UK Journalists’ Union Votes to Boycott Israel
April 17, 2007 14:55 by BackSpin EditorThe NUJ demonstrates its gross atipathy towards Israel by voting to boycott Israeli goods. See the latest HonestReporting communique: UK Journalists’ Union Votes to Boycott Israel
Shyrla Pakula
7:30 am
Apr 18, 2007
Why don’t the British Journalists take it a step further and boycott all Israeil inventions? See how for they could get without Pentium processors and mobile phones, for starters. That might shut these deluded fools up.
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Anonymous
7:55 am
Apr 18, 2007
I would like to have the British Embassy e- mail address to tell them as a boycott measure my summer trip to UK is being canceled.
bobbklynkd@earthlink.net
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George brayford
10:23 am
Apr 18, 2007
The anti- Israel comments appear to be of the isolated materialistic bigoted British who are be living in frustration in their own little kingdom. Sad? -yes. Dangerous?- yes for the unthinking adherents and for themselves which in the mixed up climate of Britain could be dangerous- is dangerous. The solution- tell them; warn them. Israel has not only produced technology ,computer chips for ournalists – Her greatest gift to the World is Salvation through the Truth embodied in a person born and died about 2000 years ago. That truth is connected to truth that is circulated,that we allow to be circulated day to day. There is an effect. There is an answering.
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Joel
2:22 pm
Apr 18, 2007
Thomas Gray had a premonition about the direction of British journalism, already back in the 18th Century.
” Where ignorance is bliss, “Tis folly to be wise.” he wrote.
If it wasn’t so tragic, it would almost be laughable.
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Ron Chalmers
4:38 pm
Apr 18, 2007
At a time when the BBC and the world media in general are calling for the release of Allan Johnstone,(who, according to his father was the friend of the “Palestinians”)when the P.A officials know more than they are letting on,the journalists’ union votes to boycott Israel. That says it all. If they hope to gain favour with the Arabs, it will not work. When was the last journalist abducted by Israelis??
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asher_silver
5:30 pm
Apr 18, 2007
This is clearly an “inside job” to discredit the NUJ. What journalistic organization that claims credible news correspondents as its rank and file members would be able to propose (let alone pass) such a resolution?
In any case, having been subject to the South African boycotts, this is not necessarily a bad thing since it tends to strengthen the economy by increasing creativity and reducing “bloat”.
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Jerry Meents
9:29 pm
Apr 18, 2007
The Brithish still can’t forget that a hand full of Jews forced them out of Palestine.
So they are taking revenge by producing false and onesided news about Israel.
Jerry Meents
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peter42y
5:11 am
Apr 19, 2007
British journalist did show their true colours.
Instead of reporting events they see to be their duty to take sides against Israel.
No wonder the british press ,back in 2002 , did report a massacre in Jenin that never was.
What could Israel do ?Israel should strike back and expell journalists that actually are activists against Israel.
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Robert
5:22 pm
Apr 19, 2007
You can see from the quantity of responses to this item that there is a considerable amount of angst about the British NUJ’s decision to boycott Israel. However when viewed objectively I believe that it really is of no consequence. I say this because the views of these stupid ill-informed people have been known for some time so there is nothing new there. While it is sadly true that they are opinion formers (Robert Fisk, Johan Hari, John Pilger etc) these are all known quantities whose repellent views are in any case well known to us.
And while they be opinion formers they are not in power and consequently not in a position to implement their stupidity. Now if the British Government ever adopted such a stance that would be different. Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, his most likely successor, are good friends of Israel, within limits.
So while it is deeply upsetting and hurtful and 180 degrees round the wrong way I don’t think it is the most damaging thing Israel faces right now. I am far more concerned that the US will put unacceptable pressure on Israel to accept the Saudi initiative
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Melba Dagan
2:21 am
Apr 20, 2007
I suggest that the BBC journalists take a good hard look at history. Europe has been under attack by the Muslim world before and finally had to defeat them in battle and send them scurrying back into their rat holes. Arabs have long sought to rule the world and make everyone Muslim. And now BBC has bowed in defeat to them. It no longer seeks honest and objective reporting but has fallen into the same ‘news by rote’ thinking as the rest of Europe.
Pandering to Arabs is not the way to influence them. Arabs consider appeasement as weakness and kindness as stupidity.
Read the book “The Arab Mind” by Raphael Patai to get a better understanding of how Arabs think. Surprisingly, Arabs think this is an excellent book and they also think it explains them very well.
For those who have some faith in God, I would urge you to remember the text in Zechariah 2:8 which states that “….he who is touching you (Israel) is touching my eyeball.” In clearer words, you are jabbing God in the eye when you turn on Israel.
Don’t make the same mistake that Britain and other European nations made with Hitler. When he marched into Poland and took it over, the world decided to not make a fuss…maybe he would be satisfied with having Poland as a ‘bone’ of appeasement. In his own words, Hitler later said that he was surprised that they didn’t stop him, but that their lack of action proved to him that they were weak and would be easy to defeat in his march to take over the world and erradicate the Jews. Throwing Israel to the Arabs will only embolden them to continue to try to take over the world through terrorism.
Bowing to terrorism of any kind is cowardice and BBC journalists have shown themselves to be cowards of the worst kind.
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Robert
12:21 pm
Apr 20, 2007
Good points Melba but it it was Czechoslovakia which the world did nothing about concerning Hitler. When he attacked Poland even Britain declared war on Sep 3 1939. The question is have we had our Czechoslovakia moment, or indeed our Poland moment and if so what should be our response. I think John Howard the Australian Prime Minister got it absolutely right when he told his Muslim population that they were welcome to stay so long as they abide by Australian conventions and laws. If they want Sharia law they are free to leave. Seems like a good deal to me.
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Melba Dagan
3:22 am
Apr 21, 2007
You are quite right, Robert. I should have rechecked the facts but it was late and I took the lazy way and depended on my memory. Thanks. My husband visited the Truman library some years ago and obtained a copy of a letter written by the Mufti of Syria to Truman. In this letter he stated that “the time of the west is over. From now on it will be the time of terror and silver”. He didn’t elaborate further on this statement, but I find it interesting that the Mufti did not consider the war (WW2) over but that it would be continued under a different guise. By the 60′s there were plane hijackings and things have progressed from there to September 11. And I’m sure this will continue unless and until they are stopped.
Melba Dagan
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Frank
4:20 am
Apr 21, 2007
I sure hope the journalists don’t need any computer or medical products produced or invented in Israel
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Robert
1:35 pm
Apr 23, 2007
To Melba. I think you are right. This Islamofascism has to be defeated. It cannot be appeased or even reasoned with. If you are dealing with someone who wants to destroy you, who does not take a reasoned stance, and is implacable, what good is talking? The real problem is how to bring moderate Muslims, if such there be, on-side. Without the tacit support of their moderate brothers extremism cannot exist. On the other hand if Mahmoud Abbas is considered a moderate we are well on the way to hell in a handcart.
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David Schonberg
7:49 pm
Apr 26, 2007
Would it be possible to publicise the full names (& employers name) of each journalist who took part in this vote? This information would be helpful- in regard to surveying the quality & ethics of the reporting of the journalists concerned.
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Jean Sherrell
8:21 pm
Apr 27, 2007
Journalism isn’t what it used to aspire to be, here in the U.S. as well as in the truly pathetic British press/broadcast world. It used to go without saying that opinions were for editorial pages and that factual, balanced reportage prevailed in news stories. Some of us spent years in D.C. pushing hard for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, assuming that once facts were available journalists would use them in a balanced way to better inform readers, not brainwash them. Meanwhile our FoI Center did what it could to help journalists get into meetings, sidestep pressure by publishers and advertisers, and stay out of jail for protecting sources, debate the roles of privacy, leaks, etc. Our group’s journalists were all over the spectrum politcally — progressive, liberal, conservative, libertarian –but we all understood the difference between personal interpretations and facts.
These toxic boycotts of Israelis and Israel itself — by academic publications, by NUJ, by academic forum audiences –are extremely dangerous and, unfortunately, effective not only with their immediate and specific acts but also in that they create a vague climate of free-floating anti-Semitism dreck that soaks into the minds of susceptible readers and listeners. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, and can vouch for this. Self-rightous multiculturism reigns and open minds are hard to find. It is virtually impossible to get printed letters and articles that present Israel’s case along with that of Palestinians/Arabs. (Once in awhile Alan Dershowitz makes it into print.)
It is a relief to read HJR comments etc., but for the most part we are talking to ourselves. If there is any way to reach people who need reaching I’d like to know about it. (One thougt: some of the journalism reviews and groups might not oppose receiving HJR material. I’m not sure how far the rot has spread — that is, Arabs are always good, Israelis are always bad, terrorists are a result of the USA’s and Israel’s bad behavior, Europeans know best…)
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leo
8:46 am
May 03, 2007
What goes around comes around.The truth shure hurts
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Alex Lawrence
2:02 pm
Jun 14, 2007
Would the NUJ now boycott goods from China, Russia, Iran Paraguay and a number of South American states, Syria and all the other countries which allow freedom of information and permit journalists to print what they like.
Shame on you NUJ!
If you would substitute “Jews” for “Israelis” you may be offending against the Race Relations Act. It all seems very peculiar to me.
I would be most interested to hear what made you decide on the boycott!
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