Racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and inequality continue to grow around the world. In recent months, we have seen how people in the Global South and people of color, political prisoners, unhoused people, migrants, and refugees, among many others, have suffered from the scourge of COVID19, which has further exacerbated their vulnerability.
We have also seen how millions of people around the world have taken to the streets to protest against systemic racism, patriarchal violence, climate injustice, neoliberal austerity, and economic inequality, among other oppressions that continue to suffocate us. These protests for long-denied justice have inspired us to keep resisting injustice, to continue dreaming of freedom, and to keep insisting on our rights, in a united global front against racism and oppression.
Now, more than ever, we need you, we need each other. We need all our voices united across the world to end racism, colonialism, and apartheid.
Palestine remains a central testing ground for global repression. Israel’s apartheid regime tests its militaristic and racist ideologies, surveillance tools, and weapons of oppression and racial domination on Palestinian bodies and society for export to the world as “field-tested.” These tools end up aggravating the militarized and racial oppression in many countries around the world, from fortress Europe to the US, from India to Myanmar, from Brazil and Honduras to South Sudan and Rwanda, and far beyond. For the last 17 years, IAW has been organized around the globe to protest some of these injustices and to advocate for Palestinian freedom, justice, and equality as part of the struggle to attain our indivisible justice. Let’s continue to weave ever more powerful networks of hope and mutual, intersectional solidarity. Together we are unstoppable.
This year Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) will join the observance of the International Day Against Racism by organizing a global and massive virtual protest to resist racial discrimination, colonialism, and apartheid and to celebrate the diversity and connectedness of our struggles. We want our voices to be loud despite all the repression, but we can’t do it without your help.
How to join the global virtual protest?
What are creative ways you can get your message across :
Mock checkpoints, dabke, public meetings, speak outs, protests, videos – your imagination is the limit.
If your want to make videos you can download the IAW Call Against Colonialism, Racism, and Apartheid and make a video reading the call following the instructions you will find below.
Post your videos on social media with #United Against Racism and #IsraeliApartheidWeek2021 #BDS and remember to tag us
What you need to know for recording videos
Text to read
Download the IAW Call Against Colonialism, Racism, and Apartheid in English, Spanish or Arabic.
Read the text in your preferred language. You can choose English, Spanish, or Arabic or your own native language! If you want to translate the call into your own native language, please make sure to send along with the full English translation of the text and note the language you are using.
Filming
Look into the camera.
Shoot in landscape mode (horizontal, not vertical)
When using your cellphone, please record it horizontally and in high quality (1920×1080)
Avoid shaky video:
Ideal to have someone film you
Other options: tripod or selfie stick
Lighting & Background
Find natural light and face the light (when you have the light behind you, it creates a shadow, and you look like you’re in the dark)
The background must be simple. No clutter or movement going on
Audio
Close your windows and doors. Find a quiet place with very little background noise.
If you use a headset, please make sure you place the microphone somewhere close to your neck not to see the wires.
On International Women’s Day, as Puma launches the “She Moves Us” marketing campaign while supporting Israeli apartheid, Palestinian and international women in sports respond with #SheBoycotts.
Today, International Women’s Day, Puma is launching “She Moves Us,” a marketing campaign to “celebrate the women who have moved culture and sports forward.”
She Moves Us, but Puma supports illegal Israeli settlements forcing Palestinian women and their families from their homes. She Moves Us, but Puma supports Israel’s military occupation preventing Palestinian women athletes from traveling to matches. She Moves Us, but Puma supports Israeli apartheid, including medical apartheid denying millions of Palestinians vaccines during a pandemic.
Join us in celebrating Palestinian women in sports. Share the video of Palestinian athletes, including a player from the Women’s National Football Team, calling to boycott Puma until it ends support for Israeli apartheid.
Women in sports around the world are joining their Palestinian colleagues, from including a yoga instructor in France, acrobatic dancers in Italy, cyclists in the UK and running coaches in the US. They’re calling on Puma to end its support for Israeli apartheid that separates Palestinian families, demolishes Palestinian homes and arrests Palestinian children from their beds during night raids. Share the video of women in sports joining #SheBoycotts.
We are academics, researchers and students. We ask you to please reconsider accepting your share of the prestigious 2021 Dan David Prize,[1] the academic award administered by and headquartered at Tel Aviv University (TAU).[2] This year’s prize rewards scholars who have contributed to advances in and understanding of medicine and public health. In reality, however, accepting it serves to legitimize and normalize Israel’s colonial violence and apartheid.
As we are sure you are aware, for decades, through its military occupation, blockade and apartheid, Israel has been undermining Palestine’s health systems and systematically denying Palestinians medical care.[3] In a report from November last year, the director of the World Health Organisation noted that Israel’s ‘chronic occupation has profound implications for the sustainability of health-care provision by public authorities, in terms of both revenue raising and affordability.’[4] Palestinians are regularly blackmailed into collaboration with the Israeli Security Services in order to get the permits they need to leave the West Bank and Gaza for medical treatment.[5] Currently, while Israel has been hailed for vaccinating its population, it is refusing to immunize all Palestinians under its rule,[6] as is its responsibility,[7] and placing obstacles in the way of transfer of vaccines into Gaza and the West Bank, entry to which it fully controls – clear testament to the apartheid regime it maintains.[8]
Since 2005, Palestinian civil society organizations have been calling on supporters of justice and antiracism around the world to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause by boycotting Israel, including its academic institutions. Accepting the prize would be a clear violation of this call, and an outright refusal of Palestinians’ aspirations for freedom. We ask you to respect the wishes of Palestinian people and not side with their oppressor.
TAU directly facilitates Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation of the West Bank and its illegal blockade of Gaza. It must be held accountable for supporting Israel’s repression of Palestinians. Examples of TAU’s complicity in Israel’s anti-Palestinianism are numerous:
– An affiliate of the university’s Sackler School of Medicine, the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute,[9] is currently stockpiling the bodies of scores of Palestinians for use as leverage in negotiations, refusing to release them to their families, a practice which contravenes international treaties and conventions.[10] – TAU hosts the Institute for National Security Studies, whose 2018 ‘Plan’ recommends completing the illegal separation wall, and ‘ongoing construction in settlement blocs’ – in other words, perpetuation of Israeli apartheid – and which declares in its current report that ‘it is necessary to prepare for the next war’.[11] – TAU’s Yuval Ne’eman Workshop for Science, Technology and Security cooperates closely with the Israeli Defence Force and other security services, and hosts work on, among other things, ‘missiles and guided weapons, homeland security, [and] force build-up policy’.[12] In 2008 the TAU President described himself as ‘awed by the magnitude and scientific creativity of the work being done behind the scenes at TAU that enhances the country’s civilian defense capabilities and military edge’.[13] – TAU’s Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering runs an ‘entrepreneurship program’ with Elbit Systems,[14] a major Israeli arms manufacturer, whose weapons and technology are battle-tested on Palestinians.[15] – Since 2016, as at all Israeli universities, soldiers’ TAU tuition fees are paid after discharge from the army.[16] – In 2014, TAU offered a year’s free tuition to students who had participated in the murderous military attacks on Gaza.[17] – In 2012, TAU started collaboration with settlement organisations in archaeological digs in Palestinian East Jerusalem, in violation of international agreements.[18]
Professor Bashford, we call on you to follow the lead of your colleague and fellow historian Professor Catherine Hall, who in 2018 refused the Dan David Prize prize.[19] Doing so would make an important contribution to the cause of antiracism and opposition to apartheid in Israel in a context in which state-led resolution efforts have failed. It would also avoid a flagrant contradiction with your own published work, which aims to contribute to ‘the critical history of colonialism, nationalism and public health’, investigating, among other topics, ‘segregation as both hygienic – that is, as part of public health – and racial – as part of the systems and cultures of race management’.[20]
Israel’s racist policies against Palestinians, long criticised as instances of apartheid by Palestinians themselves, as well as by international legal and humanitarian authorities (including recently by the Israeli NGO B’Tselem) are an egregious example of racial segregation imposed on an entire population, with all the desperate consequences for Palestinians’ health and well-being that this implies.[21]
Professor Bashford, you have a significant opportunity to contribute to public understanding of the importance of antiracism and anti-apartheid. In 2003, you and a co-author noted that ‘even repressive regimes have been eroded through criticism generated by external human rights groups attempting to universalise democratic ideals’; as you pointed out, ‘it is difficult to imagine the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa, for example, without the chorus of international calls to release high-profile political prisoners on Robben Island’.[22] Palestinians’ appeal for boycott is an attempt to mobilise a chorus of international calls of exactly this kind.
Nothing obliges you to accept the Dan David prize and the financial reward that accompanies it. Doing so would be a sharp rebuke to the unanimous call from Palestinian organisations to support their struggle for freedom. As you have noted, ‘liberalism and the idea of democratic rule — most recently through the language of human rights — problematises arbitrary detention, the incarceration of non-criminals and of political prisoners’.[23] These are, however, among the very practices which Israel imposes on Palestinians. Refusing the award, opposing the whitewashing of Israel’s crimes, and rejecting collaboration with an Israeli academic institution complicit with the oppression of Palestinians, would earn you the respect and admiration of all those who believe that academic research must serve the cause of freedom, in Palestine and in the world.
Academics can add their signatures by completing this form.
Samah Sabawi, independent scholar, Melbourne Nick Riemer, University of Sydney Rima Najjar, Al Quds University, Palestine Ahmed Alnajjar. Director of Public and International Relations, Ministry of Education, Palestine Randa Abdel-Fattah, Macquarie University Randa Farah, University of Western Ontario Wael Hallaq, Columbia University Laleh Khalili, Queen Mary University of London Lila Abu-Lughod, Columbia University Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University Nadia Abu El-Haj, Columbia University Saree Makdisi, UCLA Judith Butler, UC Berkeley Ilan Pappe, University of Exeter Omar Barghouti, independent scholar J. Kehaulani Kauanui, Wesleyan University Jasbir Puar, Rutgers University Peter Slezak, University of New South Wales John Keane, University of Sydney Alistair Sisson, University of New South Wales Michael Grewcock, University of New South Wales Alana Lentin, University of Western Sydney David Brophy, University of Sydney James Godfrey, Birkbeck, University of London Jumana Bayeh, Macquarie University Adi Ophir, Tel Aviv University, Emeritus, Brown University, visiting Sara Dehm, University of Technology, Sydney Ntina Tzouvala, Australian National University Lucia Sorbera, University of Sydney Kieron Cadey, Canterbury Christ Church Inna Michaeli, independent scholar, Germany Michael Griffiths, University of Wollongong Sara Saleh, University of New South Wales Liyana Kayali, Australian National University Micaela Sahhar, University of Melbourne Kate Davison, University of Melbourne Daniel A. Segal, Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, USA Nicola Perugini, University of Edinburgh Sharri Plonski, Queen Mary, University of London Ronit Lentin, Trinity College Dublin Ryan Al-Natour, Charles Sturt University Robert Boyce, London School of Economics Mohd Nazari bin Ismail, University of Malaya Lobna Yassine, Australian Catholic University Suzita Noor, University of Malaya Karel Arnaut, KU Leuven Paola Manduca, University of Genoa, Italy John King, New York University Angelo Baracca, University of Florence Zati Azizul, University of Malaya Marcelo Svirsky University of Wollongong Elsa Haniffah Mejia Mohamed, University Malaya MY Musa, USM Aneesa Abdul Rashid, Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia Herman De Ley, Ghent University Bruce Robbins, Columbia University Brinkley Messick, Columbia University Gil Hochberg, Columbia University Samera Esmeir, UC Berkeley Mark Ayyash, Mount Royal University, Canada Raja Jamilah Raja Yuso, University of Malaya Norhayati Ab.Rahman, University of Malaya Brian Boyd, Columbia University David Faber, Flinders University Noor Fadiya Mohd Noor, University of Malaya Noor Adwa Sulaiman University of Malaya Fatiha Shabaruddin, Universiti Malaya Marc De Meyere Gent University Susan Ferguson, Wilfrid Laurier University Nozomi Takahashi, Staff scientist, VIB/Ghent University Snehal Shingavi, University of Texas, Austin Hassan Basri, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin J. Ahmad, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Meera Atkinson, University of Notre Dame Australia George H Morgan, Western Sydney University Brian Brophy, University of Adelaide Zul’aini Zainal Abidin, Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Sharmani Patricia Gabriel, Universiti Malaya Amir Nor, Islamic Science University Omar bin Yaakob, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Mike Cushman, London School of Economics Harry Smaller, York University, Canada M.Tashid, University of Technology Malaysia Rozaini Roslan, UTHM Mohamed Hatta Shaharom, Chairman Ikram Foundation of Malaysia Harlina Halizah Siraj, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Prof Dr Hayati, USIM Borhanuddin Mohd Ali, Universiti Putra Malaysia Azman Che Mat, UiTM Mustafa Mohd Hanefah, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Ramli Bin Nazir, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Ahmad Hariza Hashim, Universiti Putra Malaysia Prof Dr Norhasmah, UPM Nor Azan, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Abdul Rashid Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia Daing Nasir Ibrahim University Malaysia Pahang Sahrim Ahmad, UKM, Malaysia Haiyun Ma, Frostburg State University, USA Mahamod Ismail, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Tengku Shahrom Tengku Shahdan, Universiti Selangor Suhaimi Mhd Sarif, International Islamic University Malaysia A’zzah, CEO, Al Musab Institute Wan Jefrey Basirun University Malaya Adlina SuleimanAcademy of Professors Malaysia Khairul Saidah Abas Azmi, University of Malaya Noorsyazly Rameli, Malaysia Mohammad Nazri, Universiti Malaya Kelton Muir Sydney University John Michael O’Brien, University of Sydney Souheir Edelbi, UNSW Paul Russell, Victoria University Toby Fitch, University of Sydney Finola Laughren, University of Sydney Azmi Aminuddin, UiTM Rohana Hassan, UiTM Christiane Schomblond, Université Libre de Bruxelles Kathryn Ticehurst, University of Sydney Carol Que, University of Melbourne Noor Sapiei, University of Malaya Alan Hill, RMIT University, Melbourne Goldie Osuri, University of Warwick Azman Hassan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Meloni Muir, University of Sydney Liam Ward, RMIT University, Melbourne David Klein, California State University Northridge Vannina Sztainbok, University of Toronto Colin Mooers, Ryerson University, Canada Sylvat Aziz, Queens University, Toronto Joy Moore, Dawson College, Montreal Asha Varadharajan, Queen’s University Brett Story, Ryerson University Larry Hannant, University of Victoria Sumi Hasegawa, McGill University Nicola Pratt, University of Warwick David Borgonjon, Rhode Island School of Design Kevin Moloney, York University, Toronto Steven Jordan, McGill University Tim Anderson, Centre for Counterhegemonic Studies Peter Chidiac, University of Western Ontario Anne Meneley, Trent University Edwin E. Daniel, University of Alberta Christo El Morr, York University Natalia Maystorovich Chulio, University of Sydney Matilda Fay, University of Technology Sydney Mark LeVine, UC Irvine Robert Austin, University of Sydney Viviana Ramírez, independent scholar, Chile Mohd Hilmi Jaafar, University of Malaya Victor Wallis, Berklee College of Music Zuhaimy ismail, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Shira Robinson, George Washington University Daing Nasir Ibrahim, University Malaysia Pahang Malek Abisaab, McGill University Graham Holton, University of Queensland Ben Golder, University of New South Wales Izlin Ismail, University of Malaya Suzannah Henty, University of Melbourne Shamsul Izwan bin Saharani, University of Malaya Yara Hawari, University of Exeter Nate George, Columbia University Jake Lynch, University of Sydney Michael Leonard Furtado, University of Queensland Lewis Turner, Newcastle University Owen Marsden-Readford, Sydney University SRC Sonia Qadir, University of New South Wales Susan Spronk, University of Ottawa David Heap University of Western Ontario Ximena de la Barra, lecturer and writer, Spain Lim Yat Yuen, Universiti Malaya Briony Neilson, University of Sydney Didier Samain, Sorbonne Université, Paris. Mohd Rais Mustafa, Universiti Malaya UNSW Students for Palestine club, UNSW Lauren Banko, University of Manchester Evan Jones, Sydney University Sujatha Fernandes, University of Sydney Raja Hisyamudin, Senior Lecturer University of Malaya Ben Etherington, Western Sydney University Nurhazwani Abdul Rahman, Assistant Bursar, University of Malaya David Pritchard, The University of Queensland Judith Grbich, Griffith University Eshah AWahab, University of Malaya Muhammad Shamil, Pondicherry University Roza Hazli Zakaria, University of Malaya Sharmila Jayasingam, Universiti Malaya Paola Rivetti, Dublin City University Kevin Bruyneel, Babson College Marc Lamont Hill, Temple University Michelle Hartman, McGill University Stephen Sheehi, William & Mary Ariella Azoulay, Brown University Haim Bresheeth-Zabner SOAS, University of London Sarah Schulman, City University of New York, College of Staten Island Sherene Seikaly, UCSB Peter Eglin, Wilfrid Laurier University Andrew Brooks, UNSW Holly High, University of Sydney Valentina Baú, University of New South Wales Noam Peleg, UNSW Safiah Muhammad Yusoff, University Malaya Jonathan Dunk, University of Melbourne Mohamad Said Bin Othman, University Of Malaya Joseph Pugliese, Macquarie University Andy Kaladelfos, UNSW Matthew Abbott, Federation University Claire Launchbury, Leeds Meaghan Morris, University of Sydney Anna Hush, University of New South Wales Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath Helen Goritsas, Academy of Information Technology, Australia Judith Mcvey, University of Sydney Amy Thomas, University of Technology Sydney Diana Shahinyan, University of Sydney Marcus Banks, RMIT University, Melbourne Tasnim Sammak, Monash University Lina Koleilat , Australian National University Catriona Menzies-Pike, Western Sydney University Jordy Silverstein, La Trobe University Iseult Mc Nulty, Trinity College Dublin Maayan Geva, University of Roehampton Cynthia Wright, York University Ilan Kapoor, York University Maya Ober, FHNW Academy of Art and Design, Switzerland Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Western Sydney University Najib Safieddine, University of Toronto Diana Jefferies, Western Sydney University Ned Curthoys, The University of Western Australia John Docker, University of Sydney Sophie Loy-Wilson, University of Sydney Jimmy Yan, University of Melbourne Anna Saunders, Harvard Law School Caitlin Biddolph, University of New South Wales Shaira Vadasaria, University of Edinburgh Emma Russell, La Trobe University Scott Burchill, Deakin University Tarik Cyril Amar, Koc University, Turkey Samia Khatun, SOAS, University of London Gavan Titley, Maynooth University, Ireland Francesco Saverio Leopardi, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice Laurence Davis, University College Cork Ismail Patel, independent researcher, England Mohamad Faithal Haji Hassan, University of Malaya Effie Karageorgos, University of Newcastle, Australia Dalia Abdelhady, Lund University, Sweden Mod Faizul Sabri, University of Malaya Roland Loh, Kingston University, UK Hussain Mohd, University Malaya Awangku Abdul Rahman, Islamic Science University of Malaysia Khadijah Md Khalid, University of Malaya Sarah Keenan, Birkbeck School of Law Leah Price, Rutgers University Saul Takahashi, Osaka Jogakuin University, Japan Ben Silverstein, Australian National University Terence Gomez, Universiti Malaya Roshidah Hassan, Universiti Malaya Maha Nassar, University of Arizona Suria Zainuddin, University of Malaya Dr Bedj Bedj Toufik, University of Malaya NW Salman, University of Malaya M Zaidi A Rahman, University of Malaya Aishah Ahmad Fauzi, University Malaya Rodiah Zawawi, University of Malaya Aileen Moreton-Robinson, RMIT, Melbourne Muhamad Ammar Remli, Islamic Science University of Malaysia Ghazala Mir, University of Leeds Judith E. Tucker, Georgetown University Salwa Mohd Saleh, University College London Yasmine Kherfi, London School of Economics and Political Science Kamakshi Amar, London School of Economics Zulqarnain Mohamed, Universiti of Malaya Tg Muzaffar Tg Muda, Lancaster University Roger Markwick, University of Newcastle, Australia Shuaib Manjra, University of Cape Town Zulqarnain Mohamed, University of Malaya Usuf Chikte, University of Stellenbosch Jasmine Duff, University of Wollongong Fairuz Mullagee, University of the Western Cape Abu Bakar, University of Indonesia Catherine Ann Cullen, Trinity College Dublin WZ Kamaruddin Ali, University of Malaya Prof. Dr. Mohd Afandi Salleh, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia Yau’Mee Hayati Hj Mohamed Yusof, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Wan Muhammad Afiq bin Wan Muhamad Fauzan, INSPEM Universiti Putra Malaysia Zulfakar Ramleem International Islamic University, Malaysia. Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Sahrim Ahmad, Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia Zul’aini Zainal Abidin, Kolej Poly-Tech MARA, Malaysia Abdul Rashid bin Abdul Rahman, University of Cyberjaya, Malaysia Hadhrami Ab Ghani,Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Syamimi Saadon, Universiti Putra Malaysia Alwani Ghazali, Universiti Malaya Rohaida Mohd Saat, independent scholar, Malaysia Siti Zarina Mohd Muji, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia Ahmad Ainuddin Nuruddin, Universiti Putra, Malaysia Nurul Iffah Bt Ghazali, UiTM Puncak Alam Mandy Turner, University of Manchester Dror Warschawski, Sorbonne Université, France Ahmed Abbes, CNRS, France Professor Hairuddin Mohd Ali, International Islamic University Malaysia Nada Elia, Western Washington University, USA Carolyn D’Cruz, La Trobe University Siti Zaiton Mohd Hashim, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Priya Kunjan, University of Melbourne Rabah Tahraoui, Université de Rouen, France. Poppy de Souza, Griffith University and UNSW Maree Pardy, Deakin University Dr Crystal McKinnon, RMIT, Melbourne Mohammed Massoud Morsi, Independent Scholar, Australia Clive Gabay, Queen Mary University of London Mahanim Hanid, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia AbdulRahman Sufi, City University of Mogadishu, Somalia Michael Harris, Columbia University Zoë Lawlor , University of Limerick James R. Levy, University of New South Wales Sydney David Landy, Trinity College Dublin Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, SOAS University of London Professor Yosefa Loshitzky, SOAS University of London Anam Matariyeh, Independent Scholar Kenneth W. Burchell, Independent historian Sarah Dweik, PSU Waad Marzuqi , University of London Lorenzo Ramero, Université de Lille Zuhair Idris, Independent Scholar Nour Ali, Brunel University Erik Karlström, Lund University (masters student) Abdulrachman Teves UPLB Adel Yousif , University of Tasmania C. Michael Hall, University of Canterbury Ana Madeira, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Anas Elkady, Ryerson University Rachid Darradji, MIT Shahd Al-Janabi, Charles Darwin University Elaine Bradley, independent scholar, Ireland
BDS Australia calls on UNSW Laureate Professor Alison Bashford to support Palestinians in their struggle against apartheid by rejecting the Dan David Prize.
The 2021 prize, which is administered by Tel Aviv University, rewards contributions to the understanding of public health. Yet Israel is currently obstructing the delivery of Covid vaccines to Palestinians, and its illegal military occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip, which Tel Aviv University facilitates, have systematically attacked Palestinians’ public health for decades.
State-based efforts to bring about justice for Palestinians have comprehensively failed. In response, Palestinians are calling on people of good will to boycott organisations that profit from, contribute to, or normalize Israel’s repression of them. Academics from all over the world have met the call with strong support. As one example only, Prof. Catherine Hall of University College London declined to accept the same Dan David Prize in 2018 after extensive discussion about the politics of Israel-Palestine.
In suggesting that Israel is committed to advances in public health, the Dan David prize obscures the severe rolling health crisis in the occupied territories, and ignores the fact that Israel robs countless Palestinians of their right to health, well-being and ordinary prospects of flourishing. In its structural ties to Israel’s military and political architecture, including fee waivers and scholarships for Israeli soldiers and its complicity with the stockpiling of the bodies of dead Palestinians, Tel Aviv University, the prize administrator, directly facilitates the violence of Israel’s apartheid policies.
Millions of Palestinians are subjected to Israel’s slow ethnic-cleansing regime, which dispossesses, arbitrarily imprisons, maims and kills them in large numbers. To them, a high-profile prize from the heart of the Israeli political and academic establishment can only appear a cruel joke.
Professor Bashford, accepting the prize contributes to misleading the public about Israel’s violence and racism towards Palestinians, and legitimizes institutions at the centre of Israel’s apartheid policies. We therefore ask you to put into practice your declared commitments to public health and antiracism, and respect Palestinians’ call for solidarity by boycotting the Dan David prize. You surely would not have been an apologist for South Africa’s apartheid; we ask you to refuse to be one for Israel’s apartheid and brutal military occupation and blockade of Palestinians.
BDS Australia condemns the Victorian government’s recent announcement of a partnership with the major Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. Elbit produces numerous weapons, including rocket launch systems, super-high explosive projectiles, mortar bombs, armoured vehicles and drones and is a key research and development partner to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Elbit surveillance technology and military equipment is used to maintain Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip. Elbit markets its weapons systems, including its drones, as “battle-proven”. This means that they have been deployed against Palestinians living under Israel’s deadly military occupation.
BDS Australia calls on the Victorian government to abandon any association with Elbit. In partnering with Elbit, the Andrews government is showing its contempt for international law and human rights conventions. With this deal, the Victorian Labor government under Premier Dan Andrews is collaborating with a government which has been shown to be practicing apartheid and which has been continually condemned in the UN and internationally for its ongoing breaches of human rights and international law.
Elbit is increasingly targeted by protesters worldwide as major companies and organisations divest and dissociate from it.
In 2018 both HSBC and AXA Investment Managers divested from Elbit due to its involvement in the production and commercialization of cluster munitions and white phosphorus shells. In 2020, the City of Liverpool in the UK cancelled the Elbit-sponsored Electronic Warfare Europe arms fair on ethical grounds after a campaign of 40,000 emails protesting at the city’s involvement. The 2021 arms fair in Seville, Spain, was cancelled by the Seville City Council, also on ethical grounds.
The Andrews government must reconsider this partnership now. Australians don’t want to support a company which profits by selling technology and armaments that destroy civilian communities and support the ongoing colonisation and dispossession of Palestinians. Victoria’s economic growth should not come at the expense of Palestinian lives.
BDS Australia condemns the development of an arms industry in collaboration with Elbit Systems Australia in Victoria and calls on all Australians to oppose and take action to end this partnership.
Further information:
Media release 02/02/2021 – Victorian Premier – Global Investor Elbit To Establish Melbourne Centre
The Guardian 28/01/2021 – Christopher Pyne’s firm hired by defence contractor awarded $98m in government work while he was Minister
On Invasion Day 2021, BDS Australia expresses our unequivocal solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations.
Since 1788, First Nations people have been the objects of relentless colonial violence, first from the British and then from the Australian state. Today, rates of incarceration and child removal show that violence against Aboriginal people is still a blight on our society – a shameful reflection of the ongoing racism that characterises Australian politics, for which we all must be held to account.
We support Aboriginal peoples’ call for treaty and sovereignty and know that we will see no genuine reconciliation in this country without full justice for Aboriginal people.
As supporters of justice for Palestine, we understand all too well how colonialism crushes nations. The devastation it brings is measured in deaths, dispossession, arbitrary imprisonment, stunted opportunities and broken lives – the merciless oppression of entire peoples. In our struggle for the decolonisation of Palestine and our opposition to Israeli apartheid, we have much to learn from the inspiring activism of First Nations peoples over many decades.
Whether in Australia or in Palestine, there can be no compromise on basic rights. We reject any attempts to prevent Invasion Day rallies from going ahead. We call for an end to the scourge of colonialism, and for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now. Our struggle for Palestine is rooted in a commitment to universal rights and international law.
Nothing is more urgent than reversing and compensating for the historic injustices to which colonised peoples have been subject, whether here or overseas. As the struggle for First Nations rights continues, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends.
This website is maintained by BDS Australia, which is affiliated with the coalition of Palestinian organisations that leads and supports the BDS movement and by the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a BNC member organisation.
