An update from the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Campaign
3 recent BDS victories from around the world
~ UK councils win on divestment options [Independent]
~ A win on the buses in The Nethlerlands [BNC]
~ Palestinian Christians call for BDS support [PNN] & ICYMI... Growing respect for the Palestinian picket line [BNC]
A wave of cancellations at the Israeli LGBT Film Festival.
[UK] Government acted unlawfully by restricting 'ethical' boycotts of Israel, High Court rules Samuel Osborne, Independent, 22 June 2017 Campaigners say illegal occupation is 50 years old this month and people have a right to decide not to profit from human rights abuses
'After accepting a judicial review, the judge said [that] the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, acted unlawfully in issuing guidance to restrict local councils from pursuing boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel through their pension schemes.. Jamie Potter, partner in the Public Law and Human Rights team at Bindmans LLP, said: "This outcome is a reminder to the Government that it cannot improperly interfere in the exercise of freedom of conscience and protest in order to pursue its own agenda."' Read more here >> See also... This ruling allows councils to boycott Israel. It’s a crucial victory, The Guardian, 26 June 2017
Largest Israeli Public Transportation Company Loses Netherlands Contract Worth 190 Million Euros Following Campaign by BDS Activists for Palestinian Rights BDS National Committee, 21 June 2017
'Last month, Egged Bus Systems (EBS), a subsidiary of Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society, Israel’s largest public transportation operator, lost a bid for a decade-long contract to run public transportation in the North-Holland region of the Netherlands... Egged Bus Systems lost this lucrative bid after Dutch BDS activists launched a campaign charging its Israeli parent company with facilitating grave violations of Palestinian human rights and international humanitarian law...' Read more here >>
Christian Organizations in Palestine urge World Council of Churches to support BDS Palestine News Network, 21 June 2017
'Calling on the [World Council of Churches] to work against Christian complicity in sustaining Israeli apartheid, the NCCOP said it was “disturbed by the fact that States and churches are dealing with Israel as if the situation were normal, ignoring the reality of occupation, discrimination and daily death in the land.”...' Read more here >> Read open letter in full... Open letter from The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine (NCCOP) to the World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement
And in case you missed it... Surge in Support for Boycott of Israeli LGBT Film Festival Shows Growing Respect for Palestinian Picket Line, BDS National Committee, 9 June 2017
'In total, fourteen filmmakers and other artists canceled their participation or declared their support for boycotting the festival because it is sponsored by the Israeli government, and is therefore clearly subject to the Palestinian call for cultural boycott until Israel ceases its systematic violations of Palestinian human rights. Filmmakers also expressed their opposition to the festival’s “pinkwashing,” or cynical use of LGBTQI rights to cover up and normalize Israel’s regime of oppression against Palestinians...' Read full article >>
What's on?
For Palestine events in Adelaide and around Australia, click here >>
01 Jul, Melbourne, Forum // 09 Jul, Melbourne, Eid Celebration // 13-15 Jul, Brisbane, Theatre // 28-29 Jul, BDS Conference, Sydney - registrations now open. Special note: AFOPA AGM, 21 Jul, Adelaide
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