Is Obama boycotting Israel's new settlement university?

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Is Obama boycotting Israel's new settlement university?

Ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama’s trip to Israel on Wednesday, the embassy here is reportedly sending out around 2,000 invitations to Israeli student representatives from universities across the country to attend his speech in Jerusalem on March 21. All except one: Ariel University in the West Bank settlement of the same name (upgraded from a college to an accredited university last year).

According to several reports in Israeli media, the Ariel Student Union is shocked and upset that the embassy contacted all seven accredited universities within Israel’s pre-1967 borders, but left out Ariel’s students. Student Union head Shai Shachaf called the move “discrimination” and the Jewish Home party has already responded to what it’s calling Obama’s “exclusionary” and “political” move.

MK Yoni Chetboun (Jewish Home) reportedly sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro on behalf of Ariel students, in which he accused the Obama Administration of “boycotting its students,” adding, “Ariel University has been recognized by the Israeli government. By banning its students, your government is taking a specific, unilateral stance, while seemingly saying it isn’t.”

The response I received from the U.S. Embassy: “Not all students from all academic institutions are invited, only those we specifically have partnerships with.” There was no reference to the MK’s letter to Ambassador Shapiro and the allegation that Obama is boycotting the settlement university.

Putting aside how ironic it is for a member of Israeli government to accuse President Obama of a “unilateral stance” when Israel’s policies vis-a-vis the West Bank as well as U.S. politics are well rooted in unilateralism, if Obama’s people really are intentionally excluding the university in Ariel from the Jerusalem speech, this would be a very interesting move.

It would be a message of the administration’s disapproval of Israel’s settlements (which is its stated policy!) – but would also be directly undermining the Israeli government’s sovereign decisions by excluding a recognized national institution because of its location in a large settlement which most Israelis believe should remain part of Israel in any future resolution with the Palestinians. This could certainly be construed as a form of academic/cultural boycott by Obama, under Israel’s boycott law passed in July 2011.

The law, which makes it a civil offense for anyone (including non-Israelis) to call for a boycott while in Israel, applies to economic, cultural, or academic boycotts of the settlements, the State of Israel, or any of its institutions. So, a boycott of an academic institution, whether in Israel’s 1948 or 1967 borders, is included within this law.

Could the U.S. President, or his Ambassador, of the U.S. Embassy therefore potentially be sued by Israeli MKs or by settler students for effectively boycotting Israel’s first settlement university? I doubt it, but it is an excellent example of the potency of the boycott law as a draconian method intended to prevent anyone in the world – even the president of the United States – from publicly challenging Israel’s facts on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territories.

http://972mag.com/is-obama-boycotting-israels-new-settlement-university/67538/

Edited March 14, 2013 by wife_of_mahmoud

[^_^ 5,021]

Can't please everyone. I'd imagine everyone of any religion living in the West Bank and Gaza knows that there's a 50% shot that any agreement in the future will screw them over.

Edited March 14, 2013 by ^_^

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363274584' post='6046620]

Can't please everyone. I'd imagine everyone of any religion living in the West Bank and Gaza knows that there's a 50% shot that any agreement in the future will screw them over.

Being denied the opportunity to continue illegally squatting on someone else's property, and at the owner's grievous expense and onerous oppression, would equal being "screwed over" ? Interesting.

[newacct 688]

the embassy here is reportedly sending out around 2,000 invitations to Israeli student representatives from universities across the country to attend his speech in Jerusalem on March 21. All except one: Ariel University in the West Bank settlement of the same name

Well, technically, since it's in the West Bank, that university is not "in the country" (Israel). Even Israel does not consider non-Jerusalem parts of the West Bank to be part of the country.

[^_^ 5,021]

Well, technically, since it's in the West Bank, that university is not "in the country" (Israel). Even Israel does not consider non-Jerusalem parts of the West Bank to be part of the country.

yeah, this dispute can't last forever. sooner or later there will be a 'deal' and a lot of those settlers are going to get screwed bigtime. hopefully they have a plan B. either start leaving now or saddle up and get ready to protect what the idf will no longer protect for you.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363285578' post='6047027]

yeah, this dispute can't last forever. sooner or later there will be a 'deal' and a lot of those settlers are going to get screwed bigtime. hopefully they have a plan B. either start leaving now or saddle up and get ready to protect what the idf will no longer protect for you.

Yeah "screwed" - they'd have to live like everyone else in Israel without all those taxpayer-subsidized freebies: the government grants and generous low-interest loans to buy apartments, major price reductions on land leases, special bonuses for teachers and other professions who move to settlements, exemptions from school tuition fees, grants for investors, free infrastructure, reductions on income tax, and more.

http://www.btselem.org/settlements/migration

Edited March 14, 2013 by wife_of_mahmoud

[OriZ 3,157]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4350501,00.html

http://unitedwithisrael.org/why-israel-is-not-violating-fourth-geneva-convention/

[^_^ 5,021]

The Oxford University's student union has rejected a motion to impose a ban on Israeli products and companies.

Anti-semites all over Europe just shed a tear.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363353606' post='6049181]

Anti-semites all over Europe just shed a tear.

In fact, Europe is sick and tired of Israel's continued intransigence in refusing to stop the illegal settlements, refusing to abide by its obligations to international law, and institutionalizing an Apartheid legal system based on ethnicity in the occupied territories held under its military control.

Patience Runs Out: EU To Crack Down on Israeli Settlement Products

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4350501,00.html

Not sure what point you were trying to make with this article - maybe you could quote the pertinent paragraph ? But in general, all I can say is - big deal if the Oxford student union won't be serving Sabra hummus It's the European Union you need to worry about (see above link re: EU to Crack Down on Settlement Produts.)

http://unitedwithisrael.org/why-israel-is-not-violating-fourth-geneva-convention/

You might as well just post the comic books....

[JstaRebel 48]

In fact, Europe is sick and tired of Israel's continued intransigence in refusing to stop the illegal settlements, refusing to abide by its obligations to international law, and institutionalizing an Apartheid legal system based on ethnicity in the occupied territories held under its military control.

It's not just Europe that is "sick and tired" of Israel's continued refusal to abide by international law.. Many American jews are too.. Unfortunately many people do not understand "zionism".

(Washington D.C.) Hundreds of concerned citizens led by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and 66 other activist groups rallied at Farragut Square, a handful of blocks away from the White House where, one day later, President Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in for a second term. The protesters gathered under a half-moon sky and after a few speeches by pro-Palestinian activists and academics.

After a brief blessing by Rabbi Julie Greenberg, the crowd went off, loud and proud, down the street, marching past the presidential viewing stand in full sight of TV cameras. Hardly any cops were present except for the few Secret Service agents roaming around several hundred feet from the White House. They were barely visible, but loomed as a potent symbol for the demonstrators.

***

“If you question aid to Israel,” intoned the preacher of a local church, “if you question products produced in illegal settlements in the occupied territories, if you question anything that has to do with Israel, you run the risk of being labeled ‘anti-semite.’”

***

The pastor, the Rev. Graylan Hagler, had a fiery voice. “Well, I got news: We’re not against anyone!” his voice boomed in the square. “We’re standing up together for human rights, and that means that we’re standing up for everyone.” Hagler railed against the “contradiction” of the nation’s first Black president not living up to King’s dream.

“We want President Obama to have the courage to live up to a new standard, to talk in a new way, to be truly about justice. Don’t just mouth it, do it!” he shouted. “We also need to challenge Obama about his use of drones.” Huge applause broke out. “Somebody said that Martin King had a dream, and unfortunately President Obama has a drone.”

“I wanna make it very, very clear that are not standing against anybody but standing up for what is right and decent,” he said, “that which is moral and just.” He continued,

We’re standing up so people can have a quality of life; that people can be free from illegal occupation; that people can be respected as human beings and be able to live out their own sovereignty and destiny. We’re standing up for people and against business machinery that continue to grind down the hopes of people in the occupied territories.

http://bylinebeat.com/post/41223309422

[^_^ 5,021]

It's not just Europe that is "sick and tired" of Israel's continued refusal to abide by international law.. Many American jews are too.. Unfortunately many people do not understand "zionism".

There are many people, many right here on this site, who cloak their anti-Semitism under a facade of principled opposition to the Occupation. They are betrayed, however, by their inability to muster even the slightest hint of opposition to other parties of that conflict that wish to annihilate the state of Israel and all its people.

You are judged by the company you keep. If you ally with genocidal maniacs, then principled you are not.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363533199' post='6053640]

There are many people, many right here on this site, who cloak their anti-Semitism under a facade of principled opposition to the Occupation. They are betrayed, however, by their inability to muster even the slightest hint of opposition to other parties of that conflict that wish to annihilate the state of Israel and all its people.

I like Jews, I even married one.

I have a problem with Zionism.

Many people feel the same way that I do.

You are judged by the company you keep. If you ally with genocidal maniacs, then principled you are not.

Right, so American Jews who choose to align themselves with Zionists who seek to basically destroy the Palestinian people? See the international genocide criteria here: http://www.preventgenocide.org/genocide/officialtext.htm

Can you honestly tell me that is not what the Zionists are after?

[JstaRebel 48]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363533199' post='6053640]

There are many people, many right here on this site, who cloak their anti-Semitism under a facade of principled opposition to the Occupation. They are betrayed, however, by their inability to muster even the slightest hint of opposition to other parties of that conflict that wish to annihilate the state of Israel and all its people.

You are judged by the company you keep. If you ally with genocidal maniacs, then principled you are not.

I couldn't agree more.. There are many people ( many right here on this site) that cloak their government's barbaric actions under the facade of anti-semitism for the continued illegal occupation, colonization, and apartheid of an entire race of people.. They are betrayed by their own religious faith that feels the need to "right this wrong". Judge not lest you be judged !!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363533199' post='6053640]

There are many people, many right here on this site, who cloak their anti-Semitism under a facade of principled opposition to the Occupation. They are betrayed, however, by their inability to muster even the slightest hint of opposition to other parties of that conflict that wish to annihilate the state of Israel and all its people.

You are judged by the company you keep. If you ally with genocidal maniacs, then principled you are not.