Open Letter to Jeff Beck: Don’t Condone Israeli Apartheid!!
Occupied Ramallah, 26 August 2010 The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) is deeply troubled to learn that a highly respected musician such as yourself is scheduled to perform in Israel on October 5th, in violation of the Palestinian call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions ( Although you seem to have ignored an appeal sent to you last month by our Israeli partners, Boycott from Within!, [2] to cancel your performance in Israel, we hope you shall think again about this especially problematic gig. As a prominent artist you would be inadvertently supporting the official “Brand Israel” campaign, aimed at whitewashing Israel’s violations of international law and projecting a false image of normalcy and civility. [3] You would be sending a message of support to Israel, at a time when it is facing growing international isolation over its systematic and gross violations of Palestinian human rights. Since the shocking flotilla massacre, when Israel attacked a humanitarian ship bound for Gaza and killed nine Turkish activists, a number of influential international artists have refused to conduct ‘business as usual’ with a state that has placed itself above international law and is violently oppressing the Palestinian people. In the wake of the Flotilla attack, Klaxons, Gorillaz Sound System, the Pixies and Faithless all cancelled their scheduled concerts in Israel, [4] and Hollywood superstars Meg Ryan and Dustin Hoffman cancelled their attendance at the 2010 Jerusalem Film Festival. [5] Explaining his band’s decision, Faithless frontman Maxi Jazz brings into focus why it is morally imperative for artists to refuse to entertain apartheid Israel: While human beings are being willfully denied not just their rights but their NEEDS for their children and grandparents and themselves, I feel deeply that I should not be sending even tacit signals that this is either ‘normal‘ or ‘ok‘. It‘s neither and I cannot support it. [6] In other words, your performance in For over 60 years In the Israeli occupied In You may be particularly interested to know that, as part of its illegal and unethical siege of Gaza, Israel has prevented not only various types of medicines, candles, books, crayons, clothing, shoes, blankets, pasta, tea, coffee and chocolate, but also musical instruments from reaching the 1.5 million Palestinians incarcerated in the world’s largest open-air prison. [9] Can you entertain such a state with a clear conscience? Inspired by the struggle against apartheid We ask you to heed our call for BDS. We hope that you will not turn a blind eye to colonial oppression, but instead will choose to use your musical talents to support the pursuit of freedom, justice, and equal human rights for all. PACBI [1] http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/52 [2] http://boycottisrael.info/content/jeff-beck-dont-play-apartheid-israel [3] http://www.forward.com/articles/2070/. Ben White provides a comprehensive discussion of the brand-Israel effort in http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11093.shtml [4] http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/klaxons-and-gorillaz-sound-system-cancel-israel-shows-apparently-due-to-gaza-flotilla-raid-1.294191 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/06/2919568.htm?section=justin [5] http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=180671 [6] http://www.wallofsilence.org/news.html [7] http://www.ochaopt.org/gazacrisis/index.php?section=3 [8] “Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict.” General Assembly, A/ [9] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7545636.stm
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