How to boycott Israel: updated guidelines for academics

09/02/2014
by Ali Abunimah
Source: The Electronic Intifada

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) recently updated its guidelines on how to apply the international academic and cultural boycott of Israel.

This comes at a crucial moment – in the wake of Israel’s latest spasm of horrifying destruction and mass killing in Gaza, and after a period of unprecedented growth in support for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS).

Calls for academic boycott will resonate more than ever particularly in light of Israel’s recent bomb attacks on university facilities in Gaza, its violent raids on universities in the West Bank and the financial and political support Israeli universities have themselves given to the carnage.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza are not going back to school on time as a direct consequence of the Israeli devastation, while in the West Bank young children face such violence as tear gas fired at them on their way to class.

The school year in Gaza was scheduled to begin on 23 August but has been postponed; Israeli attacks since 7 July killed more than 500 children and injured thousands. In total 220 schools were damaged, 22 of which were completely destroyed.

Children will not be able to go back to class until “war-damaged schools” are repaired and “unexploded ordnance” removed, the UN says.

When children do go back to class, learning will certainly be an even bigger challenge due to the fact that virtually the entire child population in Gaza is in need of psychosocial support due to the trauma of Israel’s 51-day bombardment.

Practical guidance

The updated PACBI guidelines are important for two reasons: they provide a practical reference that can be used to decide if a specific activity is boycottable and they can be used to debunk false claims made by opponents of the boycott, for example that the boycott stifles “academic freedom.”

A common false claim is that PACBI has called for a blanket boycott of Israeli individuals or even of Jewish individuals.

But, PACBI states: “Anchored in precepts of international law and universal human rights, the BDS movement, including PACBI, rejects on principle boycotts of individuals based on their identity (such as citizenship, race, gender, or religion) or opinion.”

A person’s activities are boycottable, however, when “an individual is representing the state of Israel or a complicit Israeli institution (such as a dean, rector, or president), or is commissioned/recruited to participate in Israel’s efforts to ‘rebrand’ itself.”

There are other circumstances as well, as the guidelines detail.

The PACBI guidelines “are mainly intended to assist conscientious academics and academic bodies around the world to be in harmony with the Palestinian call for boycott, as a contribution towards upholding international law and furthering the struggle for freedom, justice and equality.”
PACBI urges:

academics, academic associations/unions, and academic – as well as other – institutions around the world, where possible and as relevant, to boycott and/or work towards the cancellation or annulment of events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israeli academic institutions or that otherwise promote the normalization of Israel in the global academy, whitewash Israel’s violations of international law and Palestinian rights, or violate the BDS guidelines.

Normalization and “fig-leafing”

Many Palestinians reject initiatives that they say constitute “normalization.” But what does this mean? Here is the definition provided by PACBI:

Academic activities and projects involving Palestinians and/or other Arabs on one side and Israelis on the other (whether bi- or multilateral) that are based on the false premise of symmetry/parity between the oppressors and the oppressed or that claim that both colonizers and colonized are equally responsible for the “conflict” are intellectually dishonest and morally reprehensible forms of normalization that ought to be boycotted.
Far from challenging the unjust status quo, such projects contribute to its endurance. Examples include events, projects, or publications that are designed explicitly to bring together Palestinians/Arabs and Israelis so they can present their respective narratives or perspectives, or to work toward reconciliation without addressing the root causes of injustice and the requirements of justice.

The guidelines gives examples of forms of joint activity that are and are not normalization and also warn against “fig-leafing”:

International academics who insist on crossing the BDS “picket line” by pursuing activities with boycottable Israeli institutions and then visiting Palestinian institutions or groups for “balance,” violate the boycott guidelines and contribute to the false perception of symmetry between the colonial oppressor and the colonized. The BNC (including PACBI) rejects this attempt at “fig-leafing” and does not welcome such visits to Palestinian institutions.

PACBI’s updated guidelines for cultural boycott are here.
The full academic boycott guidelines are here.

Link:  http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/how-boycott-israel-updated-guidelines-academics.

Israeli government pushes 'BDS failure' propaganda on its own citizens

11 March 2014
Ben White
Source: Middle East Monitor

Israeli government officials involved in monitoring and fighting BDS have claimed that the movement has "suffered several blows in recent weeks", in unattributed remarks made to Hebrew news site NRG.

The examples of 'failure' cited are a mixed bag, none of them significant in the way presented by the officials. It includes, for example, the stated opposition of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Parliament President Martin Schulz to boycotts – hardly a surprise or major setback for campaigners.
Interestingly, the officials favourably contrasted the situation of Israel today with the eventual isolation of Apartheid South Africa. This is a disingenuous and misleading comparison, not least given how long it took for South Africa to become that isolated and the short amount of time that BDS strategies have been embraced by international activists.

Assuming readers will take their word for it, the unnamed government officials claimed that BDS efforts have "failed miserably", since the Israeli economy has continued to grow. Yet this discourse of 'failure' is in direct contrast to the approach taken by Netanyahu's senior ministers and various Israel lobby groups, who are clear about the seriousness of the threat posed by boycott and divestment initiatives.

The two seemingly contradictory messages are, however, related. As the Israeli government begins to ramp up its pushback against BDS, it will need to show that it is getting results. Thus, like the spinning of the ABP decision not to divest from Israeli banks, officials are looking to target Israeli citizens themselves for some reassuring hasbara.

The final paragraph of the item makes for interesting reading, and is worth reproducing in its entirety (thanks to Ofer Neiman for translation):

"We have been facing this phenomenon for 14 years", says one of the Israeli sources. "At any given time, there are scores of thwarting actions being taken [by us] all over the world, which do not reach public awareness". The embassies in every country are monitoring the [BDS] groups on a regular basis. In a large part of the cases, we prefer to ignore [the actions], so as not to play into the hands of the enemy. In other cases, we take actions, thwarting provocations through campus administrations or embassy representatives. We draft spokespersons or activate the Jewish community. It's constant war and long term strategic work."

This certainly fits with past experiences of legal actions, propaganda drives and lobbying conducted by community organisations, and the role of embassies in fighting BDS. Given the government's view of the situation as "constant war", perhaps it is no surprise it is pushing propaganda to its own citizens.

Link:  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/blogs/politics/10231-israeli-government-pushes-bds-failure-propaganda-on-its-own-citizens.

Israeli Minister Slams Boycotts as ‘New Form of Anti-Semitism’

Feb 17, 2014 
By Calev Ben-David and Fadwa Hodali
Source: Bloomberg News

Using economic sanctions to influence Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians is a “new form of anti-Semitism,” Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said, even as boycott activists contended that recent successes had Israeli leaders “panicking.”

Bennett told a Jerusalem conference of American-Jewish leaders today that despite boycott efforts, Israel continued to draw record foreign investment, especially in its technology sector.

“I’m not at all ignoring this sort of threat, but let’s be very clear: Anyone who suggests to boycott Israel, that’s an unacceptable approach, that’s a new form of anti-Semitism,” Bennett said. He asked conference participants to campaign against boycotts.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid and other Israeli officials have warned that the sanctions’ still-negligible economic effect may deepen after several European companies and institutions cut ties in recent months with Israeli companies that operate in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Palestinians claim the territories, captured by Israel in 1967, for a future state.

The sanctions campaign also won a higher profile after actress Scarlett Johansson cut her ties last month with the U.K.-based humanitarian group Oxfam, which criticized her for acting as a celebrity spokeswoman for SodaStream International Ltd. (SODA), the Israeli maker of home soda machines with a factory in the West Bank.

Boycott leaders, meeting today in the West Bank near Ramallah, said a decade of activism was bearing fruit.
The boycott initiative has “reached a tipping point in its struggle for comprehensive Palestinian rights under international law,” said Omar Barghouti, a founder of BDS, the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions movement. “The Israeli government is panicking because of the recent fast growth of BDS around the world, particularly in countries that have always been considered Israel’s closest allies in the world: the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, among others.”

Link:   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-17/israeli-minister-slams-boycotts-as-new-form-of-anti-semitism-.html?cmpid=yhoo.
 

Faaborg-Andersen: Israel faces danger of full isolation if peace talks collapse

04 February 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

The EU's ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, warned on Monday that Israel would find itself in complete isolation should the peace talks with the Palestinians collapse.

In an interview with Israel's Channel 2 television, Faaborg-Andersen pointed out that the potential scale of an economic boycott is not only shaped by the policies of European governments, but also, and more importantly, the measures taken by private organisations and firms.

Andersen cited the decision of some pension funds, insurance companies and banks to boycott relations with Israel on the basis of its continued expansion of the settlements.

Israel's settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal according to international law, and the international community widely views the continued construction of settlements as a threat to peace.
The ambassador reiterated that the EU does not have the power to influence the individual decisions of these private organisations and firms.

Link: 
 www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/europe/9586-faaborg-andersen-israel-faces-danger-of-full-isolation-if-peace-talks-collapse.

Israel struggling against growing boycott campaign

03 February 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor

Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper has released a report revealing that the Foreign Ministry has acknowledged its inability to face the growing boycott campaign despite resorting to all political and judicial means, which have been ineffective, especially against private companies. The report explained that the ministry has succeeded in putting pressure on some European governments to take a stance against calls to boycott Israel following the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.

"It would be useless to launch an anti-boycott campaign to promote settlement products," said a ministry official. Israel has been able to curb several boycott initiatives, said the report. Even in unfriendly countries, the boycott has not been made law yet; however it is likely that some politicians will push this "due to the sweeping wave of hostility" towards Israel.

According to Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid, "If the peace talks with the Palestinians fail, Israel would lose exports worth nearly 20 billion shekels". Furthermore, he added, the EU might also abolish its partnership with Israel, which means an extra loss of 3.5 billion shekels, mainly in the agriculture sector. Lapid noted that major European food chains, especially in Britain and the Scandinavian countries, have banned settlement products.

Yedioth Ahronoth published a list of companies and institutions that implement boycotts against Israel:

Norway: The Government Pension Fund of Norway has sold its shares in Africa Israel Investments, Danya Cebus and Sesa Sterlite.

Germany: The German Railway Company did not bid to build or operate the train service which runs through the occupied Palestinian territories.

Belgium: The Belgian government has cancelled a "Tel Aviv - the White City" exhibition which was scheduled in the capital, Brussels.

Scotland: The Edinburgh International Film Festival returned an award granted by the Israeli Embassy in line with its decision to boycott the state.

Australia: The Maryville municipality in Sydney province imposed a boycott on Israel and all companies engaged in trade with it. Several pro-Palestinian organisations have called for a boycott of oranges produced in Jaffa and Max Brenner chocolate.

Netherlands: The Netherlands' largest water company, Vitens, has severed ties with Israel's Mekorot water company. The Dutch Pension Fund has withdrawn all investments from Israeli banks.

South Africa: The South African Foreign Minister announced that the cabinet will boycott Israel and will not visit it. The South African Trade and Commerce Union stopped importing an Israeli-made circumcision device.

Britain:

• UK major retail chain, the Co-operative, has boycotted all products produced in the settlements in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
• Marks & Spencer fashion house has been boycotting settlement products since 2007 .

Ireland:

• The Irish workers' trade Union has announced its decision to boycott all Israeli products and services.
• The Irish teachers' Union supports imposing an academic boycott on Israel.

Canada:

• The Canadian postal workers Union boycotts Israel.
• The Protestant Church in Vancouver launched a campaign to boycott settlement products.

United States:

• The American Studies Association has recently joined the academic boycott imposed against Israel by many universities and unions.
• The American Pension Fund has withdrawn its investments from a company that sell agricultural tractors to settlements.

Link:  https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/9566-israel-struggling-against-growing-boycott-campaign.

Israel's Finance Minister warns of boycott impact, as further divestment announced

30 January 2014
Ben White 
Source: Middle East Monitor

Israel's Finance Minister Yair Lapid has issued a stark warning of the consequences should the U.S.-led peace process end in failure. Reports of Lapid's comments on the threat posed by a boycott of Israel came hours before news of further divestment targeting Israeli companies by the Norwegian government.

Speaking at the Institute for National Security Studies, Lapid said that an evaluation prepared by the Finance Ministry had produced an estimate of billions lost in exports should an "even partial" European boycott be imposed, and that "Israel's economy today is much more vulnerable than its national security".

The Israeli economy will retreat, every Israeli citizen will be hit directly in his pocket, the cost of living will rise, budgets for education, health welfare and security will be cut, and many international markets will be closed to us. 33% of Israeli trade is with the European Union. If there is no political settlement and we enter a scenario where our economy drops 20% in exports to the EU, the impact on the GDP would be 11 billion shekels annually, and 9,800 employees will be laid off immediately.

The Israeli minister claimed that "the world will believe [the talks] failed because of us", and thus "there will be a price" – echoing language used recently by the EU Ambassador to Israel. Lapid also raised the threat of the EU suspending the Association Agreement which provides the framework for much Israel-EU cooperation, with The Jerusalem Post citing an EU spokesperson's denial that any such step was being considered.

According to Israeli media reports, Lapid listed "an unsettling list of organizations already joining the BDS movement against Israel", and warned "that the tipping point could come unexpectedly". South Africa, Lapid observed, "did not realize until well after the fact the severity of the sanctions against it". The Wall Street Journal noted that while "Israeli officials have been bracing for this possibility [of boycott]", most have "expressed their sentiments in private".

Meanwhile, it has been announced that the Norwegian Minister of Finance has excluded Israeli companies Africa Israel Investments and Danya Cebus from the government's $800 billion oil fund, the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund holding 1% of global equity markets. The decision follows a recommendation from the Council of Ethics to remove the firms from the portfolio "due to an unacceptable risk of the companies, through their construction activity in East Jerusalem, contributing to serious violations of the rights of individuals in situations of war or conflict".

These latest developments come as Netanyahu has called for a meeting with ministers to discuss BDS, particularly in light of the recent decision by Dutch pension fund PGGM to divest from five Israeli banks. BDS campaigners have also hit the headlines with the row over Scarlett Johansson's dual role as ambassador for both SodaStream and Oxfam, the actress' relationship with the leading charity finally ending today.