Activism News
The Activism News section of EI reports on Palestinian and Palestine-related activism around the world, including the work of the International Solidarity Movement and other groups. Quality submissions are welcomed.
US rapper urged to cancel Israel concert
Open letter, PACBI, 30 June 2008
The following is an open letter sent to US rap musician Snoop Dogg on 29 June 2008 by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel: We strongly urge you to cancel your plans to perform in Israel until the time comes when Israel ends its illegal occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories and respects the relevant precepts of international law concerning Palestinian rights to freedom, self-determination and equality. [MORE]
Beit Sahour reclaims military base site
Nora Barrows-Friedman, The Electronic Intifada, 24 June 2008
USH GHRAB, West Bank (IPS) - East of Beit Sahour in Ush Ghrab, the tree line stops and the bronze, rocky desert begins. In a flat clearing on this hilltop, a small, abandoned military post is being slowly transformed from an assorted collection of cement-grey barracks into a virtual oasis for the region's children, families and tourists. [MORE]
UN children's agency rejects support from Israeli settlement financier
Press release, Adalah-NY, 23 June 2008
The following press release was issued on 19 June 2008 by Adalah-NY, an ad-hoc coalition for justice in the Middle East: A senior advisor to UNICEF's Director said in a letter today that UNICEF (the United Nations Children's fund) will reject all partnerships with, or financial support from, Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev. Leviev had previously provided UNICEF with support by sponsoring fundraising events in France. Leviev's past support for UNICEF is featured in a number of places on his company's website. [MORE]
Jazz musician Branford Marsalis urged to cancel Israel concert
Open letter, BRICUP, 18 June 2008
The following is an open letter to jazz musician Branford Marsalis, sent by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine: "We are writing to ask you to reconsider your decision to play in Israel. We are wondering how a musician with your sensitivity will be able to stand on a stage and play reflective, subtle jazz while less than an hour's drive away, a million-and-a-half people in Gaza -- two-thirds of them refugees -- endure yet another night of hunger, darkness and fear because of the iron-clad siege the Israeli government has enforced against them for years." [MORE]
Quebec student federation joins international boycott movement
Press release, Tadamon, 9 June 2008
A grassroots response in opposition to Israeli apartheid is growing throughout the world sparked by an appeal launched by Palestinian civil-society organizations in 2005 for an international campaign directed at the government in Israel, a campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions. Today students in Quebec are now joining the international boycott campaign in large numbers including L'Association pour une Solidarite Syndicale Etudiante, an important Quebec-wide student federation representing over 42,000 students. [MORE]
Dutch bank agrees: Jerusalem tramway is illegal
Adri Nieuwhof, The Electronic Intifada, 6 June 2008
Last week, the managing director of SNS Asset Management, a division of the Dutch SNS Bank, sent me a letter explaining the bank's position on divesting from Veolia. Veiola is a European company contracted to build a tramway on illegally seized Palestinian land that connects Israeli settlements on the West Bank, constructed in open violation of international law, with neighborhoods in West Jerusalem. EI contributor Adri Nieuwhof reports. [MORE]
Irish union passes motions in support of Palestine
Statement, Trade Union Friends of Palestine (ICTU), 5 June 2008
At its Biennial Delegate Conference in May 2008 the public sector union IMPACT passed two motions criticizing Israeli suppression of the Palestinian people and calling for a boycott of Israeli goods and services. The motions also called for divestment from those companies engaged in or profiting from the occupation as well as an education campaign to raise awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people. [MORE]
"An experiment in building a better world"
Natasha Tsangarides, The Electronic Intifada, 4 June 2008
"Freedom Clothing Project is an experiment in building a better world -- I know that sounds a bit grand, but we wanted to try to make a clothing company unlike any other." Freedom Clothing Project Ltd is a UK not-for-profit cooperative founded in 2005, comprising a small handful of friends and relations. The Electronic Intifada contributor Natasha Tsangarides spoke to project director Joe Turner about his work and the current trading obstacles. [MORE]
UK union deals a blow to business-as-usual with Israeli academy
Press release, PACBI, 30 May 2008
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel salutes the British University and College Union for its principled support for the cause of justice and peace in Palestine and for adopting, at its annual congress on 28 May 2008, significant steps in the direction of applying effective pressure on Israel and holding it accountable for its colonial and apartheid policies which violate international law and fundamental human rights. [MORE]
"Le petit soldat" dancing on Palestinian graves?
Open letter, various undersigned, 28 May 2008
The following is a 25 May 2008 open letter to filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard endorsed by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and a list of Palestinian and Arab filmmakers: Palestinian artists were devastated to learn that you shall visit Israel soon to participate in a film festival in Tel Aviv, despite Israel's decades-old colonial and racist policies against the indigenous people of Palestine. [MORE]
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