As Palestine continues to be massacred... Since January 1984, the Ann Arbor City Council has been urged to divest from Israel, to boycott Israel, and to approve resolutions against aid to Israel.
It's the front page of the "Ann Arbor News", January 10, 1984.
The article is entitled, "Council rejects Mideast resolution".
The article states as follows:
"More than 5,000 petition signatures weren't enough to persuade Ann Arbor City Council to place a resolution urging the withholding of U.S. aid to Israel on the April city ballot.
"Council never voted on the measure at all...
The resolution "would have instructed the city clerk to write to President Reagan and his cabinet asking that Israel receive no more funds from the U.S. until its policy of settlements on the West Bank is halted."
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This attempted resolution followed Israel's massacre of tens of thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians in 1982. At that time, Israel was an extremely intimate ally of Apartheid South Africa, and gave major assistance to genocidal military dictatorships, most horrifically in Guatemala.
This article is a perfect illustration of how even the smallest symbolic action against Israel is opposed by Zionists who use the word "peace" as a weapon, to silence all talk of action.
The Ann Arbor City Council has refused to allow any public hearing, or any city council debate, on proposals to cut aid to Israel, from January 1984 until the present day.
Many speakers at Ann Arbor City Council have urged the Council, from 2002 until 2009, to divest from Israel, to boycott Israel, and to approve that resolution to end U.S. military aid to Israel. The City Council responded by attempting to eliminate all public comment (until the end of meetings, often at midnight or later.)
The Council even enforced a stone wall of silence against its own appointed Human Rights Commission, which formally urged the City Council to approve a resolution to end U.S. military aid to Israel in December 2003.
Speakers still appear at City Council to urge action against Israel, as Israel continues massacring and robbing Palestinians.
The major named opponent of the "Boycott Israel" campaign, on Arbor Update, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is Zachary Goldsmith.
To give you a clearer picture of where boycott opponents are coming from, let us review Mr. Goldsmith's own publicly posted comments against one of the greatest civil rights heroes in U.S. history, Malcolm X.
Malcolm is loved by millions of Black Americans, but not by Mr. Goldsmith, who actually commented "Fuck racist MalcolmX" just nine months ago-- publicly.
See Mr. Goldsmith's remarks, dated August 15, 2008, by clicking on the image below:
Why does Whole Foods Market sell Israeli Couscous-- even as Israel massa... more "Why does Whole Foods Market sell Israeli Couscous-- even as Israel massacres and starves Gaza?
"Ask them to join the humanitarian boycott against all Israeli goods."
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For more background on Whole Food Market's sales of Zionist products, see their ex-employee's Blog:
" 'As a customer, and ex-team member, I would like to see Whole Foods pull its Israeli products until the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) stops the occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. The products I can immediately think of include: Israeli Couscous, Tahina, Oils, etc....' "
"The movement to boycott Apartheid Israel has entered its 18th month, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Zionists use very bloody language to oppose the boycott. They openly encourage "more death" of Palestinian children, right at the Co-op, as you will see." _______________________________________________
The man in the photo with Henry is Basem Abu Rahme.
At the time (April, 2005) we were euphoric, having just completed one of the first protests against the Apartheid Wall in Bi'lin.
On April 17, 2009, Basem was murdered by invading Israel Occupation Forces, shot with a high velocity tear gas cannister, at the Bil'in weekly protest.
"I was very impressed with the efforts of the Boycott Israel Group, whose dedication and hard work brought a petition to the Board of Directors of PFC in 2007 and enabled the Co-op to conduct a vote on whether to boycott products made in Israel. Though I played no part in that very successful effort to raise awareness of the atrocities committed by the state of Israel, I felt that what was lacking was a sympathetic ear of a Board member to their cause. I plan to be that ear, and voice for the Palestinian people.
"The wonderful part about our Co-op is that it promotes the value of social consciousness, as evidenced by Bob Schildgen’s message in this month’s Connection. And given the massacre of Gaza just committed over the holiday season by Israel, nothing could be more timely than a second effort by a socially conscious group like BIG, to commit our social energies into achieving a just peace in Palestine.
"I note that of this writing the 15,000 member Park Slope Food Co-op in Brooklyn, New York is considering a ban on Israeli products, and I would like our Co-op to be one of the leaders in this movement. It is time that the Ann Arbor political and co-operative communities came together to demand an end to the ethnic cleansing in Palestine. Boycotts, like the one proposed in 2007, is a peaceful means to achieve this goal; it is what I hope will be the main priority of the Board in 2009-2012.
"Voters should consider that I have been a participating member in the People’s Food Co-op since about 2002, well prior to my advocacy for Palestinian self-determination.
"I also bring 32 years of experience in working for a major manufacturing firm in southeast Michigan. When I retired, I was manager of the Design/Drafting group of this $1.8 billion corporation, responsible for the work of 12 CAD designers, and reported directly to the Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing. I understand corporate organizations, budget imperatives, business plans, and worked closely with associates in Human Resources."
Henry Herskovitz
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Another Food Co-op debates a boycott against Israeli Products:
NEW YORK (CBS)
...The 15,000 member food co-op in Park Slope is considering a ban on Israeli products because of the conflict in the Mideast. Officials there are now debating making an international statement after a member's proposal to take a symbolic stand against Israel. So far the co-op staff has identified just four products from Israel, but they say it's possible there are others out of the 10,000 products offered at the co-op. How do he members feel about losing Israeli grown persimmons, sweet peppers, paprika, and marshmallows? Reaction is mixed. "Red peppers are the only thing that I would use of those four, and I would not boycott them," said co-op member Steve Monroe. "I don't really support the boycott. But I really don't support the policy of Israel either," said Ted Stafford, another member. But other say they would stand behind the decision if it goes through. "Just make people more aware and more responsible in how we find the things that we sell," said member Crystal Whaley. Members say until the boycott proposal reaches the co-op board's official agenda, they'll continue stocking the shelves based on a food's quality instead of its nationality.
"...Linda Hanna then stepped to the
podium to present the arguments for the
boycott.
"A 25-year Co-op member, Hanna said the boycott of products made or
grown in the illegal Israeli settlements in
the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan
Heights was being proposed because 'the
settlements are a core injustice.'
"She said the organizers of the campaign against
settlement products are Arab-Americans
and Jewish Americans. Like a majority of
Israelis, they see the settlements as the
major obstacle to peace in the region."
Click on Co-op newsletter to enlarge it.
Click on Co-op newsletter to enlarge it.
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"Despite distaste for settlements, Philadelphia’s Jews shun boycott"
"THE NEW STANDARD:
"Central Ohio's Largest Circulation Jewish Newspaper"
"You would be hard-pressed to find many members of northwest Philadelphia’s vibrant Jewish community fully in favor of the presence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"Still, many members of an area co-op refused to go from there to boycotting produce grown in the territories.
"The controversy began in January, when a small group within Weavers Way Co-op, a food store owned and operated by its members, threatened to boycott produce from Israeli territories they consider illegally occupied. Working under the title Campaign Against Settlement Products, the group, with both Arab-American and Jewish members, claimed that buying the products supports the degradation of water resources in the area.
"The boycott proposal was brought to a vote in mid-May at the co-op’s biannual member’s meeting..."
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The Boycott-Israeli-Goods movement has gathered over 700 Rainbow shoppers' signatures, to boycott Israeli goods.
"RBIG renews request for meeting with Rainbow Grocery"
RBIG is a group of workers and shoppers organized to
encourage Rainbow to boycott Israeli goods. After
Israel invaded Lebanon in July 2006, RBIG requested a
meeting with Rainbow about initiating such a policy.
We are renewing our request for a meeting for the
following reasons:
** The month of May is the 60th anniversary of the Nakba- the zionist expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland.
** On April 24th the United Nations declared that Israel¹s
embargo of fuel has made it impossible to continue
its food aid program in Gaza, leaving 1-1/2 million
Palestinians without drinking water and food.
** RBIG now has over 700 Rainbow shoppers¹ signatures,
gathered at our weekly tabling, which petition the store
to boycott Israeli goods.
Enclosed is a letter, signed by workers and shoppers who are
people of color, expressing their strong objections to Israel¹s
racist policies and adding their voices to this request for a
meeting.
Also enclosed are the five letters we sent Rainbow over the last 20 months stating our reasons for urging the store to consider initiating such a boycott.
Sincerely,
Nell Myhand (510)-485-6065
Jean Kuchinsky Pauline
Tom Brown
We are writing as shoppers at Rainbow Grocery who are people
of color. Some of us are in RBIG (Rainbow Boycott Israeli
Goods) which as you know has been asking for a meeting with
the collective since mid 2006. We have taken up the boycott of
Israeli goods because the issue of Zionism is first and foremost
a racial justice issue.
Some of us are fairly new to the Bay Area and some of us have
been Rainbow shoppers since the 1980’s. We shop at Rainbow
because we are fighting for our lives in a racist (and sexist)
system that relentlessly assaults our health and wellbeing.
Rainbow is a very important resource for both knowledge of and
access to healthy living food and other natural supports for
disease prevention and cure. We also believe in and support
the concept of collectives.
We also shop at Rainbow because we expect progressive
organizations like Rainbow be responsive to community and
to take a position and strong action for justice. As you know,
the Palestinians are being subjected by Israel to an apartheid
system where people with darker skins are humiliated and
brutalized every day and treated in a savagely racist way. This
is the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, when Israeli soldiers went
from village to village massacring Palestinians young and old.
Israeli policies of ethnic cleansing and seizure of lands from the
indigenous people are eerily reminiscent of the way Native
Americans were treated in this country.
In the April 2008 issue of Vanity Fair, the role of the Bush
administration in deepening the suffering of Palestinian people,
who are people of color, is presented in great and gory detail.
“Vanity Fair has obtained confidential documents, since
corroborated by sources in the U.S. and Palestine, which lay
bare a covert initiative, approved by Bush and implemented by
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Deputy National
Security Adviser Elliott Abrams, to provoke a Palestinian civil
war.” This article exposes how at the behest of the US
government, Israel has unleashed an unimaginable level of
violence aimed at expelling those Palestinians who can/will go,
and killing/maiming as many people as they dare of those who
remain.
As individuals and organizations (including small businesses)
we must confront the question of what it means if we refuse to
stand with people of color around the world and to protest our
racist enemies’ closest friends abroad. As people of color we
daily, must confront the question, what does it mean for our
struggle against racism that Bush's closest ally is empowered
to do as they like with complete impunity by those of us who
consider ourselves to be anti-racist.
We are adding our voices to those calling immediately for a
meeting with Rainbow to discuss Rainbow’s boycotting Israeli
goods.
Sincerely,
Nell Myhand
Synthia Green
Shirley Yee
Faris Barhoum
Pablo Jim
Samia Shoman
Jahahara Alkebulan Maat
Sharon Lungo
Chris Lymbertos
Lily Haskell
Adnan Hamwi
Sannah Rahim
Phil Hutchings
Jess Ghannam
Happy Hyder
Joyce Umamoto
Ayesha Gill
Chris Mazaleh
Nissor Ahmed
Ali Abong
Patricia Hemphill
Grace Shalhoub
Associated Students Inc. listened to the first reading, as well as passionate public comments, of a new resolution regarding the Gaza Strip at Wednesday’s ASI Senate meeting.
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) brought to the senate a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli/Palestinian situation in Gaza. It asks for ASI to boycott goods and services that maintain business with Israel.
Sen. Avis Atkins gave notice to the rest of the senate that the resolution is from a humanitarian point of view, not a political one.
A few senators and members of the MSA proposed voting on a second reading, as well as the first. The senate voted down the proposal and continued with only the first reading of the resolution. Most senators wanted time to acquire more information about what the passing of the resolution will affect before the next reading.
MSA members expressed enthusiasm about the resolution they have been working on for so long.
Members of MSA explained the resolution’s request for a boycott was to get something tangible out of condemning violent acts of aggression against a defenseless population. They have collected more than 300 student signatures and ID numbers in support of their proposal.
“We’re not asking you to decide with a nation versus another nation. We’re asking you to decide with humanity,” said Maral Sabebjame, on behalf of MSA.
The resolution addresses the ties ASI may or may not have with the state of Israel.
“How will a boycott benefit students at Cal State Long beach?” asked Sen. Everett Bryant of the College of Engineering.
Sabebjame informed the senate about a list MSA compiled of six companies that they say have ties with the state of Israel, including Caterpillar, Motorola and General Electric. Caterpillar, for example, supplies Israel with bulldozers that demolish homes of civilians in the West Bank, Sabebjame said.
MSA is continuing research of business done by ASI or CSULB with companies that support Israel.
"International campaign calls for boycott of Israel: "Traditional marches, rallies mark 33rd Land Day as Union of Arab Community-Based Associations, World Social Forum call on all affiliates to usher mass ostracism against Jewish state"
"The 33rd Land Day marked Monday was held under the banner of ostracizing Israel, as over 100 groups adhered a call by Ittijah – the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations – and marched against what they called 'the growing sense of fascism in Israel.'
"Land Day is an annual day of commemoration in the Israeli Arab community and in Arab communities worldwide, meant to protest the 1976 killing of six Arab citizens during an Israeli government's bid to confiscate Arab lands. It is usually marked by general strikes and mass marches...
" 'Excommunicate Israel'
"Meanwhile, the World Social Forum (WSF) – an umbrella group for hundreds of social, anti-globalization and rights groups worldwide – announced it would be launching a campaign calling on all of its affiliates to excommunicate Israel.
"The WSF, said Makhoul, 'has adopted our call to have Israel ostracized in various arenas, starting with rescinding various privileges and applying financial, professional and academic boycotts. The fact that the campaign is launched on Land Day is important since it proves that Israel still views the Palestinians – in and out of the Green Line – as a strategic threat....'
Proposed Humanitarian Resolution to Boycott the Apartheid State of Israel:
1. Starting today, Dearborn City Council will refuse to invest any money in the Apartheid State of Israel.
2. Starting today, Dearborn City Council will refuse to buy any product from the Apartheid State of Israel.
3. Dearborn City Council asks the U.S. Congress to stop spending $1 trillion for the murder of Palestine, the murder of Iraq, the murder of Afghanistan, and the murder of Lebanon.
4. Dearborn City Council asks Congress to spend that $1 trillion to build world-class schools, clinics, mass transit, and homes in Detroit, and in every inner city.
