2011 June 20 CONTROVERSIAL ISRAEL CHARITY FACES FUNDRAISER PROTEST
Monday 20 June 2011
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign: Media Release
CONTROVERSIAL ISRAEL CHARITY FACES FUNDRAISER PROTEST
Campaigners are set to protest a golf fundraiser for the UK arm of a controversial Israeli organisation tomorrow.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has faced increasing criticism lately over its ownership or control of almost all of the land of the State of Israel, as well as its “land reclamation” projects in Occupied Palestine.
According to the JNF, “Its loyalty is given to the Jewish people in the Diaspora and in the state of Israel... The JNF, in relation to being an owner of land, is not a public body that works for the benefit of all citizens of the state… [and] does not have a duty to practice equality towards all citizens of the state.”
Critics describe JNF practice as racist in its discrimination against non-Jews. Until recently, the JNF had been able to count on the traditional support of the leaders of the UK’s three main political parties. However, David Cameron’s resignation as patron last month saw him join his Labour and Lib Dem counterparts in removing their open support for the UK registered charity.
Campaigners from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), who have been protesting the JNF’s annual pro-am golf fundraiser at Bonnyton Golf Club near Glasgow for a number of years, say that support for the tournament has declined annually in proportion to increased condemnation of Israeli policy.
The SPSC’s JNF spokesperson, Sofiah Maclead, said, “The JNF is a para-statal organisation that acquires land for Jews only, and assists in the on-going displacement of indigenous Palestinians from their land.
“Originally, few of the golfers understood very much about the racist nature of the organisation that they were fundraising for. Our protest, coupled with Israel’s persistent massacres of Palestinians and aid workers, has resulted in a significant decline in the numbers taking part.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign started in autumn 2000 in response to the Palestinian second uprising against Israeli occupation (Intifada). The SPSC has branches around Scotland.
For further information, contact:
SPSC JNF spokesperson, Sofiah Maclead: 0131 620 0052; 07931200361
Email: secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk
Website: www.scottishpsc.org.uk
2. SPSC members and supporters will protest the pro-am golf tournament set for
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Bonnyton Golf Club
Kirktonmoor Road,
Eaglesham,
G76 0QA
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/BonnytonGolfClub
3. Set up in 1901 to acquire land for a Jewish State in Palestine, since 1953 the Jewish National Fund, (JNF) has operated as a part of the State. Through its ownership of 13% of the land in the state of Israel, and significant control of the Israel Land Authority, the JNF is currently responsible for managing approximately 93% of the total land in the State.
The JNF’s constitution explicitly states that JNF land and property is not to be rented, leased, sold, or worked by non-Jews.
More info:
Stop the JNF Campaign website: www.stopthejnf.org
Stop the JNF Campaign Factsheet: http://www.stopthejnf.org/documents/campaignmaterials/stopthejnfcampaignFACTSHEET.pdf
4. Quote from JNF is a response to Supreme Court Petition H.C. 9205/04, Adalah v. The Israel Land Administration, the Minister of Finance and the Jewish National Fund, Challenging the Prevention of Arab Citizens of Israel from Living on Jewish National Fund Land.
JNF response: http://www.adalah.org/eng/publications/makan/hc9010.pdf ; see par 250
Excerpts from Supreme Court Petition H.C. 9205/04 here: http://www.adalah.org/eng/publications/makan/hc9205.pdf
5. David Cameron resigns as patron of the Jewish National Fund
Guardian, 29 May 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/29/david-cameron-resigns-patron-jnf
6. On 28th May 2011, Scotland's leading environmental campaigning organisation, Friends of the Earth Scotland, voted unanimously to support the call for action against the JNF.
Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Stan Blackley, said:
"At today's land rights conference the activities of the JNF were brought to the attention of our members, supporters and interested members of the public. Our organisation is pleased to join the call for the revocation for the JNF's charitable status in the UK and to help raise awareness on this little known issue."
See: http://www.stopthejnf.org/greatbritain_campaignnews_friendsoftheearth28may2011.html
7. Stop the JNF-UK recently wrote to the Scottish PGA asking them to withdraw their support for the event, but have thus far not received a reply.