The cowardice, the vanity, the sin of boycotting Israel

@RSabbah : thank you for reminder. The new crop of delicious Medjool dates are available by now on local markets here, your message reminds me to buy a dozen.... + another dozen,just to piss you off. I like when you're angry. Typed on my Intel-Centrino Duo equipped laptop.

BDS of Israel is the best way to end this illegal occupation and tyranny! BDS in all forms and manners! May people around the world read over about the plight of the Palestinians and the inhumane actions and policies of Israel, the illegal usurper; and join the BDS movement to liberate the Palestinians and ensure their rights and freedom.

isn't. A part of the 'chosen's gifts? Israel has many gifts.

what Jews of ages past have discovered - again and again.

The arguments put forward against the BDS Israel, and their parallels in Apartheid South Africa: There are Israeli citizens who are trying to change their government's policies. And there were Afrikaaners who were doing the same. And some took it much further than any Israeli citizen I've heard of (have any actually taken up arms to do so?) It will hurt Palestinians. And it hurt Black's too. But I think that you'll find they found it worthwhile in the end. And does a BDS campaign that starts out with 10 people, and takes a year to get an 11th sound like a success, or a failure? (I'll give you a hint, within a couple of years, it became government policy)

Here's even more: "But will Israel exploit [the film]? I'm sure they will. They tried to do so in Toronto, but I pulled my film out of the City to City whose focus this year was Tel Aviv, and had them place it in the world cinema category. I also did not go to Toronto because I was really upset with their decision. They want people to believe Israel is a diverse society that is accepting, which is not true." http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/200992891013627492.html Before making such an eulogy about a Palestinian film, using it as an argument against the boycott against Israel, he should have at least informed himself about the subject, to avoid making such a fool of himself.

Here's even more: "But will Israel exploit [the film]? I'm sure they will. They tried to do so in Toronto, but I pulled my film out of the City to City whose focus this year was Tel Aviv, and had them place it in the world cinema category. I also did not go to Toronto because I was really upset with their decision. They want people to believe Israel is a diverse society that is accepting, which is not true." http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/200992891013627492.html Before making such an eulogy about a Palestinian film, using it as an argument against the boycott against Israel, he should have at least informed himself about the subject, to avoid making such a fool of himself.

Here's even more: "But will Israel exploit [the film]? I'm sure they will. They tried to do so in Toronto, but I pulled my film out of the City to City whose focus this year was Tel Aviv, and had them place it in the world cinema category. I also did not go to Toronto because I was really upset with their decision. They want people to believe Israel is a diverse society that is accepting, which is not true." http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/200992891013627492.html Before making such an eulogy about a Palestinian film, using it as an argument against the boycott against Israel, he should have at least informed himself about the subject, to avoid making such a fool of himself.

Obviously before writing this propagandistic article, Mr Burston didn't read Ajami's director, Scandar Copti's interview to Al Jazeera, where he declared: "I am happy that I'm being recognised as a filmmaker, and I value my rights just like any other citizen. But as a Palestinian citizen of the Israeli state, I have no equal rights. The idea of the citizen is non-existent for Palestinians living inside the Israeli state. I am aware that Israel has exploited and tokenised Palestinians for their branding campaign, to show the world that Israel is a multicultural place that gives everyone an equal opportunity, even Arabs. Yet they won't even use the word Palestinian because we're not allowed to be Palestinian. Palestine does not exist for them." http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/200992891013627492.html

"Gaza is still occupied by Israel.."(BBSNews) Really BBSNews? Then tell me: How many Israelis are there in Gaza? You will find none because Israel withdrew and dismantled all settlements in Gaza unilaterally in 2005. Despite that, the rocket attacks on Israeli civilians not only continued but escalated. And that's why Israel blockaded Gaza, to prevent Hamas from acquiring more advanced weapons with which it could further escalate it's terror against Israeli civilians. I wouldn't call that occupation BBSNews, I would call that self defense. So would any other rational being. The only people who call that occupation are people who are pre-occupied with hating Israel beyond reason...

"Gaza is still occupied by Israel.."(BBSNews) Really BBSNews? Then tell me: How many Israelis are there in Gaza? You will find none because Israel withdrew and dismantled all settlements in Gaza unilaterally in 2005. Despite that, the rocket attacks on Israeli civilians not only continued but escalated. And that's why Israel blockaded Gaza, to prevent Hamas from acquiring more advanced weapons with which it could further escalate it's terror against Israeli civilians. I wouldn't call that occupation BBSNews, I would call that self defense. So would any other rational being. The only people who call that occupation are people who are pre-occupied with hating Israel beyond reason...

Do you also boycott Russian goods because they killed 70,000 Chechyans in the 1990's or British goods for the illegal occupation of the Falklands, & Gibralter and China for their complete occupation, slaughter and subjugation of the Tibetans and Georgia for killing 2000 civilians last year? If you don't , you are simply a hypocrit and probably an antisemite as well!

Tel Aviv was not built on Arab villages. Tel Aviv was built on sand dunes in 1909 before any war between Israel & the Arabs alongside Jaffa. Just because a few ignorant people who don't know history say things in a letter doesn't make it true. Maybe you will do a bit of research. you will see that I'm right

Hope you turn off your computer. Intel is Israeli, maybe your mobile phones as well since the mobile phone was invented in Israel. You guys are a joke! Israel's exports hit a new high last year. She weathered the 'world economic crises' better than most countries and the boycotts of artistic events relating to Israel resulted in them being booked out and boycotts of Israeli products led to unprecedented high sales. If the BDS didn't exist, Israel would have invented them.

...of the Goldstone Report. Israel retains "effective control" of Gaza including Rafah Gate with Egypt.

I agree with number 102. Although I somewhat understand the reasons for the boycott having to do with a PR campaign by the government to promote a sheik, multi-cultural society despite the obvious. I think the last thing that somebody should do is boycott the arts since the arts are the last channel for communication. I think a boycott should be limited to weapons and the companies that produce these drones and other automated machines which are absolutely deadly and produce the most horrific results. Boycott them; not the arts.

It is worth noting that, in the popular Arab view, Jews building houses in Tel Aviv is as illegitimate as Jews building houses on the West Bank. This fact is clearly stated in the intra-Arab discourse, in the still unamended PLO charter, in maps of the area presented at the U. N. on Nachba Day and in Hanan-Ashrawri-approved textbooks along side references to Jews as insects, apes, and monkeys. The most distressing example of rejecting Israel defined by any borders (i. e. the Arab-Israeli conflict) was chief Oslo negotiator Saeb Erekat's public declaration (in Arabic) one day before attending George Bush's Annapolis "peace conference", where he asserted that they will never accept Israel as a Jewish state. The personal tragedies and struggles should be noted, but the core issue of the conflict needs to be on center stage, not hidden, ignored, dismissed, or derided by "peace activists".

you boycott West Bank of Jordan products. Plain and simple. A slice of Truth: The West Bank of Jordan was as such for a mere 19 years between 1948 and 1967. Jews have lived in the land of Israel of thousands of years. Although at times few in numbers, there has been continuous presence of Jews in the land of Israel since the first settlers returned from Egypt with Moses about 3200 years ago. Peace will only happen when the TRUTH of Jewish claims to the land of Israel is acknowledged instead of turned on its head by those who abuse not only the truth but all fundamental human rights while preaching them.

They are just as disinclined to compromise as Israel.

of Dutch fame. Great choice! I like you Mark B

..for the millionth time I proterst the lefty use of the word "OCCUPATION" as ONLY a "PALESTINIAN" charge against ISRAEL ...it is equally AND MORE SO a valid charge against ARABS on originally JEWISH land ...itall depends on when you want to start history ...1948 or going back to the ROMAN theft of the land from the Jews in the first and 2nd centuries C.E. nnd the subsequent giving up of that land by the Romans' Byzantine heirs when they withdrew because of financial costs to empire leaving a vaccum for ARAB "occupiers" which has filitered down through various regimes to today's PAL "occupants"...The Jews though--in nearly 2 millenia NEVER-- I repeat NEVER gave up their historical "RIGHT" to "RE-OCCUPY" THEIR STOLEN land which was half-realized in 1948..."OCCUPIRS" thus can be applied by BOTH sides and I protest its SINGLE useage by the Interntional Leftist Conspiracy (Backed by Saudi+Iranian money + Islamic bluster) to pin the term SOLELY on Isreal. The PALS are SQUATTER "OCCUPA

``Want to explain to the people you have misled just why Egypt is not allowed to open it`s common border with Gaza?`` (Written by Chris Linthwaite) Chris Linthwaite I already did Explain it, but if you insist, her it is again *** Quotation *** Dear Chris Linthwaite let me remind you that the Palestinians in Gaza have a border with their Egyptian brothers, since Israel handed over its control over the Philadelphi Route to the Egyptians when it left Gaza. Rafah Border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was manned by European Monitors, but has been closed and shut down by the Egyptian Authorities because of Palestinian violence, and lack of security for the European Monitors. Armed Palestinians literally attacked the crossing and compelled the Monitors to run away to the Kerem Shalom base on the Israeli side. Chris Linthwaite Maybe if the Europeans and EU were not such sissies in fulfilling their part of the agreement the Palestinians in Gaza could walk FREELY to the Egyptian side and back over the ground, and not under it! But, it is the Israeli fault isn`t it? Since it could not be, the Poor Palestinians (Hamas) fault as you already convinced us! *** End Quotation *** Have I answered your question, I think I did!

Chris Linthwaite How about adding to your list BRITAIN, For Chagos Archipelago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqJmi1MP7Zk

that would stop me from buying my favorite clothing. Oh, and I won't boycott Jordan for the same reason. Since I have family in Denmark I didn't join that boycott either. I own Mexican pottry, hand cast. I love Swiss chocolates and tortes from Bavaria. I have a Samurai sword collection,leaves out Japan. I order my Tulips from Holland. Some of the music I love is from India and Africa also Lebanon, no boycotts there either. As for South Africa, it wasn't the boycotts that worked wonders, it was pure politics and the media that won that fight. There is not one boycott that will work without them. BTW, the US Gov is boycotting Honduras. I find it immoral for them to do so and unjust. Now I make sure to buy my coffee from Honduras as well as Germany. Where do your favorite things come from?

Bradley got it wrong this time.

An Italian (Catholic) buste of King David (oh deary deary, even Damascus was Israel then, was it not)? Anyway, what's more important: I don't know about king David (he stole it from Saul, did he not?), but with a strong woman in my life common sense would prevail faster and more often... BTW: I have two bustes: Erasmus and Baruch Spinoza. I plan to have one of myself also.

So far all we hear from Arab side especially Hamas and Hezbollah is that there is no room for Israel in the ME. "What kind of pressure are you suggesting to convince them to accept the concept of peace and compromise?" it was very clear that by 'them' I meant Hamas can you answer my question please? What kind of pressure do you suggest to Hamas who opposes the existence of a Jewish state in the ME?

To: John, # 59 "Everyone I know avoids Made in Israel". You obviously belong to a fringe group - as do all the other talkbackers like you. Israel's exports keep growing and growing. In 1980 they surpassed $80 billion. Most of Israel's export merchandise are high-tech and industrial. So yeah don't buy Israeli food products, that's really going to hurt.

Chris and the rest, The point is that the boycotters objected to Tel Aviv's existence. They don't recognize Israel in any borders. They aren't opposing the 'occupation' of the WB and EJ, they are opposing the occupation of Tel Aviv. Consequently, they look like they aren't trying to promote peace, they look like they are promoting the dissolution of Israel. I would think that Chris, Yaakov Sullivan and Swiss (Dino) who claim they support Israel's existence (within the 67 borders) would condemn such a clearly rock-dumb strategy. They Don't. I guess that tells you something about them.

"What kind of pressure are you suggesting to convince them to accept the concept of peace and compromise?" I suggest Obama declare every new housing unit Israel insists on constructing in the settlements result in a 10 million dollar decline from the 3 billion+ aid package. Secondly, the US should organize an immediate Summit between Bibi and Abbas to negotiate FINAL SETTLEMENT issues...IMMEDIATELY...

I don't agree with you on the athletes, particularly the unpaid ones. I have a bust of King David in my office. I'm not trashing it for anyone or anything. It is a reproduction of Michaelangelo's David in Florence. I may despise Mussolini, but never Italian art.

On the 60th anniversary of the UNWRA, Abbas made a statement in a speech they (PA) would not compromise on the Right of Return. Jordan has taken the step to revoke all citizenship from all Pals, even those born there. This is not compromising. Neither is Lebanon willing to compromise on their ill treatment of Pals, and we both know how real that horror is. So, I just want to know what you think the answer is for both sides.

Boycotting products of art, cinema and other 'creative disfunctions' is always wrong. A true boycott is economical, not cultural. It may also include sports. Not arts. My final opinion on the matter. Thank you for your attention.

Yep. Gaza is still under occupation by Israel. Want to explain to the people you have misled just why Egypt is not allowed to open it's common border with Gaza? Who controls Gaza's sea borders, airspace, what goes in what goes out? Are Gazans allowed to leave and re-enter Gaza as and when they like? Who holds the citizenship list of Gazans? Gil there may not be Israelis actually in Gaza (that we know of) but to say Israel is not in control of Gaza is disingenuous, and you know it. But I digress this thread is about the cowardice, the vanity and the sin of boycotting Israel. Which the Al-Ahram Group (apparently a powerful media group in Egypt. I must confess I have never heard of them) has decided to boycott Isral, in what Haaretz term as a massive boycott.

Chris Linthwaite Under International Law, Gaza is not Occupied, just as much as you would want it to be, It is as if you wish us to be an Occupying power where we are not! Get used to it Hamas overturned Gaza and took control over it, made a revolution where it killed hundreds of people on the wrong side of the Palestinian Unity Government (Fatah). You want to call Gaza an Occupation, Hamas is Occupying it right now, oppressing their own people, killing their own people, stealing from their own people, endangering their own people every time they shot a rocket into Israel (which is a crime against humanity according to Goldie)!

Obama repersented the last hope that any politician would set the Pals free. But it looks like he doesn't have the guts to stop the land grab. So maybe BDS by ordinary people and famous people alike is the only way to stop the cowardice, the vanity and the sin of the occupation. Thanks for raising the subject Bradley. Of course, if you have any other realistic ways of getting Israel to drop the poisoned chalice of the occupation we're always ready to listen, but if you had any, somehow I think we'd have read them by now.

When time and conditions were reasonable Israel made peace with Egypt and Jordan. Israel showed how far it can go as far as borders, Jerusalem and refugees by accepting the Clinton Parameters - 96% WB, all of Gaza, 4% Israel land, East Jerusalem capital of new Palestinian Arab state etc. - to make peace. So far all we hear from Arab side especially Hamas and Hezbollah is that there is no room for Israel in the ME. What kind of pressure are you suggesting to convince them to accept the concept of peace and compromise?

Any jew and Israeli should be examining their conciense in 2009 about Gaza. It is despicable, the violence done to the people in Gaza in 2009 and the treatment of the people there for decades since they were forced to leave their homes and villages in 1948. Violence upon violence. Very few Israelis can honestly look themselves in the mirror without resorting to the usual propaganda as an excuse.

To all you tough guys.How do you think a boycott of Israel will affect the Palestinian?. Better living standard?enough medicin,food,oil, remember Israel controls that,also in the WB. The Palestinians will feel it much more,that i can guarantee you.

Mohammad Othman, a Palestinian human rights activist, has been detained without charges by Israeli police on his way home from Norway, where he was promoting the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign. It is believed to be the first time Israel has arrested someone for taking part in the BDS campaign. Whereas Bradley risks not a hair on his head for alll his narcissistic pronouncements.

Thanks to you, world,because of your boycott,we're sufferring financially.

Burston should provide alternative tactics to compell Israel to accept the concept of peace and comprimise. If it were up to Burston, the peace activists would struggle for decades while Israel continues doing which she does best: marginallizing the Palestinian cause and decimating Palestinian society. When Israel begins to dismantle the occupation...then the boycotts should end as well.

Politics has always been involved in art. It can be authoritarianism. There were communists as well as McCarthyites in Hollywood. One McCarthyite was Ronald Reagan who became active in politics. You can ask yourselves should actors run for political office? There were the "naive" members of the communist party who were blacklisted. There was controversy over Lucille Ball. Cecile DeMille of "10 commandments" fame was a McCarthyite I believe. Movies about communes (communism) were not allowed to be shown in the 1920's. There were movies glorifying the Klan. On and on. The shame of the protest was that people would have missed a movie that could have helped their understanding of the conflict and paved the way towards reconciliation. Authoritarianism is not democratic; so politics is not always democratic.

A swift comprehensive boycott would work. Mr Burston's approach appears as an apologist's attempt to gloss over the occupation. Boycotts do bring suffering, but if the ultimate aim is for the greater good, is that not what should be focused on? I see Israel is heavily backing sanctions on Iran - why should not the shoe be on the other foot?

Normally I would agree with you Bradley, I am not a great fan of boycotts myself, especially cultural ones. Boycotts usually hurt the wrong people that much is true. But than, many innocent peaceloving creative people are hurt by the ongoing situation in the Westbank and Gaza. They suffer for the bad apples in their midst that much is true, but they suffer nonetheless. Israel is chronically unable to see that what it is doing in the territories is wrong! Everything has been tried, great minds came up with great plans and they all failed. The only way to make a point is a boycott. Maybe ( and only as a last resort) that'll work! Because an end to the conflict would be better for the Palestinians, for the Jews, for the whole middle East.

English & Active OXYMORONIC I would say

Pls read the statement from the festival's organizers.And I agree that art should NEVER be boycotted. As for other forms of boycotts I ask you if boycotters have the same stance regarding products from China ( they occupate Tibet ) or some other countries like Russia.

The world always seems to want to eliminate Jews. No matter what the title of the evil one who tries to eliminate all Jews in the past and present. Not anymore. This is Israel's time and her G-d chose them for His reasons. Most Jews know that w/o their G-d they are not Jews. In my mind, Israel is similar to King David when he was a boy and slew Goliath. An example of todays news and Israel cannot lose even if the entire world disdains her. She alone is a Jewish homeland and G-d makes no mistakes when He promised Israel to the Jewish people, His chosen. It is to her allies that they also are blessed for blessing Israel.

are used as a defence for Operation Cast Lead. Well at least you didn't try to compare Sudan or Zimbabwe with Israel's behaviour.

Netanyahu and the nightclub bouncer from Moldovia have made it plain that they do not want peace involving the two state solution. One way of changing their minds is to ensure Israel does not profit from occupation. If the labels had product of the West Bank I would not buy them but would buy Israeli. As there is currently no distinction I have to avoid all Israeli products. Lynn maintaining the current status quo is not going to achieve peace.

power of Gaza. As under International law Gaza is not a seperate entity It is a part of Palestine which is defined by teh UN as the West Bank and Gaza. 10 out of 10 for effort though.

Until Israel stops settlement expansion in the West Bank, stops blockading Gaza, stops threatening Lebanon and shows some humanity I will never buy Israeli goods. One person's boycott does not achieve a whole lot by itself but it makes me feel good.

It was less deceptive when it began in 1921 and was called "The Arab boycott of the Jews." There was no pretense of being opposed to any "occupation" etc, just simple, straight forward opposition to any political rights for Jews in their ancestral land. How many of today's naive Palestinian supporters believe that's actually changed even one iota?

I read her article in the Huffington Post and found the following: "...Hamas's 8-month-long rocket and mortar attacks on the town of Sderot and the western Negev..." Was it intentional, ignorance or a typo? It was 8 years, not 8 months. To me, it seems to be another case of the press re-writing history.

Live with a few Palestinian families for a while. Try Qalqilya, Jenin, Nablus, Hebron. No Israelis around please. Then you'll get it. Me, I won't buy a Microsoft product until Microsoft gives services to the Palestinians. If it comes from Israel I don't buy it. The only thing I have in common with Jane Fonda is I think we both see Israel to be a terrorist state.

We need to ignore the boycotters. Boycott them back. If they don?t want to show our films at their festivals, let?s create out Jewish film (or book) festivals in Toronto and elsewhere. We have done this before. We don't need the approval of antisemites We will prevail.

"Come here. Do the work. Take the risks." Rachel Corrie did that.

It's just begun? Labeling it a failure before it's taken off is merely revealing how afraid Israeli culture is of the mere thought of it.

That's why exports from Israel last year increased by over 25%!!! The Jews thank you for the publicity.

Those who favor boycotting Israel out of a sense of outraged humanity should, in the name of humanity, show equal outrage at all mistreatment of one people by another. Would you suggest that Kurds are any less deserving of a boycott of the Turks? Or of the entire Arab nation who looked on silently, if not approvingly, when Saddam ejected them from Kirkuk and brought in Arab settlers to take over their land? Are the Darfuris less deserving of a boycott of Sudan? Kashmiris less deserving of a boycott of India? Tamils less deserving of a boycott of Sri Lanka? Tibetians less deserving of a boycott of China? If you answer no to any of these questions, are you saying that these people are less human or less deserving than the Palestinians? It's an important question, because the countries on the boycott list encompass half or more of the population of the world. Or is there something especially enjoyable about putting Israel at the business end of your pointy little stick?

A pleasant film about an Egyptian brass band visiting Israel and getting lost. In the meantime, well done Haaretz and Bradley Burston for this article, which may make a few people thoughtful - I sincerely hope so.

BDS is bad because it punishes those few Israelis who don't want occupation as well as the very very many who do? It cripples the academic freedom of a state who have openly declared that non-Jewish Israelis and Palestinians not only do not have equal academic freedom, but openly and deliberately attack that academic freedom at every opportunity? It doesn't highlight the good faith and humanism in a country which cheered for the slaughter of civilians in a Gaza sealed from the outside world and sanctioned for years? Please, tell us what line Israel has to cross to deserve sanctions. And when you do that, tell us if there will be any Palestinians left by then.

The BDS movement is growing in leaps and bounds. I know I sure am helping it grow in any way I possibly can. The "Sin" is depriving Palestinians of Basic rights, and trying to suppress the Goldstone Report will only fuel the BDS movement.

We know that you're against the occupation. That's good. Then why can't you see that boycotting Israel is the next logical step - that Israel needs strong pressure from outside to withdraw from the Territories and create a Palestinian state? Think of it: It's been 40 years now, and people like you have been talking on and on about "land for peace". The whole world wants two states to come about. "Peace processes". "Roadmaps". US presidents have appeared on the stage, one after the other, with bold proposals. But nothing has happened. Why? Well, it's because the Israeli ruling elites actually have invested a lot of prestige and interest in the Occupation, and therefore don't have any incitaments to end it. The only way to end it is to apply STRONG pressure from the outside. Not because we hate Israel or something (achi, ani beemet ohev et ha-aretz!). But because we really want this occupation to end, and because we believe a boycott is the only thing we haven't tried.

did anyone think seriously of boycotting Daniel Barenboim?Why of Leonard Cohen? Whereas settler`s goods to boycott doesn`t seem to bad to me.

You boycott their hummus.Why don't you boycott their medical stuff,like pill camera,etc.That's the only thing the world doesn't boycott,stuff that saves lives.By the way, Israel is not affected by global crisis according to some news.

Did LC finally arrive to play in Palestine?

Thank you Scott!

The premise of your editorial, Mr. Burston, is flawed. The Toronto Letter did not call for a boycott. The signers simply wrote a letter in protest of an Israeli PR campaign to distract from the recent "bad PR" stemming from the closure and bombardment of Gaza, and the ongoing land confiscations and building of illegal settlements in the West Bank. As to BDS, you frequently write about your opposition to the Occupation and Netanyahu's stubborn opposition to complying with steps to work toward peace. You, yourself have stated how Obama needs to take a tougher stance. Clearly, Israel's government will not change its policies unless forced to. Apparently you are not willing to make any sacrifices for your alleged beliefs, that is why you oppose BDS. So, who is the real coward? The sin is the Occupation. The vanity is a government who refuses to acknowledge its mistakes. And the cowards are those who refuse to sacrifice to achieve peace.

The loss is all yours

Living and working here, this is spot on. The main enemy of peace here is paranoia (on both sides). I do favour a boycott of food products because it is essentially exporting water from the desert to the west and foolish. But intellectual boycott. Most Israelis are kind but sadly duped into suspicion by the Government.

These are the reasons of the boycott. You can agree or disagree but these people have courage and morality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--a4mlBQh8U

Once again we are delighted with yet another new incarnation of the Yaaov Sullivan mystique. From a simple housewife, to a "Messianic Jew" to a "Catholic" to an "American Muslim" married to a "Palestinian husband from Gaza" Sullivan has achieved maturation as an "artist. (we wall of course wonder the sort of 'art' he refers to)" As for his/her boycott of "Israeli hummus," it is obvious (s)he refers to that infamous brand SABRA!! Except for one thing.....Sabra is a product of the US!!!!! -) So go ahead and boycott. It is still the largest selling brand thanks to its naming itself after Native Israelis and the overwhelming support Americans provide it. We await your next incarnation Mrs. Sullivan. LMAO! http://www.sabra.com/homepage.aspx

I always did it quietly....not so much anymore

Most critics of the boycott campaign of Israel avoid dealing with the issues of the boycott: the Israeli occupation and siege, the imprisonment of Palestinians, and the military attacks and killings against Palestinians with impunity. The first three are illegal by all international standards, the last two are war crimes. You might hate the boycott, but at least it is non-violent, and has worked effectively in the past when violent means did not. Within the leadership of the boycott movement are also Jews and Israelis. Let's talk about the issues, and then we can have an honest discussion about how to best deal with the mutual and deadly problems we face. Maybe you are right, that the boycott is wrong. But you have to convince us that you have a better solution.

You say BDS has proven a "wholesale failure". Bradley, you couldn't be more wrong. We are just getting started... and there will be no wholesale failure until every single human being living between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea shares the same complete set of civil and political rights.

Toronto just couldn't find 10 films innocent enough to warrant the israeli side to be saved.

Chinese, Burmese, Pakistani, Sudanese and Zimbabwean, Iceland, Norway, Japan and Turkey If any of the above appear on any products that I intend to purchase and there is a viable alternative yes I do. Obviously, and you will know this by singling out China, it can be very difficult. But I believe that intentionally avoiding their products means I am making a personal statement, that I can live with. I assume that feeling as you do about China's occupation of Tibet you also try at least to boycott Chinese products.

It is not good to boycotting artists because artists are most of them who can think in a reflexive way the society where they live. They touch the subjetivity whichi it is not always percive for the oursie world. So artists do not represent the general opinion of a society, they just rebel the hidden points of that society and even those points that the societydoes not want to see. Most of Israel movies shows us a hidden world, even for those who live here, in israel.

At least - as you mentioned - there are Israeli and Jewish moderates that you can differentiate from the extremists - which are only a small fringe - Let me ask you this? Where are the true Arab moderates who recognize the existence of a Jewish state between the Mediterranean sea and the west bank? Even those referred as moderates such as Abbas, Fayyad never accept Israel as the homeland of teh Jewish nation.

In response to Bradley Burston' column, a request that not only ".... on Yom Kippur, the time of year when Jews are commanded to re-examine themselves in the harshest of light," but from now on....... for Israel, for Palestinians, for ourselves, for world peace.

As a child I had often wondered why none of my Jewish friends families drove Fords. I finally raised the question to discover that Henry Ford was a hero of the Third Reich and a strong supporter of Adof Hitler. . . Were Jews vain cowardly and sinful to boycott Ford? I think not.

and a lot rougher than often imagined of gentile supporters of Israel in the arts that may be well known or pedestrian in accomplishment but face seriously communicated death threats for writing such letters as this. It should not surprise anyone in this cultural theater of war. Think Theo van Gogh, and the effect this horror has on Canadian artists, their families. Malicious self interested peers perpetuate an escalation that ultimately destroys careers and traumatize family prospects. Worse, is that such artists are individually alone, without social or police support, as everyone coerces the victims to silence so as not to cause any trouble. It is their fight alone. What to do?

You hit the nail on the head.

"The essential core....??'' "The essential core.... Was to resist foreign take over.." Call it what you will, label it pretentiously as you must, so as to sound more learned, but that is the bottom line.

do you boycott also e. g. chinese goods in view of china's occupation of tibet?

It's Yom Kippur, Bradley writes. Yes, another opportunity for Israelis atone for their sins. Good. Now: on with the occupation!

no bds, no violent resistance, no non-violent resistance, all the while, its a war of prison guards against prisoners, continued , second rate status in Israel, heinous, unending occupation across the green line, the Palestinians, like the black south africans wanted BDS, so thats what should happen, notwithstanding any exceptions like Ajami, the bulk of what is happening in Israel sucks, and nothing seems to be able to change this. The typical focus on exceptions (that prove the rule) is the usual MO for the Bursteins of the world, dissappointed zionists who want to make things better by not doing anything but talk and talk and wave their hands,

and what are Israelis attempting to achieve in the Golan and in the West Bank having failed in Gaza? Other than the enforced judification of Arab land.

For all those advocates of BDS, Israel division, (actually the only BDS division supported in the world it seems), it is obvious by what you don't do that is revealing. No one seems agitated enough to engage in , BDS Sudan, BDS Iran, BDS China or BDS any anti U.S./Western oriented society. Why is that? Why is it that, "Left"-leaning groups, with the exception of the one mentioned here and the Stop The Bomb people in Vienna, are seemingly the only ones that have the cahunas to call out hypocrisy amongst lefties or fascists, even if they are of the anti U.S./West variety? The silence is deafening to anyone who would bother to do the math.

Do you boycot products of China (Tibet), Russia (Chechnia),the USA (Iraq and Afghanistan), your own country(Iraq and Afghanistan),Germany, France,etc., etc, or you take interest only in Israel? Do you boycot Iran for its' war machinery as you put it, its' terror net over the world, North Korea,etc.etc.? If not, we are flattered that we are so important for you. Kudos Chrisie!

He nailed it. This is the essence of the hypocrisy of that entire movement. The overwhelming vanity and bloated egos of the participants--from the spokesperson for this latest canard, bourgeois Marxist, Naomi Klein to the the grand poobah for all of these generic movements, the greatest man in the universe, Noam Chomsky,-- are what this thing is all about.

Once again GOD has lifted up your eyes. How wonderful, how introspective! Love and wisdom that surpasses all understanding to those who love the LORD! See you soon my dearly beloved!

I normally respect your opinion, Bradley Burston, but this one is completely idiotic. I didn't agrre with the Toronto boycott on this particular film, and I don't agree with your views on boycott either.

If Israel and Israelis don't want to be boycotted, then start behaving properly.

They are rich people out of touch with true history.Fonda is a horrible woman who is self serving and indirectly caused the death of many during the viet nam era.Hamas,Iranian mullahs, the taliban,syria who supports al quaida,hizbollah all who wish to destroy the freedoms of this world need to be boycotted not Israel.

Roni Segoly, the Israeli coordinator of Combatants for Peace, said Israelis in the group decided to support the Palestinians' call to boycott the event. We are against any boycott against Israel or Palestine, but we do not support the settlement project," he told The Media Line. "Since all Palestinian organizations decided to object to his performance in Israel, we decided to stand by them." "What Mr. Cohen did was out of his good will," Segoly said. "But it wasn't planned well and became a big political mess. If indeed he wants to promote peace, then he should do it in a way that allows us to support him. Discount Bank, a sponsor of his performance, is the symbol of the settlement project for Palestinians." Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016497954?Despite%20Poisoning%20and%20Boycott,%20Leonard%20Cohen%20Performs%20in%20Israel#ixzz0SJWkiKUr

and your article. An excellent example of how one cuts off one's nose to spite one's face. The proceeds of the Ramallah concert would have gone to groups who are truly working for peace. I am glad he had the good sense to set up his own foundation. When someone works as hard as Cohen does for the good of all, it pains me to see the ignorance of people who want to do nothing but inflame and destroy his good work. Take heart, I for one will keep praying neither side goes over the cliff. Good article, keep it up.

theatre tickets, or even to visit Israel. One can only hope you will stop championing rejectionism of peace for both sides of the conflict. Those on the outside of the conflict should be doing their best to champion the end of the conflict. Not waste time and energy on publicity stunts.

Sorry Chris Linthwaite But There are No, Israeli soldiers in Gaza There are No, Israeli settlers in Gaza There are No, Israeli settlements in Gaza We have even left land in the Gaza strip that we the Jewish community legally owned and paid for with money! So, I am sorry to tell you this Chris Linthwaite but legally there is NO Occupation in Gaza! Dear Chris Linthwaite let me remind you that the Palestinians in Gaza have a border with their Egyptian brothers, since Israel handed over its control over the Philadelphi Route to the Egyptians when it left Gaza. Rafah Border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was manned by European Monitors, but has been closed and shut down by the Egyptian Authorities because of Palestinian violence, and lack of security for the European Monitors. Armed Palestinians literally attacked the crossing and compelled the Monitors to run away to the Kerem Shalom base on the Israeli side. Chris Linthwaite Maybe if the Europeans and EU were not such sissies in fulfilling their part of the agreement the Palestinians in Gaza could walk FREELY to the Egyptian side and back over the ground, and not under it! But, it is the Israeli fault isn`t it? Since it could not be, the Poor Palestinians (Hamas) fault as you already convinced us! Chris Linthwaite We Israelis have nothing to do anymore with the People of Gaza, yet European people like you think we should still look after them: look that they get Fuel; look that they get Medicine, look that they get Food; look that they get Water; look that they get Electricity. . . look that they are supplied with Concrete for tunnels; look that they are supplied with Steel for rockets, and now after the Goldie report we have come to a new absurd where we Israelis are requested NOT to defend ourselves under UN international law when rockets are fired from Gaza into Israel (even if we have been fired upon for 8 years), well Ladie Da to that! Have An Easy Yum Kipur

Israel lived under some form of boycott for mant years,and not only Muslim boycott,also from their"oil slaves".Israel was boycotted for various reasons,occupation,oppression,and even its existance.Israel survived them all,and will survive the next one too.The question is if the Israeli Arabs will.And who are those that are talking boycott Israel,supporters of Hamas, Hizbollah,Iran.Boycott is also doubel standard, Would one boycott something one absolutly need just because of it origin?Medicin?High-Tech?weapon?agriculture?anything one need to survive. Boyctt ?LOL.

Burston fantasy: "...essential core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: people on both sides trying to protect their loved ones..." Reality: The essential core, since the establishment of Israel, has been the attempt of the entire Arab world to DIS-establish Israel. The essential core before 1948 was Islamist revanchism and irredentism and Koran-backed effort to establish Muslim dominion of Dar al-Harb, i.e. all places where Islam is not dominant. Appeasers and social relativists must WAKE UP to the actual "essential core".

boycut anything that is israeli from occupy land!

This articles fails on the facts. This is propaganda.

for keeping its Gaza border closed to fellow Arabs. One look at a map shows that Egypt has a Gaza border - making claims of "ISRAEL'S Gaza siege" and "ISRAEL'S Gaza prison" complete lies. Israel opened its border to save almost a million Jews kicked from Arab states, while Arab states STILL keep Palestinians as Arab refugees - in the huge expanse of Arab lands. Egypt's forcing back to Gaza of thousands of Arabs who breached its Gaza border is no less brutal than Israel's counter-attack to 8 years of missiles from Gaza. Get off the double-standard. BOYCOTT EGYPT!

To boycot movies feels stupid, but in the context "honor Tel Aviv and its centenary celebrations" is understandable. This makes the remark that Tel Aviv was built on Palestinian villages also relevant. How can I simply honor something that next to joy also caused so much suffering. I do not buy "made in Israel" if I can easily avoid it but I do want to watch Israeli movies like "See If I'm Smiling" (Lir?ot Im Ani Mehayechet). I also read Haaretz and listen to Bibi's UN speach, because dialogue and open information is important.

ur government does not represent ur views?? r u not living on stolen land from the native indians which ur country slaughtered? please keep quiet if u have nothing meaningful to say, instead of trying to mislead everyone...

Please read my blog on exactly this subject. Other Israel Film Festiva@blogspot.com

Do you refuse to see Egypt's Gaza border? NO EXCUSE for Egypt keeping Gazans in an open air prison for decades. NO EXCUSE for Egypt and Hamas keeping Arabs from fleeing to Egypt during Israel's counter-attack. Almost a million Jewish refugees were forced from surrounding Arab states into Israel, who opened its border to save them. They got citizenship in one tiny state. Arab states continue to keep Arabs in refugee camps to this day instead of settling them in their huge lands. Which of these reactions to the Arab-initiated war against modern Israel was humane? Only die-hard Israel-haters refuse to see Egypt's Gaza border.

Chris, Continue avoiding the Made in Israel signs while you sit in your bedroom posting on every single article on Haaretz. Keep up the great work, maybe you should go over to the Jerusalem Post as well and get your message out. You're doing "God's work". Isn't it amazing that an Isreali newspaper will let you publish your anti-Israel and by extension (anti-Semitic) rants without censorship. Wow, what a concept. A true democracy where free speech and justice prevails. Maybe Israel isn't such an evil place after all. Maybe you can start posting in the Iranian media too to help the world solve the nuke issues. Maybe you should visit Iran, or Syria, or Gaza. What amazing bravado you have. I have bad news for you. Israel will win and you and your kind will lose. It doesn't matter how much you write or what you buy or don't buy, you will still lose. P.S. this message also applies to Swiss (Dino) and all the other brave and tireless souls around the world trying to cure it's ills.

This is a good article about boycotting and the limitations it should have however most Israeli films are funded by the Israeli government (including US hollywood blockbusers) to show Jews or Israelis in a good light *(fairly or not). This is where boycotting of Israeli arts (IMHO) should be considered acceptable/. Maybe bradley should publish all films funded by Israeli grants sot hat we can boycott more fairly.

...that all these Israel-bashers, and we all know who they are by now...could not care less about the palestinians in whose names they are arguing. Makes you wonder about their true motives, doesn't it?? Hypocrites of the worst kind...

about what I consider (and the International Community) consider to be the illegal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and The Golan Heights. Consequently the only thing I can do to show my displeasure is to avoid the Made in Israel sign as best I can. If that makes me a sinner then fair enough, but I know I am doing everything I possibly can to avoid contributing to the Israeli war machine which maintains the occupation. If that make me a vain coward with a prediliction for sinning then fair enough. Wonder what that makes someone who cheers Operation Cast Lead and the slaughter of the children

It's unfortunate that it's necessary to resort to boycotting, divesting, and sanctioning Israel, but, as Code Pink declares, they're nonviolent tools. At the same time Mr. Burston talks about the vanity of boycotting Israel, his prime minister is calling for "crippling sanctions" against Iran, even while Dimona has never been inspected and is said to only operate when the wind blows toward Jordan. It might please Mr. Burston that the mere mention of boycotting Israel in a U.S. newspaper's online forum gets the messages purged and the poster banned. It's effective censorship, but it tends to make one less sympathetic. The jazz great Bill Evans canceled his Soviet Russia tour when it invaded Afghanistan. Israelis would do better to demand their government end the settler and military occupation of the OPT, end the blockade of Gaza instead of blaming everyone else for well deserved criticism. In their lust for that Greater Israel, Israelis have lost their humanity. The world now knows it.

Hello Ronaldinho..... Besides being one of the best soccer super-star on this planet [fictional or not]. Add to your accomplishments the best worded talk-back response ever. And no less.... directed at a mealy-mouth half-wit... who doesn't know her ass from her elbow. Kind regards.... PS... all this from a Beckam fan par-excellence

they need them to appear as enlightened and tolerant. But it must be for free, and when the bimbos refuse to praise the benevolence and magnanimity of their Massas, they quickly get more aggressive than the hardcore settler, who at least have some principles. Burston is by far the worst of this bunch, and the god he uses to invoke turns pale and green whenever he hears Bradley's narcistic prayers. "And there shall be collective puking up in heaven, until this asshole finally shuts up."

well done Ajami Hateful Jew haters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As an American Muslim I used to buy an Israeli hummus but then I realized that hummus is grown in the West Bank. Immidiately I initiated a boycott ( first time in US!) and now our organization includes many artists like myself. Now we buy only Libnan hummus ( much better and 10% cheaper.

I know, it's pretty tough to keep a loyal "fan-base" here, if you are prepared to tell the Israeli/Diaspora audience some rather uncomfortable truths...:) But fact is: Not only Israels critics, even many of Israels friends in this world are slowly but surely starting to get a little bit annoyed when it comes to the rather chronical inability of Israelis/Diasporas (lefties of course excluded!) to "get it".... "He has come out many times against the sett- lers..." Right, you are making exactly my point, he and many others are very generous with "good" state- ments, but when it comes to living up to their words, they unfortuantely aren't showing the same generosity at all..... Is this only an Israel/Jewish problem...??? I don't think so. But unfortunately that doesn't make it less of a problem....

All I can say is that the BDS movement is getting bigger and more effective from business reports I have read. As far as boycotting the arts, I'm only for it if the artist(s) are helping to spread the truth about Israels slaughter of Palestinians, especially with the latest Gaza war. There can be NO EXCUSE for the White Phosphorous targeting of civilians. No excuse for aiming and shooting-killing of white flag carrying women and children. No excuse for collectively punishing close to two million people in Gaza-someone needs to answer to this in the International criminal courts, and that someone is the Israeli government. Just the fact that Israel never cooperates with any authority investigating anything against them, tells volumes. The common criminal will hardly cooperate with authorities who want to investigate alleged crimes. This in itself is a show of guilt. there is NO EXCUSE! BOYCOTT ISRAEL!

Swiss, rather than speculating about Bradley's disease, you might do well to consider his message. Many Israeli critics are incapable of having their own assumptions challenged, even if privately, and just for a minute. Bradley Burston has come out many times against settlers, and yet you accuse him of the opposite simply because he is opposed to the boycott movement. The disease suffer from Swiss is the one that presumes that you see the situation clearly, while others must be deluded for having reached alternative conclusions. This malady is prevalent amongst Israeli supporters, and detractors. But make no mistake - it is a disease. And you are a patient par excellence!

Tough one. Your final para is true about walking off a cliff. The question is whether the gentle shirt-tugging of the international community will turn Israel back from the brink or whether only a slap to the chops will bring you back to your senses. Fundamentally I share your analysis of BDS. It frequently targets the wrong people in Israel. It feeds a sense of insecurity - and convinces many ordinary Israelis that opposition to the occupation is based upon anti-semitism and a desire to destroy Israel. It can look petty, vindictive and ignorant. But the quid pro quo of not supporting BDS of Israel is to speak out loudly and consistently in favour of complete economic sanctions against illegal settlements. The wedge that needs to be driven is not between Israel and the rest of the world but between the great country that Israel is and can be, and the extremists it has failed to confront for forty years.

PR is't so bad. Photo-shop,and believed lies are worse,and that what the Palestinians and you are doing.

It is true they make some damage. It is true their logic ("I don't discuss my private life") is annoying. But in the world of internet, it was only to be expected that every fool would have his one minute of fame. And the thing is, anything you might say against them will only give them more opportunity to spread their venom. But they have helped us in one way: they exposed all the closet anti-Semites out there, and helped me to understand why there is no difference between one zealot and another.

One could also call it the "Shimon Peres disease": Always prepared to say all the right ("nice") words, as long as it doesn't cost anything. But as soon as things are getting a bit tough, they will rather stick with the right wingers in Israel than with human rights organisations from all over the world. Is it fair to guess that Bradley Burston doesn't only have a problem with the "Toronto boycott" against Tel Aviv (which can indeed be open for discussion), but against any kind of sanctions against the state of Israel, even specific ones against the West Bank settlers..?? I'm afraid that is exactly what differentiates a truly moderate Israeli/Diaspora from a "pseudo-moderate one".....

The Zionist project has, from its very beginning, thrives on PR. PR might, finally, put a break on it too.

One of my favorite flicks that stars Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck is a film about the Mexican Revolution of about 1910 to 1914 entitled Old Gringo. There is a scene I recall of a young Mexican Officer who is about to be executed by the Revolutionaries. He says to Gregory Peck, "You Americans are just interested in this Revolution because you find it is interesting to watch us die." People over here in LA or Irvine should be careful about what they wish for when they are expressing an opinion about the Middle East, I think. That goes for Arabs and for Jews. Especially those that aren't in harm's way. It isn't nice and it doesn't necessarily help to tell people to go kill each other. A safe and healthy Yom Kippur fast to you Bradley and your family, to my relatives in Israel, to the rest of Israel, and to Jews here and around the World! Am Yisrael Chai!

Whom are you trying to convince with this tosh?

Congratulations, Ajami crew, for the win and the nomination. Hope everyone goes to see it and that the Tel Aviv Centennial committee does some free advertising for it, maybe even a sponsored open-air screening in Jaffa on hol hamoed Sukkot?

"Look down. We're all falling here. We're all trying to keep our families and friends, our children and our elders, from the cliff. Until you understand that, you understand nothing."