Roadmap to Israeli Apartheid

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPvwj6t_B_Q

for more videos on this issue: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11889.shtml

Land Day at University of Washington -- Seattle -- Palestine: It's About the Land

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(Soggy) Land Day at University of Washington's Red Square

Hundreds of students and people in touring groups saw the sign.

Voices of Palestine flyered with information about the origins of Land Day. One commenter affirmed the idea of the dispute being about land. "No one talks about that."

BDS Flash Mob in Grand Central Station, NYC

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myt23xhMEMk

"The Foolish Side of the Cultural Boycott Line" -- Alexander Billet

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Gene Simmons has been known for a lot of less-than-savory things. His long tongue is probably his most infamous, and yet few have said much about his big, bigoted, misogynist mouth. The Kiss front-man, who was born Chaim Witz near Haifa, recently opened that mouth to call artists boycotting Israel "fools."

Simmons is currently in Israel to film scenes for his reality show, Gene Simmons' Family Jewels. In an interview with the Associated Press, he gave some rather condescending advice to those same artists: "The countries they should be boycotting are the same countries [where] the populations are rebelling ... People long to be free ... And they sure as hell don't want somebody who's a ruler who hasn't been elected by them" ("AP Interview: Kiss bassist Gene Simmons says boycotters of Israel are 'fools'," 22 March 2011).

For his own part, Simmons has been a long and vocal supporter of Israeli and American foreign policy. He loudly stumped for both the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and in 2006, as Israel bombed Lebanon, he sent messages of support to Israeli soldiers. And his supposed liberalism hasn't prevented him from describing Islam as a "vile culture" to The Sydney Morning Herald in 2004.

Now he's directed this same bile at some of music's most legendary figures. The Pixies, Gil Scott-Heron, Carlos Santana and Pink Floyd's Roger Waters are only a few of the personalities who have lent their names to the cultural boycott over the past few years.

The call for an economic, academic and cultural boycott goes back to 2004, when groups, intellectuals and activists from within Palestine issued the call ("Call for academic and cultural boycott of Israel"). The past nine years have seen the call supported by a growing number of groups world-wide and since Israel's lethal attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in May 2010, the amount of cancelled gigs has greatly increased. Elvis Costello, who pulled out of two shows in Tel Aviv after the raid, explained his rationale on his website:

"One lives in hope that music is more than mere noise, filling up idle time, whether intending to elate or lament ... Then there are occasions when merely having your name added to a concert schedule may be interpreted as a political act that resonates more than anything that might be sung and it may be assumed that one has no mind for the suffering of the innocent" ("It is After Considerable Contemplation ...").

Costello, along with many other artists like him, have been lambasted by countless voices both in the mainstream press and the world-wide blogosphere. Right-wing columnist and radio host Debbie Schlussel labeled him "scum," and accused him of "appeasing" Hamas. Shuki Weiss, a high-profile Israeli concert promoter, called the boycott "cultural terrorism." Indeed, Gene Simmons' own words highlight the momentum that the cultural boycott of Israel has gained lately -- and what a potential problem it's become for Israel's public image abroad.

Simmons is notably careful to put the whole question in terms of "freedom," a rather oblique word that any politician is ready to trot out at a moment's notice. The same interview notes that his own mother was a survivor of the Nazi Holocaust, which once again pulls the whole conversation about Palestine and Israel away from the realities of colonialism and boils the conflict down to a matter of "Jew vs. Muslim." It's a mistaken notion that nonetheless seems to jive with Simmons' own "clash of civilizations" worldview.

Of course, at least in the interview, there's no mention of the boycott on its own terms, no mention of the one word that Israel and its backers fear: apartheid. After all, to do so might put Simmons on history's bad side.

It's a potent line to cross. Those who struggled against apartheid in South Africa no doubt remember the loud and proud role that music played. Artists United Against Apartheid, launched in 1985 by Little Steven Van Zandt, garnered support from countless musicians. Run-DMC, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, Joey Ramone, George Clinton, Peter Gabriel are just a few of the musicians who famously refused to play South Africa while apartheid remained intact.

Simmons wasn't part of AUAA. But then, "integrity" has never been the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Kiss, a group who have eagerly lent their image to anything that will make them money -- lunch-boxes, action figures, cartoons, soda commercials and credit cards have all been deemed worthy of the Kiss "brand," but alas, not the struggle for human rights.

The real insult, however, comes in his insistence that artists should be boycotting the "countries [where] the populations are rebelling." He conveniently skips over the fact that Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and most of the other Middle East dictatorships have survived through steadfast support from Israel and the US. An example of this would be one of the key demands being fought for by those still struggling in Egypt -- opening the border with Gaza!

You have to hand it to him though; Simmons has impeccable timing. His comments and visit to Jerusalem come right as Israel has launched a spate of fresh bombings of Gaza. Simmons, it seems, may have front-row seats to a crime against humanity. No doubt these particular segments of Family Jewels are going to be particularly stomach-turning. But while he runs his mouth off to no end, the fact remains that a growing number of musicians have decided Israel deserves nothing but silence from them.

Ni'lin Town Marks The Land Day/ 26.03.2011 /By: Saeed Amireh

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLsbv7npMvA

Response to Juan Cole Who Supports the Military Attack on Libya by Western Powers

Tweet Prof. Juan Cole at Informed Comment has an "Open Letter to the Left on Libya." It can be found here: http://www.juancole.com/2011/03/an-open-letter-to-the-left-on-libya.html
He supports the military intervention by U.S./UN/EU/NATO.

My response, which is awaiting moderation on his site (4 pm, Sunday):

Two things (out of many) I disagree with in this letter:

For a professor who is an expert in political affairs, Cole's definition of anti-imperialism is ridiculous:

2. Absolute anti-imperialism (all interventions in world affairs by outsiders are wrong).

Imperialism is defined as:

"the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies."

Anti-imperialism is thus against the moves of empires, not just any "outsiders," as Cole characterizes it.

Which leads me to second problem with Prof. Cole's analysis.

In the US, progressive people actually went to fight in the Spanish Civil War, forming the Lincoln Brigade. That was a foreign intervention.

Cole keeps confusing the people of the world with the institutions that rule over them. The UN, which Cole keeps citing in his article to legitimize his rationalization for the empire's intervention, banned the Lincoln Brigade and the U.S. prosecuted people who joined it.

By early 1937, its [Lincoln Brigade] numbers had swelled from an initial 96 volunteers to around 450 members. In February 1937, the European powers comprising the League of Nations Non-Intervention Committee banned foreign national volunteers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln_Brigade

When you support this intervention, you are giving power to the same entities who are doing this:

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/03/american-media-bury-story-of-drone-attack-that-killed-40-in-pakistan-incg-many-tribal-elders.html/comment-page-1#comment-299750

The capitalists in this country collaborated with Hitler until they saw the necessity to save investments in Britain and France, to whom they had loaned millions of dollars. Remember their denial Jewish immigration to the U.S.? It did not serve the interest of some sector of the elites.

If more anti-imperialists had stuck to their principles and supported Eugene Debs and Rosa Luxembourg, we may not have had the carnage that was World War I.

Linda J.

Reminder: VIGIL FOR FREE PALESTINE, Saturday March 26

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It's time for the ISRAELI OCCUPATION to END. It's time for the PALESTINIAN PEOPLE to be FREE!

Come join us to support the Palestinian people in their struggle for Freedom!

Saturday, March 26

Noon-2:00 pm

WestlakePlaza, 4th & Pine

================

Amin Odeh
VoicesofPalestine.org

"Stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone"

Stricken Japanese Workers & Students Fight Back, Inspired by Egyptian Struggle

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRamavL-SNM

Amazing Remi Kanazi at the University of Chicago SJP's Justice Cafe

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOCSUXZnRWA

The Palestinian Narrative Has Won -- Oudeh Basharat on Israel's Nakba Ban

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When the Knesset approves legislation banning the Nakba commemoration, it seems surreal. Yet, there is also something good in this commotion. At least, there's no denial of the Nakba.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-palestinian-narrative-has-won-1.351497

University of Johannesburg Has Officially Severed Ties with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University

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UJ ENDS ISRAELI LINKS - Historic moment for boycott of Israel movement


Today, setting a worldwide precedent in higher education, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has officially severed ties with Israel's Ben-Gurion University (BGU). This was after UJ's Senate found there to be "significant evidence that BGU has research and other engagements that support the military and armed forces of Israel, in particular in its occupation of Gaza."

UJ is the first institution to officially sever relations with an Israeli university - a landmark moment in the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel campaign. Throughout the campaign progressive academics and international human right activists have been anticipating this decision. This boycott decision, coming from a South African institution, is of particular significance. It could start a domino boycott effect.

The movement to end ties with BGU began with the advent of the UJ Petition (www.ujpetition.com) - a statement in support of UJ academics and students who were calling on their university to end its apartheid-era relationship with BGU. As the UJ senate met today, over 400 South African academics, including nine Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (highest non-ceremonial university positions), had joined the campaign.

Included in the list of supporters are some of South Africa's leading voices: Professors Neville Alexander, Kader Asmal, Allan Boesak, Breyten Breytenbach, John Dugard, Antjie Krog, Barney Pityana and Sampie Terreblanche. South Africa's popular cartoonist Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro, Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, Bishop Rubin Phillips, former Minister Ronnie Kasrils and leading social activist Zackie Achmat also backed the campaign.

Further, over 100 internationals have lent their support, including several prominent international scholars: Professors Judith Butler, Vijay Prashad, Michael Burawoy, Wendy Brown, Ernesto Laclau, and acclaimed British author, John Berger.

Today UJ has made history by upholding and advancing academic moral integrity. Palestinians, South Africans and the international academic and solidarity community rejoice at this decisive victory in isolating Israeli apartheid and supporting freedom, dignity and justice for the Palestinian people. UJ continues the anti-apartheid movement.


ISSUED BY DASANTHA PILLAY ON BEHALF OF THE UJ PETITION COMMITTEE:

Dasantha Pillay: pillay.dasantha@gmail.com / +27 (0) 84 211 9988
Professor Peter Alexander: palexander@uj.ac.za
Professor Farid Esack: fesack@uj.ac.za / (0) 83 459 9989
Salim Vally: svally@gmail.com / (0)82 802 5936

======

The Ethics of Air War

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl1MUYFP15g

"Thousands Rally Against EU Wage Plan"

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Protesters are angry at a range of tough spending cuts designed to curb nations' growing public deficit [Reuters]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/03/201132412814923581.html

Democracy in the Arab World: Like Pulling Teeth! Bendib

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Silence Amidst the Horror by Shahd A.

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I am sitting so close to my mother, expecting anything to happen any time. I hate to listen to the radio but I have to. The Radio announcer keeps repeating the same sentence again and again “People, try to take as much caution as possible!” What a silly call! Who knows which is or is not a safe place in Gaza during war time? All I want right now is to see my family members around me. I keep moving my eyes over and around them. They are totally silent but features of worry and fear are easy to make out on their faces. “It sounds like another war” mum said. I just looked and listened in silence, and continued pressing the keyboard buttons. I feel cold like never before. I feel so much in need of a blanket or a sweater but two things stops me from that; my legs and my lips. I can’t break my silence as well as my stiffened state. Nothing but my fingers are moving.
I laughed at myself as I remembered how I bolted down in a flash from the second floor to the first floor where my family stays। Fear takes over, pushes you further. Subconscious strength drove my legs to gather with the others—the safest place I can be. Suddenly, I stopped writing. I couldn’t see anything around me, all colors are unclear. A series of flashbacks from the last war on Gaza that were buried somewhere in my absent memory have reemerged. The sound of war planes is getting louder. The sirens of ambulances are still ringing. I wish I can move and bring some cotton to close my ears. This is the only time when I envy the deaf. “7 children are injured!” the announcer said. I felt as if somebody had thrown freezing water over my face so strongly that it sounded like a slap, though I remained unmoved and unconscious to it.

"Barack Obama: The Most Pro-War President in Living Memory"

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via Hossam

Spring Movements

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBBZntjQbXM

via Hossam

Peace Prize Winner Attacks Libya

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Bahrain Using U.S.-Built Apache Helicopters on Their People -- Can I Hear a No-Fly Zone Here????

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Pepe Escobar

The Arab Counterrevolution is Winning

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MC18Ak01.html


UPDATE: Great minds -- me & Pepe Escobar

House of Saud 'liberates' Bahrain
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MC16Ak03.html

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/16/110562/with-helicopters-and-live-fire.html#storylink=misearch

Israeli Spin Machine Broken? Yup, Sez Haaretz. World Now Knows Better

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http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-s-latest-pr-bid-has-failed-1.349676

The world has become somewhat immune to Israel's periodic "we are the victim" spin.