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The following motion was put down in the Scottish Parliament last Thursday -

Participation in the Edinburgh International Film Festival

S3M-04525 Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Scottish Labour)

That the Parliament welcomes the 2009 Edinburgh International Film Festival and the contribution that the event makes to Scottish cultural life; appreciates the pleasure that the festival has brought audiences and the platform that it has provided to film makers from Scotland and around the world; recognises the importance of film in challenging prejudice and tackling controversial subjects; notes, for example, the number of Arab, Palestinian and Israeli productions focussing on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the number of those films reflecting varied and opposing points of view that have received funding from the Israeli Film Fund; therefore expresses concern at the decision of the film festival to return a grant made by the Israeli Embassy to help an Israeli director participate in this important cultural event; calls for all communities and voices to be heard in such a creative forum, and greets with relief the news that the Israeli director will be able to attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival after all.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, realeased a statement on boycotts of Israel yesterday. The strong statement, which is below, says “the Government is dismayed that motions calling for boycotts of Israel are being discussed at trade union congresses and conferences this summer”, and that boycotts “obstruct opportunities for co-operation and dialogue and serve only to polarise debate further. Boycotts would only make it harder to achieve the peace that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve and desire”.

Speaking for the Fair Play Campaign Group, Jewish Leadership CEO Jeremy Newmark said:

“It is concerning that matters have reached a point at which senior members of the Government have felt the need to speak out in this manner.  We welcome this clear statement from the Foreign Secretary which, when viewed together with last week’s remarks on boycotts by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, firmly demonstrates that the politics of the boycott movement remain firmly on the extreme fringes of British political life”

Read David Miliband’s full statement below:

Continue reading ‘Foreign Secretary says Israel boycotts make it harder to acheive peace’ »

Speaking at the Conservative Friends of Israel lunch, David Cameron said:

I think there’s something else we need to do which is to say to our academics in this country that boycotts of Israel are completely unacceptable and I think we also need to … say that to the trade unions. I have probably slightly less influence with the trade unions than you do but I’m working on it.

Mr Cameron went on to suggest that his party will help deliver this message to Trade Unions.

Last night, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg delivered the second annual lecture of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism. In a good speech, he specifically condemned moves to boycott Israeli academics. He said:

“..we need to be much more active, more vocal, in our condemnation of antisemitism.

One issue where that is especially true is academic boycotts of Israeli academics. Totally unacceptable. Whether boycotters realise it or not these modern-day exclusions, based on nationality and tied to religion, carry enormous historical baggage. My party has made it clear we find them morally objectionable, and also counterproductive: the only route to peace will only ever be through dialogue.”

We have already reported on the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s decision to return a grant from the Israeli Embassy.

To coincide with the beginning of the Festival, several film industry figures have come together to support the Israeli filmmakers and criticise the Festival organisers. Their letter is below:

Sir, The Edinburgh International Film Festival has always been a highlight of the British creative calendar. This year, with so many people talking about a new golden age of British cinema, there is even greater excitement around the festival. Continue reading ‘Film Industry attacks the Edinburgh Film Festival’ »