150 academics, artists back actors' boycott of settlement arts center

He is not mentioned in the article. Why is his photo here?

we should boycott the stupid artists.

Perhaps those boycotting should do their homework. Ari'el has never been included in any agreement to be Palestinian territory. Those that are uninformed or misinformed seemed to be the ones that desire it to become so.

where can I see a list of signatures

The left is going to love BHO. He will pay for his Nobel prize with Palestinian land. The left who promoted BHO will love this peace so much.

and Made in Israel TV dramas celebrating WB suicide bombers and depicting actors dressed as Shin Bet officers who kidnap babies in west Bank?

Has someone invited them to appear or is this publicity stunt a typical leninist propaganda moment. Let's let democracy free. We need to isnstitute referendums in israel on controversial subjects like relinquishing land we legitimately captured in a defensive war or whetehr universities should ban pseudo intellectual professors who acivley work to destroy the same university or whether tax dollars should be used to pay for a one sided politically corrupted stalinist self proclaimed cultural elite. The left will never agree to california or european style referendums in Israel for one simple reaosn. The people (at least 70%) of them cannot stomach the left or its opinions. The left can only maintain their control through the patronage system where the judges and professors pick their colleagues and make sure they are "politically correct" choices. This is the most undemocratic stalinist purported democracy there is. (And i am not suggesting that minority rights should be abridged through referendums, but these political issues are not issues of individual liberty but political philosophy).

David Grossman continues to lead the attack on the democracy of Israel. Why is he involved in the Ariel debate when he is an armchair moralist? David Grossman’s condemnation of our government’s shortcomings in anticipating the reaction of the wolves in sheep’s clothing aboard the flotilla, was his preemptive attack on the case before all the facts were in. His remarks at that time were somewhat disingenuous when compared to his quoted praise of the American Colony bookstore that used his name in a recent Haaretz ad. Doesn't Grossman know about what he calls the” Best Bookstore in the Middle East,” that it was filled with every English book written to deny the holocaust and to attack the legitimacy of the Jewish State, at least it was so the last time I visited the bookstore! Do Paul Findley, David Irving and Noam Chomsky speak to the soul of David Grossman!? Was David Grossman so interested in supporting the American Colony Hotel Bookstore that he has forgotten that he also owes at least the benefit of a doubt to his own words that pummel the decision makers behind what he always seems to interpret as the mistakes of the Government of Israel. Why can’t David Grossman say “My Country right or wrong; when right to be kept right, but when wrong to made right” and then wait for all the facts to be in? David Grossman is a part of the “lynch mob,” similar to Yossi Sarid’s ad hominem “seven idiots” remark about the inner cabinet. We now know the truth about the IHH, “humanitarian relief [sic] fund.” If David Grossman is capable of calling the American Colony Bookstore, “the Best,” with its rich displays of Holocaust Denier authors, then I question all his judgments about Ariel, about the flotilla charade, and his animosity towards any subject that might be right of radical liberal chic. Why don't we ever hear from the Yehoshuas, Sarids, Grossmans, et al, about the times they made mistakes in their elevated judgments. Teshuva is not about gases; it is about gut reactions that were mistakes. Yitzchak Yellin Netanya Israel

It is interesting that the first boycott by Israelis against the settlers is by actors, but this profession allows them to be less inhibited. For a similar reason, foreign actors are the first to boycott Israel for the sin of occupation. A boycott by Israelis is appropriate because it allows the citizenry to express its true opinion, which the Knesset has a more difficult time doing due to political considerations. The boycott should be more widespread, and not only for cultural events. People who are against the occupation should not employ or give work to settlers, thus allowing them to maintain their harmful "lifestyle". Let the people of Israel speak out in a way the settlers can hear. Of course, the theater companies as organizations being supported by the State will not be able to participate. They will put up performances with replacement actors. The settlers will see B-level shows, but the most important thing is for them to know what Israelis think of them.

These people must be boycotted. No attendance for their shows.

when an artist from abroad decide at the last minute to cancel his performance in Israel in reason of heavy political pressure we are all claiming this is unacceptable. Now we do not need them anymore we are able to do it alone. I would like to suggest to these 150 "intellectual" to accept to perform in Ariel and as "compensation" to perform also in Ramallah, Gaza and Jenin... but may for this they need something more than Bla bla bla ...we can call this maybe courage...

Some artists who have guts to take side on the right, not lunatic rightists.

like one Lavrenti Pavlovich ,Comrade Beria. Hope he'd never gain the similiar power.

Let's hope that these get the upper hand over religious zealotry and political cajoling. It's about time.

I'd like to read the original document myself. Sometimes when others tell you what someone else said they get it wrong.

Best wishes to all those who have a sense of morality.

They are traitors and should be arrested and tortured to prevent any other dissent. We have to bite this in the butt before it gets too widespread. We cannot accept political dissent of any kind - doing so will undermine the state. Undermining the state, undermines our security. Security, happiness, hummus. Their actions are preventing hummus from reaching your tables.

Stop their state funds and salaries. When you work for the state and receive taxpayers money, you are obliged to the state and those taxpayers. You do not get to pick and choose which taxpayers benefit from their investment in you. Fire them and let them find private financial backing. I do not want to be supporting these kapos and traitors.

is enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights of which Israel is a signatory. What are you going to do force people to travel to Ariel by gunpoint?

I share your indignation. There are some here that are talking about burning books. Can you believe this? The more I read, the more I am shocked. These people should be happy to see this movement starting when the peace talks are beginning. But they are aggressive, violent, racist and fascists. Burn books.. The people of the Book... I never thought I could listen to this. Artists, writers, students, dont stop. The world backs you.

,the leading intellectuals and citizens of Byzantium ,on the eve of the final assault on the city by the Sultan Mehmet.. In days and years preceeding demise the city the intellectuals were attacking the Emperor Constantine ,for not "making the peace with the Turks" There were few ,if any of them defending the city ,leaving it to the unwashed masses and mercebary troops from Genoa. Emperor Constantine had fallen in the battle ,fighting alongside those defending the city ,while the intellectuals got slaughtered in the waitng for Archangel Gabriel .

Everyone has a right to boycott anything or anyone they want. The hypocricy come in when those who freely boycott and claim it's the right thing to do accuse other boycotters of abusing their freedom. Israel/USA opposed the Arab boycott of Israel and the US passed all kinds of punitive laws to put a stop to it - all while the US continues to boycott little Cuba! On the other hand, Israel is always demanding that the international community boycott Iran because of its alleged nuclear program. So, are boycotts ok when we're behind them and not ok when someone else initiates them?

How can you treat your artists like that? How can you call a writer like Oz an idiot? They are the soul of the nation, the ones that translate in books the feelings of your nation. No country can treat artists like that. Have you lost any decency? Are you really Jews? I am so ashamed to be put in the same group as you. The good thing is that people like you dont have culture. You dont read, you dont go to theatres. So, any boycott to these brave men would be inocuous. I am so embarrassed to see my religion taken by indecent people like you.

they support the boycott because they think it's for their personal benefit. what a shame!

If they won't go to Ariel which is considered "occupied territory" then how can they live in Tel Aviv which our enemies consider "occupied Palestine?"

Our friends the Americans don't even recognize West Jerusalem as part of Israel. I have three children born there and listed as Jerusalem only in their US passports. `will these academics no longer teach at the Hebrew University since it offends the world and is across the Green Line? I assume all the faculty from the Hebrew University that signed the petition will be tendering their resignations this week.

...to hold all these people he calls traitors and quislings...after he finds them all guilty of anti-government activity...he's gonna build it in the territories!! Jail everyone that disagrees with us!! they're all antisemites!! Yeah!!!

Now I will start a vigil of my own and boycott all the authors and those piddly actors who just demoted themselves to a non entity for ever in Israel as we shall boycott all the plays they are in furthermore Oz and AB were my favourites until now I shall make another vigil and burn their books

It's good to see the Israeli Left stand up for human rights.

You give the world hope.

....Sure there are hundreds of Leftists ready to boycott Ariel...and do so... nothing new in that. But, excuse me, I looked forward to recognize, not just one, but several names of people who are politically UNCOMMITTED, as I am. I might have even changed my mind, perhaps, had I found on your list many actors, professors, professionals, who are UNCOMMITTED; or, at least, not known of political appartenance. I even began thinking of that, again, as I waited for the article to appear on my computer screen. And I admit, I was let down to recognize ONLY well known names of Leftist activists....So, I for one, continue to believe that boycott of professionals is WRONG when those professionals represent only a sector of the population, and not the majority either. Because this kind of "freedom of expression" could be expressed by all other sectors too, like the Rightists, etc, in which case that would be a cacophony.

We have got the same usual suspects from Universities that support the boycott. Noone would seriously cosider Sand or Gordon as academics.

A small and radical self appointed cultural elite with notable anti-zionists pretty much proves the point that they should not be receiving support from the sane and moderate majority of citizens.

muslims, christians, jews, hindu's etc, god bless all those that are moraly rich.

Neve Gordon and Shlomo Sand, two "academics" who support the delegitimization of Israel as an independent state, are also on this list. A very pathetic political gesture deliberately timed for the start of the Palestinian/Israeli talks. Wonderful that the Meretz leaders are actually still here and to think that I used to vote for that party.

There still a few in Israel with a conscience ... hope this make others stp and think about the direction the Zionist are leading Israel to ...

Just last week, these same academics blew a gut when Im Tirtzu threatened a boycott of their institutions. It seems academic freedom only applies when one agrees with the academics.

Even outside Israel it is difficult to voice legitimate criticism of the occupation, such is the fear of the unjustified accusation of "anti-Semitism". One can only imagine the opprobrium you will surely experience in Israel. Your courage and integrity in refusing to perform in the territories is greatly admired.

The usual suspects...the followers of the religion of the left....the monkey's of see no evil...hear no evil..and speak no evil when it comes to the enemy of Israel..the arabs/palestinians. These jerks will put Israel in a grave if they are not stopped.

Because they differ politically, they boycott. What the heck is the difference between these bleeding hearts and the odious BDS movement?!

If they were truly progressive, they wouldnt perform in occupied Palestine at all and sign on to the BDS movement. The refusal to perform in Ariel is just a feelgood action with no consequence. Meg Ryan is far braver by completely eschewing Israel

The "Green Line" was nothing more than an armistice line ending the War of Independence in 1949, which in its own right was only the first in a series of conflicts inflicted upon Israel by the Arab League. The "Green Line" never constituted a recognized international boundary, and it is a great mystery as to why the political "left" attaches such sacred status to it, especially in light of the extensive territories that Israel acquired in the Galilee and Negev during that war beyond those allocated by the UNSCOP Partition Plan. Territories, which today constitute the holdings of many kibbutzim that left-wing artists and intellectuals are not reluctant to visit. What is more, these "men of letters" conveniently ignore the fact that International Law has repeatedly recognized a legal right of place for the Jewish People in precisely these territories, as well as within the "Green Line" which they so irrationally cherish. A right which has been consistently violated by force of arms on the part of the Arabs. Israel's victory in 1967 was every bit as just as her victory in 1948, and, in fact, far fewer Arabs were displaced as a result of it. Why then are territories acquired in that war less legitimately part of Israel than those of the earlier conflict? Why the pretentious left-wing posturing? Why the willful ignorance? But then again, among the intellectual classes it's not the first time. [By the way, when these paragons of virtue are offered the opportunity to peddle their wares in L.A. or N.Y., London or Paris, etc. they don't concern themselves with how those venues were acquired, how much blood was shed in the process or at whose expense! Then it's all about status and celebrity and history be damned!!...What "People's Heroes, these!!...]

...put these good men in the knesset!

The Theater in Ariel will open as planned and the residents of Ariel will not be abandoned. Not enough actors have been recruited to even slightly thwart the the theaters opening. They are now left with no other option but to politicize culture and entertainment and get support from elsewhere.

The Holocaust, or 47' UN resolution, are not legitimate causes to occupy any territory. Neither is a coerced peace, in a situation where Palestinians view all of Israel as their home, is a valid justification. The only legitimate justification for any Jew to live in Israel is historical. The left is ashamed of its Jewish origins, and courts Europe's public opinion. Consequently, it does not accept any historical argument as basis for our life here. Without invoking history, the Jewish people indeed appears as an imperialist entity, and this goes for Judea and Samaria as well as for Ramat-Gan and Givataim. The left thus should feel as a fascist occupier, according to its own moral standards. However, it is not convenient to call one's home in Tel-Aviv as occupied territory. What a luck that some Jews live in Judea and Samaria, and that they are religious on top of that. The perfect scapegoats to absolve their fascists guilt feelings.

I really don't understand boycotts especially as we all know that in any peace agreement Ariel will stay in Israeli hands. It is the Palestinians who are racist and don't want Jews living in their area but they don't stop building do they?

and 150 of so called "intellectuals'! How many amonst them would be a true intellectual. Most of them would not exactly be distinguished by his/her intellect. I would call them sheep.

It does not matter if the settlers close their ears... the world must continue to hear about this land theft from the Pals... or the Israel governmet has an alternative: begin already compensating the Pals with equal territory and resources from israel proper.

We will win all of the lands of Israel, including the city of Hebron, with or without these arrogant secular elites. The future of Israel is in the religious zionist movement, not the discredited secular version advocated by the disloyal left. Bibi is wasting his time on peace discussions. There is only one way to achieve absolute victory, and it is not by chatting with Abbas in Washington, DC.

Now I know which academics, artists, and writers to boycott and ban from my reading lists.

If these personalities can get it together, to concentrate on political realities and prepare those who prefer peace to land for the next elections, we might be spared another government such as this one, or worse.

I salute these men and women for their unwavering rejection of the illegal occupation on subjugation of the Palestinian land and people.

It's really sad that some Israelis seem to know so little about the history of Israel and the former Palestine. For hundreds of years, the area referred to in this blog post was known as Judea and Samaria and there were Jewish communities throughout. In the 1948 war of independence, Jordanian forces captured the territory and forcibly evicted all the Jews, even from many locations considered to be important religious sites. The Jordanian occupation was completely illegal. There was no discussion at all of a "Palestinian state." Jordan renamed the area as "the West Bank" as part of its campaign to obliterate its historical connection to the Jewish people. In June 1967, Israel re-captured the areas of Judea and Samaria and Jews returned and built new communities, reestablishing a Jewish presence that had been temporarily removed. The territory is still in dispute and represents a bargaining chip to a degree, but no Israeli government will ever return to the so-called "Green Line," which was never anything more than an armistice line. From a historical perspective, the Jews have every right in the world to build communities throughout Judea and Samaria.

Who cares? These helpless chaps acting out their anger and frustration because they can not effect the true evil conducts of Israel's neighbors. Like kids incapable of solving their problems, they lash-out at their parents whom they know that they would be always there for them and would never hurt them, i.e. they need to grow up instead of constantly looking for attention.

First of all Ariel will be Jjewish forever. Secondly, when artists attacks society, it is a symptom of its unwillingness to look at the mirror. In mirror they see useful idiots and simply stupied persons.

Actual Jewish Israelis speak out against the Illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by religious fanatics who do not care about the property or rights of their neighbors.

Questions: Since when did the "Green Line" become a legally recognized international boundary conferring legitimacy only on Israeli communities living within it? When did the international community confer legitimacy on Israeli territorial acquisitions in Galilee and the Negev resulting from the War of Independence? And why will artists of the "Left" honor Israel-occupied (especially Kibbutz-occupied) Galilee with their presence, but not Ariel? The hypocrisy here is more dramatic than they are.

Just as the "artistic" left wing fools in the USA are traitors to America, so is our cadre of useless idiots traitors to the Jewish People in Israel. You live in a cocoon with no understanding of what is going on here or on the planet, with Muslims literally taking over the world, and fools like you bending over backwards to let them. You have no concept of self-preservation, no concept whatsover of Judaism, and no belief in HaShem. You do not deserve to live in this land that HaShem gave to us. For shame!

And the better would be if doctors ,also, will refuse to treat settlers and ovadia iosef,dov lior and igal shapira will put in jail for all their rest of life.

As a member of Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, speaking for myself, I support the integrity of my fellow actors and stand shoulder to shoulder with them in spirit. By the way: this Yigal Cohen-Orgad, "chancellor" of the Ariel University Center likes to use the word "stupid" a lot which makes me wonder how erudite a chancellor he can be. I wonder what people in general would call a chancellor that built such a beautiful cultural center on someone else's land?

How do these people travel between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv? TheHighway 1 road goes through "occupied territories".

The problem for too long has been the effective silencing of the Israeli left, the humanists, the intelligent ones, the good ones. It is high time they regained their voice. The worldwide loathing of Israel is due, almost entirely, to the present criminal Israeli government.

getting all the headlines from the leftist press. As if its NEWS the AB Yehoshua is a far leftist. Yawn