Various speakers for this event support and promote a “one-state” solution (end of Israel as a Jewish State), endorse BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns targeting Israel, and practice lawfare against Israel. To put it simply – This is simply Anti-Israel.
Amongst those who will speak at the conference is Ms. Sawsan Zaher, Senior Attorney at Adalah. Adalah maintains a “Discriminatory Laws in Israel” database on its website, and has previously supported a 2008 “lawfare” case against Israeli officials. Zaher has stated that Israel’s discriminatory laws constitute “apartheid.” This organization has received (at least) $1,673,634 in funding from the NIF between 2008-2013.
Others speaking alongside this NIF grantee include Oren Ben-Dror, who supports academic boycotts of Israeli universities, Ilan Pappe who has said “I support Hamas in its resistance against the Israeli occupation,” Nadim Rouhana , Professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Studies at Tufts University, who has said “recognition of Israel as a Jewish state” is “morally wrong” and others.
As has been widely reported, Jewish leaders in the UK including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and UK Zionist Federation have urged a cancellation of this event. A letter written late last year by leaders of Jewish communal leaders in the UK defended free speech, yet noted that this conference is a case where it appears “to surpass the acceptable,” and that based on title and advertised speakers “it sets out explicitly to question the very legitimacy of a member state of the UN.” Allowing the conference they note would be “a perverse, existential attack on a state” they wrote, and they accused Southampton’s Law School of “being used as an academic platform to advance not just legitimate Palestinian national rights, to which we have no objection, but rather to blacken, demonize and delegitimize the very right of existence of the State of Israel.
“What other state in the global community of nations – democratic or tyrannical – is ever subjected to such a critique? The Conference causes us great concern and distress. It will undoubtedly trouble greatly the members of the UK Jewish community,” they wrote.
The Jewish community of the UK opposes this conference. The ruling party of Israel, the Likud, calls New Israel Fund an “Anti-Zionist organization.” Yet, $30 Million is given annually by American Jews to the New Israel Fund – who are guilty of aiding, abetting and supporting these activities. New Israel Fund consistently participates in, and organize events which are harmful to the Jewish community, and Israel’s interests. Donors who care about Israel must stop giving.
NIF’s spokesperson, Naomi Paiss, recently noted that NIF-funded organizations have the right to make their own decisions. Indeed, everyone has the right to make decisions – which is why anyone who cares about Israel must stop donating funds to the New Israel Fund. Rosa Luxemburg, a prominent Bolshevik once said, “I have no room in my heart for Jewish suffering – Why do you pester me with Jewish troubles?” Clearly New Israel Fund donors share these sentiments.