Re: ban on all Israeli musicians to be debated Monday by British

[Sandra Layman <sandralayman...>]

Richard,
The only other reference to this that I've found so far via a Google search
is the following:

http://www.peacenow.org/nia/peace/v4i23.html

<<
Brits Hit Sour Note With Israeli Musicians, Police Boycott Ignites:
Officials at the Israeli Musicians Union are taking action to prevent the
British Musicians Union from boycotting Israel. A decision to that effect
will be voted on by the British union on January 20th. The idea of
boycotting Israel stems from the contention of South African leader Nelson
Mandella and his compatriot, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, that there is no
difference between the apartheid regime they suffered from in their country
and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The proposal will call
for a complete boycott of Israel in which British union members will be
forbidden from performing in Israel and Israeli musicians and artists who
come to perform in Great Britain as representatives of the State of Israel
will be boycotted until the occupation ends. Danny Gottfried, chairman of
the Israeli Musicians Union, said, “This is a dangerous decision. They are
liable to take protest and demonstrative measures to block work and
performance licenses [from being issued] in Britain.” Meanwhile, Britain
also refuses to sell hand-held flares to the Israel Police. Half a year ago,
the Israel Police approached Britain with a request to buy the flares. The
British government discussed the request for several months and about a week
ago conveyed a negative response. British sources explained the decision was
based on the concern that Israel would use the flares in the occupied
territories. The Israel Police promised that the flares would not be used
over the Green Line, but the British government still refused to see the
light. (Yedioth Ahronoth, 12/26/02 & Ma’ariv, 12/25/02)
>>

sl


----- Original Message -----
From: "R Locker" <rlocker (at) att(dot)net>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 8:41 AM
Subject: Re: ban on all Israeli musicians to be debated Monday by British


> I would guess( or at least hope) that this is not the policy of the Union
or
> even the majority of British musicians, but rather was instigated by
fringe
> elements. Does anyone have more information about this?
> Thanks,
> Richard
>

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