, is gaining momentum as the right-wing government under President Luis Abinader is set to honor the State of Israel. This tribute clearly serves to culture-wash the apartheid regime in Israel. More than two hundred writers, academics, intellectuals, and activists have signed the joint statement, launched by leftist, anti-racist, and anti-Zionist activists and writers.

Diplomatic ties between the Dominican state and Israel go back to the establishment of Israel in 1948. In the 1950s, for example, the nascent Zionist state sold weapons to the brutal Rafael Leonidas Trujillo dictatorship. Then again in the 1970s, the State of Israel sold weapons to  Joaquín Balaguer's repressive regime.

As of this writing, both the Puerto Rican poet and novelist Mayra Santos-Febres and the US-born Dominican author Angie Cruz have signed the statement in support of the boycott and canceled their participation in the FILSD 2023. Other key signatories are author, scholar, and feminist political activist Angela Davis, public intellectual and philosopher Cornel West, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, US-born Palestinian scholars and authors Rashid Khalidi and Steven Salaita, as well as Dominican authors Julia Alvarez, Elizabeth Acevedo, Nelly Rosario and Junot Díaz among others.

Following in the footsteps of Trujillo, Balaguer, and the subsequent regimes led by the Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (1996-2000; 2004-2020), President Luis Abinader has created a climate of fear and racial hatred by embracing right-wing nationalist rhetoric, building a wall on the Dominican-Haitian border against the so-called "Haitian menace" and enacting anti-Haitian racist laws to further segregate  Dominicans of Haitian origin and Haitian immigrants who, since the early 20th century, have represented an important source of cheap labor for foreign and local capitalists exploiters. Haitian immigrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent represent around 8% of the Dominican Republic's population.

In May 2022, at the end of a book fair marked by censorship and neo-fascist threats against LGBTQ and black Dominican artists and authors, the Ministry of Culture announced with great fanfare that Israel would be the guest of honor at the 2023 book fair. The announcement sparked outrage and widespread condemnation among leftist activists and authors already fed up with state censorship during the book fair and beyond. Dominican activists see the tribute to Israel's apartheid regime as sending an insulting political message in the context of its internal policies of racial profiling and persecution and outright disregard for Palestinian rights. Calls to boycott the FILSD were accompanied by statements of support for the Palestinian people. In November 2022, feminist, anti-racist/black conscious, and socialist organizations sent an Open Letter to the Minister of Culture to express their outrage:

Quote"We are concerned that a cultural event is being used by the Dominican government to pay homage to an apartheid state, as recognized for decades by Palestinian human rights organizations, and also denounced by international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and even by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories."

Disturbed by rising death threats against activists and writers during the previous Book Fair, several cultural organizations met in January with representatives of the Ministry of Culture to demand that the Book Fair organizers address the issue of safety and free speech. However, their demands fell on deaf ears, prompting cultural workers and writers to withdraw their participation in the annual literary festival.

In January 2023, echoing Dominican activists, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) released a statement calling "on the Dominican Republic Ministry of Culture to cancel its planned tribute to apartheid Israel at the Santo Domingo International Book Fair."

Certainly, by now, the Santo Domingo Book Fair has lost whatever luster it claimed to have in the past. Since the mid-1980s, the event, took place in April to celebrate the World Book Day. April also holds historical significance for Dominicans due to the commemoration of the 1965 April Revolution and a subsequent U.S. military invasion. As such, the Book Fair became a rare cultural event each year in a country with no centralized public library system and fewer bookstores. It served a public good, celebrating literary works and fostering reading among the youth. Over the past decade, however, writers, artists, and cultural workers have criticized the event as no longer centered on books, literature, and creative writing but as turning into a camouflaged propaganda vehicle for the state. The arrogant and anti-democratic decision by the Dominican elite to honor a colonialist state coincides with the Dominican state's own increasing apartheid practices. In 2013, it stripped Dominicans of Haitian origin of their birthright to citizenship, rendering them stateless, and, over the past few years, it reinforced its persecution of Haitian migrants. These are not isolated incidents, but a byproduct of intrinsic government policies carried out systematically by the Dominican state.

In the end, these developments underline the crucial need to adopt a new strategic vision that requires building solidarity between the Palestinian liberation movement and the anti-racist and anti-imperialist Left in the Dominican Republic. The current boycott campaign is an important step in that direction.

Statement with signatures below.

QuoteWe Reject the Racist Persecution by the Dominican Government

Boycott the 2023 Santo Domingo International Book Fair Dedicated to Israel 

The undersigned artists, writers, intellectuals, and activists express solidarity with the Haitian writer Jhak Valcourt, who was arrested on the morning of July 13 by police agents and taken to two police headquarters in the city of Santo Domingo, before being transferred to the Haina [immigrant] detention center, despite having his immigration papers in order. Valcourt has lived in the Dominican Republic for 11 years and during all these years he has forged collaborative ties with Dominican writers. His case illustrates how the policy of mass deportation against Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic is based on racial profiling and discrimination, with a de facto state of exception where no legal or constitutional guarantee is respected.

Faced with the ongoing barbaric persecution, which is reflected in thousands of weekly arrests, warrantless raids, extortion, and confinement in overcrowded places without access to water and food, among other abuses, we raise our voices in repudiation of this racist, xenophobic anti-Haitian witch hunt by the Dominican government under President Luis Abinader. Following in the same footsteps of [right-wing] peledeistas and balagueristas governments in the past, President Abinader has followed point by point the script of the most reactionary sectors of the ruling class, giving free rein to the propagation of racial hatred, while the powerful local and foreign capitalists enrich themselves on the backs of working-class Dominicans and immigrants.

We strongly reject the discriminatory immigration policy of the Dominican State, which in recent months has intensified its violence. We also reject cooperation between neo-fascist groups and the authorities, for example with the "patriotic marches" organized by an official institution, the Instituto Duartiano as well as the recent induction of the genocidal general Ramiro Matos to the Dominican Academy of History. All these facts, together with the legalization of a Trujillist party, mark the accelerated anti-democratic deterioration of the country.

Within this framework of racist violence, persecution, mass deportations, and abuse of power, the Dominican State is organizing the Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD), scheduled for the end of August, and dedicated to the apartheid regime of Israel. The 2022 edition of the same book fair was the scene of acts of censorship for reasons of homophobia and racism. Both the Culture Minister Milagros Germán and the General Director of Books and Reading within the Ministry of Culture Ángela Hernández have refused to guarantee that there will be freedom of expression and protection for the safety of writers and artists at the book fair after cultural organizations made such a request in January of this year. Faced with this very serious situation, we call on writers, artists, editors, publishers, and cultural workers around the world not to attend the next Santo Domingo International Book Fair in 2023, and to continue demanding that the Dominican government respect human rights and democratic freedoms.

Abdul Hadi Sadoun, escritor, Irak-España
Achy Obejas, escritora, Cuba-Estados Unidos
Adriana García, economista, República Dominicana
Adriana Urrea, filósofa, Colombia
Agrupación Cultural Titerike, Región de La Araucanía, Chile
Alberto Aguilera, obrero, Panamá
Alberto Martínez-Márquez, escritor boricua
Alejandra Gutiérrez Lara, antropóloga, Colombia
Ali José Álvarez Suárez, coord. relaciones internacionales del Movimiento Cultural Campesino los Arangues, Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de los pueblos, Venezuela.
Alicia Lira Matus, presidenta de la agrupación de familiares de Ejecutados Políticos, Chile
Alicia Méndez Medina, actriz, República Dominicana
Amarilys Estrella, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Amaury Pérez, profesor universitario, República Dominicana
Amaury Rodríguez, escritor y traductor, Estados Unidos
Amín Pérez, profesor universitario, República Dominicana
Ana Harcha Cortés, artista y académica, Chile
Ana María Belique, activista social en DDHH, República Dominicana
Ana María Ramírez, enfermera, Estados Unidos
Anderson Mojica, actor y cineasta, República Dominicana
Angela Davis, autora, académica, feminista y activista política, Estados Unidos
Angélica Cuero Caicedo, España
Angelina Tallaj, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Angie Cruz, escritora, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Aniova Prandy, artista visual, República Dominicana
Anthony Arnove, escritor, editor, Estados Unidos
Antonio González-Walker, Puerto Rico
Antonio Isaac Salim, profesor, Puerto Rico
April J. Mayes, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Arelis Figueroa, pastora, Estados Unidos
Arlene Dávila, profesora universitaria, NYU, Estados Unidos
Aurora Santiago Ortiz, catedrática auxiliar, Estados Unidos
Ayendy Bonifacio, profesor universitario de inglés, Estados Unidos
Beatriz Llenín Figueroa, escritora, traductora, Editora Educación Emergente, Puerto Rico
Bienvenida Mendoza, animadora sociocultural, anti-racista, República Dominicana
Blanca Carrasquillo Rodríguez, Puerto Rico
Camila Ladeira Scudeler, Brasil
Carlos Decena, profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Carlos Francisco Bauer, profesor universitario, Argentina
Carlos Nieves, contador, Puerto Rico
Carmen Ana Dávila Torres, enfermera, Puerto Rico
Catherine Bourgeois, investigadora, Bruselas, Bélgica
Cecilia Carrasquillo, profesora, Puerto Rico
Chandra Talpade Mohanty, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Charles Post, sociólogo, Estados Unidos
Charlotte Wiener, abogado, Estados Unidos
Christian Vauzelle, artista, Francia
Christina Sharpe, profesora universitaria, CRC, Canadá   
Claribel Díaz, poeta y psicoanalista,  República Dominicana-Estados Unidos
Claudio Mir, coordinador de proyectos estudiantiles, Rutgers University, Estados Unidos
Claudio Remeseira, periodista, Argentina-Estados Unidos
Claudy Delne, profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Colectivo Ilé, Puerto Rico
Comisión Ética contra la Tortura Juana Aguilera, Secretaria Ejecutiva, Chile
Comité de Solidaridad con el pueblo de Haití, Puerto Rico
Comuna Caribe, Puerto Rico
Constantino, actor, Chile
Cornel West, philosopher, political activist, Estados Unidos
Cristian  Aquino-Sterling, Ph.D., profesor universitario, Educación Bilingüe & ESL – Tech University, Estados Unidos
Cristina Corrada Emmanuel, antropóloga, Puerto Rico
Dana Cloud, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Dan-el Padilla Peralta, profesor de literatura clásica, Princeton, Estados Unidos
Dani Fresard C, publicista, Chile
Daniel Huttinot, Estados Unidos-Haití
Daniel Infante, arquitecto, Argentina
Daniela González López, coordinadora Internacional del Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos, México
Daniela Robles, estudiante universitaria, Estados Unidos
David Auerbach, profesor universitario, Puerto Rico
Deborah E.McDowell, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Diana Braceras, escritora, Argentina
Dorothy Bell Ferrer, autora, Puerto Rico
Dr. Miguel Valerio, profesor, Estados Unidos
Dr. Rachel Douglas, scholar, Escocia/Reino Unido
Dra. Berta H Joubert, psiquiatra jubilada, Puerto Rico
Echedey Medina, escritor y filólogo, España
Edwin Solano, escritor, República Dominicana
Elena donoso, profesora, Chile
Elena Lorac, activista, República Dominicana
Elizabeth Acevedo, escritora, Estados Unidos
Elizabeth S Manley, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Emmanuel G. Roa, Estados Unidos
Ensabella Guillermo Pablo, jubilado, Argentina
Ernesto Rivera, artista, República Dominicana
Esperanza Marzouka, médico y escritora, Chile
Estelí Capote – arquitecta, Puerto Rico
Esther Hernández Medina, socióloga y activista feminista, Estados Unidos-RD
Eveling Carrazco López, investigadora y feminista descolonial nicaragüense, Nicaragua
Fabiola Agudelo Henao, Colombia
Federico Cintrón Fiallo, escritor, Puerto Rico
Fiona Brown, Estados Unidos
Flor Angel Agustín Federico, República Dominicana
Francisco González, arquitecto, Colombia
Françoise Foutou, docente, Martinica
Frank García Hernández, historiador y sociólogo, Cuba
Gabriela Rosas, docente, Panamá 
Genesis Lara, historiadora, Estados Unidos
George Lipsitz, docente, Estados Unidos
Gerardo R. Mercedes, artista y gestor cultural, Moca, República Dominicana
Ginetta E.B. Candelario, PhD., profesora de sociología, Estados Unidos
Gladys Cardona Torres, jubilada, Puerto Rico
Gonzalo Basile, investigador en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Argentina
Héctor Miolán, escritor, República Dominicana-Estados Unidos
Henry Morel, periodista, República Dominicana
Hilda Guerrero, terapia holística, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hilda M. Díaz, Puerto Rico 
Hugo Ríos Cordero, profesor, Puerto Rico
Ilan Pappé, historian, Reino Unido
Ingrid Luciano, teatrista, escritora, activista, República Dominicana
Inmaculada Lara Bonilla, profesora universitaria, España-Estados Unidos
Isabel Amarante, académica, Lenapehoking, Turtle Island, Estados Unidos
Isidora Araya Carrera, estudiante, Chile
Ismael Rivera, poeta, Chile
Iván Anacarate, docente, Argentina
Ivanova Veras de Jesús, investigadorx, República Dominicana
Ivette Romero, catedrática, Estados Unidos
Jamila Medina Ríos, Cuba
Jean Lhérisson, agrimensor, Bélgica
Jennifer Marline Rodríguez, profesora, República Dominicana
Jhak Valcourt, escritor haitiano residente en República Dominicana
Jimmy Lam, escritor, Estados Unidos
Johan Mijail, escritora travesti afrodominicana, República Dominicana
Johanna Agustín Federico, poeta y activista antirracista, República Dominicana
Johanna Fernández, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos.
Johanné Gómez-Terrero, cineasta, República Dominicana
John Keene, autor & profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Jordan Hernández, escritor, República Dominicana
Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, Assistant Professor  of Latin American and Caribbean History, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Estados Unidos
Jorge A. Montijo, neuropsicólogo, Puerto Rico
Jorge Rueda, jubilado, Argentina
Jorge Ventocilla, biólogo, Panamá
José Carrasquillo Rodríguez,  maestro, Puerto Rico
José Cruz, profesor, España
José M Félix, economista, Chile
José Rodríguez presidente del Comité Dominicano de Derechos Humanos en Puerto Rico
Juan Miguel Pérez, República Dominicana
Juana Ramírez G, pensionada, Chile
Julia Alvarez, escritora, Estados Unidos
Julián González Beltrez, bibliotecarie/historiadore, Estados Unidos-R.D.
Junot Díaz, escritor, Estados Unidos
Kalil Abu-Qalbein Koda, antropólogo, Chile
Katerina González Seligmann, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Kevin Holmes, traductor y gestor cultural, Chile
Kiya Vega, artista, Estados Unidos
Koldo Campos Sagaseta, escritor, Estado Español
Lasana M. Sekou, escritor, San Martín
Lauren Derby, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos 
Lauristely Peña Solano, gestora cultural, República Dominicana
Leonardo Nin, escritor, República Dominicana
Lety Elvir, profesora y escritora, Honduras
Lissette Acosta, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Lissette Rolón Collazo, profesora, Puerto Rico
Lorgia García Peña, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Lourdes Carrasquillo, terapeuta de masaje, Puerto Rico
Lourdes M. Santaballa Mora, IBCLC, Puerto Rico
Lourdes Rivera Román, jubilada del gobierno de Puerto Rico
Lucy Carrasquillo, Puerto Rico       
Luis Feliz León, periodista, Estados Unidos
Luz María Sosa Contreras, España.
Marc Lamont Hill, profesor universitario, Temple University, Estados Unidos
Marcelo Montagna, cerrajero y estudiante de la Lic. de Filosofía, Argentina
María Eva De Bartolo, narradora, titiritera, Argentina
María Inés Urrutia, religiosa, Chile
María Reinat Pumarejo, educadora y organizadora antirracista, Puerto Rico
María Riquelme, poeta, Prof. Artes Visuales, Puerto Rico
Maribel Núñez, periodista, activista afro, República Dominicana
Mariel Acosta, estudiante universitaria, Estados Unidos
Marisel Moreno, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Massiel Torres Ulloa, PhD Candidate in Romance Languages and Literature, Harvard University, Estados Unidos
Mauricio Amar, académico, Chile
Mauricio Barria Jara, dramaturgo, Chile
Mayobanex Pérez, escritor, República Dominicana
Mayra Santos-Febres, escritora. Puerto Rico
Medhin Paolos, film maker, activist, Italia
Melissa Zamora Monge, Costa Rica
Mercedes Petit, ensayista socialista, Argentina
Mercy Carrasquillo, retirada, Puerto Rico
Micely Díaz Espaillat, trabajadora social, República Dominicana
Michèle Hehn, docente pensionada, Canadá
Miguel Sorans, revista Correspondencia Internacional, Argentina
Milagros Sefair, escritora, Argentina-La Internacional de Escritores Insurgentes, Argentina
Miriam Neptune, bibliotecaria, Estados Unidos
Morella Ortiz, profesora, Estados Unidos
Narcisa Núñez, Estados Unidos
Natanael Disla, investigador social, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Nathalie Molina, artesana, República Dominicana
Neici M. Zeller, profesora universitaria emérita, Estados Unidos
Nélida Noemí Duranti, docente jubilada, Argentina
Nelly Rosario, escritora, Estados Unidos- República Dominicana
Nelson Ricart-Guerrero, artista y escritor, Francia
Nelson Santana, catedrático, Estados Unidos
Nicolás Eltit Misleh, estudiante de derecho, Chile
Nixon Boumba, sociólogo, Haití
Norberto Ganci, periodista, director del Club de La Pluma, Argentina
Nuna Marcano, profesora dominicana en Estados Unidos
Nuriluz Hermosilla, arqueóloga, Chile
Ochy Curiel, feminista decolonial y profesora universitaria, República Dominicana
Odalys Rivera, organizadora comunitaria, Puerto Rico
Onesima Lienqueo, licenciada en Educación, defensora de los derechos de infancia, Chile
Oscar Álvarez, gestor cultural, Uruguay
Pablo Delano, profesor universitario, Trinity College,  Estados Unidos
Pablo Ruiz, periodista, del Observatorio por el Cierre de la Escuela de las Américas, Chile
Patricio García P., profesor universitario, República Dominicana
Paul Joseph López Oro, assistant professor of Africana Studies, Estados Unidos
Paula Fernández Hernández, docente e investigadora, Islas Canarias, España
Pedro Cabrera, abogado, República Dominicana
Pedro Ureña RIB, lingüista, profesor universitario, República Dominicana
Quisqueya Lora H, historiadora, República Dominicana
Raj Chetty, profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Ramón Grosfoguel, profesor universitario, Universidad de California, Estados Unidos.
Randol Contreras, profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Raquel Virginia Cabrera, escritora, Estados Unidos
Rashid Khalidi, profesor universitario, Estados Unidos
Raúl Guadalupe, poeta, ensayista e historiador, profesor universitario, Puerto Rico, Colonia USA
Raùl Zecca Castel, antropólogo, Italia
Ricard Sánchez Andres, activista social, España
Roberto Carlos García, autor y poeta, Estados Unidos
Robin D. G. Kelley, profesor universitario, UCLA, Estados Unidos
Robin Koenig, obrero, Irlanda
Román López, psicólogo comunitario, República Dominicana
Rosa Carrasquillo, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Rosa Maribel Ruth Mansilla, estudiante, Argentina
Rosa Navas, Chile
Rosaura Laabidi, enfermera, Estados Unidos
Rubén Sacchi, poeta, Argentina
Ruth Pión, investigadora social, activista, República Dominicana
Samir Eskanda, artista y organizador, Palestina-Reino Unido
Sandra Lema, actriz, Chile
Sandy Plácido, historiadora, Estados Unidos.
Santiago Grullón, PhD; economista, Estados Unidos
Saúl Nieves, activista, Estados Unidos
Saulo Colón, New Politics, Puerto Rico
Scherezade García, Estados Unidos-RD
Sharina Maíllo-Pozo, docente e investigadora, Estados Unidos
Silvio Torres-Saillant, profesor universitario, Syracuse University, Estados Unidos
Soledad Yañez actriz, Chile
Sophie Maríñez, profesora universitaria, Estados Unidos
Steven Salaita, Cairo, Egipto
Taí Fernández, artista, Puerto Rico -TT
Tomás Modesto Galán, poeta, Estados Unidos
Tomás Pérez, teatrista, República Dominicana
Verónica Nuñez, CPA, Puerto Rico
Victor Miguel Castillo de Macedo, antropólogo, Brasil
Victor Vázquez, artista, Puerto Rico
Virgilio Aran, organizador laboral, político y escritor, República Dominicana
Virgilio Burgos, J actor y profesor de teatro, República Dominicana
Yarí Taína Rodríguez Benítez, Directora Ejecutiva-Conuco Campesino, Puerto Rico
Yolanda Velázquez-Vélez, artista, Puerto Rico
Yomaira Figueroa, catedrática, Michigan State University, Estados Unidos     
Yuderkys Espinosa Miñoso, Argentina-República Dominicana
Zuleika Romay Guerra, escritora, Cuba

(https://images.ctfassets.net/tyagww523muq/1i9r4qMD8yxci8JnJ91g20/93c52a6ab2cc2b0f5fcb4a4de63cc35c/humzayousaf2.jpg?w=1045&h=588&q=90&fit=fill&f=faces)
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf's government has refused consent on the bill

Scottish Government rejects bill to ban councils from Israeli boycotts   
The Scottish Government said it was concerned the proposed legislation could restrict its autonomy to determine its own policies on international relations
https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/snp-led-scottish-government-rejects-tory-bill-to-ban-councils-from-israeli-boycotts-2j4R6rhKrPfOT7sFzas8sZ

Scottish ministers have blocked a new UK wide law stopping public bodies from boycotting Israel.

The Scottish Government said it was concerned the proposed legislation could restrict its autonomy to determine its own policies on international relations.

The ruling SNP-led administration in Edinburgh has now urged the Scottish Parliament to  refuse legal consent for the proposed Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill.

The new rules aim is to prevent public bodies, including councils and universities, from bringing in sanctioned unilateral bans on Israel.

The bill would outlaw campaigns, including those relating to the purchase of goods and services or investments. The UK government at Westminster has previously highlighted a 2014 Leicester city council motion banning goods from Israeli settlements.

The bill, introduced by Communities Secretary Michael Gove in the House of Commons in Westminster in June, would apply to the whole of the UK.

But the Scottish Government argue the bill is "wholly unnecessary and an unwelcome alteration of Scottish ministers' competence".

Explaining the reasons in a consent memorandum lodged to the Scottish Parliament, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: "The first reason is the disproportionate and unnecessary nature of the Bill.

"The Scottish Government has always acted responsibly and in line with the UK's international commitments.

"The second reason is the importance of being able to take a values-based approach to international engagement.

"The Scottish Government's international activity creates opportunities at home, broadens our horizons, attracts high-quality investment and ultimately benefits the people of Scotland.

"While the Scottish Government will always meet the obligations placed upon it by international law and treaties, people in Scotland rightly expect that decisions should not be made in an ethical or moral vacuum.

"The third reason relates to democracy. To make it unlawful for Scottish Ministers to even publish a statement to the effect that they would have acted in a certain way were it not outlawed by this Bill – or risk having fines levied by the UK Government – is an assault on democratic expression and will stifle the ability for democratic debate."

A UK Government source said it "was disappointing" the SNP-led administration had refused to back the UK wide bill.

They added: "Britain must have a consistent approach to foreign policy, set by the UK Government."

Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw, whose Eastwood constituency represents some of Scotland's biggest Jewish communities, told the JC: "It is utterly disgraceful that the SNP-Green government have not followed suit and backed this bill.

"These are sensible measures which are backed by our Jewish communities, yet ministers have been missing in standing in solidarity with them by refusing to give the green light to this legislation.

"The fight against antisemitism cannot be half-hearted. SNP-Green ministers should rethink this decision urgently."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has lodged a legislative consent memorandum with the Scottish Parliament setting out the reasons why ministers believe the parliament should not give its consent to this bill as drafted.

"It is now up to the Scottish Parliament to consider how to respond to the bill. If it does not give its consent, then in accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Government should amend the bill to reflect and respect the Scottish Parliament's decision."

BDS victory: Puma to end its sponsorship of Israel's national team
"After years of BDS campaigning that has cost German conglomerate Puma dearly in reputation and projects, we have forced it to abandon its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association in this time of Israel's Gaza Genocide," said the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel.
https://mondoweiss.net/2023/12/bds-victory-puma-to-end-its-sponsorship-of-israels-national-team/?

Puma SE has announced that it will not renew its contract with the Israel Football Association (IFA) in 2024. The news was first reported by the Financial Times, which obtained internal documents pertaining to the sponsorship deal.

Puma has been a target of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) since the contract was signed in 2018. The Palestinian-led campaign aims to hold Israel accountable to its obligations under international law. The IFA has multiple teams based in illegal West Bank settlements.

"After years of BDS campaigning that has cost German conglomerate Puma dearly in reputation and projects, we have forced it to abandon its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association in this time of Israel's #GazaGenocide," tweeted the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

https://twitter.com/PACBI/status/1734478736521646255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1734478736521646255%7Ctwgr%5Ed4748706abc152abbaef7ee71bdd9b96738de8ee%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2023%2F12%2Fbds-victory-puma-to-end-its-sponsorship-of-israels-national-team%2F

"Palestinians are currently facing unprecedented violence at the hands of the Israeli military. As the world calls for a permanent ceasefire, corporations continue to profit from the killing and destruction," said Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Director Ben Jamal in a statement. "We need to end this complicity."

"PUMA's decision is an important victory that shows the power of the solidarity movement," he continued. "We've sent all corporations a powerful message: if you choose to be complicit in Israeli apartheid, you will face the strength of the solidarity movement. We will continue to grow our BDS campaigns against banks like Barclays and corporations like JCB, who are complicit in Israel's system of apartheid."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMFNbypw1qs

Puma denies that the decision had anything to do with the campaign and says that they made the choice prior to the most recent assault on Gaza. "The review of the existing roster of national teams along certain [key performance indicators] such as commercials and participation in major international tournaments led to a few changes," reads a statement from the company sent to Time.

However, as PACBI notes, the campaign has won a number of victories against the company that have undoubtedly impacted its bottom line. In 2020, Malaysia's largest university dropped its Puma sponsorship deal, and UK clubs have also been pressured to act. Luton Town FC dropped its deal the same year, and Rovers FC pledged not to sign a contract with them.

Puma's stores have also been targeted by activists over the sponsorship. In 2021, Lea Kayali, a Palestinian organizer in the Boston area, spoke to Mondoweiss about protests targeting a Puma outlet in the area. "The goal of any BDS campaign is to force people to confront their relationship with Zionism," she explained. "Its the same goal locally, the campaign is a vehicle to do that. It's not just about sneakers and jerseys, it's about confronting the ties we have as taxpayers in this country."

Hundreds of Palestinian teams and athletes have also called for a boycott. After Puma released a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2020, Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak wondered how the company was condemning racism while "supporting the hate which is destroying lives and poisoning the beautiful game."

"We cannot pick and choose with racism," he wrote. "Either we stand against all hate and all violations of rights and humanity, or we are part of the problem. Right now, Puma is part of the problem."

Starbucks Loses Billions Amidst Israel Boycotts From Leftists Despite Company's Progressivism
https://thepoliticalinsider.com/starbucks-loses-billions-amidst-israel-boycotts-from-leftists-despite-companys-progressivism/

Starbucks has lost nearly $12 billion in market value over the past few months, with rumors swirling that this stems from boycotts over the Israel-Gaza war.

https://twitter.com/hatescapitalism/status/1732549883091955909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1732549883091955909%7Ctwgr%5E54398b3df5a5008602814ede8a90f197721509d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepoliticalinsider.com%2Fstarbucks-loses-billions-amidst-israel-boycotts-from-leftists-despite-companys-progressivism%2F

Starbucks Loses Billions
The New York Post reported that Starbucks' stock dropped 1.6% when the markets opened on Monday, declining for a 11th consecutive session. This is the longest losing streak that Starbucks has suffered since it went public back in 1992. It has erased erased 9.4% of Starbucks' market value, which is a decline of nearly $12 billion.

Much of this may be due to boycotts launched over Starbucks' perceived support of Israel. Last month, the Workers United union that represents Starbucks' union workers took to social media in a post that has since been deleted to express "Solidarity with Palestine!"

Starbucks immediately fired back by attempting to distance itself from Workers United.

"We unequivocally condemn acts of terrorism, hate and violence, and disagree with the statements and views expressed by Workers United and its members," Starbucks said in a statement. "Workers United's words and actions belong to them, and them alone."

This was interpreted by many as a show of support for Israel over Palestine. Though Starbucks has tried to downplay any signs of a boycott, the hashtag #boycottstarbucks continues to trend on social media at the time of this writing.

https://twitter.com/DrDadabhoy/status/1732271794332242127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1732271794332242127%7Ctwgr%5E54398b3df5a5008602814ede8a90f197721509d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepoliticalinsider.com%2Fstarbucks-loses-billions-amidst-israel-boycotts-from-leftists-despite-companys-progressivism%2F

Starbucks Has Tried To Be Progressive
This all just goes to show that nothing will ever be enough to appease the far-left, which is trying to punish Starbucks for not virtue-signaling about the Israel-Hamas controversy despite the fact that the coffee brand has made the leftwing principles of diversity and inclusion a focus for years.


"By 2025, our goal is to achieve racial and ethnic diversity of at least 30% at all corporate levels and at least 40% at all retail and manufacturing roles," the official Starbucks website states.

"To do this, we are enhancing our efforts in reaching a broader pool of candidates and fostering inclusivity in our recruitment practices, assessing partner engagement, and continuing to provide opportunities for inclusive leadership training," it continues.

Back in 2021, Starbucks launched the Community Resilience Fund "with the commitment to invest $100M to advance racial equity and environmental resilience by supporting small business growth and local nonprofits in communities with historically limited access to capital by 2025."

Starbucks alleges that $37 million has been invested towards this goal at this time.

Starbucks even pays college tuition for their employees, saying that "every eligible U.S. partner working part- or full-time receives 100% tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program."

https://twitter.com/AlertDogeX/status/1733049750541488592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1733049750541488592%7Ctwgr%5E54398b3df5a5008602814ede8a90f197721509d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepoliticalinsider.com%2Fstarbucks-loses-billions-amidst-israel-boycotts-from-leftists-despite-companys-progressivism%2F

Progressive Mob Never Satisfied
That all sounds like exactly the type of goal that should make any progressive happy, yet the radical left wants to destroy Starbucks for seemingly supporting Israel over Palestine. Starbucks is clearly putting in the work to help further progressive causes, but that isn't helping the brand now when it comes to combatting the cancel culture mob.

https://twitter.com/JackFought_1/status/1732436979332071781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1732436979332071781%7Ctwgr%5E54398b3df5a5008602814ede8a90f197721509d7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthepoliticalinsider.com%2Fstarbucks-loses-billions-amidst-israel-boycotts-from-leftists-despite-companys-progressivism%2F

In the end, this all just proves that the radical left cares way more about words than they do about action. Only time will tell if Starbucks is able to survive their wrath.

(https://bdsmovement.net/sites/default/files/ufc%201920.jpg)

Brazilian University Cancels "Innovation Challenge" With Complicit Israeli University
https://bdsmovement.net/news/brazilian-university-cancels-innovation-challenge-with-complicit-israeli-university

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) welcomes the decision of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) in Brazil to cancel the "Innovation Challenge Brazil – Israel" over Israel's military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

In a statement, UFC clarified that it stands "firmly against the war and is outraged by all the loss of human life and the destruction that have occurred."

Israel is currently carrying out what legal experts have defined as an unfolding genocide, using starvation and thirst as weapons.

Holding an "innovation challenge" with complicit Israeli institutions on topics such as food security and water and sanitation, would have been a grave affront to the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza struggling for their lives under Israel's brutal bombing campaign and siege.

Initiatives such as these aimed at strengthening ties with complicit Israeli institutions are part of the close-an-eye culture of impunity that has allowed Israel to carry out the world's first livestreamed genocide and maintain its apartheid rule oppressing Palestinians.

"Innovation Challenge" partner Ben Gurion University partners with Israel's Ministry of Defense and Israeli weapons companies currently carrying out the genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza, including Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries.

In addition, the Israeli military is building a technology campus next to Ben Gurion University, aimed at furthering the ties between the military and BGU. A brigadier general at the ribbon cutting ceremony said it will "reinforce the army's operational capabilities."

We thank UFC community members for campaigning to raise awareness, refusing business-as-usual with Israel's genocidal regime, and successfully working to cancel this partnership.

We urge all universities, academic associations, faculty unions and student groups to work to cancel all ties with complicit Israeli institutions as a contribution to stopping Israel's genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza and to dismantling its apartheid regime.

Israel-linked boycotts hurting US brands in Middle East – Bloomberg
Consumers in Muslim-majority countries have shunned Starbucks, McDonald's, and Coca-Cola over the Gaza conflict
https://www.rt.com/business/591314-israel-boycotts-western-firms/

Numerous major Western brands have shed customers and seen profits dented due to boycott campaigns in the Middle East targeting companies seen as supporting Israel in the war in Gaza, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Israel declared war on Hamas after the latter's October 7 surprise attack that killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis. An Israeli offensive that followed has resulted in the reported deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians in the enclave, and sparked a wave of anti-Israel boycott movements in majority-Muslim countries of the region.

According to Bloomberg, the shares of Americana Restaurants International, which operates KFC, Pizza Hut, Krispy Kreme, and Hardee's franchises in the Middle East, have dropped by 27% on the Saudi stock exchange in the past three months. Analysts expect the companies' first-quarter profits to plunge on account of the boycotts.

Coca-Cola's Turkish distributor saw sales volumes drop by 22% in the fourth quarter of 2023 against the previous three months, after the country's parliament joined the boycott movement in November and said it would remove the soft drink from its cafeterias.

McDonald's franchises in the region have experienced a "meaningful business impact" from boycotts, according to the fast-food giant's CEO Chris Kempczinski, although he did not disclose the exact scope of the losses. The company has been in hot water among Middle Eastern customers since mid-October, when its franchisee in Israel boasted on social media that it was giving free meals to Israeli soldiers. Other Western corporations, including Starbucks, IBM and Nestle, have also faced boycotts.

"So far, whether McDonald's or Starbucks, they're hurting. [The perception that Washington favors Israel] really affects these corporations because America is implicated," Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics, told Bloomberg, commenting on the trend.

Meanwhile, local brands have seen a boost in business due to the boycotts. According to Bloomberg, in Kuwait, homegrown coffee stores saw earnings soar over the past three months, as customers largely stopped visiting Starbucks. Jordanian coffee chain Astrolabe saw sales jump by 30%, according to founder Moath Fauri. He noted that the chain has dropped American and French products across its branches and instead buys from local sources. In Egypt, the local soda brand Spiro Spathis has seen sales skyrocket, according to commercial director Youssef Atwan.

"Suddenly we were bombarded with orders from supermarkets, restaurants, we were trying hard to cope with the demand. Clients would go to restaurants and either ask for our brand or at least refuse to drink those on the boycott list," he stated.

Influential left-wing Brazilian politician expresses interest in boycott of 'certain Jewish companies'
story here: https://www.jta.org/2024/01/24/global/influential-left-wing-brazilian-politician-expresses-interest-in-boycott-of-certain-jewish-companies

Iceland threatens to boycott Eurovision over Israel's participation
story here:  https://www.thejc.com/news/world/iceland-threatens-to-boycott-eurovision-over-israels-participation-iyf0vwsn

Unilever takes sales hit in Indonesia over anti-Israel boycott   https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240208-unilever-takes-sales-hit-in-indonesia-over-anti-israel-boycott/

Britain's Unilever said on Thursday that fourth-quarter sales growth in south-east Asia had been hurt by shoppers in Indonesia boycotting brands of multinational companies "in response to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East," Reuters has reported.

The maker of Dove soap, Knorr stock cubes and Ben & Jerry's ice cream is among several Western brands that have seen protests and boycott campaigns against them — particularly in countries with large Muslim populations — over their perceived pro-Israel stance.

McDonald's this week posted its first quarterly sales miss in nearly four years, partly due to the Israeli offensive against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank. The company said that the situation had "meaningfully impacted" performance in some overseas markets.

In Indonesia, home to more than 200 million Muslims, Unilever's fourth-quarter sales declined by double-digits, the company said. "There has since been some improvement to customer and consumer uptake in January," it added.

Unilever CEO Hein Schumacher said the company was otherwise "not seeing material impacts to our supply chain" as a result of the Israel-Palestinian issue and related attacks on vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea.

"There are some small interruptions obviously for some key ingredients and on shipping and so forth, so there's some delay but I wouldn't call it material," Schumacher said on a call with journalists. "We are working with big forwarders and carriers and I'm aware of them taking longer routes." He pointed out that much of Unilever's products and materials are sourced locally and regionally to where they're sold.

Unilever's Ben & Jerry's board last month called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The brand announced in July 2021 that it would stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and parts of East Jerusalem, saying selling ice cream in the occupied Palestinian territories was "inconsistent with our values."

Across the Middle East, the BDS Movement Is Thriving
https://tapnewswire.com/2024/12/27/across-the-middle-east-the-bds-movement-is-thriving/

In the bustling streets of Cairo, a bold banner hangs outside the Writers' Syndicate, confronting passersby with a piercing statement: "Every pound you spend on their products returns as a bullet in your brother's back." This message critiques the economic and political ties between the listed multinational products and Israel. The visual captures the spirit of a region-wide movement, where ordinary people are transforming everyday choices into acts of defiance against forces that fuel war and perpetuate conflict.

Across the Red Sea, in the lively streets of Amman, Jordan, another symbol of resistance stands in silence: the empty aisles of Carrefour supermarkets. Once bubbling with life, these shuttered stores are the result of an unwavering boycott campaign — and a testament to how solidarity and conscious consumer choices can challenge and disrupt dominant systems of power.

Across the world, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, has gained momentum, encouraging individuals to use their purchasing power as an effective tool for change. By reimagining the global economy as a means to exert pressure on Israel, BDS has transformed boycotts into one of the most effective forms of nonviolent resistance in a capitalist world, creating ripple effects that resonate far beyond the checkout counter. Nowhere is this impact more evident than in the Middle East, where shared regional solidarity and strategic economic pressure have turned the movement into a powerful force reshaping political and economic dynamics.

Transforming consumption into a weapon of resistance
Effective boycotts have long served as tools to challenge power, disrupting profits, tarnishing reputations and compelling institutions to change. In the Middle East, however, they hold a deeper resonance, intertwined with decades of struggle against colonialism and occupation.

"Boycotting isn't new. It's a legacy embedded in our struggle," said Hossam Mahmoud of BDS Egypt. "It goes back to the days of British colonization and the partition of Palestine in 1947." From student protests to global campaigns, the region has long relied on nonviolent resistance to challenge injustice.

This long history of economic resistance was reignited by Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023, as social media quickly became the movement's amplifier, with hashtags like #Don'tPayForTheirBullets rallying younger generations. In this renewed fight, global giants, such as McDonald's and Starbucks, were targeted for their financial complicity or implicit support to Israeli military actions.

For many, these boycotts are more than economic — they are moral imperatives, a rejection of profiteering from violence. Their power lies not just in financial disruption but in reshaping consumer consciousness, forcing individuals to ask: Does buying this make me complicit in what it supports?

Behind the boycott: strategies that drive success
Behind every successful boycott is a story of innovative tactics that turn awareness into action.

Social media became the core of the movement, transforming local efforts into worldwide campaigns. Platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok amplified voices, mobilized communities and sparked viral campaigns that forced corporations to pay attention. Hashtags like #BoycottOccupationGoods and #DidYouFundGenocideToday? became rallying cries, uniting millions and turning online outrage into tangible action.

But the fight for justice extended far beyond likes and shares. Tools like the No Thanks app bridged the gap between digital awareness and real-world action. By scanning a product's barcode, consumers gained immediate access to details about a brand's affiliations, giving them the power to make informed choices and determine whether their purchase supported the boycott.

Sustaining momentum required more than technology; activists leaned into grassroots efforts, fostering lasting connections through direct engagement. Workshops, public lectures and in-person action turned online trends into enduring campaigns for change.

University campuses have emerged as vital hubs for this movement, blending education with activism. At the American University in Cairo, the Political Science Students Association, or PSSA, is leading by example. Under Haya Kandeel's leadership, the association has turned student engagement into a force for meaningful change. "This wasn't just about boycotts," Kandeel explained. "We tackled misinformation head-on, hosting talks with BDS representatives and professors to connect global injustices to local realities. We even launched a dedicated newsletter to spotlight Palestine and promote ethical consumer choices." These initiatives fostered a culture of critical thinking and educated actions, leading to long-term commitment to change.

"Online activism is indispensable," said BDS Egypt's Hossam Mahmoud. "But grassroots, on-the-ground efforts remain the heart of lasting change." He recalls how, in an older campaign, BDS took its fight directly to Zamalek Sporting Club, one of Egypt's most prominent and historic football clubs. The group engaged members and decision-makers face-to-face to expose Puma's ties with Israel, ultimately leading to a successful termination of their partnership. This victory underscores a vital truth: while social media can spread awareness, real impact often requires stepping out of the digital sphere and building direct human connections. From the halls of universities to the streets of Cairo, the boycott movement is proving that change begins with community — and the courage to confront power where it lives.

Personal narratives and motivations
For many, boycotting is more than an economic gesture — it's a deeply personal declaration of values and solidarity. "Boycotting in itself is an act of raising awareness," Mahmoud said. "It's not just about applying economic pressure; it's about educating people, sparking critical conversations and building a collective understanding of the daily injustices Palestinians face." Mahmoud emphasized the accessibility of boycotting, calling it "a tangible form of solidarity — low-risk, yet profoundly impactful over time."

However, not everyone shares this sense of empowerment. While waiting in line at a McDonald's checkout counter, I asked a customer why he chose not to boycott. He hesitated before responding with quiet resignation: "To be honest, I don't think it makes a difference. Whether I buy from here or not, a pack of fries isn't going to free Palestine." His words echo doubts harbored by many — questions about whether individual actions can truly dent entrenched systems of oppression.

For others, however, boycotting is a way to reclaim agency. Safiya Aboushady, a university student in Cairo, recalls feeling helpless as she watched the destruction in Gaza. "Joining the boycott gave me something tangible to do," she said. "It's not just about avoiding a product, it's about standing for a principle." For Aboushady, the act of boycotting bridges the gap between despair and action, a sentiment shared by many who find strength in aligning their values with collective resistance.

Jana, a 22-year-old activist who requested her last name be omitted, sees boycotting as a vital tool in societies where public protest is restricted. "In many Middle Eastern countries, you can't take to the streets without fear of being silenced or arrested," she said. "Boycotting is one of the few ways we can express our resistance without directly confronting the authorities." For her, it's about more than just economic impact. "This isn't just about hitting companies financially, it's about making our voices heard."

The wide reach of boycott movements
All these efforts yielded tangible results, as boycotts transformed from local acts of resistance into a regional movement, demonstrating that collective action can transcend borders and reshape the global discourse.

In Jordan, economic resistance has become a daily act of defiance, deeply rooted in solidarity with Palestine. According to one poll, over 93 percent of Jordanians have supported boycott efforts against companies associated with the occupation since October 2023. Community groups, schools and unions have incorporated boycotts into their initiatives, fostering a culture of disassociation from complicity in oppression.

Beyond Egypt and Jordan, the ripple effects of these campaigns are being felt across Lebanon, Kuwait and Tunisia. Lebanese activists have targeted cultural events and corporations like G4S, a private security firm, that are accused of enabling Israeli policies by providing equipment and services to Israeli checkpoints. Kuwait has institutionalized bans on companies linked to Israel, while in Tunisia, grassroots campaigns continue to build on the momentum of regional efforts. This interconnected resistance underscores the power of collective action, where local struggles merge with international movements, proving that economic resistance can ignite global conversations about justice.

The boycott of companies like Coke and Pepsi has even transcended national boundaries, resonating across various countries. In Pakistan, local soda brands such as Cola Next and Pakola have seen a surge in popularity as consumers reject Western beverage giants, linking them symbolically to U.S. support for Israel. In Egypt, V7 Cola has gained popularity as a local alternative. Similarly Gaza Cola, introduced in the U.K., sold out its initial production run within weeks, pledging profits to rebuild hospitals in Gaza and embodying the spirit of resistance. Meanwhile, brands like Salaam Cola in the U.K. and Palestine Drinks in Sweden are channeling their revenues into humanitarian projects in Gaza and the West Bank, reinforcing their mission to support Palestinian causes. These brands not only offer ethical choices but also underscore the growing intersection of consumer behavior and political advocacy, transforming everyday purchases into acts of solidarity.

Mahmoud captured the essence of the movement, saying, "Our success isn't measured by immediate victories but by building a sustained, unified movement that transcends borders." His words highlight the interconnected nature of the global BDS effort, where campaigns, though rooted in local contexts, contribute to a broader, coordinated push that amplifies their collective impact. "Guided by the BDS National Committee in Ramallah, campaigns around the world coordinate efforts to maximize their influence, while preserving their grassroots foundations," he said. "From Paris to Cairo, campaigns share strategies, messages and goals, creating a unified front that strengthens the movement's reach."

This cooperation ensures that each action contributes to a global momentum, demonstrating that solidarity knows no borders. These modern efforts evoke the global solidarity reminiscent of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, where international boycotts were instrumental in dismantling injustice.

The power (and paradox) of economic resistance
The surge of boycotts across the Middle East has forced multinational corporations to confront their vulnerabilities. Companies like McDonald's Egypt have scrambled to mitigate damage, distancing themselves from their international counterparts and pledging millions of Egyptian pounds to Gaza relief efforts. Yet these gestures have done little to reverse declining sales or placate public criticism.

The economic repercussions have been undeniable on those corporations. Coke and Pepsi suffered a 7 percent sales decline in the first half of 2024 across the region. McDonald's Egypt sales dropped by 70 percent amid the ongoing boycott over the company's support to Israel. Starbucks Middle Eat laid off at least 2,000 employees amid declining sales after boycott efforts. The slower sales led Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan to tell analysts that "We saw a negative impact to our business in the Middle East," and that "Events in the Middle East also had an impact in the U.S., driven by misperceptions about our position." In an attempt to repair the reputational damage in April 2024, Starbucks' charitable arm announced a $3 million donation to World Central Kitchen to provide food aid to Gaza.

In Jordan, Carrefour's abrupt closure of all its branches further underscores the growing influence of BDS. The retailer announced on Facebook: "As of Nov. 4, 2024, Carrefour will cease all its operations in Jordan and will not continue to operate within the Kingdom." This decision followed months of boycott campaigns accusing Carrefour of complicity in Israeli policies, including allegations of support for Israeli soldiers amid attacks on Gaza. The Jordanian BDS movement celebrated the closure as a victory for collective action and a testament to the power of ethical consumerism to challenge entrenched systems.

The BDS campaign has also caused global impact. In April 2024, McDonald's announced plans to buy back its Israeli franchise from Omri Padan, who had offered free meals to Israeli Defense troops during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Despite its power, economic resistance faces notable challenges. Critics argue that boycotts often lose momentum once initial enthusiasm fades, limiting their longterm impact. Multinational corporations, with their diverse revenue streams, can easily offset regional losses by capitalizing on gains in other markets, weakening the broader effect of localized efforts. "Boycotting must be more than a fleeting trend, it must become a lasting commitment to justice," said Mahmoud, stressing the importance of sustained action to bring about real change. This reality means that even high-profile successes, like the closure of Carrefour outlets, may remain more symbolic than transformative on a global scale.

Nevertheless, boycotts remain a powerful tool for holding corporations accountable. As Mahmoud emphasized, they do more than disrupt profits, "they mobilize communities and shed light on systemic complicity in oppression."

By redefining resistance and replacing violence with solidarity — as well as turning despair into action — these campaigns show that real change often starts with small, consistent acts of defiance. They turn everyday consumer choices into acts of protest and show that solidarity, when multiplied, can challenge violence and inspire a shared vision for justice. Ultimately, they prove that, even in the face of injustice, ordinary people can drive extraordinary change.

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Farah Awadalla
Farah Awadalla is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester, researching how media narratives shape state soft power. With an MA in Human Rights from UCL, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of media, power, and global influence. Her work focuses on how narratives and cultural discourse influence political movements and reshape perceptions.

After Jordan, Carrefour halts operations in Oman over BDS campaign
Carrefour has reportedly signed agreements with Israeli technology firms and banks implicated in human rights violations and war crimes against Palestinians.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Economy/after-jordan--carrefour-halts-operations-in-oman-over-bds-ca

French multinational retail giant Carrefour has announced the suspension of its operations in Oman, just two months after closing all its branches in Jordan in response to a global anti-"Israel" campaign denouncing the occupation entity's decades-long crimes against Palestinians.

Carrefour, one of the largest supermarket chains worldwide, confirmed its decision through a statement on its official Instagram account on Tuesday: "Effective from January 7, 2025, Carrefour operations will be discontinued in the Sultanate of Oman."

This announcement follows a similar decision on November 5, 2024, when the company declared a complete halt to its operations in Jordan. https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/carrefour-closes-jordan-branches-amid-boycott-over--israel

The closures were attributed to significant financial losses and reputational damage resulting from a widespread and creative boycott campaign. Majid Al Futtaim, which holds the exclusive rights to operate Carrefour in the West Asia region and the Arab world, publicized the decision.

The campaign, led by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) as part of the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, began in December 2022 in response to the French global retail group's complicity in Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

Scottish cinema caves to BDS pressure over Coca-Cola
The Glasgow Film Theatre removed the fizzy drink from its lineup following a push from unionised staff
https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/glasgow-cinema-caves-bds-pressure-coca-cola-q3lfjg21

University of Amsterdam ends student exchange with Hebrew U, saying it's complicit with Israeli military
About 10 students from each school had participated in the exchange annually.
https://www.jta.org/2025/03/18/global/university-of-amsterdam-ends-student-exchange-with-hebrew-u-saying-its-complicit-with-israeli-military

The University of Amsterdam has suspended a student exchange with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, saying the institution has failed to distance itself from human rights violations in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.

The Dutch university announced last week that it was cutting the program following advice from an internal committee on projects with its partners in Israel, China and Hungary. The school's executive board requested the inquiry after pro-Palestinian demonstrations roiled the campus last year.

The university also decided not to enter collaborations with more than 20 Hungarian institutions that have been sanctioned by the European Union because they are seen as too tightly controlled by the Hungarian regime. And it determined that Chinese doctoral students who go to the Netherlands through the China Scholarship Council will be allowed to continue, but the university said it would enact new measures to protect their academic freedom from China's government.

The guidelines all aim to prevent the University of Amsterdam from "contributing to violations of human rights, misuse of knowledge for undesirable military purposes or serious damage to the environment through educational or research collaborations," said the administration.

The University of Amsterdam joins a wave of European schools that have severed ties to Israeli institutions and Israel-linked companies, often as concessions to student activists.

The trend marks a sharp divergence from the United States, where schools have virtually universally rebuffed students' demands to sever ties with Israeli institutions, citing principles of academic freedom. The demands came during a wave of student activism last year for which the new Trump administration is now punishing both students and their schools.

The exchange program — which had been in place since 1986 — usually sees about 10 students at the Hebrew University and 10 at the University of Amsterdam, the Dutch university told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Hebrew University called the decision "fundamentally wrong" in a statement and said it should be reversed.

"The allegations are unfounded, based on fragmented and unreliable arguments of the BDS movement that seeks to weaponize academia," the university said. "Had UvA consulted the Hebrew University before making its decision — which it did not — it would have learnt the actual facts. Hebrew University calls on UvA to renew their collaboration, emphasizing that academic institutions should build bridges, not barriers, especially in times of conflict."

But Dutch students have not participated since Oct. 7, 2023, pursuant to a travel advisory from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Israeli students were allowed to complete their semester in Amsterdam last fall, but no new exchange students were accepted, according to the advisory report.

The committee pointed to international bodies that have investigated Israel for war crimes against Palestinians since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, including the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. They decided that the Hebrew University has not sufficiently distanced itself from these allegations.

They also rebuked the Jerusalem university for research and training programs that support the Israeli defense industry and the Israeli army, such as the Talpiot program for training security-technological leadership, the Havatzalot program for training intelligence officers and Tzameret, a military medicine track.

Another qualm for the committee was the status of academic freedom at Hebrew University. One professor, Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, was suspended and urged to resign after she signed a letter accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, and said it was time to "abolish Zionism." Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a Palestinian legal scholar, was also detained and investigated by Israeli police for incitement to terrorism, in a move that the university condemned. She reportedly resigned last year.