Naomi Klein (pictured right with Iyad Burnat of the Bil’in Popular Committee) visited the West Bank village of Bil’in today to voice her support for the weekly demonstrations against the Separation Wall, and to reiterate her support for boycotting Israel. Her visit it timed with the release of her best selling book, The Shock Doctrine, in Israel/Palestine where it is being published in Arabic and Hebrew. During a press conference held under an olive tree near before the weekly protest, Klein explained her support for the boycott:
“It’s a boycott of Israeli institutions, it’s a boycott of the Israeli economy,” the Canadian writer told journalists as she joined a weekly demonstration against Israel’s controversial separation wall.
“Boycott is a tactic …we’re trying to create a dynamic which was the dynamic that ultimately ended apartheid in South Africa,”
“It’s an extraordinarily important part of Israel’s identity to be able to have the illusion of Western normalcy,” the Canadian writer and activist said.
“When that is threatened, when the rock concerts don’t come, when the symphonies don’t come, when a film you really want to see doesn’t play at the Jerusalem film festival… then it starts to threaten the very idea of what the Israeli state is.”
The Ma’an News Agency reports that Klein was moved to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement because of the Israeli attack on Lebanon in the summer of 2006. Ma’an also explained the creative approach Klein is taking to selling her book in Israel while honoring the boycott:
As a part of her push for a boycott, Klein is donating the royalties
her the book to her local publisher, Andalus, which specializes in
translating Arabic texts into Hebrew. She is also working closely with
Palestine’s Boycott National Committee (BNC), and refusing to cooperate
with Israeli state institutions during what she called an “unusual book
tour.”
Klein discussed choosing the Andalus publishing house in her January 2009 article in the Nation. In that article she made the important point that the boycott increases debate rather than cutting it off. The difference is that it forces discussion of the issues that must be discussed, but are frequently ignored. She made a similar point today in explaining her book tour,
“We’re rejecting normalization,” Klein said of her Middle East visit, “We’re rejecting the idea that there can be apolitical cocktail parties and book signings while violence like this is taking place so nearby.”
The AFP reports that after the press conference Klein watched as the Israeli military attacked the weekly protest with tear gas. She observed: “‘This apartheid, this is absolutely a system of segregation,’ Klein said adding that Israeli troops would never crack down as violently against Jewish protesters.”
Naomi is a striking and charismatic intellectual that will raise the profile of Israeli BDS. Wouldn't it be an amazing thing for a group of celebrities (non-US, of course, given how the dialogue has been squelched in America) to go to the weekly protest? Michael Palin, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Gwenneth Paltrow . . . you get the idea.
Michael Palin participated in the Palestine Festival of Literature (see, e.g., http://bit.ly/tIj2t ), as did a number of well-known European authors (especially British). The highly popular Swedish author Henning Mankell (http://bit.ly/tIj2t was scathing in an article he published afterwards in a major Swedish newspaper. (English translation: link to bit.ly . The original Swedish had a more direct and angrier feel to it.) I suspect him taking such a public stance might have had an effect on his many loyal Swedish readers. So: things are happening, but one might not notice them in the U.S. :)
A concern with "boycotting Israel:" it punishes all of Israel and thus plays into the hands of the conflators who take criticism of Likud/Neocon policies to be Anti-Semitic, and opposition to those policies as an existential threat to Israel, and therefore will have difficulty gaining traction among Western populations deeply sympathetic to the Jewish people and their desire to have a homeland, especially among American Jews most of whom love both Israel and America and support Obama as well. Moreover, at a certain street-mob level, there is an element of truth to these conflations, and boycotters would not want to trigger or be seen as bolstering Anti-Semitic backlash, or see Israel destroyed by its real enemies. A better alternative: boycott the Neocons, especially those wealthy individuals in the United States who bankroll the settlements and write big checks to Congressional campaigns coordinated by AIPAC. And those whose influence in media keeps a veil over Neocon ugliness and gives a free pass to Neocon deceit and undermining of accountability. And those whose influence in the entertainment world turns our TVs and Movies into Neocon propaganda organs. And those in Congress who do their bidding. This is more an extension of the real divide in the Jewish community, the growing debate around the Jewish dinner table, so ably reported on by Mondoweiss, and allows non-Jews to more clearly and surgically voice their objections, not to the Jews or Israel as a homeland to the Jewish people, but to bad Neocon policies and practices and their corrupting influence on our American institutions. Phil once wrote, in an inspired metaphor, that his problem with many organized Jewish activities was that right away you'd find yourself in a three-legged race with one leg tied to a Neocon. This is the same problem with the special relationship between Israel and the United States. It is the Neocon element that needs to be isolated and boycotted, and, to the extent they have actively participated in the many crimes and deceits they've worked on a gullible world these last many years, let the Neocons be held accountable. It is so much easier and better "weighted" to be an Anti-Neocon, for the Neocons to face an existential threat. And so much more American. Israel Yes. Neocons No. Incidentally, isn't this a summary of Obama's change message in the Middle East?
Boycott Israel and America.
Two responses: 1) Boycott is a tactic. Explain how a boycott of neocons works? How do I boycott Elliot Abrams? I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "boycott neocons." One boycotts products and divests from companies. Boycott is a strategy aimed at economies, whether on a small scale, that are to a certain extent dependent. USACBI has a great FAQ about boycotts(link to usacbi.wordpress.com which lists 6 conditions for an effective boycott, I would recommend reading them. 2) Your first sentence could be said to be true of calling out Israeli war crimes, publicizing human rights abuses, and a whole host of other things. One of the goals of the BDS movement is to raise the issue of the occupation and Israeli apartheid in many different sectors of society. It is at once an activist tactic and an educational tactic. You can't educate truthfully on this issue without being accused of supporting "Israel's real enemies." The overall effect of this is that such arguments, that you shouldn't boycott/criticize/speak truth/say ANYTHING, have simply ceased to become at all compelling. No matter what we do, we will be accused of being anti-Semities, etc., etc. This has had the effect of devaluing the term "anti-Semite," but is going to intimidate fewer and fewer people as time goes on.
Again, I'd recommend link to usacbi.wordpress.com How exactly would one boycott America? Boycott is a tactic, and thus needs to be used tactically, not as a knee-jerk response.
From the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation blog (http://endtheoccupationblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/... "While settlement products, especially those that require irrigation, directly support the continued appropriation of Palestinian land and resources there is still a lively debate about the efficacy of boycotting all Israeli products. Of course, without clear labeling requirements from the USDA and Customs and Boarder Patrol it can be impossible to tell the difference between "Israeli products" and "settlement products." Given this regulatory irregularity, and the argument that the entire Israeli economy makes military occupation and apartheid practices possible, it's easy to see why many are making the argument groups are starting to boycott Israeli products writ-large."
Sorry, I meant to say "Boycott is a tactic aimed at economies, whether on a small or large scale, that are to a certain extent dependent."
If sanctions are used against Muslims regimes for human rights abuses, they can certainly be used against Israel. We are entering new territory: Once the boycott movement reaches critical mass, it wil be hard to stop.
What Muslim government is not involved in human rights abuse?
Now I'm scared, Naomi Klein is boycotting Israel. Well not quite boycotting. She still wants to push her very important book. You progressives have been pushing BDS for years now and you've accomplished almost nothing. Keep up the good work.
Ms. Klein is to be commended for her actions and understanding of the situation. Her method of promoting her book in light of the boycott is inspiring as well.
Check out especially the text in red: It's Not Only About Palestine.
All patriotic Americans should boycott all Israeli products because Jewish Zionists are waging ethnonational financial warfare against non-Jews: Forbes.
please publish a list of common products so we can start now. is starbucks one?
There's an important boycott: that of politicians who fall all over each other to see who can be most slavish to Israel. The likudniks hold politicians to account and will smash those who disagree with them, and reward those who agree. Too many people who are enlightened and aware on the Palestine issue will still vote for a politician who promises "to stand by our most important ally, the only democracy in the middle east, ……. ad barfium." We choose our politicians for everything except where they stand on this issue close to us. Time to abandon them, no matter how appealing a particular one might be on every other issue, and no matter how loathsome the opponent. If two candidates from the two ruling parties in America compete with each other to see who can best increase the size of the welfare check to Israel, then vote for a third party. I prefer Libertarian, but any other third party will be a step forward as well.
Really… not so successful, huh? So, when exactly will that new light rail train be rolling into Jerusalem via your friends in Veolia? link to bdsmovement.net
You state that boycotting the Neocons, instead of Israel, "allows non-Jews to more clearly and surgically voice their objections." However, my main objection is that I abhor the killing of innocent civilians, particularly children, and particularly as a policy of a well-armed state. Since the Israeli attack on Gaza was met with an 80% approval rating from the Israeli population and since I know that Palestinians make up 20% of the population of Israel, I have to conclude that the overwhelming majority of Jewish Israelis fully supported the carnage carried out in Gaza. I will continue to surgically voice my objection of those war crimes by boycotting every Israeli product that I come across.
off topic: Harman Comes Out Swinging Once More in Israel Wiretap Flap http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/2009/06/harma...
Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. I very much like Naomi Klein. She is so poised! Well, I shall be off now to afternoon tea.
She is also quite attractive!
RE: "…Naomi Klein. She is so poised!" NICE VIDEO: John Cusack Interviews Naomi Klein About The "Shock Doctrine" (18 min.) – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/09/25/huffpost...
To unseat Jane Harman: Marcy Winograd is the co-founder of the LA Jews for Peace collective and a long-time anti-war activist in Los Angeles. Winograd for Congress – link to winograd4congress.com
thedhimmi – its not only muslim governments that are involved in human rights abuse. What do u think the israeli governments are doin with blockades in gaza. Is that not human rights abuse ???? What about American government of bush when he continued supplying israel with bombs and all kind of weapons to cause carnage and murder of innocent children, men and women in gaza. Is that not human rights abuse too ????? Hope i was able to awaken u to the truth which is " HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE is definitely and unfortunately NOT restricted to muslim governments only."
Which is available for all to know courtesy of the USA MSM on a regular basis. While Israel's human rights abuse is not a topic there, ever, although the USA funds Israel the most of any nation, more than we give whole continents; and Egypt is next on the welfare dole–but only on condition it sucks up to Israel.
Don't you mean she "goes waddling in"?
Veolia isn't building the train. It was to run the train after it was built. The train will get built in the same time. Not one second delayed. Several companies are bidding to run it. you lose again.
The great thing about leftists is they have very few children.
Isn't the problem of Jewish-Israeli control of the state a demographic one? Are the Arabs with higher birth rates "rightists"?
I have read in the Jewish Toronto newspaper and welsewhere on the internet that you have suggested Israel should be boycotted. That a Jew can come with such a suggestion I find it appalling. What you call apartheid Ms. Klein is just self preservation. Nobody ever dreamt of erecting such costly separation walls , till some Arabs in their hatred for anything that is Jewish, were sending suicider to blow themselves up just for the doubtful pleasure of killing Jews. Had you lived in Israel during those time you yourself could have been a target of these fanatics. I believe it is important that before taking any stance on any issue, you should make youreself acquainted with it first. Just read some more, do not play the liberal judge part. That swerves no purpose….
Well, actually you are wrong. The Jewish birthrate is confusing. It is around 2,7 kids/woman, BUT the ultra-orthodox Jewish birthrate is highest in the world, way higher than Palestinian. So, ultra-orthodox Jews are swiftly outgrowing Arabs/Palestinians (and other Jews) in a non-reversable process. Few people realize that the really large settlements of the last decades are solely ultra-orthodox ones, growing by some 10% a year. The same is true about the ultra-orthodox towns in Israel proper and in Jerusalem. Palestinian birthrate is about half the Jewish ultra-orthodox (Haredi). I happen to be a demographer studying the topic…
I appreciate that you are confused but the reason given for rejecting a one-state solution is the fear of Israel not remaining a Jewish state. Since the ultra-orthodox are not currently a majority, how long will it take them to gain a majority by birthrate? Would other Israeli-Jews be comfortable with Israel being run by the precepts of the ultra-orthodox?
Raphael Gabison plse for heavens sake get your blinkers off and see the situation as it really is. Dont u hear the people of the world screaming Holocaust, human rights violations and war crimes at israel???? Do sum research into israels real agenda and the atrocities perpetrated by israel depriving fellow human beings of even the basic necessities for survival and u will discover the real reason for the suicide bombings. These "fanatics" as u so generously call them are not blowing themselve up "just for the pleasure of killing jews" but are putting up a fight for the survival of their people, families and their land which has been taken away so unceremoniously and savagely by israel. If u really want the truth just google terrors committed by israel against gaza and hopefully your eyes will open and it will be u who will then find what israel is doing as appalling