ban on all Israeli musicians to be debated Monday by British Musicians Union

[Sandra Layman <sandralayman...>]

http://www.wiesenthal.com/social/press/pr_item.cfm?ItemID=7053

January 16, 2003

WIESENTHAL CENTER PROTESTS BRITISH UNION'S MOVE TO BAN ALL ISRAELI MUSICIANS
FROM BRITAIN

The British Musicians Union is to debate a motion on January 20, 2003 to ban
all Israeli musicians from Britain and the visits of their own members to
Israel - a move that, according to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, "would
violate the anti-discrimination provisions of the European Union."

In a letter to the Union's Secretary General, John Smith, the Director for
International Liaison, Dr. Shimon Samuels, noted "the exclusion of musicians
based upon religious, ethnic or national grounds harks back to Nazi Germany.
Thus, even considering such a motion would betray British history and the
open international traditions of trade unionism."

The letter continued: "Musical talent should know no borders nor nationality
and, therefore, we appeal to you, the British Musicians Union, to reject all
attempts to politicize the one gift that transcends conflict."

Samuels concluded: "The motion to be tabled would encourage extremism and
further terror, while discrediting the power of music to bind and soothe the
victims of Middle East violence."

For more information, contact the Center's Communications Department,
310-553-9036.

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+