The Jewish Federation Backs a BDS Nini
Varda Epstein
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It can be cold in Vancouver. Way cold. But just now, Vancouver is the site of hot debate over whether or not it is appropriate to have Achinoam Nini, known to the wider world as “Noa,” perform in Vancouver’s Israel Independence Day celebration.
The largely Jewish Federation-sponsored event should be about what unites the Jewish community: a love of Israel. Unfortunately, Noa has been active, despite her protestations to the contrary, in the BDS movement for many, many years, through her support of orgs that support BDS.
Take B’tselem, for instance. According to NGO Monitor:
B’Tselem is a member organization of Fédération Internationale des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), a Paris-based association of international NGOs that is active in anti-Israel BDS campaigns worldwide.
B’tselem also received funding from “Bubbes and Zaydes for Peace” (BZP), an organization that has endorsed BDS. When NGO Monitor informed B’tselem of BZP’s association with BDS, B’tselem said it was “honored” to receive the donation.
https://www.facebook.com/AchinoamNini/posts/1093489540661436
Then there’s the New Israel Fund’s funding of BDS and divisive anti-Israel organizations.
The last thing Nini expresses with her presence is solidarity. Far from it. In my opinion, anyone who supports BDS wants to destroy Israel’s economy so as to destroy Israel, period.
Because we all know that this is the purpose of BDS.
Which begs the question: why on earth would the Jewish Federation bring this woman, who supports B’tselem, Breaking the Silence (whose events are organized by anti-Israel groups as ammunition for the BDS movement), and the New Israel Fund, all organizations that have ties to the BDS movement, to Canada, to perform at an event that celebrates the founding of the state, something she obviously wishes had never happened?
https://www.facebook.com/CUWIVancouver/photos/a.652063231598222.1073741827.652059641598581/653482131456332/?type=3
Well, if you are any good at drawing lines between the dots, you’ll come to the conclusion, as I have, that the Jewish Federation supports BDS, Btselem, Breaking the Silence, and the New Israel Fund, and also supports the destruction of Israel’s economy and Israel itself.
The good news is that the Jewish National Fund has pulled its support from the event. And since the JNF announced it was pulling out, the Canadian Jewish Federation will be holding a meeting to determine whether it will, in fact, cancel the performance. It seems they may have figured out that they, the Jewish Federation, might have gone too far this time.
Helping the Federation see the light has involved some heavy duty activism on the part of Vancouver United with Israel who brought the issue to the attention of the media and to people like Caroline Glick and Member of Knesset Eli Ben Dahan.
https://www.facebook.com/carolineglick/posts/1003193459751408
https://www.facebook.com/EllibenDahan/photos/a.486341328075251.108430.485996514776399/1124981357544575/?type=3
Here is the translation of MK Ben Dahan’s statement:
“I want to express my unequivocal support for the decision made by JNF-Canada to withdraw their sponsorship from the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s event featuring Achinoam Nini (Noa) as the entertainment for Israel Independence Day celebration. JNF’s decision is a reminder to everyone concerned that the Jewish National Fund is a Zionist entity. Collaboration with Israel’s detractors, on Israel’s Independence Day, is absurd. On Tuesday, the Canadian Jewish Federation will hold a meeting to decide whether to cancel the planned performance. Please Share this onward in order to give a boost of support to Zionism in Canada. -Eli Ben Dahan, Deputy Foreign Minister, Israel”
It is important to note that besides expressing unequivocal support for organizations that have ties to BDS, for instance B’Tselem, Breaking the Silence, and the New Israel Fund, Noa has:
- Performed at events that commemorate the deaths of terrorists who have been killed
- Petitioned Europe to unilaterally declare a Palestinian state without consultation with Israel
- Stated, “I admire President Abbas and his adamant adherence to ways of peace, his outreach to Israel in every possible way and his infinite patience… We are led by a group of racist macho-type thugs, who are incredibly stupid.”
- Boycotted Israeli musicians and the Israeli Musician’s Union because of her political differences with Israel
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1683191505257506&set=pcb.1007332605979601&type=3
In summary, Noa claims not to back BDS, but her (Hebrew) words and actions show otherwise and are quite easy to prove. Nini has also made a habit of calling those who disagree with her politics “unintelligent” and “brainwashed.”
https://www.facebook.com/CUWIVancouver/photos/a.652063231598222.1073741827.652059641598581/655220144615864/?type=3
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Varda Epstein
