Daphne Anson: "Pretty" Batsheva Faces Ugly BDS, But The Dire Plight Of Gaza's Christians Is Ignored

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Friday, 20 July 2012

"Pretty" Batsheva Faces Ugly BDS, But The Dire Plight Of Gaza's Christians Is Ignored

The acclaimed Batsheva Dance Company is due to perform at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 30 August to 1 September as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.

But inevitably the usual suspects have mobilised against the visit – "Don't Dance With Israeli Apartheid" is the name of a Facebook page, for example.

On the website of the Edinburgh Festival an anti-Israel activist writes

"Batsheva is the pretty face of the Israeli regime - heavily funded by the state, it is a major Israeli tourist attraction and acts a 'cultural ambassador' for Israel. Batsheva is also supported by international 'friends of Batsheva' many of whom are ardent supporters of Israel. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel identifies Batsheva as a boycott target, so the Edinburgh International Festival is breaking the call of Palestinian civil society for solidarity action while helping to gloss over Israeli apartheid."

What a gossamer-thin indictment. What a gossamer-thin indication of prejudice.

Truly, Israel has become the Jew among the nations

Meanwhile, as the Israeli Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh reports, Gaza's Christians face forced conversions and persecution, while Christians in the West appear impervious to their plight:

'"We only hear voices telling us to stay where we are and to stop making too much noise," said a Christian man living in Gaza City. "If they continue to turn a blind eye to our tragedy, in a few months there will be no Christians left in Palestine. Today it's happening in the Gaza Strip, tomorrow it will take place in Bethlehem."

The public protest by the Christians in the Gaza Strip is a first step in the right direction. This is a move that could finally draw the attention of the international community, including Church leaders across the US, to the real problems and dangers facing Palestinian Christians.

Radical Islam, and not checkpoints or a security fence, remains the main threat to defenseless Christians not only in the Palestinians territories, but in the entire Middle East as well.'

I hope my Methodist minister friends, who like Stephen Sizer have been busy linking to such reports as this one by Ben White, take note.

9 comments:

Empress Trudy20 July 2012 at 22:10
One approach would be to give every last arts group from the UK currently in Israel 24 hrs to leave the country and for a 10 year ban. To be followed up with a reassessment of all UK academic institutions who today license any Israeli intellectual property so that their royalty and licensing fees are increased by a factor of 10. I mean what are they going to do? Blame the Jews and scream oppression? Been there done that.
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Daphne Anson21 July 2012 at 02:23
There's an excellent article about the imperilled Gaza Christians at
http://cmewonline.com/2012/07/20/apartheid-israel-look-whats-happening-to-christians-in-apartheid-gaza/
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Daphne Anson21 July 2012 at 02:38
And re those familiar four maps of "disappearing Palestine", see this
http://yaacovlozowick.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-maps-of-disappearing-palestine.html?spref=tw
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jean21 July 2012 at 02:48
The Dire Plight Of Gaza's Christians Is Ignored

just like the daily masscres in Syria and persecution of christians in Egypt, irak or north african regimes

as long as there is no Jew involved, BDS won't make a move

BDS was invented by anti jewish haters in the sole purpose to lie and destroy Israel. and those who follow are either sick or retarded...

Shabat Shalom from Israel
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geoffff22 July 2012 at 15:49
Daphne, in a private email to one of your Methodist minister friends I commented on what an odd and strangely threatening word "supersession" is.

It's almost snakelike. Four "S" s. It hisses. I said two would have been enough.

I asked him as a Christian if he was embarrassed by this.

He replied but not to that question.

I understand these particular clergy regard "supersession" as heresy but that is not quite the point. It is impossible not to see this removed from the Arab/Israel dispute and that is entirely the point. It is a brazen attempt to de-legitimise Judaism in coordination with the campaigns to de legitimise Israel and the Jews and therefore its terrible offence transcends religion.

They are outspoken on inviting Israel and even the Jews to engage in some self reflection. From what I can see Christians in Britain might well benefit from some self reflection themselves. I intend to invite them.

If that's not being too orclike.
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