Scottish Council Launches Ban On Israeli Books
David Lange
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The latest sick chapter in the BDS story.
A SCOTTISH council has sparked outrage after banning books as part of a politically-motivated boycott on goods from Israel which critics have described as “a grossly insensitive insult”.
SNP-led West Dunbartonshire Council has ordered that its libraries ban any new volumes by Israeli authors, printed or published in the Jewish state.
It follows an earlier decision by the local authority to boycott Israeli goods and produce as part of a pro-Palestinian display.
Now, it has emerged the areas’ libraries have been told not to stock any new books from Israel.But a similar boycott move by Dundee City Council has had to be abandoned because legal experts advised such a move is illegal under EU law.
Several left-wing councils in Scotland have looked at banning Israeli products and services but almost all have rejected it.
Last night, the move was condemned by a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy.
Press attaché, Amir Oftek also made reference to the infamous events of May 10, 1933, when, encouraged by Nazi propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, crowds in Berlin burnt 25,000 books by leading Jewish authors and academics.
He said: “This must be the only organisation in the 21st century which is still banning books. Not only does it close down debate but for many Jews and others who wish to contribute to the peace process in the Middle East this is grossly insensitive.
“What happened in Europe in the 1930s should be a warning to us all. Where will this end? By burning books again?”
Meanwhile, here is West Dunbartonshire Council’s response.
West Dunbartonshire Council utterly refutes recent media claims that it has ‘launched a boycott on Israeli books’.
The Council’s boycott does not in any way seek to censor or silence authors and commentators from Israel.
The Council’s boycott only relates to goods ‘made or grown’ in Israel. The vast majority of mainstream books by Israeli authors are published in the UK and are therefore not affected by this boycott. Only books that were printed in Israel and transported to the UK for distribution would be potentially boycotted.
In the in the two and a half years the boycott has been in place there has never been a case when the library service has been unable to purchase a book it wished to as a result of this boycott.
Contrary also to some media reports the boycott is not retrospective and absolutely no books have been or will be removed from our library shelves as a consequence of the motion.
Councillors of West Dunbartonshire Council voted to introduce the boycott in 2009 in response to the disproportionate use of force used against Palestinians and resulting loss of life.
The full motion is:
‘This Council deplores the loss of life in Palestine which now numbers well over 1,000. This Council also recognises the disproportionate force used by the IDF in Palestine and agrees to boycott all Israeli goods as a consequence. Officers should immediately cease the purchase of any goods we currently source, which were made or grown in Israel. Officers should also ensure we procure no new goods or produce from Israel until this boycott is formally lifted by WDC.’
Leaving aside the ridiculous and offensive nature of the boycott itself, notice how the council talks of “disproportionate force”, without taking into account how many of the palestinians killed were terrorists (the majority) nor the culpability of these terrorists for the loss of civilian life (by using human shields, as well as residential areas as rocket launching sites). It is all black and white to them.
Meanwhile, here’s a list of the councillors behind this disgraceful motion (with their contact details). I encourage you all to contact them and let them know how you feel (phone calls to their home where possible would be the preferred option!)
Address: 17 Millburn Avenue Clydebank G81 1EW
Home Telephone: 0141 952 8954
Work Telephone: 01389 738697
Email: Denis.Agnew@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 24 Lennox Road Milton Dumbarton G82 2TL
Home Telephone: 01389 761449
Mobile: 07909 890 840
Email: George.Black@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 4 Endrick Way Alexandria G83 0UR
Home Telephone: 01389 756397
Mobile: 07803 668766
Email: James.Bollan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: C/o Council OfficesRosebery Place Clydebank
Home Telephone: 01389 876449
Mobile: 07961 713 010
Email: Jim.Brown@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 45 Mary Fisher Crescent Lomond Gate Dumbarton G82 1BJ
Home Telephone: 01389 730983
Mobile: 07776 467 224
Email: Geoffrey.Calvert@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 28 Benbow Road Dalmuir Clydebank G81 4DP
Home Telephone: 0141 951 4595
Mobile: 07909 891 242
Email: Gail.Casey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: c/o Council Offices Rosebery Place Clydebank G81 6EN
Home Telephone: 01389 878397
Mobile: 07961 713 007
Email: jim.finn@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: C/o Council Offices Rosebery Place Clydebank
Home Telephone: 0141 952 7636
Mobile: 07943 813 111
Email: william.hendrie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 3 Thomson Place Glasgow Road Hardgate Clydebank G81 5QX
Home Telephone: 01389 890623
Email: Douglas.McAllister@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 48 Langlands Terrace Bellsmyre Dumbarton G82 3AZ
Home Telephone: 01389 767758
Mobile: 07961 711 664
Email: david.mcbride@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: Coltfield 1/1 Argyll Park Alexandria G83 OSE
Home Telephone: 01389 772142
Mobile: 07801 493 076
Email: Ronnie.McColl@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: Coltfield 1/1 Argyll Park Alexandria G83 OSE
Work Telephone: 01389 737511
Mobile: 07939 002 886
Fax: 0141-555-0172
Email: jonathan.mccoll@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: C/O Council Offices Rosebery Place Clydebank
Home Telephone: 01389 875073
Mobile: 07961 713 009
Email: Jim.McElhill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 15 Hillend Crescent Duntocher Clydebank G81 6HL
Home Telephone: 01389 873186
Work Telephone: 01389 738599
Mobile: 07961 713 361
Email: Patrick.McGlinchey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 27 Castle Avenue Balloch Alexandria G83 8HU
Home Telephone: 01389 758628
Mobile: 07920 700 954
Email: Craig.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 28 Benbow Road Clydebank G81 4DP
Home Telephone: 0141 951 4595
Mobile: 07961 714 907
Email: William.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 26 Langlands Terrace Dumbarton G82 3AZ
Work Telephone: 01389 738743
Mobile: 07909 891237
Email: Marie.McNair@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 240 O’Hare Bonhill Alexandria G83 9DT
Work Telephone: 01389 737882
Mobile: 07961 713 003
Email: John.Millar@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 7 Heather Avenue Hardgate Clydebank G81 6LH
Work Telephone: 01389 738704
Mobile: 07909 890842
Email: lawrence.oneill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 191 Nobleston Estate Bonhill Alexandria G83 9DE
Home Telephone: 01389 722140
Mobile: 07884 113 254
Email: Iain.Robertson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 136 Broomhill Crescent Bonhill Alexandria G83 9QL
Home Telephone: 01389 602562
Work Telephone: 01389 737547
Mobile: 07909 890846
Email: Martin.Rooney@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Address: 25 Second Avenue Bonhill Alexandria G83 9BH
Home Telephone: 01389 772141
Mobile: 07961 713 004
Email: May.Smillie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
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David Lange
