Boycott the Israel Ballet February 23rd

In 2006, the Israeli Foreign Ministry launched the “Brand Israel” campaign “to show Israel’s prettier face” abroad, diverting global attention from the Palestinians. This campaign includes the Israel Ballet, described by the Israeli Consulate in New York as a “cultural representative of the State of Israel.” On Tuesday, February 23rd, the Israel Ballet will show the University at Buffalo the peaceful, pretty, Western face of Israel. But instead, we should be seeing the growing list of UN reports condemning Israel for human rights violations in the occupied territories and the systemic discrimination of the twenty percent Arab population in Israel.

With twenty percent of its citizens of Palestinian Arab descent, Israel claims to be a multi-racial democracy. Yet not a single Israel Ballet dancer, not a single member of its staff or directors, is Palestinian. It does not represent the twenty percent of Israelis who attend separate schools, receive less funding for education, and face discrimination in employment, in property purchases, in language, and in law. And it certainly does not represent the 1.5 million Palestinians who suffer intolerable conditions in Gaza, where 80% live off of UN food aid and over 40% are unemployed.

In January 2009, Israel Ballet founder Berta Yampolsky said, “Luckily, right now we don’t have to worry about war: despite our problems, this is a safe place; there’s no crime, and you don’t have to be afraid at night.” I wish I could say the same thing to the Palestinian child blinded earlier that month by white phosphorus shells Israel launched at his UN School, or the other 1417 residents of Gaza killed during Israel’s widely-criticized “Operation Cast Lead”: 1181 of them civilians, 313 of them children.

People of conscience around the world have endorsed a Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions to be applied against Israel to end its discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel, to end its apartheid practices, to withdraw fully from all lands conquered in 1967, and to restore the rights of Palestinian refugees everywhere to either return to their homes or receive just compensation. In recognition of this campaign of non-violent action against Brand Israel’s state propaganda offensive, UB Students for Justice in Palestine calls on the university community to boycott the Israeli Ballet next Tuesday evening.

The Israel Ballet will perform at 8pm in the Center for the Arts, UB North Campus. Please email ubsjp48@gmail.com or call 518-364-2012 if you are interested in joining.

New Posts and Old Ghosts

Hello fellow advocates for justice,

As you have probably noticed, our blog has not been updated as frequently as we would like. So to make up for this, UB SJP has decided that we will have a weekly update, each from a different member. These updates will cater to the personality of the blogger and will be about everything from current events to past conflicts, anecdotes of those who have lived under the occupation, poems, videos, etc. This way, you can learn more about those who belong to UB SJP and as well as our efforts.

UB SJP

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The earthquake in Haiti and the overwhelming global support to its survivors has opened the world's eyes to the suffering of those who do not have access to world-class healthcare. While Haiti is being flooded by numerous global health associations, along with funding from various governments, Gaza still has yet to see the love and support from the global health community. However, this is not to say that Gaza does not have any help at all. In fact, Medecins San Frontiers (or Doctors Without Borders) has set up a field site that is helping those who still feel the effects of last year's Operation Cast Lead. MSF has created a youtube channel, which documents their efforts around the world and includes a profile on Gaza. Despite the help of their field staff and that of other humanitarian organizations, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Doctors in Palestine, both domestic and foreign, struggle to help their patients despite ambulances (and cars with the injured) being barred from crossing checkpoints without full inspections, violation of curfews, or just because the soldiers feel the person seeking healthcare may be a threat. Facilities either lack supplies, specialists, or have mediocre sterilization of their rooms and equipment.

These issues need to be addressed by the global community. The aftermath of Haiti's disaster has shown the compassion present worldwide for human suffering. It is time to extend that same compassion and drive to help to our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Different aspects of the health care crisis in Gaza and other parts of Palestine will be discussed in greater detail in coming weekly updates. As for now, I leave you with MSF's video about Gaza.

Dr. Nummy