Open letter to: Victorian Trades Hall Council, OzPeace, Boycott Israel 19, Students for Palestine
RE: Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in support of Palestinian rights
AAWL has been supporting the BDS protests in Melbourne for some time. This has included publicising the protests worldwide, and participating as featured speakers. On 31 August the AAWL Executive discussed the BDS campaign in Melbourne, in light of recent developments in Palestine and Australia.
Specifically we have noted that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have been arming Zionist settlers in the West Bank, in preparation for expected demonstrations following the UN vote on recognition of the state of Palestine on 20 September. We have also noted that the Brisbane BDS rally on 27 August was the subject of a coordinated counter rally by Zionist and assorted right wing forces, that significantly disrupted the BDS protest.
We now believe that the Max Brenner focus for the campaign in Melbourne is badly targeted, and we suggest some changes. The focus on Max Brenner definitely increased the visibility of the BDS campaign, and we will continue to support the comrades who were charged in connection to the campaign. However continued focus on Max Brenner has three significant drawbacks.
a) The Max Brenner stores are in very crowded locations, with many dangerous objects, including glass, metal chairs and flame gas heaters very close to protesters, riot police and bystanders. From a safety point view we consider that the Max Brenner stores in QV and Melbourne Central are too dangerous for the type of protest that involves many protesters blockading entrances and exits. We also consider that the potential involvement of a counter rally may cause provocations and scuffles and injuries, which would detract from the focus on the behaviour of the IDF and the Israeli government in Palestine.
b) The focus on the comrades arrested in connection to the Max Brenner protests is understandable, however publicity that is focusing so heavily on civil liberties in Melbourne and on the actions of the Victorian Police is detracting from discussion on what is happening in Palestine. While we do not support any restriction on the right of the labour and solidarity movement to protest, spending so much time discussing the arrests at QV as examples of police brutality is really dismissing the experiences of our comrades in Palestine who face snipers, cluster bombs and phosphorous bombs when they organise protests.
c) Max Brennner and its parent company Strauss Group are a legitimate focus for the BDS campaign, but the explanation for our protest is a difficult argument to make. While it is true that Strauss Group provides supplies to the IDF, it is unlikely that protests against a small chocolate retail component of the company could force a stop to this. And even if BDS actions against Max Brenner could pressure Strauss into cancelling the IDF contract, they would be simply be replaced by another company. For the IDF and for us, Strauss Group is not strategic, and therefore they can only be a focus for symbolic protest and publicity. But the fight for Palestine demands more from us.
We therefore propose the following:
1. Support the arrested comrades
Regardless of any disagreements on the BDS tactic, all labour and solidarity movement organisations should give full support to the comrades arrested in connection to the Max Brenner protests.
2. Marshals meeting for safety
Given the possibility of a counter rally at the 9 September BDS rally scheduled for 5:30pm at State Library, there should be a marshals meeting organised before the rally, with efforts made to involve broad areas of the labour and solidarity movement. Safety concerns regarding the possibility of provocation, the restricted locations of the Max Brenner stores at QV and Melbourne Central, and the need for police liaison to minimise protester arrests should be specifically addressed by this meeting.
3. Protest with the Palestinians on 20 September
The BDS campaign against Apartheid in Israel, just like the previous BDS campaign against Apartheid in South Africa, is an adjunct to the main political campaign against racism and discrimination. It is not meant to replace our campaign for Palestinian self-determination. There should now be consideration of calling a rally in support of Palestinian rights soon after the 20 September UN vote on recognition of Palestine, to coincide with expected demonstrations in Palestine and worldwide. This rally should aim at significant community and labour movement involvement, and it should be organised in a central city location. There is no Israeli consulate in Melbourne. Given that Israel acts as a forward base for US imperialism and the US finances the Israeli military, consideration should be given to protesting at the US consulate, 553 St. Kilda Road Melbourne.
4. New campaign focus: Stop the killings, stop Elbit Systems
The BDS campaign in Melbourne should be redirected to focus against the Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems* which manufactures cannons, bombs and ammunitions, drones, surveillance equipment, missile guidance systems and laser targeting systems amongst many other military items. This company has a warehouse operating in Port Melbourne. We understand that Port Melbourne is a little bit more difficult to access than the city centre. We also understand that scrutiny, denigration and outright opposition to our campaign, from the Israeli government, from Australian governments and police forces, and from pro-Zionist media may increase if we protest against this company. However this company is extremely strategic to the Israeli Defence Forces, this campaign would be helpful to our comrades in Palestine, the arguments in favour of this protest are very easy to make, and we believe such a protest would be supported by many people in the labour and solidarity movement.
AAWL Executive 4 September 2011
* Elbit Systems Ltd
Company address in Melbourne: 235 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne Vic 3207
Details of weapons manufactured by Elbit are available here
Open letter to: Victorian Trades Hall Council, OzPeace, Boycott Israel 19, Students for Palestine
RE: Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in support of Palestinian rights
AAWL has been supporting the BDS protests in Melbourne for some time. This has included publicising the protests worldwide, and participating as featured speakers. On 31 August the AAWL Executive discussed the BDS campaign in Melbourne, in light of recent developments in Palestine and Australia.
Specifically we have noted that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have been arming Zionist settlers in the West Bank, in preparation for expected demonstrations following the UN vote on recognition of the state of Palestine on 20 September. We have also noted that the Brisbane BDS rally on 27 August was the subject of a coordinated counter rally by Zionist and assorted right wing forces, that significantly disrupted the BDS protest.
We now believe that the Max Brenner focus for the campaign in Melbourne is badly targeted, and we suggest some changes. The focus on Max Brenner definitely increased the visibility of the BDS campaign, and we will continue to support the comrades who were charged in connection to the campaign. However continued focus on Max Brenner has three significant drawbacks.
a) The Max Brenner stores are in very crowded locations, with many dangerous objects, including glass, metal chairs and flame gas heaters very close to protesters, riot police and bystanders. From a safety point view we consider that the Max Brenner stores in QV and Melbourne Central are too dangerous for the type of protest that involves many protesters blockading entrances and exits. We also consider that the potential involvement of a counter rally may cause provocations and scuffles and injuries, which would detract from the focus on the behaviour of the IDF and the Israeli government in Palestine.
b) The focus on the comrades arrested in connection to the Max Brenner protests is understandable, however publicity that is focusing so heavily on civil liberties in Melbourne and on the actions of the Victorian Police is detracting from discussion on what is happening in Palestine. While we do not support any restriction on the right of the labour and solidarity movement to protest, spending so much time discussing the arrests at QV as examples of police brutality is really dismissing the experiences of our comrades in Palestine who face snipers, cluster bombs and phosphorous bombs when they organise protests.
c) Max Brennner and its parent company Strauss Group are a legitimate focus for the BDS campaign, but the explanation for our protest is a difficult argument to make. While it is true that Strauss Group provides supplies to the IDF, it is unlikely that protests against a small chocolate retail component of the company could force a stop to this. And even if BDS actions against Max Brenner could pressure Strauss into cancelling the IDF contract, they would be simply be replaced by another company. For the IDF and for us, Strauss Group is not strategic, and therefore they can only be a focus for symbolic protest and publicity. But the fight for Palestine demands more from us.
We therefore propose the following:
1. Support the arrested comrades
Regardless of any disagreements on the BDS tactic, all labour and solidarity movement organisations should give full support to the comrades arrested in connection to the Max Brenner protests.
2. Marshals meeting for safety
Given the possibility of a counter rally at the 9 September BDS rally scheduled for 5:30pm at State Library, there should be a marshals meeting organised before the rally, with efforts made to involve broad areas of the labour and solidarity movement. Safety concerns regarding the possibility of provocation, the restricted locations of the Max Brenner stores at QV and Melbourne Central, and the need for police liaison to minimise protester arrests should be specifically addressed by this meeting.
3. Protest with the Palestinians on 20 September
The BDS campaign against Apartheid in Israel, just like the previous BDS campaign against Apartheid in South Africa, is an adjunct to the main political campaign against racism and discrimination. It is not meant to replace our campaign for Palestinian self-determination. There should now be consideration of calling a rally in support of Palestinian rights soon after the 20 September UN vote on recognition of Palestine, to coincide with expected demonstrations in Palestine and worldwide. This rally should aim at significant community and labour movement involvement, and it should be organised in a central city location. There is no Israeli consulate in Melbourne. Given that Israel acts as a forward base for US imperialism and the US finances the Israeli military, consideration should be given to protesting at the US consulate, 553 St. Kilda Road Melbourne.
4. New campaign focus: Stop the killings, stop Elbit Systems
The BDS campaign in Melbourne should be redirected to focus against the Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems* which manufactures cannons, bombs and ammunitions, drones, surveillance equipment, missile guidance systems and laser targeting systems amongst many other military items. This company has a warehouse operating in Port Melbourne. We understand that Port Melbourne is a little bit more difficult to access than the city centre. We also understand that scrutiny, denigration and outright opposition to our campaign, from the Israeli government, from Australian governments and police forces, and from pro-Zionist media may increase if we protest against this company. However this company is extremely strategic to the Israeli Defence Forces, this campaign would be helpful to our comrades in Palestine, the arguments in favour of this protest are very easy to make, and we believe such a protest would be supported by many people in the labour and solidarity movement.
AAWL Executive 4 September 2011
* Elbit Systems Ltd
Company address in Melbourne: 235 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne Vic 3207
Details of weapons manufactured by Elbit are available here