Boycotting Israel Galloway-style
By Stuart Littlewood | Dissident Voice | February 26th, 2013
A big fuss blew up last week when British MP George Galloway, invited to Oxford University to debate the motion “Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank”, walked out of the chamber when he heard that the student opposing the motion was an Israeli.
American readers may remember Galloway, who came over in 2005 and delivered a master-class in how to give a Senate Inquisition sub-committee a good spanking.
At Oxford, something Eylon Aslan-Levy said prompted Galloway to ask, “Are you an Israeli?”
“Yes,” came the reply.
“I don’t debate with Israelis. I have been misled, sorry,” said Galloway putting on his coat. “I don’t recognise Israel and I don’t debate with Israelis,” he added and left.
The following message then appeared on Galloway’s Facebook: “The reason is simple: no recognition, no normalisation. Just boycott, divestment and sanctions, until the apartheid state is defeated. I never debate with Israelis nor speak to their media. If they want to speak about Palestine – the address is the PLO.”
The PLO, of course, is recognized as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
Galloway’s point was that BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions), in his terms, means “no purchase of Israeli goods or services, no normal contacts with individuals or organisations in Israel who support the existence of the racist Apartheid creed of Zionism. That’s what I mean by boycott. That’s what I do. Israelis who are outside of and against the system of Zionism are comrades of mine… My opponent at Oxford University did not meet this test.”
Aslan-Levy is reported to have told The Guardian that Israel’s withdrawal should not be immediate but “in the context of a negotiated peace treaty, which would recognise both Israeli and Palestinian states”. According to the Daily Mail he also said: ‘”To refuse to talk to someone just because of their nationality is pure racism, and totally unacceptable for a Member of Parliament.”
A lot of people have criticised Galloway for his behaviour in this matter. However, anyone arguing against an immediate end to the brutal and illegal 65 year-old occupation and offering silly excuses for prolonging the misery – like more lopsided ‘negotiations’ when international law and UN resolutions have already spoken – deserves to feel the cold blast of boycott, Galloway-style.
The attacks on Galloway seem to come mainly from people in the BDS movement itself who are supposedly on the same side. Press reports mention cries of “racism”. But notice that Galloway said he doesn’t debate with Israelis, not Jews. Others may not wish to debate with North Koreans or Afghan tribesmen. Our own foreign secretary apparently has no intention of chatting with his Iranian opposite number while turning the sanctions screw on the Iranian people. Obama when he visits the Holy Land to pay homage to Netanyahu won’t drop in on Haniyeh in Gaza to discuss football.
And it is pretty rich for a national of a racist state to call anyone else a racist.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), which claims to set the guidelines for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, says it does not call for a boycott of individuals because she or he happens to be Israeli or because they express certain views, but adds: “Of course, any individual is free to decide who they do and do not engage with.”
OK, so why is Galloway getting flak?
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Galloway getting flak because he’s being inconsistent!… He happily reconfirms that the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of Palestinian Arabs yet he’s also happy to meets with Hamas while they are opposing the Fatah-dominated PLO…
But let’s take Galloway at his word… If he really supports a bi-national state then either he doesn’t believe that the PLO accepts Israel’s existence, which is still their official position, or he knows that the PLO really doesn’t accept a two state solution… It would be interesting to know which is correct – is he a liar or does he support liars?!…
Beyond that, he refers to Israel as an “apartheid state” presumably because it is a Jewish state that allegedly discriminates against non-Jews… Yet the PLO’s constitution for the “State of Palestine” says:
“Islam is the official religion in Palestine. Respect and sanctity of all other heavenly religions shall be maintained. The principles of Islamic Shari’a shall be the main source of legislation”… This constitution, which was written by Galloway’s “sole legitimate representatives” of Palestinian Arabs, is explicitly discriminatory against Jews on both the religious and national levels… Isn’t that apartheid?!…
Obviously, Galloway isn’t bothered by “apartheid” when it’s directed against Jews…
Last but not least, Galloway wouldn’t have a problem speaking with an Arab Israeli… He’s done so in the past… So, the fact is that he only objects to speaking to Jewish Israelis and therefore he IS a racist…
With friends like Galloway the Palestinians don’t need enemies… The 3 infamous no’s of Khartoum (no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel) of which Galloway seems a proponent have done absolutely nothing for the Palestinians…
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Hmm! Galloway does have a point. Since Israel has refused to abide by UN Resolutions and to respect international law, they are engaging in behaviors outside of the world community of nations and ought to be ostracized until they conform. Sixty-five years is a long time that the world has tolerated this type of behavior against a vulnerable and defenseless people, given the origins of he occupiers themselves.
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You’re arguing from an emotional point of view… And you basing your emotions on what you think the reality is rather then what the reality actually is…
For example, you mention Israel not abiding by UN Resolutions… However, what you neglect to realize is that UNGA Resolutions are legally speaking not binding… IOW, they are recommendations rather then directives… UNSC Resolutions may be legally binding (depending under which chapter the resolution was made)… To date, Israel has abided by all binding resolutions…
You further claim that Israel has been in the wrong for 65 years… You obviously disagree with the fact that Israel was allowed to establish itself… That’s your right but your opinion doesn’t constitute fact… Furthermore, you can’t turn the clock back…
Then you seem to make some claim based on the alleged fact that the Israeli Jews are “Europeans”… The fact is that roughly half of Israel’s Jews are Mizrahi (a.k.a. Sephardi) Jews… IOW, they aren’t “European” but rather Jews who’s origin is from the ME…
In fact, even the “European” claim vis a vie the Ashkenazi Jews lacks substance and, indeed, is countered by the available genetic studies…
Last but certainly not least, for any one side (whether it’s the Jewish side or the Arab side) to achieve 100% justice means the other side needs to be royally screwed (pardon my French)… That’s obviously not going to happen!… Therefore the way forward is compromise rather then maximalist positions…
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Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I am viewing this from a frustrated emotional lens. And I agree many of your criticisms are correct.
I was a brainwashed accepter of Israel’s narrative until 1999-2000, when I came across the Palestinian narrative. I was very angry at being lied to by the zionists/Israelis/Tribe.
Of course we cannot turn the clock back, nor scrub propaganda from our subconscious.
Imho, albeit an ordinary non-influential US citizen’s opinion, the original sin here is deceit. Britain’s Balfour Declaration had no legal binding either, they should have never promised another people’s land to an alien group.
Your facts about the latest DNA studies, etc. show that the Ashkanazi Jews do not have middle eastern genetics, they were converts. Nothing wrong with that, but as the basis for a legal claim to Palestine, meaningless, again imo. I just read an article on this, & will find link if you wish.
The Jews are not shy about promoting ethnic cleansing, they do not censor their thoughts, read J.Post or Ha’Aretz, it is only gentiles who are accused of anti semitism when they express identical views, only the names change.
I appreciate your time and recognize that I have as small of a chance to influence your thoughts about the situation as you with me. But I like to hear other’s views and appreciate your tactful, non-venomous replies, tho we differ. Thnx, kate.
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UK Current Affairs Presenter Matthew Wright at least agreed that Israel’s acts make George Galloway’s refusal to talk to Israelis pale into insignificance. Is some JDL Troll reading this going to turn Matthew Wright into some “Anti Semite” just like the rest of us?
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I agree completely with Mr. Galloway’s decision. He cannot be put in a position where he must give legitimacy to an entity that is illegal due to it’s non compliance with basic laws of humanity, a 65 year brutal occupation, an initial usurpation by political & military dominance that gave no voice whatsoever to the indigenous Palestinians’ rights to self determination.
Israel & Israelis have had a hundred years to shape their narrative, in comparison Palestinians are newcomers to propaganda, pr & multitude of political deceits in Israel’s play book. They do not deserve equal time to drag out the old canards, such as Palestinians are invented, they have no culture, and the stereotypical bloodthirsty, irrational Middle Easterner (they’ve almost made Arab into a slur) along with Islamist (whatever that is)
Of course as a Palestinian supporter I wish them a speedy path to unity & an end to the bickering & worrying about anti-semitism —- who out there consistently calls for an end to Israeli, zionist and western racism routinely splattered on Arabs?
Please quit the diversions, you’re playing right into a game they seem to be masters of.
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#2Scubaman, I wish I had read your calm, succinct comment before I posted, you said it better than I can. I’m weary of coming across angry, if there is to be any hope for negotiations there must be an 180 degree turn of Israeli attitude.
End their eternal occupation, strike down those racist laws, dismantle that wall & those roadblocks. Tear down those settlements that are rubbing salt into very compromised wounds, live as a neighbor if you have an iota of interest in justice and peace.
I agree we need to skip the sophomoric insults, catch more flies with honey and if that doesn’t work, we all know what the next step will be, and who alway makes the provocation.
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First, I entirely accept that it’s sometimes extremely hard to avoid emotions about an issue you have very strong opinions about… Second, I very much appreciate your personal note and candor…
Having said that, I completely disagree with your opinion that it’s Israel (and Israel alone) that has to make a change… It takes two to tango… Regardless of whether the dance in question is a shooting war or a peace negotiation…
As for the “occupation”, it’s the result of a defensive war… Israel, rightly IMHO, refuses to simply end it and hope for the best… That’s an unrealistic demand… Especially considering Israel’s valid security concerns and Israel’s experience with doing exactly that in Gaza…
As for allegedly racist laws, I wouldn’t even know what laws you’re specifically referring to so I can’t really comment… Other then stating that AFAIK Israel doesn’t have racist laws… And, in any case, what business is it to the Palestinians what Israeli laws exist?!… After all, the point of having a Palestinian state is, among others, so that Palestinians will live under Palestinian laws rather then Israeli laws…
As for the wall & those roadblocks, they exist for a reason… The fact that they work (how many years has it been since the last suicide bombing in Israel) and, barring another framework (e.g. a peace agreement with the Palestinians) it’s highly unlikely Israel will subject its population (Arab & Jewish) to a renewed Palestinian threat…
Your remark about knowing who “alway makes the provocation” definitively shows that you have a bias… Nothing wrong with that… Everybody is entitled to their views… Having said that, your bias may preclude you from viewing the facts… That’s as true for you as it is for me… But, I know I try very much to view the facts objectively…
I can clearly see that many if not most of the posters and commenters on this blog do not do so… Possibly you will prove to be an exception…
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