31 oct 2017
Award-winning British filmmakers Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty have donated proceeds from screenings of their latest film “I, Daniel Blake” to the BDS movement, as a gesture of support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Award-winning British filmmakers Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty of Sixteen Films have donated all proceeds from screenings of their latest film in Israeli venues to the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), as a gesture of support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Vincent Maraval, from the sales company Wildbunch, was also instrumental in making this happen.
The team’s film “I, Daniel Blake” was screened in Israel against their wishes.
Inspired by the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa, the BDS movement appeals to conscientious artists to refrain from performing in Israel and to refuse participation in events sponsored by the Israeli government or entities complicit in Israel’s egregious human rights violations, until Israel meets its obligations under international law. The BDS movement does not expect artists who heed the Palestinian call for cultural boycott to do anything beyond their control to isolate Israel’s regime of oppression.
This team at Sixteen Films creates films that bear witness to grave injustices and brim with integrity, love and human solidarity. They look at the brutality of power head on, and never lose hope in the capacity of decent people acting together to transform the world, to make it kinder and more beautiful.
Ken, Rebecca and Paul — working together as film director, producer and screenwriter — embody all the integrity and generosity of their deeply moving and unforgettable films.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Award-winning British filmmakers Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty of Sixteen Films have donated all proceeds from screenings of their latest film in Israeli venues to the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), as a gesture of support for the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Vincent Maraval, from the sales company Wildbunch, was also instrumental in making this happen.
The team’s film “I, Daniel Blake” was screened in Israel against their wishes.
Inspired by the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa, the BDS movement appeals to conscientious artists to refrain from performing in Israel and to refuse participation in events sponsored by the Israeli government or entities complicit in Israel’s egregious human rights violations, until Israel meets its obligations under international law. The BDS movement does not expect artists who heed the Palestinian call for cultural boycott to do anything beyond their control to isolate Israel’s regime of oppression.
This team at Sixteen Films creates films that bear witness to grave injustices and brim with integrity, love and human solidarity. They look at the brutality of power head on, and never lose hope in the capacity of decent people acting together to transform the world, to make it kinder and more beautiful.
Ken, Rebecca and Paul — working together as film director, producer and screenwriter — embody all the integrity and generosity of their deeply moving and unforgettable films.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
27 oct 2017
Peruvian chef Mitsuharu Tsumura becomes the second to withdraw from Tel Aviv Round Tables culinary festival which whitewashes ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Top chef Mitsuharu Tsumura has announced that he is dropping out of this year’s Round Tables culinary festival in Israel, an event which invites prominent chefs from around the world to cook in Tel Aviv’s restaurants.
His cancellation follows appeals by human rights activists and an open letter from international chefs and culinary authors. All urge withdrawal from this Israeli government-sponsored event because it serves as “culinary propaganda” to whitewash ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Tsumura is the second chef to drop out preceding the festival, following Irish chef JP McMahon, who cancelled last month after receiving similar appeals from activists in Ireland.
Tsumura, the head chef at a Peruvian restaurant currently ranked as the eighth best restaurant in the world, was scheduled to cook in Tel Aviv between November 5 and 10.
The Round Tables festival is not only sponsored by the Israeli government, but is in partnership with Dan Hotels, a large luxury Israeli hotel chain which has built a hotel on stolen Palestinian land in an illegal settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for flying in the invited international chefs.
In an email response to Peruvian activists, management at Tsumura’s restaurant confirmed that he would no longer be traveling to Tel Aviv to participate in the festival. The official Round Tables website is no longer selling tickets for meals with Chef Tsumura or Chef McMahon.
Peruvian activist Irene Abugattas, from Movimiento Boicot Israel- BDS Perú, said:
We congratulate chef Mitsuharu Tsumura for heeding our appeals and cancelling his participation in the Round Tables propaganda festival in Israel. It is not the place of a Peruvian chef, or of any chef for that matter, to help mask Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians. This win is a boost to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Peru and our efforts to end Latin American complicity in ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Zaid Shoaibi, coordinator for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott (PACBI), said:
The #ApartheidRoundTables campaign to expose the festival’s sponsorship by the Israeli government and use as propaganda to whitewash Israeli crimes has enabled us to build strong connections with international chefs. We’ve raised awareness in this community of culinary artists about Israeli policies that deny Palestinians their very right to food.
The Round Tables festival is taking place while the Israeli military and Israeli settlers illegally living on stolen Palestinian land attack Palestinians during their annual olive harvest.
We are pleased that two chefs have cancelled this year and urge those still taking part to follow suit or risk permanently tainting the reputation of their restaurants with Israel’s regime of military occupation and apartheid.
Last year, a top chef from Bolivia withdrew her support from the Round Tables festival after human rights activists exposed its Israeli government ties.
The Round Tables festival begins this Sunday, October 29 and lasts until November 17.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law.
Top chef Mitsuharu Tsumura has announced that he is dropping out of this year’s Round Tables culinary festival in Israel, an event which invites prominent chefs from around the world to cook in Tel Aviv’s restaurants.
His cancellation follows appeals by human rights activists and an open letter from international chefs and culinary authors. All urge withdrawal from this Israeli government-sponsored event because it serves as “culinary propaganda” to whitewash ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Tsumura is the second chef to drop out preceding the festival, following Irish chef JP McMahon, who cancelled last month after receiving similar appeals from activists in Ireland.
Tsumura, the head chef at a Peruvian restaurant currently ranked as the eighth best restaurant in the world, was scheduled to cook in Tel Aviv between November 5 and 10.
The Round Tables festival is not only sponsored by the Israeli government, but is in partnership with Dan Hotels, a large luxury Israeli hotel chain which has built a hotel on stolen Palestinian land in an illegal settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for flying in the invited international chefs.
In an email response to Peruvian activists, management at Tsumura’s restaurant confirmed that he would no longer be traveling to Tel Aviv to participate in the festival. The official Round Tables website is no longer selling tickets for meals with Chef Tsumura or Chef McMahon.
Peruvian activist Irene Abugattas, from Movimiento Boicot Israel- BDS Perú, said:
We congratulate chef Mitsuharu Tsumura for heeding our appeals and cancelling his participation in the Round Tables propaganda festival in Israel. It is not the place of a Peruvian chef, or of any chef for that matter, to help mask Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians. This win is a boost to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Peru and our efforts to end Latin American complicity in ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Zaid Shoaibi, coordinator for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott (PACBI), said:
The #ApartheidRoundTables campaign to expose the festival’s sponsorship by the Israeli government and use as propaganda to whitewash Israeli crimes has enabled us to build strong connections with international chefs. We’ve raised awareness in this community of culinary artists about Israeli policies that deny Palestinians their very right to food.
The Round Tables festival is taking place while the Israeli military and Israeli settlers illegally living on stolen Palestinian land attack Palestinians during their annual olive harvest.
We are pleased that two chefs have cancelled this year and urge those still taking part to follow suit or risk permanently tainting the reputation of their restaurants with Israel’s regime of military occupation and apartheid.
Last year, a top chef from Bolivia withdrew her support from the Round Tables festival after human rights activists exposed its Israeli government ties.
The Round Tables festival begins this Sunday, October 29 and lasts until November 17.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law.
130 Israeli companies and 60 international companies operating in Israel have received warning letters signed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zaid bin Ra’ad al-Hussein where they were warned against the possibility of including them in the UN “blacklist”, that includes companies operating in illegal settlements built on the occupied West Bank, which violate international law and are contrary to United Nations resolutions.
The blacklist includes 25 well-known Israeli companies, some of them working in the field of food, and others in the provision of services, the production of medicines, and even some in hi-tech. Those companies share the fact that they are active in the illegal settlements and in occupied Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
The settlement blacklist of 25 firms published by Israeli paper includes Israel Aerospace Industries, telecom giants, international tech firms, banks, and even cafes. The companies include: Ahava, Dor Alon, Amisragas, Angel Bakeries, Arison Investments, Ashdar, Cafe Café, Clal Industries, Cellcom, Danya Cebus, Electra, HP, HOT, Israel Aerospace Industries, Matrix systems, Motorola, Nesher. Partner, Paz, Rami Levy, Remax, Shikun & Binui (Housing & Construction Holding Company), Shufersal, Bank Leumi, Sonol.
These companies are working on how to respond to the warning messages, and some of them threaten to launch a counter-attack under the pretext that the inclusion in the list may harm them economically, and affects their reputation. Some companies are also considering filing lawsuits against the United Nations commissioner and the UN Human Rights Council.
The report noted, according to the PNN, that Israel and the United States have been working behind the scenes in recent weeks to prevent the publication of the black list, but it is estimated that the list is already complete.
Although there are no effective or judicial aspects of the blacklist, it is a concern for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, as it is a support for the BDS efforts, like discouraging foreign investors, and pushing foreign companies to reduce their business in the region. Senior Israeli officials said the Israeli fear of divestment or scaled-down business due to the blacklist is already becoming a reality. The Economy Ministry’s Office of Strategic Affairs has received information regarding a number of letter-receiving companies that have responded to the human rights commissioner by saying they do not intend to renew contracts or sign new ones in Israel., according to Haaretz.
An Israeli official warned that the black list could push investment companies or pension funds with shares in different companies to refuse to invest with those listed, which could eventually lead to economic damage to Israel.
AIPAC, a pro-Israel organization in the United States, has been working in recent weeks to push for a quick congressional bill that states that every company that reports on its work with Israel is subject to Arab boycotts, thereby committing a criminal offense under US law.
The blacklist includes 25 well-known Israeli companies, some of them working in the field of food, and others in the provision of services, the production of medicines, and even some in hi-tech. Those companies share the fact that they are active in the illegal settlements and in occupied Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
The settlement blacklist of 25 firms published by Israeli paper includes Israel Aerospace Industries, telecom giants, international tech firms, banks, and even cafes. The companies include: Ahava, Dor Alon, Amisragas, Angel Bakeries, Arison Investments, Ashdar, Cafe Café, Clal Industries, Cellcom, Danya Cebus, Electra, HP, HOT, Israel Aerospace Industries, Matrix systems, Motorola, Nesher. Partner, Paz, Rami Levy, Remax, Shikun & Binui (Housing & Construction Holding Company), Shufersal, Bank Leumi, Sonol.
These companies are working on how to respond to the warning messages, and some of them threaten to launch a counter-attack under the pretext that the inclusion in the list may harm them economically, and affects their reputation. Some companies are also considering filing lawsuits against the United Nations commissioner and the UN Human Rights Council.
The report noted, according to the PNN, that Israel and the United States have been working behind the scenes in recent weeks to prevent the publication of the black list, but it is estimated that the list is already complete.
Although there are no effective or judicial aspects of the blacklist, it is a concern for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, as it is a support for the BDS efforts, like discouraging foreign investors, and pushing foreign companies to reduce their business in the region. Senior Israeli officials said the Israeli fear of divestment or scaled-down business due to the blacklist is already becoming a reality. The Economy Ministry’s Office of Strategic Affairs has received information regarding a number of letter-receiving companies that have responded to the human rights commissioner by saying they do not intend to renew contracts or sign new ones in Israel., according to Haaretz.
An Israeli official warned that the black list could push investment companies or pension funds with shares in different companies to refuse to invest with those listed, which could eventually lead to economic damage to Israel.
AIPAC, a pro-Israel organization in the United States, has been working in recent weeks to push for a quick congressional bill that states that every company that reports on its work with Israel is subject to Arab boycotts, thereby committing a criminal offense under US law.
24 oct 2017
Earlier this month, the largest national organization representing peasants in India, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), has announced that it has joined the BDS movement. AIKS is is spread across 21 states in India and is over 16 million members strong.
AIKS has resolved to:
A spokesperson from the Palestinian BDS National Committee said:
Indian solidarity with the Palestinian people is not new, it has a long history. We are very glad to see this solidarity re-emerge with All India Kisan Sabha’s (AIKS) declaration of support for the BDS movement and the Palestinian people.
Grassroots movements in India, Palestine and beyond are working to defeat the violent wave of right-wing politics plaguing our the world today. By joining the BDS movement, AIKS is saying no to the hateful politics of Prime Minister Modi, Netanyahu and Trump, and joining us to build a more free, just and equal world.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was formed in 1936, before India’s independence from British colonialism. It played a critical role in mobilizing peasants to end British imperialism.
More recently, AIKS has actively resisted the corporate takeover of Indian agriculture and the two decades of neoliberal policies which have led to massive indebtedness and farmer suicides.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
AIKS has resolved to:
- Endorse the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law, in order to stand for the rights of the Palestinian people and to resist the corporate takeover of Indian agriculture sector by Israeli companies.
- Denounce and document any cases of Israeli corporate takeover in the Indian agro-sector.
- Raise awareness among Indian farmers to prevent Israel and its corporations from reaping profits in India that finance military occupation and apartheid in Palestine.
A spokesperson from the Palestinian BDS National Committee said:
Indian solidarity with the Palestinian people is not new, it has a long history. We are very glad to see this solidarity re-emerge with All India Kisan Sabha’s (AIKS) declaration of support for the BDS movement and the Palestinian people.
Grassroots movements in India, Palestine and beyond are working to defeat the violent wave of right-wing politics plaguing our the world today. By joining the BDS movement, AIKS is saying no to the hateful politics of Prime Minister Modi, Netanyahu and Trump, and joining us to build a more free, just and equal world.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was formed in 1936, before India’s independence from British colonialism. It played a critical role in mobilizing peasants to end British imperialism.
More recently, AIKS has actively resisted the corporate takeover of Indian agriculture and the two decades of neoliberal policies which have led to massive indebtedness and farmer suicides.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
20 oct 2017
The upscale Mitsukoshi department store in the Ginza district of Tokyo has withdrawn Israeli settlement products.
Earlier this month, the store was scheduled to host an event featuring Israeli wines, including wines made in illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen land. But after Japanese civil society raised concerns, Mitsukoshi shortened the event and removed all wines which Japanese BDS activists indicated were made in Israeli settlements.
A spokesperson for Palestine Forum — Japan, a network of BDS activists, said:
We warmly welcome this principled decision by Mitsukoshi department store to pull products made in illegal Israeli settlements from its shelves. By refusing to sell these products, the store is complying with international law and Japanese foreign policy. It is also respecting human rights and advancing justice and peace.
Mitsukoshi’s action serves as a model to other Japanese companies trading with those in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied land.
Japanese companies must immediately end their complicity in Israeli violations of human rights by stopping all trade and cooperation with Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid, or increasingly face both reputational damage and financial losses.
BDS activists in Japan will continue to support the Palestinian call for boycott until the Japanese government implements sanctions against Israel, as was done against apartheid South Africa, to end Israel’s decades-old denial of Palestinian human rights.
In July 2017, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a warning on its website, advising that “settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are in violation of international law, and one must be aware of the financial, reputational and legal risks when involved with economic activities in these areas.”
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Earlier this month, the store was scheduled to host an event featuring Israeli wines, including wines made in illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen land. But after Japanese civil society raised concerns, Mitsukoshi shortened the event and removed all wines which Japanese BDS activists indicated were made in Israeli settlements.
A spokesperson for Palestine Forum — Japan, a network of BDS activists, said:
We warmly welcome this principled decision by Mitsukoshi department store to pull products made in illegal Israeli settlements from its shelves. By refusing to sell these products, the store is complying with international law and Japanese foreign policy. It is also respecting human rights and advancing justice and peace.
Mitsukoshi’s action serves as a model to other Japanese companies trading with those in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied land.
Japanese companies must immediately end their complicity in Israeli violations of human rights by stopping all trade and cooperation with Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid, or increasingly face both reputational damage and financial losses.
BDS activists in Japan will continue to support the Palestinian call for boycott until the Japanese government implements sanctions against Israel, as was done against apartheid South Africa, to end Israel’s decades-old denial of Palestinian human rights.
In July 2017, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a warning on its website, advising that “settlement activities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are in violation of international law, and one must be aware of the financial, reputational and legal risks when involved with economic activities in these areas.”
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
19 oct 2017
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has welcomed the Palestinian student delegation and other Arab delegations’ withdrawal from the World Festival of Youths and Students, held in the Russian city of Sochi, due to the participation of Israeli delegations.
“We appreciated the principled stand taken by the Arab youths rejecting normalization, especially that the festival alleged to be anti-imperialism, however, Israeli delegations having colonial thoughts and supporting imperialism are invited to take part in it,” the movement said is a press release on Wednesday, according to Al Ray.
The movement praised all students and free voices that had withdrawn from the opening session of the festival.
“We appreciated the principled stand taken by the Arab youths rejecting normalization, especially that the festival alleged to be anti-imperialism, however, Israeli delegations having colonial thoughts and supporting imperialism are invited to take part in it,” the movement said is a press release on Wednesday, according to Al Ray.
The movement praised all students and free voices that had withdrawn from the opening session of the festival.
17 oct 2017
(University of Chile, Faculty of Medicine)
More than three-fourths of students at the University of Chile’s Faculty of Medicine voted to break institutional ties with Israeli universities in a student referendum held last month. They also voted against Israeli government sponsorship or attendance of events at their university.
This is the third such vote to take place at the University of Chile, the country’s largest university. Over the last two years, more than 90% of students at the Faculty of Social Sciences and more than 60% of students at the Faculty of Law also voted in support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) measures.
BDS UChile, the university’s student coalition advocating for BDS, celebrated the victory, saying:
We are celebrating yet another win for the global BDS movement at the University of Chile. After students at the Faculty of Law and students at the Faculty of Social Sciences voted for BDS in 2015 and 2016 respectively, we are very proud that students at the Faculty of Medicine joined in to vote a resounding YES on having a university free of Israeli apartheid.
Before this vote took place, Palestinian medical students sent a video message to Chilean students, highlighting the impact of Israeli apartheid, military occupation and colonialism on their rights to health and education. They emphasized the importance of effective international solidarity through the academic boycott of Israeli universities.
Monia Kittana, a Birzeit University Palestinian medical student featured in the video, welcomed the referendum results, saying:
We are very thankful that medical students at the University of Chile have heeded our call to boycott Israeli apartheid. We applaud them for their principles and solidarity. They’ve set an example to be followed by other departments and universities in Chile and in all of Latin America. Palestinians need effective solidarity from around the world, and students can play a leading role in pressuring their universities to break ties with institutions that are complicit in Israel’s half-century of military occupation and nearly 70 years of dispossessing Palestinians from their homes and lands.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter @BDSmovement.
More than three-fourths of students at the University of Chile’s Faculty of Medicine voted to break institutional ties with Israeli universities in a student referendum held last month. They also voted against Israeli government sponsorship or attendance of events at their university.
This is the third such vote to take place at the University of Chile, the country’s largest university. Over the last two years, more than 90% of students at the Faculty of Social Sciences and more than 60% of students at the Faculty of Law also voted in support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) measures.
BDS UChile, the university’s student coalition advocating for BDS, celebrated the victory, saying:
We are celebrating yet another win for the global BDS movement at the University of Chile. After students at the Faculty of Law and students at the Faculty of Social Sciences voted for BDS in 2015 and 2016 respectively, we are very proud that students at the Faculty of Medicine joined in to vote a resounding YES on having a university free of Israeli apartheid.
Before this vote took place, Palestinian medical students sent a video message to Chilean students, highlighting the impact of Israeli apartheid, military occupation and colonialism on their rights to health and education. They emphasized the importance of effective international solidarity through the academic boycott of Israeli universities.
Monia Kittana, a Birzeit University Palestinian medical student featured in the video, welcomed the referendum results, saying:
We are very thankful that medical students at the University of Chile have heeded our call to boycott Israeli apartheid. We applaud them for their principles and solidarity. They’ve set an example to be followed by other departments and universities in Chile and in all of Latin America. Palestinians need effective solidarity from around the world, and students can play a leading role in pressuring their universities to break ties with institutions that are complicit in Israel’s half-century of military occupation and nearly 70 years of dispossessing Palestinians from their homes and lands.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) is the largest coalition in Palestinian civil society. It leads and supports the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter @BDSmovement.
13 oct 2017
Israeli soldiers regularly harass and assault Palestinian farmers and destroy their crops
In an open letter, prominent chefs from Palestine and nine other countries called on their colleagues to withdraw from the upcoming Round Tables culinary festival in Tel Aviv. This festival is sponsored by the Israeli government and is in partnership with Dan Hotels, which has a hotel built in an illegal settlement on stolen Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem.
Between October 29 and November 17, fourteen world-renowned head-chefs will spend a week cooking in Tel Aviv as part of the Israeli government’s public relations effort to use this international event to distract attention from its military occupation and apartheid policies.
The letter states:
Round Tables — dubbed “gastro-diplomacy” — is part of the Israeli government’s “Brand Israel” propaganda campaign, launched in 2005 to distract the world’s attention from Israel’s oppression and denial of Palestinian human rights through the use of culture and arts.
The chefs added that their work is about “creating inspiring, beautiful culinary experiences for people,” pointing out that the “Round Tables festival is no place for chefs who care about indigenous peoples’ having access to their farm lands and traditional food ways.”
Thaer Shaheen, a Palestinian chef at Darna, one of Ramallah’s most well-known restaurants, said:
This year’s edition of the Round Tables festival features farm-to-table food. Whose farms, and whose tables? Israel has systematically destroyed Palestinian farms and farming as a whole and continues to deny farmers access to their lands. This is evident in Israel’s persistent attacks on the annual olive harvest which is taking place now. We, the indigenous people of the land, cannot access our lands and farms. If the chefs really care about the values of the farm-to-table movement, including Palestinian farms and tables, they will withdraw from this event.
Ora Wise, a New York-based chef at Harvest & Revel and signatory of the letter, added:
As a chef, I hope for the day that my colleagues join me in valuing Palestinian life and culture as much as we value hummus, za’atar, and falafel. Round Tables by American Express claims to be introducing international chefs to “the multicultural and ethnic culinary heritage of Israel” while Palestinians are not only excluded from the table, they also continue to be violently denied access to their homes and farmlands.
Wise made a personal appeal to the chef of Pok Pok Ny restaurant from her home city:
Nobody can produce or enjoy good food within an apartheid system that destroys the very things any respectable chef believes in — celebration of distinct cultures, sustainable agriculture, preservation of local food traditions, and fair and dignified labor conditions. If Andy Ricker truly values any of this, he will refuse to participate in this Israeli government-sponsored PR stunt and would be a better chef and food entrepreneur because of it.
Over 180 civil society groups also signed a letter urging chefs to cancel their participation in this culinary propaganda festival that serves to whitewash Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Following appeals from concerned members of the public, Irish chef JP McMahon announced he has withdrawn his participation from this year’s Round Tables festival.
The full letter can be found here.
In an open letter, prominent chefs from Palestine and nine other countries called on their colleagues to withdraw from the upcoming Round Tables culinary festival in Tel Aviv. This festival is sponsored by the Israeli government and is in partnership with Dan Hotels, which has a hotel built in an illegal settlement on stolen Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem.
Between October 29 and November 17, fourteen world-renowned head-chefs will spend a week cooking in Tel Aviv as part of the Israeli government’s public relations effort to use this international event to distract attention from its military occupation and apartheid policies.
The letter states:
Round Tables — dubbed “gastro-diplomacy” — is part of the Israeli government’s “Brand Israel” propaganda campaign, launched in 2005 to distract the world’s attention from Israel’s oppression and denial of Palestinian human rights through the use of culture and arts.
The chefs added that their work is about “creating inspiring, beautiful culinary experiences for people,” pointing out that the “Round Tables festival is no place for chefs who care about indigenous peoples’ having access to their farm lands and traditional food ways.”
Thaer Shaheen, a Palestinian chef at Darna, one of Ramallah’s most well-known restaurants, said:
This year’s edition of the Round Tables festival features farm-to-table food. Whose farms, and whose tables? Israel has systematically destroyed Palestinian farms and farming as a whole and continues to deny farmers access to their lands. This is evident in Israel’s persistent attacks on the annual olive harvest which is taking place now. We, the indigenous people of the land, cannot access our lands and farms. If the chefs really care about the values of the farm-to-table movement, including Palestinian farms and tables, they will withdraw from this event.
Ora Wise, a New York-based chef at Harvest & Revel and signatory of the letter, added:
As a chef, I hope for the day that my colleagues join me in valuing Palestinian life and culture as much as we value hummus, za’atar, and falafel. Round Tables by American Express claims to be introducing international chefs to “the multicultural and ethnic culinary heritage of Israel” while Palestinians are not only excluded from the table, they also continue to be violently denied access to their homes and farmlands.
Wise made a personal appeal to the chef of Pok Pok Ny restaurant from her home city:
Nobody can produce or enjoy good food within an apartheid system that destroys the very things any respectable chef believes in — celebration of distinct cultures, sustainable agriculture, preservation of local food traditions, and fair and dignified labor conditions. If Andy Ricker truly values any of this, he will refuse to participate in this Israeli government-sponsored PR stunt and would be a better chef and food entrepreneur because of it.
Over 180 civil society groups also signed a letter urging chefs to cancel their participation in this culinary propaganda festival that serves to whitewash Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights.
Following appeals from concerned members of the public, Irish chef JP McMahon announced he has withdrawn his participation from this year’s Round Tables festival.
The full letter can be found here.
