Thanks for the article, i was convincing some friends to come visit Jerusalem, most of them said applying for a visa is normalization/recognition of Israel.
We also need to realize that none of our boycotts ever worked …

Thanks George for your comment. You are absolutely right, we shouldn’t leave you guys alone facing this brutal occupation while we waste our time crying out useless condomnations and slogans. I used to call for the closure of the Israeli embassy in Amman but without it I owuld have never visited my country. Unfortunatley Arabs are so consumed with these worthless calls for boycotting, what have they done so far nothing! Most Arab countries benefit from this propaganda.
Ali

See, if I were to visit Jordan, I would make a point of spending money with local businesses. Arab businesses (are there any Jews in Jordan, I don’t know, and certainly would not seek them out). It’s about showing people that peace has benefits. If Israeli Jewish business people were to see that tourism from Arab countries is good business, it may help achieve the same goal.

I can see why you’d want to boycott the settlers’ businesses, but I think you’re making a mistake insisting on separation between Arabs and Jews. In fact, imagine if someone was to brag that he came to Israel for a visit and made a point of not using any services by Arabs? he’s only go to Jewish-owned hotels and restaurants, for example. Wouldn’t you call that racism?

You want to talk about boycott, look at South Africa. Sports teams were the raged in SA, and as soon as the sports teams from SA weren’t allowed to compete, the world knew that something was happening in South Africa.

The argument for a boycott is tricky and your words must be deliberate and intentional. But calling a (non-violent) movement to free indigenous Palestinians from European Jewish colonialism, racism is a bit ironic. Israel is a Jewish state, where Palestinians are relegated to a level below the “darker Jews.” Racism in Israel is about as evident as the Sun.

BDS is an important part of the non-violent resistance movement. South Africa is a great example.

“The necessity of cultural boycott”
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10614.shtml

Actualy I do support boycotting the settlers products since they are the produce of stolen illegal Arab Land (in the West Bank), the EU is actualy boycotting the products of such settelments. But back to your point, Peace can bring prosperity to all sides, Israeli, Palestinian that’s why I support a One state!

Thumbs up man… I will be thinking the same way too but thanks for enlightening others! Well, you know what they say: “People of ignorance will never be free”

Best

I had always said I wouldn’t go until my Pali friends had the freedom I did to visit their own homeland. Now a Pali friend has said: “Go for me”, and we just might do that.

I also agree with israelimom,in one sense. Separating groups will guarantee they never meet and build relationships. Maybe that is how moms think.

Boycotts as a Legitimate Means of Resistance:

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/08/boycotts-as-a-legitimate-means-of-resistance/

an economic boycott of Israel and Israeli products until justice in the area on the part of Israel is achieved. No other methods in the past seem to fully motivate Israel to resolve the Palestinian issue in a just mannor so perhaps economic motivation will work.

This is the most brilliant article I have read in an Arab publication (net) in years! I went to Palestine after an Egyptian American told me how grateful Palestinians in Jerusalem were when he told them that he came all the way from the States to pray at Al Aqsa mosque. The keeper’s of the mosque complained to this American Egyptian that Arab and Muslim boycott -till Palestine is some how liberated- is killing them financially and morally. I am glad to tell you Ali that this American Egyptian came back to the USA and has managed to send ten’s of people to Palestine. They buy things from markets that they will never need or use. They make sure they spend endlessly at Arabic stores and cafes and they stay at Palestinian hotels and tip generously.

So I went. Did the same and to my amazement saw 55 British Pakistanis who came all the way from Britain via Amman to simply pray and spend money in Jerusalem to help Palestinians stay put. I asked them why and how did they ever think of this? The young British Pakistani woman looked at me and said: Its our duty to help. If we all don’t show up, then the Aqsa and the Palestinians will be gone from the city! How do you except them to survive if we do not support them in this way?

How retarded are the calls by Arabs to boycott Palestinians. This way of thinking will lead to emptying the land from Palestinians! If such calls of boycott continue, soon Muslims will ask for an Israeli permit to pray inside the Haram!

i encourage you to boycott me.. please do.. i think its a great idea.. let me help you..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saeky9I5T9c

i love how you consider that this collective punishment should be deployed against me.. this is exactly what youve been doing for almost a century

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_League_boycott_of_Israel

way before we were a state – and well before the holocaust occurred..

good luck champs ;)

Lirun –

are you an israeli complaining of collective punishment? if it wasn’t so absurd it’d be hilarious.

Have you heard of Gaza? Ramallah? The West Bank? Its called occupation and systematic collective punishment.

no ramsey im not complaining.. im all for it.. it built us.. it made us work harder.. strive with more vigour.. it sharpened our dedication.. because we realised well before the state of israel was established that the jew was no friend of the region and that the entire region was happy to starve us..

look where its taken us..

god bless you..

please dont give up now.. keep at it buddies.. i really to upgrade my car – i know you can make it happen..

for those that were too lazy the first time – i encourage you to watch this video to assist you with the blessed cause..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saeky9I5T9c

lirun

Israeli expansion policy is a twin sister of Nazi “Lebenraum” policy of creating what they called more living space for God’s chosen people. Using Hitler’s own words this policy was expressed by the Israeli President, Shimon Peres, stating: “We need more room to breathe”, of course on the expense of Palestinians. Zionism is Nazism incarnate.

The Zionist leaders’ justification for allowing the Jewish holocaust to continue was that “The European Jews must accede to suffering and death greater in measure than the other nations in order that the victorious allies agree to a Jewish state at the end of the war”I wonder what is the Arab leaders’ justification for allowing the Palestinian holocaust to continue.

i think that is a really nasty and baseless assertion..

i also think its a shame you cannot see beyond your own fears.. peace does not lie in such ideas.. it lies elsewhere – ur views are of the sort that fuel mutual suspicion and discourage dialogue..

do not underestimate the power of your own words..
ramadan kareem anyway

Reality bites.

hamede

who is it biting ya a7i

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Israel

Ali..I admire your ideas. Palestinians do need the support of all who can go there and help in any way.

I think this article has served its purpose, and that is: we need to communicate with the other side, we need to have an open dialogue. I know that we have different approaches & have very different politcial views but we all want one thing, Peace and ending the occupation. I salute Lirun,Sam & Hamade for their courage to speak out, we should try to understand what we all really want and how it can be achieved

I like the idea of half full rather than half empty.

By supporting Palestinians you are effectively boycotting Israel. Great blog ya 7iber :)

I like the idea of half full rather than half empty.

By supporting Palestinians you are effectively boycotting Israel. Israel doesn’t matter really to me, it matters that every human gets what is just, be they Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

Also for the record to any Zionists who have selective historical memories. In the last 1000 years Arab lands have been the lands in which you’re most welcome. We never evicted Jews like they did in England, Spain and other countries in Europe. We never burned or gassed Jews or any other humans of other faiths. However with the bloody occupation and the ensuing wars, the situation changed for the Jewish minorities in Arab lands, it changed for the worst.

I pray for peace.

Great blog ya 7iber.

shukran ali

i agree – we need to communicate – understand eachother – and build a better future based on peace and mutual respect.. living freely and with enjoy self determination..

inshalla

Thank you Ali Dahmash. As an Israeli I think we need more people like you to make peace work.

Ali, thanks for the interesting article. I know that your visit to Palestine was meaningful. El 3atal and I also went and had a similar trip to yours. We stayed with family, spent money with Palestinians and had an amazing visit. We got to take video with one of Teta’s brothers who died within 2 months of our departure. What an opportunity. I agree that we need to do all we can to support our sisters and brothers across the border.

While israelimom has a valid point, having to suffer through sharing Jordan’s beautiful archealogical sites with loud, rude Israelis who bring their own food and water to avoid spending any money in Jordan doesn’t encourage me to have any interest in their financial welfare…

As an American, I pay far too much for the average Israeli’s lifestyle. As a Jordanian, I want peace that makes sense. As mother of three Palestinian children, I want protection of their heritage. By supporting Palestinians in Palestine, I believe all these perspectives are met.