Limmud-Oz denies platform for supporters of boycotts
LIMMUD-OZ has courted controversy by banning speakers who openly support the global Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
LIMMUD-OZ has courted controversy by banning speakers who openly support the global Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
But a spokesperson for the annual talkfest has defended the actions, saying Limmud-Oz is a “broad tent”, which “does not shy away from the tough issues or from challenging points of view”.
Vivienne Porzsolt, from Jews against the Occupation-Sydney, and Peter Slezak, of Independent Australian Jewish Vocies, were informed earlier this month that they would not be allowed to present at the event.
A statement issued by Limmud-Oz last week said legitimate criticism of Israel was entirely acceptable. “However, the executive of Limmud-Oz in Sydney believes that the BDS campaign is an attack on Israel’s basic legitimacy and harms the Jewish people as a whole, as does the singling out of Israel for unjust criticism,” it said.
“Limmud-Oz supports engagement with Israeli academic and artistic institutions and we have a number of their representatives involved in Limmud-Oz this year. BDS therefore undermines this crucial aspect of Limmud-Oz.”
The statement, issued by the festival’s program director Michael Misrachi, said proponents of BDS have the right to express their view, but Limmud-Oz does not need to provide a platform for them.
In retort, Porzsolt said the decision to exclude her was regrettable.
“Once again the Jewish community leadership has chosen to oppose the free expression of ideas and misrepresent the facts,” she said. “This is particularly regrettable in the context of Limmud, which traditionally is an oasis of free debate among Jews around controversial issues.
“My proposed workshop was not even on BDS, but, pertinently, on ‘Who belongs to the Jewish community?’.”
Porzsolt said she sees her exclusion from the popular long-weekend event as smacking of ex-communication.
Discussions on whether Israel is an apartheid state, on the BDS movement and on disagreeing with Israel remain on the program for the June 11-13 event.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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