Marc Almond has cancelled performing in Israel.
Dear Marc Almond,
We are a group of Israeli citizens supporting the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS):
Together with our Palestinian partners, we are calling on international artists to respect the call, and refrain from performing in Israel until the Palestinians’ most basic human rights are respected:
1. Ending [Israel’s] occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the apartheid wall built on Palestinian land;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality;
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
We are Israeli citizens who witness first-hand the brutality of our government's policies towards the Palestinian people. We stand firm in our support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) initiatives against Israel until it meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, and fully complies with the precepts of international law.
Czech version follows English version
We are a group of Israeli citizens who are deeply concerned about our government's policies of racism, apartheid and occupation, and the European Union's complicity in these policies. It has been brought to our attention that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit your country this month, in order to "deepen crucial strategic cooperation", as reported by your local media. Cooperation of this type means increased complicity of the Czech Republic in Israeli crimes. We are therefore writing to you to ask that you resume your responsibility to uphold basic principles of international law and human rights in Israel/Palestine.
We are a group of Israeli citizens who are deeply concerned about our government's policies of apartheid and occupation, and the European Union's complicity in these policies. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Poland for assuming the EU Presidency in July 2011. It has been brought to our attention that the first joint Polish-Israeli cabinet session is due in Jerusalem on the 24th of February.
“In the eyes of the world, the question is what can be done when the relevant institutions do not succeed in enforcing international law?”
January 25, 2011
Dear British Writers in Support of Palestine (BWISP)
We are members of BOYCOTT!2 - a group of Jews and Palestinians, citizens and residents of Israel, who are struggling to end the Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinians. We are writing to reassure you that here, in Israel, your attempts to bring about a change in the Middle East will not fall on deaf ears. There is increasing evidence showing that the boycott movement, inspired by the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel3 may eventually affect Israel’s policies. Indeed the loss of Israel’s legitimacy, caused by the state’s war crimes and violation of international law, is affecting the Israeli public, its opinion shapers, as well as policy makers.
Vanessa Paradis cancelled her performance in Israel
Dear Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp,
We are Israeli citizens. It has come to our attention that Ms. Paradis is planning on performing in Israel in March 2011, and that you are both expected to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres. You may not be aware, but there is an ongoing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, due to its policies of apartheid and occupation. We, as Israeli citizens endorse this boycott, and we are urging you to take this opportunity to take a stand on an issue crucial to human rights and as such, to human lives as well.
Anonymous writer
Dear officials of Leiden University,
We are a group of Israeli citizens. It has recently been brought to our attention that Leiden University had decided to host a special lecture at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University on Thursday 25/11, commemorating a speech by Professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa during the Second World War, in which he protested the removal of Jewish faculty members.
The statement issued by Leiden University reads as follows:
“It behooves all South Africans, themselves erstwhile beneficiaries of generous international support, to stand up and be counted among those contributing actively to the cause of freedom and justice…we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” (Nelson Mandela, Pretoria, 4th December, 1997)
Dear singers, musicians and other members of the Cape Town Opera,
