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)

Thursday 11 April 2013

BDS On Campus: Bad Guys & Good (includes video)

"I've just completed a paper on Palestine and International Law as one of my UNSW courses. Max Brenner on campus is beyond my anti-apartheid comprehension."
So declares a female student ...

"as someone of Jewish background who has taught at UNSW, I am deeply offended about such a company neing [sic] on campus, just as I opposed South African companies and goods before 1994"
So asserts an activist in an evident hurry (it's not clear from his statement whether he can be described as an "as-a-Jew" or an "as-a-semi-Jew" or even an "as-a-demi-semi-Jew") ....

"The fact that this company financially supports the IDF which have committed horrific, and unthinkable crimes against the indigenous Palestinian population absolutely disgusts me!"
So declares another woman...

These four are among the signatories to an online petition to the Facilities Manager at the University of New South Wales opposing the opening of a Max Brenner outlet on campus.  Framed by the so-called Australian Students for Justice in Palestine, the petition says in part:
"We write as academics, members of staff, students, alumni and friends of the University of New South Wales....
We ask that you follow the example of universities worldwide who have taken a stand against companies that profit from or support a state and military that violates international law. For example, in late 2011, Chicago’s DePaul University removed Sabra hummus, also owned by the Strauss Group, from campus shelves and replaced it with an ethical alternative. Last year, the University of Toronto, Carleton University, the University of Regina and York University in Canada passed resolutions in support of withdrawing investments with companies connected to Israel’s international human rights law and humanitarian law violations, which included Hewlett Packard, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. The London School of Economics (LSE) cancelled its contract with Eden Springs in 2011, a major water supply company, because of the company’s business dealings in the illegally occupied Golan Heights. LSE joined other UK universities in the United Kingdom, including Edinburgh and Strathclyde, in the boycott of apartheid. Sussex University and the University of London Union, Europe’s largest student union, heeded the call to withdraw support for Israeli goods.
Instead of voting for the Strauss Group and the Golani and Givati brigades, we prefer to vote for a local, Australian business that does not fund and support a military, responsible for severe breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law against the  indigenous [sic] Palestinian population."
(Hat tip: reader Shirlee)

This mean-spirited petition, based in ignorance and bigotry, contrasts sharply with another current online petition, one drawn up in the United States against campus BDS (hat tip: an anonymous reader).  This petition, well worthy of being signed, says, inter alia :
"Anti-Israel college campus activists have turned free speech into hate speech.
They spread anti-Israel propaganda that ignores facts and context, and their strong-arm methods prevent the informed, rational discussion expected at an institution of higher learning. They deceive campus communities about their real goals. They want to instill hostility about Israel's very existence, not champion the Palestinian people or peace. If they were genuinely concerned about the Palestinian people, they would be more honest and more invested in eliminating Palestinian terrorist groups like Hamas and eliminating the anti-Israel/anti-Jewish hatred that young Palestinians are indoctrinated with by religious, educational, and governmental officials as well as their media. They would be more concerned about Hamas’ use of human shields (including children and women) and its launching rockets into Israel from Palestinian schools.
We call for an end to harassment and extremism.
We call for responsible, knowledgeable debate on campuses and for constructive dialogue and actions. We support both Palestinians and Israelis and know that peace takes two. After 1,900 years of discrimination and persecution in the Middle East and Europe, the Jewish people restored their ancestral homeland and built one of the most successful nations of the post-World War II period. Our goal should be to learn from and support this extraordinary accomplishment and to support Palestinians who accept Israel as their Jewish neighbor and wish to establish the first Palestinian state in history, one that would exist alongside the Jewish state in peace and security. We advocate working together to educate our campuses about the facts and to help bring understanding about what is needed for peaceful coexistence in the troubled region."
 

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