Cultural boycott of Israel creating ripples among artists

Adalah-NY has released a video featuring eight artists who have come forward to support the cultural boycott of Israel. Since April 2004, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has called upon intellectuals and academics worldwide to “comprehensively and consistently boycott all Israeli academic and cultural institutions as a contribution to the struggle to end Israel’s occupation, colonization and system of apartheid”, BDS Movement states.

The artists, including Kyp Malone, Roger Waters, Kathleen Chalfant, Molly Crabapple, Tunde Adebimpe, Kool A.D. and Swoon, state the various hardships faced by Palestinian artists over the years, including the seize of the Gaza Strip. They further add that governments around the world have failed to take appropriate action against Israel’s illegal policies. They urge fellow artists to “amplify their voice for justice”.

“We will not participate in events sponsored by the Israeli government or complicit Israeli institutions in New York, Israel, or anywhere else. As a community of New York-based artists and cultural workers, we call on other artists and cultural workers to join this global movement until Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid have ended”, the petition reads.

Salon said that Roger Waters, Pink Floyd co-founder, has led the movement globally. He has published several open letters exclusively in Salon in the past two years, urging fellow artists, including Jon Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones, to boycott Israel.

“How can I perform in Israel, when million Palestinians cannot attend”, Waters says in the video.

Last week, Vice published an article by British musician Brian Eno and Israeli artist Ohal Grietzer, titled “Musicians Should Boycott Israel Until Palestinians Are Free”, in which they said, “Palestinians are not asking you to save them. By calling for a boycott of Israel, they are only asking you not to help Israel oppress them.”

However, there are other prominent artists who have decided not to join the cultural boycott movement. More than 150 figures from arts and politics including JK Rowling, Hilary Mantel, Simon Schama and Zoë Wanamaker signed a letter last month announcing ‘Culture for Coexistence’ published by the Guardian.

“Cultural boycotts singling out Israel are divisive and discriminatory and will not further peace,” the letter read. “Open dialogue and interaction promote greater understanding and mutual acceptance and it is through such understanding and acceptance that movement can be made towards a resolution of the conflict.”

JK Rowling explained her decision saying that although she has condemned most of the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, she does not believe that cultural boycott by artists will force him from power, the Guardian reported.