5 Protestors Arrested at Edinburgh boycott of Israel’s Jerusalem Quartet.
29th August 2008
5 Protestors Arrested at Edinburgh boycott of Israel’s Jerusalem Quartet.
5 Protestors were arrested and are being detained at St. Leonards Police Station. The five were arrested for disrupting the performance of the Israeli Quartet because of their link to the Israeli Military and its illegal Occupation of Palestinian land.
At least 10 people handed in their tickets at the gates after realizing the concert was a means for Israel to legitimise its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. After realising what the event signified a small number of the audience also walked out to show their disapproval.
The protesters were peaceful but the security took a heavy handed approach to those that made it inside the hall. As a result there were a number of scuffles and arrests.
Police prevented protesters outside the venue from setting up a simulated checkpoint. Mick Napier: spokesman for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign that organised the protest said that the checkpoint was designed to mimic one of around 650 Israeli controls scattered throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories: “These checkpoints are designed to restrict movement within Palestine and strangle its economy.”
In 2006, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Edinburgh International Film Festival organisers returned sponsorship money provided by the Israeli embassy.
Israel is also under increasing pressure from Trade Union boycotts. Last year, Britain’s University and Colleges Union (UCU) caused unrest in Israel when its conference voted to discuss a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.
Former US president Jimmy Carter also faced heavy criticism last year on publication of his book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, in which he compares Israeli policies with those of Apartheid South Africa.