Summer Reading

I will be on vacation, and then on an overseas business trip, so I don't think I will get much blogging done in the next month.

But since you have come to look at my site, I don't want you to leave empty handed. So let me leave you with a bit of "summer reading" to do - good stuff on other blogs, some emails I received, and a good book - until I get back.

First you could read several good postings about the recent eviction of Palestinians from homes in East Jerusalem's Sheik Jarah neighbourhood. The underlying issue here, more than most similar cases, is the discriminatory nature of the Israeli legal and administrative systems: one set of procedures and laws for Jews and one for Palestineans. This is brought sharply into focus in this case, because, according to Israel, East Jerusalem is part of Israel 'de jure' and thus subject to full Israeli law.

Start by reading some background stories from the The Jerusalem Post on July 26, ISM July on 28, and The Jerusalem Post on Aug 2.

And now for some analysis, read stories from The Magnes Zionist on August 3, The Magnes Zionist on August 3 (watch the video on that one), and Haaretz on August 6.

Second, you can read the statment below, from artist Toronto Jewish artist Reena Katz. This is a follow up on to Toronto's Koffler Centre for the Arts withdrawing support for an art project of Ms. Katz because of her perceived anti-Israel activities. I blogged about the original incident here.

And here is a statement issued by Ms Katz, earlier this week:

We are pleased to update you regarding the status of Katz’s performative project in Kensington Market, each hand as they are called:

As many of you know, The Koffler Centre for the Arts dissociated from Katz and the commissioned project in early May, 2009 because of her political work for Palestinian human rights, and subsequently sent a defamatory press release across the country, falsely claiming that Katz supports the extinction of the State of Israel. Since late May, we have been in legal negotiations with the Koffler about moving forward with the project and we have now reached an agreement. While the specific terms of this agreement are confidential, we are happy to continue discussions about our experience and understanding of the Koffler “dissociation” as well as the project itself.

Simultaneously but independent of our legal negotiations, the Toronto Arts Council(TAC) Board ofDirectors has been involved in internal discussion, as well as in consultation with the Koffler about their decision to dissociate as well as their professional and ethical conduct. The TAC has determined that the Koffler was in violation of the City of Toronto’s non-discrimination policy regarding an individual’s right to freedom of political association. As it is not TAC general policy to release public statements regarding such matters, for a more detailed statement regarding the decision, the TAC invites you to contact Executive Director Claire Hopkinson directly at Claire@torontoartscouncil.org.

It is our understanding that while the TAC will not be withholding funding from the Koffler, they have approached this situation in a productive gesture of stewardship.

This includes working nonpunitively with Koffler around issues of anti-discrimination policy development, transparency of mandate, curatorial and board structure, as well as accountability and eligibility where public funds are concerned. We are heartened by the TAC’s official acknowledgement that Koffler violated Katz’s right to freedom of association, and by extension violated one of the terms of the City of Toronto’s public funding. We are sincerely encouraged and hopeful about the TAC’s strategies for addressing this matter.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce that we will soon share details about the presentation of a revised version of each hand as they are called, to be presented in Kensington in the fall of 2009.

We consider this presentation a positive outcome of a very difficult situation, and look forward to seeing you at the exhibition. We also encourage continued personal and public dialogue around Israel/Palestine and the role of cultural institutions in relation to discussion and dissent. The events of these last few months have embodied the extreme need for such dialogue in all our intersecting communities, and we are deeply thankful for the threads of discussion arising from the support, suggestions, and questions you have offered.

Please contact us for further information on each hand as they are called, and check out our website for continued regular updates. http://www.eachhand.org/

Reena Katz, artist
Kim Simon, curator

There is a delicious irony, in my opinion, at the thought of the Koffler Centre executives having to undergo "sensitivity training" by the TAC. (... "working nonpunitively with Koffler around issues of anti-discrimination policy development, ...") Now if we could just extend this to a few more of the Toronto Jewish Establishment!

Third, you might want an update on the Quebec court case, where the Village of Bilin in the West Bank is suing a Canadian company for aiding and participating in the confiscation of Palestinan lands and the building of Jewish only settlements. (Read the back story here.)

While I have no news of the actual court case, turns out that this action must have hit some hot buttons in Israel. I received this notice yesterday via email:

A solidarity rally for Bil’in village has been called in Montreal to protest the recent arrest of Palestinian activist Mohammad Khatib and the ongoing nighttime raids on Bil’in being carried out by the Israeli military.

In the early morning hours on Monday, Israeli military forces wearing combat paint and masks invaded the West Bank village of Bil’in. Israeli soldiers raided several homes, arresting two Palestinian children and five Palestinians adults including Mohammad Khatib from the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements.

In June 2009 Mohammed Khatib traveled to Canada for the preliminary hearings in a historic lawsuit launched by Bil’in village against two Quebec-based companies, Green Park International and Green Mount International, both involved in constructing illegal Israeli-only settlements on the lands of the Palestinian village of Bil’in.Palestinian activist Mohammed Khatib also spoke to Canada’s major media outlets and public in eleven Canadian cities with Emily Schaeffer, an Israeli lawyer representing the village of Bil’in, connecting with hundreds of people across Canada.

At present time Mohammed Khatib remains in Israeli custody although no charges have been brought against Khatib or the other Palestinians arrested, including the children.“Mohmmad Khatib and Adib Abu Rahme along with other leaders of the Palestinian popular struggle are being targeted because they mobilize Palestinians to resist non-violently,” outlines Abdullah Abu Rahme, coordinator of Bil’in’s popular committee, “the fact is that the Apartheid Wall and the settlements built on Palestinian land are illegal under international law. In the case of our village even the biased Israeli court declared the route illegal, yet Israel is prosecuting us as
criminals because we struggle non-violently for our freedom.”

Monday’s night-time raid is another in a series of many that Israeli forces have carried out in Bil’in since June 2009, raids that commenced in tandem to the commencement of legal proceedings in Canada.Israeli forces have arrested 25 people from Bil’in village in the last month, most under 18 years of age. Israeli forces have been using interrogation techniques to pressure the arrested youth to give statements against Bil’in community leaders.

Forth, you can read my old friend J.J. Goldberg's article on splits within the "National Religious Camp" in Israel. (The good news , there are still a few "Moderns" left.)

Fifth, I highly recommend Amos Oz' memoir of childhood in 1940s Jerusalem: A Tale of Love and Darkness. The politics and personal in a delicious bittersweet mix.

Lastly, if you don't already do so, you might want to amuse, inflame and/or inform yourself by reading some of my favorite blogs - listed in the right hand column of this blog page.

"See you" in a few weeks.