'Boycott them!' UN rapporteur slams companies aiding Israeli settlements

 

The illegal Ulpana outpost, adjacent to the Beit El Jewish settlement. (AFP Photo / Gali Tibbon)

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/un-boycott-us-companies-israel-299/

A special rapporteur for the UN’s Human Rights Council has called for a boycott on all companies involved with Israeli settlements until they adhere to international rights standards. Israel and the US have condemned the move.

In a report presented to the UN General Assembly, American professor Richard Falk said that many US, European and Mexican companies appeared to be violating international human rights and humanitarian laws. The companies are allegedly exploiting Palestinian resources, helping Israel construct illegal settlements and providing security for settlers.

Falk said the call for a boycott is an effort to take infractions of international law seriously. He said the pace of Israeli settlement building has accelerated and that Israel has ignored UN resolutions condemning the practice, so “there is a sense that what the UN says doesn't count.”

Although Falk admitted that further investigations were necessary to determine severity of the violations, the US and Israel were quick to condemn the report, accusing the UN special rapporteur of bias against Israel and calling for his removal.

US Ambassador Susan Rice stated, “Mr. Falk's recommendations do nothing to further a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and indeed poison the environment for peace. His continued service in the role of a UN Special Rapporteur is deeply regrettable and only damages the credibility of the UN.”

Spokesperson for the Israeli Mission Karaen Peretz added that, “Israel is deeply committed to advancing human rights and firmly believes that this cause will be better served without Falk and his distasteful sideshow. While he spends pages and pages attacking Israel, Falk fails to mention even once the horrific human rights violations and ongoing terrorist attacks by Hamas.”

The Anti-Defamation League urged UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to rescind his preliminary endorsement of the report. Ki-moon has previously said that settlement activity is illegal, and “runs contrary to Israel's obligations under the Road Map and repeated Quartet calls for the parties to refrain from provocations.”

Representatives from several countries in the UN General Assembly – including Egypt and Iran – praised Falk's report as fair.

Richard Falk, an American professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, previously angered Israel by comparing the country to Nazi Germany, and accusing it of crimes against humanity for its treatment of Palestinians.

Since 2008, Israel has barred Falk from visiting the Palestinian territories.

In July 2012, the UN Human Rights Council initiated a probe into Jewish settlements. Israel responded by saying it would bar the Council's experts from accessing the sites.

The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements in the occupied territories to be illegal. The United Nations has repeatedly upheld the view that Israel's construction of settlements constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The International Court of Justice also said the settlements were illegal. No foreign government actively supports Israel's building of settlements.

Israel disputes the position of the international community and the legal arguments deeming the settlements illegal. The country cites its historical and biblical links to the West Bank, saying the status of the settlements should be decided in peace negotiations.

University of London boycotts Israel

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181147.html

The University of London Union (ULU) has voted 10-1 to institute and campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli regime and in support of Palestine.

The motion clinched on Wednesday, May 18 called for “thorough research into ULU investments and contracts” with companies guilty of “violating Palestinian human rights” as set out by the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC).

“We have precedents for boycotting campaigns at ULU, especially with South Africa and the boycott campaign over Barclays bank that supported the Apartheid regime. We are now responding to the Palestinian call for civil action in support of their fight against racism”, said Ashok Kumar, Senate member for LSE, speaking in favour of the motion.

The motion also called on other students' unions to join in the campaign for Palestinian human rights.

ULU is the largest students' union in Europe with over 120,000 members from colleges across London. ULU senate consists of the presidents from the 20 students unions representing every University of London University.

“We are delighted that this motion has passed, and with such a clear vote as well. We have seen throughout history that boycotts are a crucial nonviolent tactic in achieving freedom, and target institutions, not individuals”, said James Haywood, President-elect at Goldsmiths Students' Union

BDS to question 'Made in Israel'

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159394.html


The internationally-endorsed anti-Israeli Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is to question the origin of Israel-sourced goods.

The French branch of the pro-Palestinian campaign plans to file a fraud lawsuit against Agrexco, Israel's largest agricultural exporter, a Press TV's correspondent reported.

Rights groups contend that fruit, flowers and other goods are being stamped 'Made in Israel' despite being produced in illegal Jewish settler units across the occupied Syrian and Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Golan Heights. The United Nations and European Union have condemned the settlements as illegal under international law.

Tel Aviv, meanwhile, enjoys a preferential trade agreement with the EU, which permits "Israeli" goods to avoid certain taxes.

Speaking to our reporter, however, President of Agrexco's European operations, Oziel Kouri denied any wrongdoing on the part of his company.

Kouri, who refused to go on camera, claimed Israeli companies could not change the origin of EU-headed goods, being subject to fine-tooth custom searches.

In 1997, Israel was found importing Brazilian orange juice, labeling them 'Made in Israel' and rerouting them to Europe to save on taxes.

Aided by the thriving export industry, Tel Aviv is accused of enforcing an apartheid system by which it indulges Jewish people while depriving the Palestinians of their basic necessities.

Irish artists boycott Israel

A Palestinian child cries during the funeral of a 22-year-old
man who was killed in an Israeli airstrike.


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138678§ionid=351020202


More than 150 Irish artists have launched a cultural boycott of Israel, refusing to either perform in the occupied territory or be funded by Tel Aviv-linked institutions.

The artists pledged to continue the boycott "until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights," The Irish Times reported on Friday.

The artists are demanding "an end of the occupation of Palestine; dismantling or at least stopping the settlements; and Israel negotiating in good faith with the Palestinians," said composer Raymond Deane.

Israel was fabricated on the back of full-fledged military operations against Palestine and other Arab territories in 1948.

The regime significantly dimmed the prospects of peace in 1967 by capturing and later annexing the adjoining East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Despite international criticism of the occupation, Tel Aviv has been propping up Jewish settler units in the occupied West Bank, disregarding a Palestinian demand for reviving the peace process.

Singer and songwriter Damien Dempsey said Israel was being run by the military and expressed hope that the boycott would encourage young Israeli people to "speak out" against the regime, the paper added.

US rabbi to hold anti-Israel rallies

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138614§ionid=351020202


A rabbi has sharply criticized the Israeli regime for its crimes against Palestinians, saying Tel Aviv is not the representative of Jewish people.

In an interview with IRNA in New York, David Feldman, an anti-Zionist campaigner, also announced plans to organize protest rallies in several countries against Israeli violence on Palestinians.

The rabbi noted on Saturday that the protesters intend to raise public awareness that Israel is an anti-Semitic regime and it should lift its siege on the impoverished Gaza Strip.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on the coastal enclave since 2007. The 1.5 million population of Gaza have endured severe conditions, constantly suffering from lack of basic living supplies.

Feldman emphasized that rabbis have always been opposed to Zionism and Israel, adding that the demonstrators will be carrying posters at their rallies to express anger toward the regime.

He said that his organization had held several demonstrations in Canada and the United States so far.

The rabbi also said that the people around the world are not aware of Israeli crimes against the innocent people of Palestine and it is our responsibility to expose the crimes committed by Israel.

Filmmaker Loach urges cultural boycott of Israel

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116198&sectionid=3510212


The acclaimed British director and winner of Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Ken Loach, has called for the boycott of Israeli movies at the international film festivals and cultural events.

“The massacres and state terrorism in Gaza make the showcasing of Israeli films in various sections of international film festivals unacceptable,” Loach was quoted as saying at a ceremony commemorating Israeli offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip by IRNA.

“Tel Aviv sponsors various international film festivals with the intention to open the way for Israeli films.”

He added the call for a boycott of Israeli cultural products comes from many writers, artists, journalists, lawyers, academics, trades unionists and teachers. They see it as “a contribution to the struggle to end Israel's occupation, colonization and system of apartheid.”

Last July, Loach withdrew his film ''Looking for Eric'' from the Melbourne International Film Festival in protest against the Israel's sponsorship of another filmmaker. Tel Aviv provided airfare for Tatia Rosenthal, whose film ''9.99'' is an Israeli-Australian co-production.

In May 2009, Loach as director of the Edinburgh International film festival returned a £300 gift from the Israeli embassy as a sign of his cultural boycott of Israel and in protest at Tel Aviv's policies towards the Palestinian people.

The Toronto international film festival (TIFF) came under fire in September for selecting Tel Aviv as the subject of its inaugural City-to-City Spotlight strand. Renowned movie makers including Loach, Jane Fonda and David Byrne were among those who signed a statement supporting Canadian film-maker John Greyson, who withdrew his short film “Covered” from TIFF after learning of the program.

In a letter to the festival, Greyson cited Israeli action in Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements as reasons for his withdrawal.

A United Nations inquiry led by former South African Judge Richard Goldstone details what investigators call Israeli actions "amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity" during Israel's offensive against Gaza.

Tel Aviv is worried that charges could be lodged against politicians and army officers for war crimes committed during Israel's 22-day offensive against blockaded Gaza Strip. Top officials who would be in the judicial cross-hairs could include former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as well as current Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed during three weeks of Israel's land, sea and air assault in the impoverished coastal sliver. The offensive also inflicted $ 1.6 billion damage to Gaza economy.