UPDATE 10:00 20th Feb 2014: Renunciation of BDS by Cinematic Strings
UPDATE 14:50 19th Feb 2014: Cinematic Strings have backed down.
What happens when a talented Israeli musician (and Rabbi) tries to buy the following enticing music software from an Australian company:
Cinematic Strings 2 is a completely redesigned and updated version of the original orchestral strings sample library. Whilst retaining the warm luscious tones produced in the world class Verbrugghen Hall of the Sydney Conservatorium, the new version features a sleek new interface and even smoother legato.
And more to the point, what happens when he asked for the educational discount the company advertises on it’s website:
Supporting Students and Institutions Worldwide
We believe that the latest technology should be readily available to the education sector to facilitate learning and to keep training up-to-date and relevant to industry requirements. For this reason we offer a range of individual educational discounts to both teachers and students; we also have tailored packages available for universities and colleges that seek to incorporate a professional-level string library into their program.
Well, according to this blog post, he is turned down for the crime of being an Israeli and for his part (however small it may be) in the continued existence of Israel and the continued presence of Jews in Israel:
“Hi Yossela,
I am very, very sorry but I will not be able to provide you with a student discount. We support the BDS movement worldwide and the cultural boycott against Israel until Israel ceases its illegal settlement activities in the West Bank and ceases its discrimination against the Palestinian people. Please see this website for further information http://www.bdsmovement.net/activecamps/cultural-boycott.
Please understand that this is not in any way directed at you personally and we have heard from many Israeli students who have been very sympathetic towards the Palestinian people. However we are fairly powerless here in Australia to act on behalf of the victims of oppression and so the BDS is the only way we can have a voice.
We wish you all the best in your future musical endeavours.
Kindest regards,
Alex and the CS team.”
You can read the whole post but be aware that here at Israellycool we’re not big fans of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDSM) and when it’s an Australian company doing it, well, we take an extra interest. Remember, it’s quite possible that when Shurat Ha’Din’s latest legal action is completed in Australia, this email may constitute an actual crime.
Israellycool will be contacting Alex Wallbank and the CS team with some more questions about who they would and wouldn’t give a discount to:
- An Israeli Jew living in Tel Aviv
- An Israeli Arab (Muslim) living in Tel Aviv
- An Israeli Arab (Christian) living in Tel Aviv
- An Israeli Jew living in Gush Etzion
- A Palestinian Arab (Muslim) living in Ramallah
- A Palestinian Arab (Christian) living in Ramallah
I think it is important that we pin down the exact nature of their boycott and who it is directed against, don’t you.
It’s pretty clear these days that the BDSM has lost all possibility of credibility. It is denounced left and right: even the current Australian government in the form of the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, understands that targeting Israeli citizens for the actions of the Israeli government (even if you disagree politically with them) is just out and out Jew hatred.
In the meantime if you’re aware of competing products to Cinematic Strings 2 are, please let us know in the comments so we can suggest alternative software that isn’t produced by Jew haters.
UPDATE:
The following gem of a comment appears on their Facebook page from the company itself. I love the use of the “some of my best friends are Jews” defence. [Update: Facebook reply has been removed. Link to screenshot here]
CinematicStrings: We’ll take our chances, thank you. Please understand that we do not have any ill feelings towards Israeli or Jewish people; I personally have several Jewish friends, and we have Jewish customers all over the world.
We simply stand with the vast majority of the world in opposing the Israeli government’s breaking of international laws. In the event that your country is subjected to decades of illegal occupation and settlement, and apartheid laws are enacted against you, we will be on your side. Until then, we’ll continue supporting a non-violent humanitarian effort to end Israel’s constant violation of international laws. For more information, please see this website that explains very clearly why a BDS is necessary: http://www.bdsmovement.net/bdsintro
