Boycott Israel Flash Mob in Jervis Shopping Centre

by Diarmuid Breatnach - Personal capacity Mon Sep 21, 2009 16:02

Well done to those who took part in this action. I'd have been there myself except I had to be in Belfast that day (so I also missed the anti-Nama demonstration!). Delivering Dublin IPSC letters to all the shops in Jervis Centre (with the exception of Dead Sea stall) on the Friday I too was confronted by an aggressive security guard (seen also on Saturday's video) and building management but fortunately had just delivered the last letter explaining why Dead Sea products should be boycotted. I was warned not to return.

The Zionist presentation of themselves as the victims, unfortunately adopted by what appears to be the majority of Israeli public opinion, is a nonsense easily seen through if one looks at such indicators as the balance of rights and freedoms of Israeli non-Palestinians as compared to both Israeli Palestinians and occupied Palestinians, the balance of illegal acts tolerated or encouraged by the Israeli state, the economic and social life balance of the respective groups mentioned -- not to mention the body count.

Such whining of the oppressors and presenting themselves ludicrously as the victims was also seen with the French "pieds noires" colonists in Algeria and the South African racist whites. The charge that we outside who protest somehow "don't undersand the real situation" has also been a feature of their output as it has of white racist Southern States people, Northern Irish loyalists, etc. Israeli state behaviour towards Palestinians is clearly racist and unfair and at times takes on murderous and ethnic cleansing aspects. To say that people who point that out are "anti-semitic" or "anti-Jewish", despite the track record of the people concerned, is just a smokescreen and a self-justification for carrying on with the behaviour.

What that shows us is that we need to continue and deepen the boycott and divestment actions.

by David L Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:20

Hi Lulu, I wish Yair (above) didn’t represent mainstream Israeli opinion, but unfortunately he does. While there are some very good Israeli organisations that support Palestinian resistance such as the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (who also support sanctions), these are few and far between, unfortunately. Jews for Justice for Palestinians, while a good group, is a British organisation and one which also supports a boycot of illegal settlement goods.

While we in Ireland should encourage these small Israeli groups that support Palestinians, more importantly we should support Palestinians ourselves and their calls for justice and for boycott.

by li'l lulu Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:59

Israel is composed of people of many opinions; for a more balanced view, see Jews for Justice for Palestine. Palestinians must have their rights in order to bring peace & a two-state outcome. This is the only way to spare innocent lives from both sides.
The old allegiances have changed utterly: some BNP supporters look to Israel now as a stick to beat Muslims.
We should beware of responding to provocation & personal insults in kind, as the cause of peace is much more important.

by David L Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:14

Damn, we got sussed. We support Palestinian rights and their non-violent boycott campaign, not because we em...support Palestinian rights. It's because we're all vicious inbred antisemitic Fianna Fail supporters.

For those who don't subject themselves to the delights of the Israeli press, this btw is pretty normal discourse in Israel. It's one more reason to support the boycott campaign. Israel, unfortunately, is not willing to listen to reason and needs to be subjected to (non-violent) international pressure before they start seeing sense, and stop talking nonsense.

by yair - Brit-Am Lost Ten Tribes Movement Mon Sep 21, 2009 06:34 britam at netvision dot net dot il Jerusalem, Israel 0506720238

I live in Israel. Our impression is that foreigners who protest against the treatment of the Arabs do not really care for them so it is a waste of time arguing as to whether we treat them as well as we should or not.
Protesters against Israel in Ireland in many cases have parents who supported the party of de Valera that during World War Two was anti-Semitic and refused to help Jewish refugees. Their children are no different from them. They just express their inbred viciousness in ways that are now more socially acceptable.
In other words they are symptomatic of an Irish Problem whereby the victim is victimized. Irish anti-Israel activists look for vulnerable victims (such as the Jews) to vent their spleen against instead of protesting Arab oppression of minorities.
Anti-Israel protests in Ireland bring shame on the Irish people.

by Zoe Sun Sep 20, 2009 16:52

Great action.

by Kev Sun Sep 20, 2009 13:51

I forgot to say many thanks to Adele and Akram for videoing and photographing the action, cheers guys.

by David L Sun Sep 20, 2009 13:24

Thanks to all who wrote comments to congratulate us (and for the Jews for Justice for Palestinians link). We were happy with the action ourselves, as it was a simple effective way to highlight this issue. While we were surprised with the security guards - I mean, we were walking out of the centre when they got their digs in - we want to focus on Israeli actions rather than that of Jervis centre security. Anyway, we'll be doing more boycott actions in the run-up to Christmas. Watch this space.

by Kev - IPSC (pers cap) Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:38

Dunno what happened withteh video there - the link is here anyway - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f-ybToX1Tc

by Kev - IPSC (pers cap) Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:37

Here's a video from the action, outside Jervis. Hope to have one from inside soon.

I'd like to thank all who came along. In addition to the assault of a female activist and a the threat against another, a male member of the crew was told by a security that he'd "love to get you on your own..." - and no, it wasn't a romantic advance :-)

Caption: Video Id: 6f-ybToX1Tc Type: Youtube Video
IPSC Flashmob at Jervis Center I (outside)

by Chrissie Sun Sep 20, 2009 07:56

is available from the website 'Jews for Justice for Palestinians'. Right-wing elements in Israel will condemn & use any boycott of Israel as 'anti-Semitism', a continuation of 'kauf nicht bei Juden' used by Nazis.

by Raymond Deane Sun Sep 20, 2009 05:07

Once again I feel ashamed for not being in the country when these terrific actions are taking place. Congrats to you all!

by polly Sun Sep 20, 2009 00:24

when i go to the supermarket i always check to
ensure that the fruit and veg or other products are
not Israeli. Thanks for alerting me to the cosmetic
products! I will tell all my friends to boycott!

by Fintan Lane Sat Sep 19, 2009 23:08

Well done to all involved! Great action!

At the same time, the sinister, sneaky and cowardly assault on one of the female protesters is an outrage. The security staff should be ashamed of themselves!

by Sarah Kaplan Sat Sep 19, 2009 22:22

IPSC: Heartening to read an account of today's action, continue the right fight - the only fight that matters.?