Updates from the palestinian BDS ()
West Dunbartonshire council has reaffirmed its support for BDS following false allegations made about the implementation of its boycott policy.
The statement read:
Over recent days there has been some highly misleading publicity in the national and international press concerning West Dunbartonshire Council’s policy on the boycott of Israeli goods.
The week just gone has been an excellent one for student activism for Palestine in the UK. The NUS executive council finally adopted a policy that clearly defended Palestinian human rights, and pledged to send NUS officers on future flotillas sailing to Gaza. Then barely days after that we at the University of London Union voted by a large margin – 10 votes to one in favour of supporting, and adopting, the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
The University of London Union (ULU) has voted 10-1 to institute and campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in support of Palestine. The motion called for “thorough research into ULU investments and contracts” with companies guilty of “violating Palestinian human rights” as set out by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC). Ashok Kumar, Senate member for LSE, speaking in favour of the motion, argued, “We have precedents for boycotting campaigns at ULU, especially with South Africa and the boycott campaign over Barclays bank, that supported the Apartheid regime.
Marc Almond has canceled performing in Israel. Almond's statement was released on the official website and can be viewed by going to the "News" section on that site. PACBI welcomes any cancellation to perform in Israel regardless of the stated reasons. The statement reads:
"Unfortunately, Marc has had to withdraw from the concert in Tel-Aviv, Israel on 14 May 2011. Marc would like to make it absolutely clear that this is not for any political reason. We are very sorry for any inconvenience to fans who have bought tick
First Minister Alex Salmond supported economic sanctions against Israel. He described Israel's massacre of nine Mavi Marmara passengers as an "atrocity on the high seas" and put Israel firmly beyond the pale.
