BOYCOTT & PROTEST THE BATSHEVA DANCE COMPANY

7 PM Wednesday February 18, 2009
Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St. SE, University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota is bringing the Batsheva Dance Company of Tel Aviv to Minneapolis for one performance. This is a violation of the 2004 Palestinian call to “comprehensively and consistently boycott all Israeli academic and cultural institutions”and the 2005 call of 171 Palestinian civil society organizations for broad boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. This Dance Company is funded by the Israeli government and is considered a “leading ambassador” of the Israeli government. Particularly in the aftermath of the recent invasion of the Gaza Strip, and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land, it is time to honor the call for a boycott of Israel called for by Palestinian civil society and solidarity groups around the world, including South Africa. The challenge posed to us today in ending the apartheid like policies of the State of Israel is no different than the challenge that people of good faith faced in the 1980s in
responding to calls to boycott the white supremacist government in South Africa. We urge you to join us as we nonviolently oppose this performance as part of building a sustained BDS campaign.

“The latest Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) – supported by a large majority of Palestinian civil society – does not target Jews or Israelis qua Jews; on the contrary, it actually addresses conscientious Israeli Jews, urging them to support efforts to bring about Israel’s compliance with international law and fundamental human rights, both necessary elements in reaching true peace based on justice. Many around the world recognize the extent of Israel’s breach of international law. The real challenge now is to do something about it. Only by applying effective international pressure against Israel similar in scope and comprehensiveness to that successfully used to end apartheid in South Africa will intellectuals and academics be fulfilling their moral obligation to stand up for right, for justice, for equality and for a chance to validate the prevalence of universal ethical principles. By doing so, they will also serve
in the most effective manner the cause of coexistence and real peace.” by Omar Barghouti (a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel)

What you can do:
1. Call, write, or send an e-letter to Ben Johnson, Director of Concerts and Lectures, asking him to cancel the show and honor the boycott against Israel: phone 612-624-4473, fax 612-626-1750, email benjohn@umn.edu,
Department of Concerts and Lectures, 109 Northrop, 84 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
2. Write letters to the editor of the Minnesota Daily and local media
3. Don’t buy tickets to the Batsheva performance. If you already have tickets then exchange them for another show
4. Please join us in nonviolently protesting the Batsheva perform

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee’s call to boycott is supported by The Middle East Committee of WAMM, Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Middle East Peace Now, Jewish anti-Zionist Network-Twin Cities (IJAN-TC), the Palestinian Institute of Minnesota, the Anti-War Committee and other people of conscience who are taking a moral stand against Israel’s oppressive policies
More info: http://www.pacbi.org/ http://www.bdsmovement.net/