WATCH: 2015 BDS SOUTH AFRICA HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO
Click here to watch a short “2015 BDS South Africa Highlights” video. The video features, among others, South Africa’s most famous puppet, Chester Missing.
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INL BUSINESS REPORT: “WOOLWORTHS DIRECTORS GRILLED OVER ISRAEL TRADE AT SHAREHOLDER AGM”
Priests, youth leaders, trade unionists and several BDS supporters from the Jewish community attended — as shareholders — the recent AGM of Woolworths Holdings Limited. NC4P and BDS SA activists bought single shares in the company in order to attend its AGM and raise issues regarding, amongst others, the company’s trade with Israel.
The Woolworths AGM was dominated by the boycott Israel campaign as well as the company’s treatment of workers, its clothing imports and outsourcing of security to the controversial G4S Security company (see below for more information and full list of questions).
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ISRAELI MILITARY CHIEFS FACE ARREST IN SOUTH AFRICA
South African authorities have pledged to enforce warrants of arrest granted by Turkish authorities against four Israeli Commanders: Chief of General Staff Rau Ashkenazi, Naval Forces Commander Eliezer Marom, Head of Airforce Intelligence Brigadier-General Avishay Levi and Major-General Chief of IDF Military Intelligence Amos Yadlin.
The warrants were granted following Israel’s attacks on a humanitarian ship to Palestine in 2010 that resulted in the killing of 9 aid workers.
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[13-YEAR OLD PALESTINIAN CHILD DELIBERATELY RUN OVER BY ISRAELI SETTLERS AND LEFT TO DIE]
On Monday Israeli forces shot a 15 year old Palestinian teenager Hassan Manasra (15) and deliberately ran over his cousin Ahmed Manasra (13). According to family members, the two boys were attacked by Israeli settlers while going to a mall near their family house. The 15 year old Palestinian child, Hassan, died due to his bullet wounds while the 13 year old (pictured above) is in a serious condition.
A video that has emerged (screen-grab above) shows the 13 year old Palestinian child, Ahmed Manasra (after he was deliberately run over by an Israeli settler) gasping for breath, bleeding and crying for help. Israeli settlers, Israeli police and Israeli emergency medical services (instead of assisting the) (Read more)
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COURT VICTORY FOR #PHARRELLPROTEST AND #BOYCOTTWOOLWORTHS CAMPAIGN
Another victory has been scored for the Palestine BDS movement yesterday when the High Court declared that the City of Cape Town’s attempt to restrict the upcoming #PharrellProtest was unconstitutional and therefore invalid. The City of Cape Town has been ordered to pay for legal costs.
Pharrell Williams, Woolworths, Grand West Casino and the City of Cape Town have tried all they could in the last few weeks to limit and prevent protest action during the upcoming Pharrell Williams Woolworths tour.(Read More)
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JOIN: PROTEST WOOLWORTHS PHARRELL WILLIAMS CONCERT [MONDAY, 21 SEPT]
Book a bus seat, reserve a spot on the train, shop around for plane tickets…and join what is going to be one of the largest protests any artist has faced in South Africa since the dawn of democracy.
Join us on Monday the 21st of September outside Grandwest Casino in Cape Town in protest against Woolworths (which trades with Israel) and the company’s collaboration with US ……. (Read more)
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ANTI-APARTHEID ICON “TILL-JAMS” WOOLWORTHS STORE
The anti-apartheid icon Denis Goldberg joined youth activists in carrying out a #BoycottWoolworths “till-jam action” at the Constantia branch of Woolworths in the Western Cape. Goldberg filled his trolley with Woolworths groceries, rung the items up at the check-out till but then (due to Woolworths trade relations with Israel) refused to proceed any further or buy any product. Other tills were also simultaneously “till-jammed” bringing the store to a standstill.
In August 2014 a call for the complete boycott of Woolworths until it ends its Israeli trade links was made by BDS South Africa, COSATU, ANC Youth League, MJC, SACP, YCL and various others….. (Read more)
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WE WON THIS ONE TOGETHER! (ON VIRGIN ACTIVE T-SHIRT ISSUE)
Last week, following a nationwide outcry, Virgin Active eventually took responsibility for its wrong-doing and apologised for initially denying access to BDS South Africa’s National Coordinator, Muhammed Desai. Desai was barred access by the company (to Virgin Active’s Old Eds gym) after complaints from pro-Israeli gym-goers who took offence to Desai previously wearing BDS Free Palestine/Boycott Israel tshirts to the gym. The apology and backtrack by the company is welcomed. This is a victory for freedom of expression as well as a victory against the Israeli lobby and its supporters consistent pressuring, bullying and harassing of businesses,…(Read more)
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ISRAEL: A PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE [THURS, 30 AUGUST]
Join us on Thursday evening as we host a group of visiting Palestinian Christians (who are in South Africa for the 30th anniversary of the Kairos Document). The visiting Palestinian Christian delegation will share their Christian perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the question of Israeli “apartheid” and whether they back the boycott of Israel. Thursday evening’s participants will include Ms Hind Khoury (Bethlehem) Secretary General of Kairos Palestine, Ms Nora Carmi (Jerusalem) Kairos Palestine, Reverend Yusef Daher (Jerusalem) Inter Church Centre and Pastor Robert Smith (Jerusalem) World Council of Churches. See below for more information on each of the speakers/participants of the upcoming Thursday evening event.(Read more)
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“KEEPING QUESTIONABLE COMPANY – WOOLWORTHS UNDER FIRE”
Its exactly 10 years since Palestinians, inspired by the successful boycott of Apartheid South Africa, issued their own call for boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS) to be applied against Israel till it ends its human rights violations and contraventions of international law.
A potent combination of principled leadership from the Palestinians, active involvement by progressive Israelis and support from people of the world has seen the BDS boycott of Israel transform from mere student discussion to a formidable movement spanning hundreds of countries and attracting not…….(Read more)
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NEW YORK TIMES: PHARRELL WILLIAMS TO FACE PROTESTS IN SOUTH AFRICA OVER ISRAEL LINKS
The New York Times, Rolling Stone Magazine and other international media are reporting on the expected BDS and Palestine protest actions during US artist Pharrell William’s upcoming Woolworths South Africa tour. Activists are unhappy with Pharrell’s upcoming Israeli concert as well as his collaboration with Woolworths (which is currently facing –due to its Israeli trade– one of the longest-running and largest consumer boycotts the country has seen since the dawn of democracy).He Woolworths “AreYouWithUs” marketing campaign with Pharrell…..(Read More)
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SAD NEWS: Father of Palestinian baby burnt alive also dies
Saad Dawabsha (father of the little Palestinian toddler Ali Dawabsha who was burned alive in an Israeli settler attack last week) has succumbed to his burn injuries. The photo above is of Saad (now deceased) playing with his murdered son Ali. The 32-year-old Palestinian father died in hospital, where he was being treated for second-degree burns to more than 80 percent of his body (caused as a result of last week’s early morning firebomb attack by Israeli settlers on the Dawabsha family home).
The mother and four-year-old brother (to little Ali Dawabsha who was killed last week) remain in a critical condition.Writer and author John Wight has provocatively asked: “[L]liberals came out in their droves to condemn the slaying of Cecil the Lion in Africa…….. (Read more)
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#BOYCOTTWOOLWORTHS LETTER SENT TO US ARTIST PHARRELL WILLIAMS
BDS South Africa’s spokesperson Kwara Kekana has written, emailed and sent via registered-mail a five page letter to US artist Pharrell Williams. BDS South Africa is calling on Williams to postpone his collaboration with Woolworths till the company ends its trade with Israel. BDS South Africa has also requested to meet with the artist to discuss the the issue in person. (Read more)
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MANDELA DAY: MOURNING THE 4 LITTLE BOYS KILLED BY ISRAEL WHILE PLAYING SOCCER ON A BEACH
Today as we mark “Mandela Day” we are reminded of Tata Madiba’s love for children and his reminder that: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
Last year on the 16th of July, 2 days before the world marked “Mandela Day”, Israel killed 4 little Palestinian boys while they were playing soccer on a beach in Gaza. The boys were between 9 and 11 years old. The Israeli killing of the 4 children was unfortunately not an isolated incident. Last year, in less than 2 months, Israel killed more than 550….. (Read more)
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GOLDBERG CRTICISES SA JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES OVER THEIR SUPPORT FOR APARTHEID
Jewish anti-apartheid struggle stalwart and Rivonia Trialist Denis Goldberg will speak at a public seminar tomorrow (Tuesday, 7 July) titled “Lessons for Palestine-Israel from the struggle against apartheid”.
In 1964 Denis Goldberg was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial alongside struggle heroes inclduing as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada and others. Goldberg served 22 years in prison before being released in 1985.
The pro-Israeli SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has been vocal in its disagreement and hostility towards the Palestine solidarity movement and the non-violent BDS boycott of Israel campaign….. (Read more)
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BDS VICTORY: UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST VOTES TO BOYCOTT AND DIVEST FROM ISRAELI OCCUPATION
The United Church of Christ (UCC) with over 1.1 million members and over 5000 churches, has overwhelmingly voted by a two-thirds majority to boycott Israeli settlement products and divest from companies that profit from Israel’s illegal occupation (such as G4S Security, Caterpillar and others). The United Church of Christ’s pension board and investment fund together are worth over $4 billion dollars.
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A Pharrell Williams BDS #BoycottWoolworths spoof video was released earlier today and has gone viral on social media hitting by midday the number one trend spot on Twitter.The Pharrell Williams spoof video is based on Woolworths’ own #PharrellWithWoolies April 2015 video (in which the US artist had announced his collaboration with Woolworths). It is alleged that Woolworths has signed up Pharrell Williams in an attempt to counter
the growing #BoycottWoolworths campaign. (Read more)
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UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON LAST YEAR’S ISRAELI ATTACKS ON GAZA “DEVASTATING”
The United Nations Human Rights Council report which was released on Monday covering last year’s Israeli attacks on the Palestinian Gaza Strip is devastating. We are haunted by the cost of human life due to Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian Gaza. Mostly we weep, yet again, for the over 550 Palestinian children (according to UN figures) that Israel killed. The chair of the UN investigation commission, Justice Mary McGowan Davisto has said that: “The extent of the devastation and human suffering in [the Palestinian] Gaza was unprecedented and will impact generations to come”.
The 183-page UN report details how in total over 2251 Palestinians were killed by Israel, including 551 children….(Read more)
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JEWISH GROUP: BOYCOTTING ISRAEL IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC
The Washington Post recently carried a short but important letter by Allan Brownfeld of the American Council for Judaism. The letter was titled: “Boycotting Israel is not anti-Semitic”. Here is an extract from Brownfeld’s letter:
“Whether one agrees with this [BDS Boycott of Israel] movement or not, and many Jews are leading participants, the fact is that it is in no way ‘anti-Semitic’. Judaism is a religion of universal values…the boycott movement is a nonviolent effort to show opposition to the [Israeli] occupation, similar, its advocates argue, to the sanctions movement against South Africa [in the 1980s] to show opposition to apartheid. Hatred of Judaism or Jews, which is what constitutes anti-Semitism, appears to be absent from these BDS boycott of Israel efforts. (Read more)
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ISRAEL’S TEL AVIV BANKING INDEX DROPS FOLLOWING EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS REPORT
Israeli bank stocks dropped yesterday following the publication of the influential European Council on Foreign Relations paper recommending that the EU take stronger measures against Israeli financial institutions, banks and other entities that may have business relations, operations or activities with Israeli settlements or in the illegally Israeli Occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
According to media reports the EU think tank report caused Israel’s Tel Aviv banking index to drop 2.3 points in less than an hour (a total of 2.46 points for the day). The three major Israeli banks — Hapoalim, Leumi and Discount — lost 2.6-2.7 percent each. (Read more)
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PROMINENT SOUTH AFRICAN BUSSINESSMAN TOKYO SEXWALE IN PALESTINE DISCUSSING SPORTS RACISM
Yesterday evening prominent South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale departed from Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo Airport en route via Jordan to Palestine. Sexwale is in Palestine on a 2-day fact finding mission as the President of the anti-racism campaign, Global Watch. Global Watch is a brainchild of Sexwale and is supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, as well as several other organizations and groups.
Speaking at OR Tambo Airport Sexwale said: “The objectives of the visit is a listening visit and also a fact finding mission to understand the problems that are prevailing around sporting issues (Read more)
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US R&B ARTIST LAURYN HILL CANCELS ISRAEL GIG AFTER PALESTINIAN BDS CALLSUS
Grammy-winning rapper and R&B singer Lauryn Hill has canceled her upcoming Israeli gig following Palestinian BDS cultural boycott calls from her fans and supporters. The former lead vocalist of The Fugees made the announcement via her official Facebook page. Several Israeli Jews were part of those who made the call to Lauryn Hill to cancel her Israeli show. In recent years a growing number of progressive Israelis have began to support the BDS campaign.
In 2005 Palestinians called for a non-violent boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign of Israel until it ends its violations of international law. Lauryn Hill joins a growing list of artists who have pulled out of shows in Israel and supported the Palestinian BDS cultural boycott of Israel including Sinéad O’Connor, Elvis Costello, Gil Scott-Heron, Talib Kweli, Moddi, Faithless, Carlos Santana and Stevie Wonder. (Read more)
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BDS SUCCESS: 20 SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES DUMP R7 MILLION WORTH OF G4S SECURITY CONTRACTS OVER ISRAELI LINKS
Over 20 South African businesses have terminated their contracts with G4S Security over its involvement in Israeli prisons and human rights abuses. The SA businesses, over the last 12 month period, terminated their contracts, totalling more than R7 million per year, after approached by representatives of the human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation BDS South Africa as well as the KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum. This BDS success announcement was made on the eve of the international Palestine prisoners day which was commemorated on 17 April.
In 2007 G4S was contracted to provide and maintain Israeli prisons, torture centres and detention facilities. In 2010 Palestinian prisoners and prisoner support organziations called for a boycott of G4S……(Read more)
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PETITION CALLING ON FRENCH UNIVERSITIES NOT TO SUCCUMB TO ISRAELI PRESSURE TO CANCEL LECTURES BY S.AFRICAN ACADEMIC FARID ESACK
Several South African Government Ministers, SA Government Officials, University Vice Chancellors and hundreds of academics from across the world have backed a petition calling on French universities not to succumb to pro-Israeli pressure to ban Anti-Apartheid Activist and international scholar Professor Farid Esack from delivering lectures in France on the topic of Palestine.(Read more)
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JEWISH BOARD OF DEPUTIES FALSLEY ACCUSES ANC OF USING RACIST ISRAELI-STYLE ELECTIONEERING AND FEAR MONGERING
Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu on the eve of Israel’s recent elections appealed to Jewish Israelis to vote using fear-mongering against Israel’s Palestinian Arab minority saying: “[Our] right-wing Israeli Government is in danger…[Palestinian] Arab voters are coming out in droves to the polls…get out to vote, bring your friends….”. (Read more)
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CITY OF JOHANNESBURG TWINS WITH PALESTINIAN CITY OF RAMALLAH
South Africa’s economic hub, the City of Johannesburg, should be commended for its recent twinning agreement and signing of a memorandum of cooperation with that of the Palestinian City of Ramallah. The twinning with a city of an oppressed people should be viewed as an expression of our solidarity as South Africans with the people of Palestine.
As part Human Rights Month and celebrating the twinning between Johannesburg and Ramallah, the Office of the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg has rolled out a series of public events with various stakeholders.. (Read more)
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JEWISH STUDENT AND ACTIVIST SPEAKING AT ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK PROTEST IN SANDTON
The South African chapter of the annual Israeli Apartheid Week campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon on the streets of Sandton at a robust, diverse and successful IAW closing protest.
This year’s Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), in its 11th year, was by far the biggest and most sucessful to date. The campaign included over 200 events in more than 45 South African towns and cities.
The Israeli lobby and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies attempted to undermine the Israeli Apartheid Week campaign by using the “anti-Semitism” card. They used this card to try and cancel the presence of various Ministers ……. (Read more)
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CHILDREN OF ANTI APARTHEID ICONS LAUNCH 11TH ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK
Israeli Apartheid Week 2015 (IAW) kicked off with an official press conference hosted by the children and grandchildren of former anti-apartheid icons. At the IAW 2015 launch were, amongst others, Shaka Sisulu (grandson of Walter and Albertina Sisulu), Aaliyah Kathrada (niece of Ahmed Kathrada), Obakeng Chikane (son of Reverand Frank Chikane), Roshan Dadoo (daughter of Dr Yusuf Dadoo), (Read more)
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PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS CALL ON SA CHURCHES TO JOIN ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK (IAW)
Palestinian Christians have written to South African churches calling on all clergy and fellow Christians to dedicate Sunday the 8th of March during Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) as a day of reflection and prayer for the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli Apartheid. The 11th international Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is endorsed by over 85 South African organizations and takes place in South Africa between the 2nd and 8th of March 2015. (Read more)
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JOIN THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK (2 – 8 MARCH 2015)
Click here to view photos of IAW billboards that have gone up across SA.
Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events (including rallies, protests, lectures, cultural performances, concerts, films and workshops) held in over 250 cities, communities and campuses across the globe. Its endorsed in South Africa by more than 75 organizations, trade unions, political parties and other groups (see below for full list of IAW endorsers).
The aim of IAW is to raise awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies towards the indigenous Palestinians (Read more)
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PALESTINE ICON LEILA KHALED INVITED TO STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS AT SA PARLIAMENT
Palestinian icon and liberation hero Leila Khaled has been invited as a guest of the Presiding Officers of the South African Parliament to attend the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) by South Africa’s President, President Jacob Zuma. The State of the Nation Address will take place in Cape . (Read more)
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AHMED KATHRADA AND MINISTER MALUSI GIGABA TO WELCOME PALESTINE ICON LEILA KHALED TO SA
Palestinian struggle icon Leila Khaled arrives in South Africa on Friday 06 February 2015. Khaled will be welcomed to the country at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg by anti-apartheid struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada and South African Government Minister for Home Affairs, Comrade Malusi Gigaba.
Leila Khaled will be in South Africa between the 6th and 16th of February 2015 on a fundraising speaking tour for the Palestine solidarity and human rights organisation, BDS South Africa. Khaled will be joined on her SA tour at….. (Read more)
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REMINDER: #BOYCOTTWOOLWORTHS NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION THIS SATURDAY 31 JANUARY 2015
The upcoming Monthly National #BoycottWoolworths Day of Action (which all partner organizations, community members and the public are invited to participate-in) takes place this Saturday, the 31st January 2015. This month the campaign intends to expand the Monthly National #BoycottWoolworths Day of Action ……. (Read more)
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PALESTINIAN ICON, LEILA KHALED, ON SOUTH AFRICAN FUNDRAISING SPEAKING TOUR FOR BDS SA
The Palestinian struggle icon Leila Khaled will be in South Africa between the 5th and 15th of February 2014. Leila Khaled will be in several South African cities on a BDS South Africa Fundraising Speaking Tour.
Leila Khaled has been dubbed “the poster girl of the Palestinian struggle”. Khaled’s image flashed…….. (Read more)