Since it is necessary to spell things out, let's do so.
Obviously, I have never, directly or indirectly, pressured anyone to cancel a meeting in support of the partisans of the boycott of Israel, with Palestinian Leila Shahid, Frenchman Stéphane Hessel, and others scheduled to appear, at the Ecole normale supérieure in Paris.
This would have been all the more absurd because, by nature and by conviction, I believe in the power of ideas and, even more, that of the truth. In such circumstances, I am always in favor of debate, the clash of opinions, even the confrontation of convictions--hence, not of censure.
And the fact is that, in this particular circumstance, that is to say in this matter of the BDS ("Boycott, Disinventment, Sanctions") campaign that was to be the main issue of the Ecole normale meeting, I would have been more than happy to be able to present those who speak sincerely with facts and, basically, evidence that seems to have escaped them: namely that we are faced here with a skilfully orchestrated but calumnious, bellicose, anti-democratic and, in a word, perfectly despicable campaign.
Why?
First of all, because one boycotts totalitarian regimes, not democracies. One can boycott Sudan, guilty of the extermination of part of the population of Darfur. One can boycott China, guilty of massive violations of human rights in Tibet and elsewhere. One can and should boycott the Iran of Sakineh and Jafar Panahi, whose leaders have become deaf to the language of common sense and compromise. One can even imagine, as we once did with regard to the fascist generals' Argentina or Brezhnev's USSR, boycotting those Arab regimes whose citizens' freedom of expression is forbidden and punished, if necessary, in blood. One does not boycott the only society in the Middle East where Arabs read a free press, demonstrate when they wish to do so, send freely elected representatives to parliament, and enjoy their rights as citizens. Regardless of what one thinks of the policies of its government, one does not boycott the only country in the region and, beyond the region, one of the unfortunately limited number of countries in the world where voters have the power to sanction, modify, and reverse the position of said government. To such an extent that finding, like Mr. Hessel, the source of its "main indignation" in the workings of a democracy that, like all democracies, is by definition imperfect but perfectible (yet, on the contrary, having nothing to say about the millions of victims of Africa's forgotten wars, about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East or, yesterday, about the massacre of Bosnia's Muslims) is at best profoundly stupid and at worst, disgraceful.
And then because, in any event, this boycott campaign is in reality indifferent to the stance of the government of Mr. X or Mrs. Y. It is unaware, nor does it care to know, of what Israeli citizens themselves think, for example, of the resumption of settlement construction in the West Bank. It doesn't give a hoot about demands, parameters, actual conditions of peace between the citizens in question and their Palestinian neighbors. Of the latter, their aspirations, their interests, their possible hopes and the way the Hamas regime has smashed those hopes in Gaza, it doesn't give a tinker's damn and never says anything, either. No. Regardless of what its promoters and its useful idiots say, the only real, accepted, hackneyed goal of this boycott campaign is to de-legitimize Israel as such. That is what the comparison with the South Africa of apartheid implicitly expresses. That is what the anti-Zionist rhetoric that serves as the common denominator of all the groups constituting this BDS movement explicitly says and, if words have any meaning, what signifies their intent to undermine the very idea that today, like it or not, binds the Israeli nation. And that is why this campaign, in fact, contravenes the customs, rules and laws of international and, in this case, French or American national law.
And then, lastly, there are those at the heart and, sometimes, at the origin of this campaign whose inspiration is, to say the least, not that of De Gaulle's Free French nor of those who penned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, nor of those in favor of a just peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. I submit, to whomever wishes, the declarations of Omar Barghouti, one of the movement's founders, affirming that his goal is not two States but two Palestines. And those of Ali Abunimah, co-founder of Electronic Intifada and also opposed to the two-state solution, who does not hesitate to compare Israel to Nazi Germany and this or that of its philosophers to the columnists of Der Stürmer. And the declarations of the leaders of Sabeel, this group of Palestinian Christians firmly implanted in North America who, anxious to lend the idea of "responsible investment" a "theological" basis, do not hesitate to subtly but surely reactivate the Christ-killing Jews stereotype. Not to mention some rather shady initiatives whose purpose is to mark Jewish--sorry, Israeli--merchandise with supposedly derogatory stickers intended for the attention of the vigilant French consumer.
All that is deplorable and, once again, indisputable. Presenting the promoters of this discourse of hatred as victims speaks volumes of the current state of confusion--intellectual and moral--of a Western world one would have hoped cured of its worst criminal past.
David Moshman: Jews, Israel and Free Speech: A Response to Rabbi Wolpe
Rabbi David Wolpe: In Israel Debate, These Jews Should Be Ignored
Don't get me wrong, I think the ethical proportions of both sides of the Arab/Israeli conflict are utterly fascinating... I just don't see why it is America's job to become involved in resolving this conflict.
Granted, what Israel does in its own region may be none of our business... I will accept that argument, and gladly stop caring as soon as Israel stops accepting my tax dollars.
And Israel was much better off without the USA. The troubles for Israel started when Golda Meir brought Israel too close to the USA.
The USA imposed embargo on weapon sales to Israel during the War of Independence of 1947-48, sided with Egypt against Israel, France and UK during the Suez crises of 1956. Israel defeated the arab colonizers and imperialists in the 6 Day War without any US help or weaponry.
And yet nobody did so much good for the USA during the Cold War than Israel. The USA security is based on cooperation with Israel. And all of these for 3 billion dollars! Ridiculous!
And, btw, the muslim countries are receiving 100 times more from the US than Israel.
Israel's foreign policy should be more flexible and not one-sided. Russia and China will be much better and reliable partners than the declining USA.
Israel would be much better off without the USA! I am not sure that US would be better off without Israel!
Kudos to HP for putting it out there.
Both disgraceful, if you ask me.
THe Canadian Boat to Gaza: http://canadaboatgaza.org/cms/sites/cbg/splash.aspx
Every two bits counts, whether it's spreading awareness, BDS support, flotilla support, or applying to go on the boats as a witness.
Some may call it crap, but it is engagement in striving for social justice. Some of the elders have been at it for a lifetime, working for human rights--in many countries including the US and Canada.
in that Israel is being single handily being focused on - in light of more serious events in the world
Its one little place that a tremendous amount of effort and waste of time of money is being applied for n other reason than once Muslim land once always Muslim land
Canadians - even though they carry little red and white flags and think that they are better than Americans have not that much to be proud of
Remember the Oka Crisis where a golf course was being enlarged and they stole Mohawk ceremonial land. How nice and innocent of Canadians that they ringed the little Mohawk reserve with artillery
That ship from Turkey was not an innocent picnic
Look at Gaza - you give them back an area - they destroy the valuable gardens given to them - a source of funds and devote their whole energies and finances to shooting rockets to kill people
Lets hope that as a first step you will give your property and possessions back to the aboriginals whom you stole it from
At least the Jews have a holy book that Christians and Muslims incorporate as part of their basis that lists the jews in the historic middle east
Its easy to fall for left wing dogma
This will all end with crying
Finance journalists have reported that Israeli hi-tech, food and agribusiness companies suffered adverse consequences following Israel's three-week assault on Gaza, and called for government intervention to protect businesses from a growing boycott.
However, analysts stressed that the impact of a boycott on local exporters was difficult to discern amidst a global economic crisis and that such effects could be exaggerated.
"If there was something serious, I would have heard about it," said Avi Tempkin, from Globes, the Israeli business daily.
Israeli companies are thought to be wary of giving credence to boycott efforts by talking openly about their effect, preferring to resolve problems through diplomatic channels.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/03/israel-gaza-attacks-boycotts-food-industry
The problem, said Katrivas, is in part the discussion in the UK over how to label goods that come from Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Last week British government officials met with food industry representatives to discuss the issue.
In recent months, the Israeli financial press has reported the impact of mounting calls to boycott goods from the Jewish state. Writing in the daily finance paper, the Marker, economics journalist Nehemia Stressler berated then trade and industry minister Eli Yishai for telling the Israeli army to "destroy one hundred homes" in Gaza for every rocket fired into Israel.
The minister, wrote Stressler, did not understand "how much the operation in Gaza is hurting the economy".
Stressler added: "The horrific images on TV and the statements of politicians in Europe and Turkey are changing the behaviour of consumers, businessmen and potential investors. Many European consumers boycott Israeli products in practice."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/03/israel-gaza-attacks-boycotts-food-industry
but not in reality, or they'd have to give up their, phones, computers and medicines.
"An Israel Defense Forces court on Thursday rejected the prosecution's request to jail a commander involved in shooting a bound Palestinian at close range in the West Bank city of Na'alin two years ago.
According to the sentence issued by the court, Lt. Col. Omri Burberg will not be eligible for rank promotion for two years and is forbidden from serving as a commander for one year. "
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-commander-involved-in-shooting-bound-palestinian-evades-jail-term-1.339516
Galant has been embroiled in scandal over claims that he had illegally seized public land near his home on Moshav Amikam. Defense Minister Ehud Barak named Galant as the next IDF chief of staff in August, to replace current Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi who steps down in February. "
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/state-comptroller-incoming-idf-chief-illegally-took-over-public-land-1.339566
Ha'aretz is a left party newspaper with the only goal of destroying Israel as a Jewish state.
* West Bank? you mean Judea and sumaria.
* Palestinians? you mean Jordan refugees.
* Omri Burberg didn't order the shot, and the video is cut in the middle to make it look like it does.
* Galant is not going to be the Chief of staff because of his actions, after the gov't legal adviser decided he his not worthy for this part.
Replaced your sources. They suck.
). Its purpose is, among other things, “supporting the implementation and enforcement of legislation dealing with anti-Semitism”. Among the examples of anti-Semitism included in the document are [selection mine]:
- “Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or about the power of Jews as a collective - including, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a global Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.”
- “Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust”.
- “Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations”.
- “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a state of Israel is a racist endeavor”.
- “Applying double standards by requiring Israel to behave in a manner not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation”.
- “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis”.
I.e.: EXACTLY the type of claims/ideas that some promote here, day in and day out. I guess it's just a coincidence that PRECISELY those posters are also stalwart advocates of anti-Israel boycotts!
GREAT post.
Is it Israel or Iran which seized the land from its former occupants?
Is it Israel or Iran which has 10,000 non-citizens imprisoned?
Israel executes people with no trial.
If Americans would stop voting 2 party and vote for those who will actually look out for their best interest; then pressure from the US could actually happen, however that would take time as the israeli machine is entrenched into the American political system to the pint of choking it off.
You don't even attempt to address any of the criticisms of Israel let alone give a serious defense of them. Reading your article one would not even be able to tell what any of the core issues are. Blockades, occupations, voting rights, settlements, bombings, walls, refugees, ect. are simply not mentioned at all.
On the issue itself I've never been much commercial boycotts, just because there really is no practical way of doing it. All the major international corporations are so intertwined that pretty soon you are just boycotting everybody.
I do favor stopping official military aid from the United States to the country of Israel though. And ending our standing veto of resolutions against them at the UN.
The real question is: Is the situation so bad that can *only* be resolved through boycotts? And is Israel really the only country worthy of boycotts in the *entire world?*
I haven't seen anyone suggest that BDS is anything other than ONE of a range of strategies which might be used, singly or in any combination, to encourage Israel to move toward a resolution.
There are a lot of countries "worthy of boycotts". Why don't you organise a few that we could all join?
Ahava CEO Ellis told the BBC that his company can circumvent the rule that products from the Occupied Palestinian Territories are excluded from the duty-free import to Europe, because Ahava maintains its offices near Tel Aviv, in Israel. However, the EU rules of origin of product refer to the place where the product, or most of it, was manufactured, not to the place where a company's offices are based.