BDS News

Ari Alstedter - There's something rotten in the state of Israel. Too few of the Jewish state's actions in the West Bank can be explained by security concerns to escape the label of apartheid. A report issued by Israeli NGO Peace Now revealed plans by the Israeli government to build 73,300 new homes in the West Bank, 19,000 of them beyond the separation fence that is meant to be the border between Israel and the future Palestinian state – a border that goes well beyond the border accepted by the international community.

MEL FRYKBERG, JERUSALEM -- Shortly after the guns fell silent over Gaza, during Operation Cast lead, Israel's three-week bloody onslaught over the coastal territory which left over 1,400 Palestinians dead and over 5,000 wounded, most of them civilian, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stepped up its 'soft war.'

by Richard Falk (Le Monde Diplomatique) - Israel blamed its earlier wars on the threat to its security, even that against Lebanon in 1982. However, its assault on Gaza was not justified and there are international calls for an investigation. But is there the political will to make Israel account for its war crimes?

Delegates of Arab organizations from across Canada meeting in Toronto on Sunday March 8 2009 stand in solidarity with, and express their support for, the Canadian Arab Federation and its leadership. The delegates categorically reject the baseless accusations against the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) made by the Canadian Jewish Congress, B’nai Birth, the National Post and Jason Kenney; Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Judy Rebick and Alan Sears, National Post (March 10) - These past few weeks have seen an unprecedented attack on free expression on our university campuses. The poster announcing Israeli Apartheid Week was banned at Carleton, University of Ottawa and Wilfred Laurier University. B'nai Brith took out advertisements urging university presidents to ban Israeli Apartheid Week. Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff have denounced the event.

By FAROOQ SULEHRIA - Matches always draw spectators, often generate controversies and sometimes provoke protests. The Davis Cup match Sweden played against Israel last weekend in Malmö, a port town south of Sweden, was a match with a difference. It generated lot of controversy, provoked a 10,000-strong demonstration but had no spectators at all. Baltiska Hallen, the 4000-seat arena was utterly empty during the weekend-long show. The spectators were banned weeks ahead of the match by the local authorities.

ANC minister Ronnie Kasrils examines Israel with South Africa in mind for McGill’s Israeli Apartheid Week. The Daily caught up with former African National Congress (ANC) Minister Ronnie Kasrils on his way to his keynote speech for McGill’s Israeli Apartheid Week. to discuss what South African apartheid can teach the world about Gaza.

TEL AVIV, March 9 (Reuters) - Israeli geothermal energy producer Ormat Industries (ORMT.TA: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday reported a fourth-quarter net loss mainly due to a decline in value of its investment in oil sands company OPTI Canada (OPC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research).

The net loss of $32.7 million compared with a net profit of $53.8 million a year earlier.

Ormat booked a loss of $48.6 million from the decline in the value of its holdings in OPTI Canada as well as a loss of $6 million from the drop in the value of its investment in auction rate securities (ARS).

By Johan Boyden || March 9, 2009 - “I’ve been quite taken a back by what is happening here,” the veteran South African Jewish Communist, ANC member, fighter against apartheid, and former government minister, Ronnie Kasrils, said. He was speaking at Toronto’s Israeli Apartheid Week in early March. “These university presidents, and your government, are locked in a time warp. They don’t get it. Being anti-Israel, or anti-Zionism does not in any way equal anti-Semitism.

Stu Harrison, 6 March 2009 - The decision by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to ban Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe’er from playing in the US$2 million Dubai tennis tournament on February 16 — sent shockwaves around the world. However, in reporting this decision, many mainstream outlets have missed the point.

Firstly, Pe’er’s connection to the Israeli military is clear. Pe’er conscripted into the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in 2005 as a publicity stunt to aid the retention rate of its new generation of recruits. Israeli citizens are required to do two years of compulsory service.