BDS-BERICHTEN NEDERLANDS PALESTINA KOMITEE

Scottish PSC 'racism' case thrown out!
Sheriff James Scott ruled the protest was “clearly directed at the State of Israel, the Israeli Army, and Israeli Army musicians”, and not targeted at “citizens of Israel” per se. “The procurator fiscal’s attempts to squeeze malice and ill will out of the agreed facts were rather strained”, he said.

“And if persons on a public march designed to protest against and publicise alleged crimes committed by a state and its army are afraid to name that state for fear of being charged with racially aggravated behaviour, it would render worthless their Article 10(1) rights. Presumably their placards would have to read, ‘Genocide in an unspecified state in the Middle East’; ‘Boycott an unspecified state in the Middle East’ etc."

Read Sheriff's ruling
Read SPSC Media Release
Read the transcript of BBC recording of the protest, included in Sheriff's ruling

One victory on a long road to freedom
The case in Edinburgh today pitted supporters of human rights against prosecutors who strove to put Israel beyond criticism. They failed and have been humiliated on this occasion but they will be back somewhere else to try again. Supporters of Israel - Gordon Brown, for example - need to suppress our democratic rights to defend the indefensible against a rising tide of popular anger at Israel’s crime.

We need to work to defend all those who become the victims of state repression for their opposition to Israel’s crimes.
read full article

Scottish Friends of Israel and MSP supporters admit exhibition is a political PR exercise for Israel
Ken MacIntosh MSP, sponsor of an exhibition planned for the Scottish Parliament, says that there are "a lot of negative views on Israel that are not helpful, many are poisonous and damaging. Rather than responding to the rhetoric, I thought it would be better to show positive side of Israel and acknowledge the huge contribution it has made".  Stanley Grossman of the Scottish Friends of Israel adds: “Instead of seeking to mend the cracks on the road to peace, certain Scottish political factions and elements of the media appear to be more intent in singling out and vilifying Israel at every turn... That being so, it was considered appropriate to highlight contributions Israel has made to society and the world at large in the fields of medicine, science and technology in the short period of its existence.”  (quotes from Jerusalem Post, 8 April 2010)

- Sign the online Scottish Parliament petition - deadline is tomorrow 9th April!
- Contact your MSP to protest the use of the Scottish Parliament for Israel's whitewashing of crimes against humanity