Irish lecturers call on EU to boycott Israeli universities

[bemildred]

Irish academics have called on the European Union in an open letter to impose a moratorium financial support to Israeli academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation in the Palestinian territories.

The call for the boycott, published last week in the Irish Times daily, came since according to its organizers "The Israeli government appears impervious to moral appeals from world leaders and to longstanding United Nations resolutions."

The letter was signed by 61 Irish academics.

"Academic boycotts are opposed to the international principle of academic freedom," said in response on Sunday Professor Yosef Yeshurun, Rector of Bar Ilan University.

Haaretz

[sweetheart]

1. I boycott israeli grown produce in tesco

There's something about the total futility of protesting when your protest is
the statistical "-1" in a set of millions.

[bemildred]

2. Seems better than bombings.

Assuming you think Israel does not behave as it should, and you are looking for a way to make a statement about it, this sort of thing seems better than violence.

Whether it proves effective would depend on how many adopt it; but then, all you are really responsible for is deciding what you are going to do, and that is really nobody else's business.

[sweetheart]

3. mint!

This JUST happened a coupla days ago, where i put back a package of fresh mint on
noticing it was from israel... nope.. not today, tired of the bombs, a generation
of war and hate invective... rather pick it from the garden.

In contrast, i'd love to feel very happy hearted to buy an israeli product if they
made friends and sponsored the greatest symbiosis of cross-cultural wealth yet known
in history... but the low path has been taken again, proving that all cultures
ultimately decline to become their anathema, israel - NS germany, america - USSR,
perhaps in running away from the mirror it captures you.

[bemildred]

4. It is amazing how often societies seem to go deliberately nuts.

"Don't bother me with facts, my mind's made up".

Which reminds one a bit of McGhee's post down at the end of the "A talk with peace now" thread.

I have two kinds of mint in the garden, I like it fresh.

[msmcghee]

16. Can't imagine how my expression of an interest in . .

. . the psychological and cultural underpinnings of conflict indicates that I don't want to be bothered with facts, or that my mind's made up.

Having opinions does not mean that one's mind is made up. Actually, I believe I am quite open to evidence that would change my mind about the ME conflict. You and others here have simply failed to provide any. But I'm still listening.

[Englander]

19. Now *there's* a revealing response.

Wholely unrelated to the comments they were sent to, I'd say.

[bemildred]

20. Ah, the illusion of central position.

I was referring to the piece you posted - which was a very interesting one - which says such things about people once they are committed to a course.

I was not saying anything about you, other than to give you credit for posting that piece.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[muesa]

6. It's Irish Academicians

Boycott Irish Whiskey - buy Jack Daniels and Jim Beam.

[newyorican]

7. Better to stay silent and be thought...

Making Peace By Making Pasta Sauces

By Jessica Steinberg; From The Jerusalem Post
January 2, 1998

(October 8) - PeaceWorks uses Palestinian produce, Israeli facilities and American marketing skills to turn a profit. It all began with a legend.

Moshe Pupik and Ali Mishmunken, the respective chef and magician of two warring armies, decided to solve their nation's problems and cooked up a sun-dried tomato spread whose powerful and delicious aroma swept across the horizon, putting the soldiers into a trance and melting their guns into spoons.

Source

Rather dated, but an indication of the depth and longevity of the ignorance on display

US puts 'Palestinian' produce above Jewish lives

By Stan Goodenough
March 26, 2006

For the first time in two months Gaza goods that had been left to rot on the Arab side may flow through to Israeli markets so that Israeli money can flow into “Palestinian” pockets.

source

Hardly a "pro-Palestinian source, even they admit there is something called Palestinian produce suitable for the market in a civilized world.

PALESTINIAN INDUSTRIES

Stone Industries
The stone and marble industry in Palestine is a growing and successful industry. It contributes 4% to the GNP and 5% to the GDP.

-snip-

Construction Material Industries
The contribution of the construction sector to the GDP is currently rising in real terms and as a percentage of the total labor force.

-snip-

Textiles and Garments
The Palestinian garments and textiles sector employs an estimated 65,000 workers in the West Bank and Gaza and contributes approximately 15 percent of Palestinian manufacturing output.

-also highlighted-

Agro-industries
Food Processing
Handicrafts
Metal Products and Engineering
Chemical Industries
Pharmaceuticals
Plastics
Medium and High Tech

source

So, in closing, I believe that the above is sufficient evidence to prove 2 things.

1) The Palestinians do produce marketable goods.
2) Some self-examination is called for on your motives for putting out erroneous and hateful hyperbole.

[Englander]

8. "..than to open one's mouth & remove all doubt."

;)

[furman]

9. Thanks for the info

>Some self-examination is called for on your motives for putting out erroneous and hateful hyperbole.

If you read my statement carefully, I said that I didn't know of anything they produced, not that they didn't produce anything.

I like your quote. Can I cut and paste it for any erroneous statement against Israel made on this board?

[Violet_Crumble]

10. What an ignorant comment...

Seeing as how there's been multiple articles in this forum about Palestinian fruit exports, it's obvious that yr 'knowledge' is out of choice. Just so the same mistake isn't made again, here's a link to information about the West Bank:

Exports - commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

http://sportsforum.ws/sd/factbook/geos/we.html

[furman]

11. Thank you, I feel so enlightened now. n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

13. Enlightened? Anyone with even a little bit of knowledge would have known..

That the Palestinians do export produce is something anyone who takes even the slightest bit of interest in the I/P conflict would have known. Yr comment was nothing but an attempt to do a broadbrush smear of the Palestinians...

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[msmcghee]

17. I wonder how many Israeli/ Arabs work on those farms . .

. and support their families with their wages. And, how many Palestinian Arabs who cross the border when it hasn't been shut down when kidnappings and rocket firings are ongoing - to work on those same farms? But, you'll make sure that no Israeli war-mongering farmers will make any profits, if you can. What's a few thousand Arab family incomes to the big picture?

Ideology is a strict master.

[Violet_Crumble]

18. Why does whether they're Jewish or Arab Israelis matter?

They're all Israeli, aren't they? The idea of boycotts is to boycott Israeli goods, isn't it?

[pelsar]

23. the idea is to punish israelis even if it hurts the palestenians....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060926/sc_nm/science_mideast_fish_dc

As part of a project with Hebrew University and Germany's University of Hohenheim, Qutob and his colleagues will inject compounds from plants found in the occupied West Bank and often used as seasonings into food fed to newborn Nile Tilapia fish.

"This will have an effect on the fish's metabolic (structure) -- it may shift from female to male," said Qutob, a chemist at al-Quds University in East Jerusalem.

"This is a very important project. We are introducing a new food source for the Palestinians."

the boycotters would stop this project if they could

the boycotters and their supporters care far less for the palestenians are far more to hurt israelis....they're less concerned with the palestenians....then anything else....call it what you want, but what it isnt is concern for the palestenains well being.

[Violet_Crumble]

25. MsMgee said Israeli/Arabs....

Last time I checked they were Israelis regardless of whether they're Jewish or Israeli....

I'm a supporter of those who boycott, Pelsar. Someone who cares so little for the health and safety of Palestinian civilians that they support collective punishment and missile attacks on Gaza telling me I don't care about individual Palestinians because I do support those who are trying to persuade the Israeli govt to change its policies is kinda the same as some US Republican telling US liberals that they're supporting terrorism if they oppose the pro-torture bill :)

Personally I much prefer international sanctions to boycotts, and hopefully when the Bush administration is just a bad memory and if Israel still is carrying on this way, then the world should band together and impose sanctions on Israel...

[eyl]

26. The I suggest you

expect the situation to deteriorate rapidly when that happens.

[Violet_Crumble]

27. In Israel?

I doubt very much it'd deteriorate as badly as Gaza has since the economic sanctions imposed on it by the international community....

[eyl]

38. Actually, I was referring to the

political situation and Israeli actions in the Territories. See what I wrote http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x150078#150084">here.

[muesa]

28. When It Comes To "Sanctions"

Personally I much prefer international sanctions to boycotts, and hopefully when the Bush administration is just a bad memory and if Israel still is carrying on this way, then the world should band together and impose sanctions on Israel...

a meat cleaver is used against all instead of a surgical laser against one state -- and we get

1. Crusades,
2. Inquisitions,
3. Expulsions,
4. Dhimmitude, and
5. Holocausts

-Just can't stop with low level

1. Economic boycotts,
2. Numerus Clausus,
3. Racially Restrictive Covenants

-That's just the way it has always been and "little" international sanctions will be no different.

Be more credible to suggest a massive Marshal Plan for the Palestinians.

[Violet_Crumble]

33. I take it you also oppose current "Sanctions" against the Palestinians?

You also opposed sanctions against South Africa? Or is yr opposition to sanctions only when they're sanctions against Israel?

[muesa]

35. Response

I take it you also oppose current "Sanctions" against the Palestinians?

You are correct, I oppose sanctions against the Palestinians. I believe that a major mistake was made when the UNRRWA mandate was to treat the events as "temporary" (i.e., that Israel would soon disappear) and to refrain from massive Marshall Plan type nation building.

You also opposed sanctions against South Africa?

That is an incorrect and slanderous mis-statement of fact, and a non sequitur. Comparing apples and oranges.

Or is yr opposition to sanctions only when they're sanctions against Israel?

1. Wrong!
2. An ad hominem

[Violet_Crumble]

36. Non sequitur? ad hominem?

Wow. That was a real Coastie moment! ;)

Bye!

[Englander]

37. '..a massive Marshal Plan for the Palestinians.'

Is that the same as 'transfer'? Or not?

[Englander]

12. National boycott action targets Irish stores selling Israeli goods

Report, IPSC, 19 September 2006

Shops and supermarkets across Ireland were picketed on Saturday as the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) commemorated the anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres with a National Boycott Israel Day.

IPSC members targetted retail outlets in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo, to send a message to Irish retailers that continuing to trade with Israel while it obliterates Palestine is grossly unethical and gives both financial support, succour and legitimacy to Israel's escalating and unchecked violations of Palestinian human rights. The National Boycott Day was also intended to educate consumers as to the extent of Israeli goods in their shops.

Irish supermakets, all year round, stock a wide range of Israeli fruit and vegetables. Disgracefully, over the last six years, as Israel has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians and devastated the Palestinian economy and society, Irish trade with Israel has increased exponentially. A full 3,000 tonnes of Israeli vegetables have been imported to this country since Israel escalated its violent crackdown on the Palestinian civilian population starting in 2000.

Yet there are impressive precedents for a successful boycott movement in Ireland. Indeed, in 1880, the first person to be placed in this "moral Coventry", to be isolated "from the rest of his kind as if he were a leper of old," was an Irish landlord named Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott. A century later, the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement led a hugely popular boycott campaign against Apartheid South Africa.

This movement originated in 1984 with the refusal of Dunnes Stores workers to handle South African goods. Today, many of the stalwarts of that campaign, including a number of past chairmen of the IAAM, and some of the original Dunnes Stores strikers, have lent their support to the campaign to isolate Apartheid Israel.

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article5749.shtml

[Phx_Dem]

21. Boycotting Israeli or Palestinian products is foolish

Everyone in this forum knows that the I/P situation is unique, targeting the Israel or Palestinian economy would only make the situation worse.

[Violet_Crumble]

34. But hasn't Israel targetted the Palestinian economy already?

It and the international community have imposed sanctions on the Palestinians, and I haven't seen any pro-Israel folk in this forum speak out against them the way they do when it's suggested that there be sanctions against Israel...

[pelsar]

22. ...introducing a new food source for the Palestinians.

but it involves israeli universities.......guess its better for the palesetenains not to improve their food intake....

Researchers in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Germany are pursuing a project to transform female freshwater fish into males, a sex change that they hope will put bigger fish on the dinner table.

"We wanted to solve a fish-breeding problem in Israel and help bring in and promote fish consumption in the Palestinian Authority," Sivan said.

Scientists at Hebrew University had previously used synthetic steroids, which are regarded as less healthy, to create male fish, said Berta Sivan, a researcher at the institution who helped found the project

guess its better for the palestenains to suffer even more than...than anything else

[Poll_Blind]

29. So it really boils down to the Irish getting in the way of the Israelis...

...who are desperately trying to feed the Palestinians, eh?

:) (begin)
:D (elapsed time: 3 seconds)
:rofl: (elapsed time: 6 seconds)

  I tried, honest!

PB

[pelsar]

30. so i understand that you would shut down the project....

ok..thats clear..even when the israelis team up with the germans and palestenians to help the situation your against it...

because the israels are involved

[Poll_Blind]

31. You have a curious approach to "helping the situation".

  Helping the situation is not giving an entire people imprisoned in their own land a bigger bowl of gruel.

  Helping the situation is giving the Palestinian people back their land.

PB

[pelsar]

32. we call it being realistic.....

having israelis universities help the palestenains is a good thing, having the palestenian and germans and israelis work together is a good thing...small steps reduce tension and aid in the two people getting to know each other rather than through a gun sight

i believe your post made fun of that.......your position was made clear....

[Andromeda]

24. ...

:boring: