Calls for Gordimer to Boycott Israel Continue

I’m beginning to think that Nadine Gordimer has some spooky powers that we don’t quite understand. How else do you explain the ridiculous campaign of activists, armed pen-in-hand, ready to sign onto any petition calling for the South African authoress to boycott the International Writers Festival to be held in Jerusalem later this year?

For the second (or is it third) week running the absolutely besotted-with-the-Palestinians folks at the Mail & Guardian have again published calls for Gordimer to boycott the festival in Jerusalem. This week they lead with an article directed at Gordimer entitled “Rethink your Israel visit.” They mention that “a number of prominent South Africans” have also asked her to reconsider.

The History and Current Affairs Society at the University of Cape Town has also added their names to the narcissistic cries. One prominent name on the letter (an ex-UCT student) is that of a former leader of Habonim SA – Doron Isaacs.

It seems clear to me that people like Doron Isaacs are not calling for dialogue or engagement as they often claim; they are calling for the absolute delegitimisation and demonization of Israel so as to pave the way for a total Palestinian victory.

The History and Current Affairs society indicates that the Writers Festival will include a discussion on “The Writer’s Role in a Time of Crisis.” This is an anathema to the anti-Israel lobbyists. Their vain attempts to liken Israel to apartheid South Africa rot away when they consider whether South Africa would have ever allowed such a discussion to take place on our soil in the midst of apartheid. They know full well that there will be a multitude of views and opinions expressed – views and opinions that Zionists would find offensive and repulsive – yet these views will be aired openly without any fear in the capital of the state that they will be criticising. And this is what our UCT society members want to avoid – they are trying to remove legitimacy from where it can never be taken.

It’s a pity, but it looks as if the pursuit of self aggrandisement trumps the pursuit of real political progress.

To be honest, I don't really mind or care what Gordimer thinks of Israel. I encourage her participation, but her go/no-go decision carries no supernatural power of legitimacy.

Previously at IAS

• Gordimer resists Israel boycott

Comments

[Mediocrates]

Perhaps all Nobel Peace and Literature prizes should be awarded conditionally on all recipients signing a document that states uncategorically they support antisemitism and the wholesale annihilation of all Jews everywhere. Would it really change who they award it to? No not really.

[Wessel van Rensburg]

> South Africa would have ever allowed such a discussion to take place on our soil in the midst of apartheid.

Lets not create myths out of our past. There were many anti-apartheid demonstrations, music festivals, film festivals inside apartheid SA. Troops out of Townships, (Nadine Gordimer herself spoke there) Die Vrye Weekblad festival, Houtstok. The Grahamstown Arts festival was the yearly site of hot debates, drama and music about and against apartheid.

Breyten Breytenbach who had been arrested and gone to prison for 7 years for planning a white 'terrorist movement' Okhela was allowed to address students at the University of Stellenbosch.

Granted the SABC did not give airtime to these events, but the alternative press did.

What is true to say is that the government would not allow ANC or those declared Communist to speak or attend meetings.

Apartheid SA and Israel is not the same, but let's keep a sense of perspective in remembering the past. Apartheid SA was not Stalinist Russia either.

[Castor Troye]

wessel, i can see your point that you try add a line between apartheid and stalinist russia as if lumping the two together is an insult. similarly, equating zionism with apartheid is inappropriate as well. the common denominator is one cannot compare conlficts or lump them together.

yet having said this, one thing about israel is that its greatest critics are the voters and organisations in israel itself which constantly challenge the government and its policies. this is a luxury which south africa was barely afforded with essentially a one party monopoly for over 40 years.

Mediocrates, but it's different with the more scientific subjects. Consider e.g. Steven Weinberg, Yisrael Aumann.

[TC]

The last post was from me. Sorry.

[Mediocrates]

We in the west suffer from the Generic Big Idiot Syndrome. We think that anyone famous for just about anything, even for being famous itself, qualifies one to speak with utter authority and conviction on any other subject no matter how dense, nuanced or complicated. We would always prefer to listen to morons preach from the certainty of their convictions than from the fundamentals of their knowledge.

And for the record, as a non-SA person I for one am absolutely fed up with anything and anyone SA 'owning' the word 'apartheid' as if someone's mailing address anoints them a higher moral standing in the world from which to judge everyone else. Moreover the notion that SA is the world's one and only reference standard is patronizing and bizarre.

[JoeTalin]

It comes as no huge shock that former leaders of Habonim Dror Southern Africa would sign that kind of petition. Habonim has always claimed to promote open-mindedness and dialogue, but in truth nothing could be further from the truth.

When it comes to any aspect of society that isn't on the irreligious left, Habonim leadership will not be open-minded and will criticize with absolutely NO dialogue very, very quickly.

[Steve]

Hi Wessel,
I take your point. Thanks for the comment.

Castor Troye, I think your point that conflicts can't be compared an lumped together is a very important one.

[Gary]

Where is the list of the names of the people who signed the last petition?

[mike]

Here are some of the names

http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=26837

[Gary]

Oh, great, they think cause they gather a couple of Jewish names their crap will have more force, as usual.

[Steve]

Check this article on the kibush site that Mike linked to.

http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=26857

The author spells terms that can end the conflict. Ironically they are terms that if really fulfilled we could all agree with. It is the Palestinians who reject these terms.