23 may 2018
Brazilian singer and songwriter Gilberto Gil has cancelled a performance that was scheduled in Israel this summer, citing “general sentiment of apprehension.”
The legendary Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, once Brazil’s Culture Minister and now considered one of Latin America’s most prominent and influential musicians, was supposed to perform in the city of Tel Aviv on July 4, but cancelled the performance, in what seems to be a response to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, over the past few weeks.
According to WAFA, Gil sent a letter to the concert’s producers addressing the cancellation, and said: “The general sentiment of all is one of apprehension as Israel is going through this sensitive moment.”
Although he didn’t mention Gaza or Palestinians, the “sensitive moment” is thought, most likely, to be a reference to the recent Israeli army massacre in the Gaza Strip, which left 63 Palestinians dead, including children, during a protest on May 14.
Hind Awwad, from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), also a member of the Palestinian BDS National Committee, commented: “We warmly welcome Gilberto Gil’s cancellation of his concert in Tel Aviv, the center of Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid. We thank Gil’s fans in Brazil and across Latin America whose outrage over Israel’s latest massacre in Gaza and support for Palestinian human rights seem to have played a decisive role in his decision.”
She added: “By cancelling this show, Gil is in the good company of many world-renowned artists who have refused to art-wash Israel’s regime of oppression, including Lorde, Lauryn Hill, Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Faithless, Roger Waters, among many others.
“We sincerely hope that Gil will never perform in Israel until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice, and equality.”
Celebrities, elected officials and influencers turned to social media to express their outrage at Israel’s killing of Palestinians marching for their freedom and protesting US President Donald Trump’s move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
These included Chelsea Handler, Bette Midler, Rowan Blanchard, Judd Apatow, Ava DuVerney, Jeffrey Wright, Marc Lamont Hill, Morgan Freeman, rapper Vic Mensa, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Marc Pocan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Barbara Lee, Reza Aslan, NFL player Oday Aboushi, WWE fighter Sami Zayn, journalist Rula Jebrael and more who have joined a growing chorus of high-profile influencers speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
The legendary Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, once Brazil’s Culture Minister and now considered one of Latin America’s most prominent and influential musicians, was supposed to perform in the city of Tel Aviv on July 4, but cancelled the performance, in what seems to be a response to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, over the past few weeks.
According to WAFA, Gil sent a letter to the concert’s producers addressing the cancellation, and said: “The general sentiment of all is one of apprehension as Israel is going through this sensitive moment.”
Although he didn’t mention Gaza or Palestinians, the “sensitive moment” is thought, most likely, to be a reference to the recent Israeli army massacre in the Gaza Strip, which left 63 Palestinians dead, including children, during a protest on May 14.
Hind Awwad, from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), also a member of the Palestinian BDS National Committee, commented: “We warmly welcome Gilberto Gil’s cancellation of his concert in Tel Aviv, the center of Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid. We thank Gil’s fans in Brazil and across Latin America whose outrage over Israel’s latest massacre in Gaza and support for Palestinian human rights seem to have played a decisive role in his decision.”
She added: “By cancelling this show, Gil is in the good company of many world-renowned artists who have refused to art-wash Israel’s regime of oppression, including Lorde, Lauryn Hill, Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Faithless, Roger Waters, among many others.
“We sincerely hope that Gil will never perform in Israel until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice, and equality.”
Celebrities, elected officials and influencers turned to social media to express their outrage at Israel’s killing of Palestinians marching for their freedom and protesting US President Donald Trump’s move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
These included Chelsea Handler, Bette Midler, Rowan Blanchard, Judd Apatow, Ava DuVerney, Jeffrey Wright, Marc Lamont Hill, Morgan Freeman, rapper Vic Mensa, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Marc Pocan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Barbara Lee, Reza Aslan, NFL player Oday Aboushi, WWE fighter Sami Zayn, journalist Rula Jebrael and more who have joined a growing chorus of high-profile influencers speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
Indonesia has cancelled visas issued to Israeli citizens and decided to ban Israelis from entering the country in response to Gaza incidents, spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emmanuel Nahshon said.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the ban came into effect last week. Indonesia has also strongly condemned Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians during recent border events in Gaza.
Nahshon said in press statements that Israel is currently trying to reverse Indonesia's decision.
Israel has no formal diplomatic relations with Indonesia, but the two countries maintain economic ties, so Israelis can visit Indonesia using temporary tourist and business visas.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,244 while they were protesting peacefully near Gaza's border fence with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the ban came into effect last week. Indonesia has also strongly condemned Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians during recent border events in Gaza.
Nahshon said in press statements that Israel is currently trying to reverse Indonesia's decision.
Israel has no formal diplomatic relations with Indonesia, but the two countries maintain economic ties, so Israelis can visit Indonesia using temporary tourist and business visas.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,244 while they were protesting peacefully near Gaza's border fence with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories.
Artists have withdrawn from the line-up of Berlin festival Pop-Kultur after the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) called on all participating artists to withdraw from the event due to its acceptance of sponsorship from the Israeli embassy.
BDS said in a statement that Israel seeks associations with international festivals, such as Pop-Kultur Berlin, to art-wash its image abroad in the explicit attempt to distract attention from its crimes against Palestinians.
For a supposedly progressive festival to accept sponsorship from a decades-old regime of oppression and apartheid like Israel’s is unethical and hypocritical, to say the least, the statement read.
BDS added that most recently, Israel has implemented a shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy -- announced in advance -- against thousands of peaceful protesters in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip who are struggling to achieve freedom. The dozens killed and thousands injured were not shot by accident: an Israeli forces spokesperson even said, “nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured. We know where every bullet landed.”
The International Criminal Court has warned Israel that its killings in Gaza may amount to war crimes.
In light of Israel's continued violation of Palestinian human rights, accepting Israeli government propaganda money amounts to intentional complicity in art-washing Israel’s egregious violations of international law, BDS further stated.
A few months ago, the New Zealand sensation, Lorde, announced the cancellation of a scheduled gig in Tel Aviv. When faced with an ugly intimidation and smear campaign by Israel lobby figures, dozens of world renowned artists, including Oscar-winning Hollywood stars, stood squarely in support of Lorde.
Quoted by BDS, one Israeli official summarized the overt policy of cultural whitewashing in the following terms: “We will send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits. This way you show Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.”
Pop-Kultur festival’s insistence on accepting Israel’s sponsorship, no matter how it spins it this year, leaves us with no choice but to appeal to all participating artists to withdraw, unless the festival rescinds Israel’s sponsorship, said BDS.
It added that an event sponsored by apartheid South Africa would have triggered the same calls for boycott by human rights defenders and progressives in South Africa, Germany and elsewhere. Similarly, refraining from normalizing Israel’s system of injustice is the least that Palestinians expect from progressive artists and cultural organizations in order not to undermine our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Newcastle singer-songwriter Richard Dawson has followed UK band Shopping in issuing a statement announcing they are now boycotting the event.
“In response to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel's call for artists to boycott the upcoming Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin… I regret to inform we've decided to cancel our performance,” ran Dawson’s statement on 17 May.
“The killing on Monday of protesters in Gaza by Israeli government forces is the latest in a long string of atrocities acted upon the Palestinian people,” he said. “Even if performing at Pop-Kultur meant I was endorsing such a government in only the very slightest of ways, I cannot in good conscience lend my music or my name to this.”
BDS said in a statement that Israel seeks associations with international festivals, such as Pop-Kultur Berlin, to art-wash its image abroad in the explicit attempt to distract attention from its crimes against Palestinians.
For a supposedly progressive festival to accept sponsorship from a decades-old regime of oppression and apartheid like Israel’s is unethical and hypocritical, to say the least, the statement read.
BDS added that most recently, Israel has implemented a shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy -- announced in advance -- against thousands of peaceful protesters in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip who are struggling to achieve freedom. The dozens killed and thousands injured were not shot by accident: an Israeli forces spokesperson even said, “nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured. We know where every bullet landed.”
The International Criminal Court has warned Israel that its killings in Gaza may amount to war crimes.
In light of Israel's continued violation of Palestinian human rights, accepting Israeli government propaganda money amounts to intentional complicity in art-washing Israel’s egregious violations of international law, BDS further stated.
A few months ago, the New Zealand sensation, Lorde, announced the cancellation of a scheduled gig in Tel Aviv. When faced with an ugly intimidation and smear campaign by Israel lobby figures, dozens of world renowned artists, including Oscar-winning Hollywood stars, stood squarely in support of Lorde.
Quoted by BDS, one Israeli official summarized the overt policy of cultural whitewashing in the following terms: “We will send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits. This way you show Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.”
Pop-Kultur festival’s insistence on accepting Israel’s sponsorship, no matter how it spins it this year, leaves us with no choice but to appeal to all participating artists to withdraw, unless the festival rescinds Israel’s sponsorship, said BDS.
It added that an event sponsored by apartheid South Africa would have triggered the same calls for boycott by human rights defenders and progressives in South Africa, Germany and elsewhere. Similarly, refraining from normalizing Israel’s system of injustice is the least that Palestinians expect from progressive artists and cultural organizations in order not to undermine our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Newcastle singer-songwriter Richard Dawson has followed UK band Shopping in issuing a statement announcing they are now boycotting the event.
“In response to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel's call for artists to boycott the upcoming Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin… I regret to inform we've decided to cancel our performance,” ran Dawson’s statement on 17 May.
“The killing on Monday of protesters in Gaza by Israeli government forces is the latest in a long string of atrocities acted upon the Palestinian people,” he said. “Even if performing at Pop-Kultur meant I was endorsing such a government in only the very slightest of ways, I cannot in good conscience lend my music or my name to this.”
Muslim Awareness International (MAI), a Nigerian Muslim group, has called for the boycott of Israel after its forces killed over 100 Palestinian protesters in the last month.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, MAI spokesperson, Yusuf Jimoh Aweda, called on the international community to pressure the US and Israel to stop atrocities against Palestinians. He also called on all Nigerians – regardless of religion – to speak out against these violations of human rights.
“We understand that some Christians are indifferent while many more support Israel in recognition of the Jews in the scriptures. Unfortunately, the Zionist government of Israel does not identify with Christianity and all Palestinian Christians and Muslims remain victims of persecution by the occupying Israeli forces.”
Aweda said it was “disheartening” that many Nigerians did not show much concern for the people of Palestine. “We must remember that it is a moral duty to speak out against oppression and violations of human rights,” Aweda said.
MAI head, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative” and proved that Washington was “a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue. The Israeli government as usual continues to be defiant, using deception, lies and false narratives to defend their indefensible crimes against humanity.”
He also commended South Africa for withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, and called on the Arab League to stop ignoring Israel’s assault on Palestinian rights. “Arab nations should stop burying their heads in the sand while Palestine and Islam’s third holiest site are under constant attacks,” Atoyebi said.
Atoyebi called on the UN to go beyond the symbolic criticism of Israeli atrocities and impose appropriate sanctions to force Israel to comply with international law.
In December, Atoyebi led a march of over 3,000 people in Lagos in protest at Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At that event, the President of the Muslim Congress, Lukman Abdur- Raheem, said it is rather unfortunate that many educated Nigerians such as Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode are misleading the Nigerian Christian community into believing that the Palestinian liberation struggle was a religious battle – rather than an anti-colonial struggle.
Nigerian civil society calls for solidarity with Palestinians
On Monday, Issa Aremu, an executive member of the Nigeria Labor Congress, called on all Africans to stand up in solidarity with the Palestinian people, stressing that the Palestinian question is about land occupation, domination and oppression.
“The Middle East crisis is comparable to slavery, colonialism in Africa and apartheid in South Africa. As Africans who once reaped from global solidarity for liberation and independence we cannot by any stretch of imagination be indifferent until Palestinians also get justice, liberation and a fair deal in terms of a state and security.”
On Friday, the former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Owei Lakemfa, blasted African countries for attending the opening of the United States embassy in Jerusalem last week.
Source: Afro-Palestine News Wire Service
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, MAI spokesperson, Yusuf Jimoh Aweda, called on the international community to pressure the US and Israel to stop atrocities against Palestinians. He also called on all Nigerians – regardless of religion – to speak out against these violations of human rights.
“We understand that some Christians are indifferent while many more support Israel in recognition of the Jews in the scriptures. Unfortunately, the Zionist government of Israel does not identify with Christianity and all Palestinian Christians and Muslims remain victims of persecution by the occupying Israeli forces.”
Aweda said it was “disheartening” that many Nigerians did not show much concern for the people of Palestine. “We must remember that it is a moral duty to speak out against oppression and violations of human rights,” Aweda said.
MAI head, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative” and proved that Washington was “a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue. The Israeli government as usual continues to be defiant, using deception, lies and false narratives to defend their indefensible crimes against humanity.”
He also commended South Africa for withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, and called on the Arab League to stop ignoring Israel’s assault on Palestinian rights. “Arab nations should stop burying their heads in the sand while Palestine and Islam’s third holiest site are under constant attacks,” Atoyebi said.
Atoyebi called on the UN to go beyond the symbolic criticism of Israeli atrocities and impose appropriate sanctions to force Israel to comply with international law.
In December, Atoyebi led a march of over 3,000 people in Lagos in protest at Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At that event, the President of the Muslim Congress, Lukman Abdur- Raheem, said it is rather unfortunate that many educated Nigerians such as Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode are misleading the Nigerian Christian community into believing that the Palestinian liberation struggle was a religious battle – rather than an anti-colonial struggle.
Nigerian civil society calls for solidarity with Palestinians
On Monday, Issa Aremu, an executive member of the Nigeria Labor Congress, called on all Africans to stand up in solidarity with the Palestinian people, stressing that the Palestinian question is about land occupation, domination and oppression.
“The Middle East crisis is comparable to slavery, colonialism in Africa and apartheid in South Africa. As Africans who once reaped from global solidarity for liberation and independence we cannot by any stretch of imagination be indifferent until Palestinians also get justice, liberation and a fair deal in terms of a state and security.”
On Friday, the former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Owei Lakemfa, blasted African countries for attending the opening of the United States embassy in Jerusalem last week.
Source: Afro-Palestine News Wire Service
20 may 2018
Rabat has shelved plans for a twin city partnership with Guatemala City in protest against Guatemala’s transfer of its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem.
“Following Guatemala’s decision to establish an embassy in Occupied Jerusalem, Rabat’s city council unanimously decided to suspend the examination of a twinning project with Guatemala City in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Rabat’s deputy mayor Lahcen El Amrani of the Islamist PJD party told Reuters.
Guatemala opened an embassy in Occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday, two days after the United States inaugurated its new site there, a move that infuriated Palestinians and drew international condemnation.
On the day the United States opened its new embassy, Israeli troops killed 65 Palestinian demonstrators at the border in Gaza.
The Rabat city council had previously planned to vote on a twinning project with Guatemala City last week.
Guatemala opened an embassy in Rabat, its second in Africa, in November 2017.
“Following Guatemala’s decision to establish an embassy in Occupied Jerusalem, Rabat’s city council unanimously decided to suspend the examination of a twinning project with Guatemala City in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Rabat’s deputy mayor Lahcen El Amrani of the Islamist PJD party told Reuters.
Guatemala opened an embassy in Occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday, two days after the United States inaugurated its new site there, a move that infuriated Palestinians and drew international condemnation.
On the day the United States opened its new embassy, Israeli troops killed 65 Palestinian demonstrators at the border in Gaza.
The Rabat city council had previously planned to vote on a twinning project with Guatemala City last week.
Guatemala opened an embassy in Rabat, its second in Africa, in November 2017.
19 may 2018
Botswana’ main opposition party, the Botswana National Front (BNF), has called on the government of Botswana to terminate all relations with Israel. This comes in the wake of Israel’s massacre of 60 people on the Israel-Gaza border on Monday.
In a scathing statement, BNF’s Secretary for International Affairs, Nelson Ramaotwana said:
“The BNF does not only condemn the barbaric acts of Israel but call upon the government of Botswana to terminate forthwith all diplomatic relations, trade linkages, military and intelligence support from Israel. We call upon Batswana from all walks of life to boycott and disinvest from Israel products and businesses in solidarity with 61 butchered and 2700 injured Palestinians.”
In a scathing statement, BNF’s Secretary for International Affairs, Nelson Ramaotwana said:
“The BNF does not only condemn the barbaric acts of Israel but call upon the government of Botswana to terminate forthwith all diplomatic relations, trade linkages, military and intelligence support from Israel. We call upon Batswana from all walks of life to boycott and disinvest from Israel products and businesses in solidarity with 61 butchered and 2700 injured Palestinians.”
18 may 2018
The artistic director of the D. Maria II National Theater, Tiago Rodrigues, canceled his participation in the Israel Festival, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem next month, and announced his decision to join the cultural boycott of Israel, according to a statement released by the theater, today.
“I have decided not to present my show at the Israel Festival in June because I believe it is the only way to ensure that my artwork will not serve to justify or support a government that commits deliberate human rights violations and is currently violently attacking the Palestinian people,” says the author, actor and director.
Rodrigues says that although his decision as the artistic director of a national theater “could cause discomfort in the diplomatic plane”, “it was a well thought-out decision and I must, above all, obey my conscience. I have consulted with friends and colleagues whom I trust, and I have read statements by many intellectuals and artists, notably Israelis. Also I bear witness to the Israeli government’s terrible and violent conduct in this moment.”
In his statement, Rodrigues says that although he “vehemently opposes the Israeli government’s oppression of the Palestinian people”, he accepted the invitation to present the play ‘By Heart’ at Israel Festival in Jerusalem because it was “promoted by a non-profit organization that presents itself as an artistic project that promotes a plural and peaceful society.”
Rodrigues also says that he accepted the invitation believing “that the people of a country and its political administration are not the same thing.” He says “when I play shows in the US, for example, I do theater for Americans, but I am not subscribing to the Trump administration. If I were to be associated with the Trump administration, I would be against it.”
However, the director became aware “through the official communications of the festival,” that this year’s edition “marks the 70th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.”
“The festival’s celebration of Israel’s 70th anniversary was not accompanied by a single word of criticism of Israel’s conduct vis-à-vis the Palestinian people during the last 70 years. This notice is of great political significance and I was not informed about it when I was invited to participate in the festival. I do not accept the use of my artistic work for political reasons without my consent,” reads the statement.
In addition, “the festival prominently announces the support of various branches of the Israeli government, but remains silent about the unacceptable acts of violence ordered by the same government against the Palestinian people. This omission is deeply disturbing and I cannot accept it,” he says.
In addition to his decision to boycott Israel Festival, Rodrigues also decided to publicly “join the cultural boycott movement of Israel, with the conviction that global and collective pressure could produce results similar to the boycott of South Africa during apartheid.”
‘By Heart’, a play in which Tiago Rodrigues teaches a poem to ten people of the public, without previous preparation while unraveling stories of his grandmother mixed with fiction and characters of books, was already presented in Rome (Italy), Trodheim (Norway), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Rennes and Marseille (France) and Athens (Greece).
Via the BDS National Committee. Translation from Lusa. Original here.
04/20/18 Natalie Portman Rejects Israel Prize in Light of its Crimes in Gaza
“I have decided not to present my show at the Israel Festival in June because I believe it is the only way to ensure that my artwork will not serve to justify or support a government that commits deliberate human rights violations and is currently violently attacking the Palestinian people,” says the author, actor and director.
Rodrigues says that although his decision as the artistic director of a national theater “could cause discomfort in the diplomatic plane”, “it was a well thought-out decision and I must, above all, obey my conscience. I have consulted with friends and colleagues whom I trust, and I have read statements by many intellectuals and artists, notably Israelis. Also I bear witness to the Israeli government’s terrible and violent conduct in this moment.”
In his statement, Rodrigues says that although he “vehemently opposes the Israeli government’s oppression of the Palestinian people”, he accepted the invitation to present the play ‘By Heart’ at Israel Festival in Jerusalem because it was “promoted by a non-profit organization that presents itself as an artistic project that promotes a plural and peaceful society.”
Rodrigues also says that he accepted the invitation believing “that the people of a country and its political administration are not the same thing.” He says “when I play shows in the US, for example, I do theater for Americans, but I am not subscribing to the Trump administration. If I were to be associated with the Trump administration, I would be against it.”
However, the director became aware “through the official communications of the festival,” that this year’s edition “marks the 70th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.”
“The festival’s celebration of Israel’s 70th anniversary was not accompanied by a single word of criticism of Israel’s conduct vis-à-vis the Palestinian people during the last 70 years. This notice is of great political significance and I was not informed about it when I was invited to participate in the festival. I do not accept the use of my artistic work for political reasons without my consent,” reads the statement.
In addition, “the festival prominently announces the support of various branches of the Israeli government, but remains silent about the unacceptable acts of violence ordered by the same government against the Palestinian people. This omission is deeply disturbing and I cannot accept it,” he says.
In addition to his decision to boycott Israel Festival, Rodrigues also decided to publicly “join the cultural boycott movement of Israel, with the conviction that global and collective pressure could produce results similar to the boycott of South Africa during apartheid.”
‘By Heart’, a play in which Tiago Rodrigues teaches a poem to ten people of the public, without previous preparation while unraveling stories of his grandmother mixed with fiction and characters of books, was already presented in Rome (Italy), Trodheim (Norway), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Rennes and Marseille (France) and Athens (Greece).
Via the BDS National Committee. Translation from Lusa. Original here.
04/20/18 Natalie Portman Rejects Israel Prize in Light of its Crimes in Gaza
Online petition against holding next year's Eurovision in Israel
Icelandic citizens sign petition to boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Israel, following Gaza border riots; Iceland's national public broadcasting organization convenes to discuss issue; Icelandic human rights organization attempts harnessing other European countries to boycott next year's contest.
Iceland's RÚV national public broadcasting organization is expected to convene in the near future to decide whether Iceland will cancel its participation in next year's Eurovision Song Contest—set to take place in Israel following Netta Barzilai's win last week with "Toy"—Icelandic media reported.
Some 22,000 of Iceland's citizens signed an online petition demanding to boycott the contest, in the wake of the Gaza border violence and Israel's policy towards Palestinians.
More than 10,000 people signed the petition just several hours after it went online on Tuesday, one day after violent incidents and dozens of fatalities in Gaza border riots.
"Due to Israel's violation of the Palestinians' human rights, it would be immoral for us to take part in a glamorous contest such as the Eurovision, considering violence Israel is exerting on its neighbors."
"During the past few months, Israel has killed dozens of people whose only crime was to protest the situation in Gaza," according to the petition.
An RÚV committee convened Tuesday to discuss the matter, while a decision regarding the aforementioned matter is expected to be reached during a second meeting that will take place in June.
RÚV senior member Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson said in an official media statement that Iceland's participation in next year's Eurovision in Israel had been up for discussion within the broadcasting department and assured the issue would be reviewed.
Guðmundsson added RÚV's people will discuss the matter with other Nordic television stations before reaching their decision.
Even before the online petition, however, Iceland criticized holding the Eurovision in Jerusalem, with one the country's organizations responsible for Iceland's relations with the Palestinian Authority saying it would be a move detrimental to Palestinians' human rights.
"We regret that Europe is not supporting human rights by choosing to hold next year's Eurovision in Israel," the organization stated.
Several human rights organizations joined the statement, attempting to harness other European countries to join the petition.
Icelandic citizens sign petition to boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Israel, following Gaza border riots; Iceland's national public broadcasting organization convenes to discuss issue; Icelandic human rights organization attempts harnessing other European countries to boycott next year's contest.
Iceland's RÚV national public broadcasting organization is expected to convene in the near future to decide whether Iceland will cancel its participation in next year's Eurovision Song Contest—set to take place in Israel following Netta Barzilai's win last week with "Toy"—Icelandic media reported.
Some 22,000 of Iceland's citizens signed an online petition demanding to boycott the contest, in the wake of the Gaza border violence and Israel's policy towards Palestinians.
More than 10,000 people signed the petition just several hours after it went online on Tuesday, one day after violent incidents and dozens of fatalities in Gaza border riots.
"Due to Israel's violation of the Palestinians' human rights, it would be immoral for us to take part in a glamorous contest such as the Eurovision, considering violence Israel is exerting on its neighbors."
"During the past few months, Israel has killed dozens of people whose only crime was to protest the situation in Gaza," according to the petition.
An RÚV committee convened Tuesday to discuss the matter, while a decision regarding the aforementioned matter is expected to be reached during a second meeting that will take place in June.
RÚV senior member Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson said in an official media statement that Iceland's participation in next year's Eurovision in Israel had been up for discussion within the broadcasting department and assured the issue would be reviewed.
Guðmundsson added RÚV's people will discuss the matter with other Nordic television stations before reaching their decision.
Even before the online petition, however, Iceland criticized holding the Eurovision in Jerusalem, with one the country's organizations responsible for Iceland's relations with the Palestinian Authority saying it would be a move detrimental to Palestinians' human rights.
"We regret that Europe is not supporting human rights by choosing to hold next year's Eurovision in Israel," the organization stated.
Several human rights organizations joined the statement, attempting to harness other European countries to join the petition.
9 may 2018
The Israeli occupation authorities have decided to expel the director of Human Rights Watch's office in Jerusalem Omar Shakir.
Israel's Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri on Tuesday issued a decision ordering Shakir to leave Israel within 14 days.
Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry said the decision was based on Shakir's support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
A US citizen of Iraqi origin, Shakir wrote on Twitter that this is the first time Israel orders a Human Rights Watch official out, adding that the real aim behind this move is to muzzle dissent.
For its part, Human Rights Watch organization announced its full support for Shakir, and called on the Israeli authorities to reconsider their decision, pointing out that it is determined to appeal the decision at an Israeli court.
Israel's Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri on Tuesday issued a decision ordering Shakir to leave Israel within 14 days.
Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry said the decision was based on Shakir's support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
A US citizen of Iraqi origin, Shakir wrote on Twitter that this is the first time Israel orders a Human Rights Watch official out, adding that the real aim behind this move is to muzzle dissent.
For its part, Human Rights Watch organization announced its full support for Shakir, and called on the Israeli authorities to reconsider their decision, pointing out that it is determined to appeal the decision at an Israeli court.
6 may 2018
The boycott campaign in Palestine has strongly denounced the Indonesian decision to accept tourist-visa applications from Israelis.
In a statement on Sunday, the campaign said that such measures in the current sensitive time of the history of the Palestinian Question offer Israeli occupation authorities legitimacy and encourages Israelis to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people and to deprive them of simplest human rights.
The campaign called on competent authorities in Indonesia to clarify their position and asked the Indonesian government and people to boycott Israel. The campaign also asked the country and people to practice international pressure in order to put an end to the Israeli occupation, aggression and violations against Palestinians.
In a statement on Sunday, the campaign said that such measures in the current sensitive time of the history of the Palestinian Question offer Israeli occupation authorities legitimacy and encourages Israelis to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people and to deprive them of simplest human rights.
The campaign called on competent authorities in Indonesia to clarify their position and asked the Indonesian government and people to boycott Israel. The campaign also asked the country and people to practice international pressure in order to put an end to the Israeli occupation, aggression and violations against Palestinians.