July 2011 saw a coordinated reactionary attempt to obstruct the global BDS movement. The sabotage and damage of ships belonging to the international Flotilla II, the passing of the Boycott bill by Israel and the UK pro-Israel campaign against Raed Salah are highlighted this month, together with other local stories coming out of the region.
At the beginning of the month, and following several setbacks, ships from Freedom Flotilla II which planned to set sail for the Gaza Strip from Athens were banned by authorities from leaving and were effectively blockaded at the port. No explanation was given for the decision. Attempts to leave from Corfu were also thwarted.
This month, and after six hours of parliamentary debate, the Israel Knesset passed the 'Law for the prevention of damage to the state of Israel through boycott' with a majority of 47 to 38. Under the new law, which effectively bans the boycott of illegal settlement goods along with academic, consumer or cultural boycott, an individual or organisation proposing a boycott may be sued for compensation by an individual or organisation which claims they are damaged by the call. No evidence of actual damage need be provided. It also bans the government from trading with companies that comply with boycotts.
This month the Arab League endorsed the Palestinian plan to seek full membership and recognition at the UN as an independent Palestinian state in September. This strategy is being pursued as an alternative to the dead end of negotiations which have gone on for decade and have been frozen since 2008. The League pledged to rally worldwide support for the move starting with members of the UN Security. The US, which is a permanent member of the Security Council, has hinted it would veto the move asserting that a Palestinian state should only be established through negotiations with Israel.
A report by the Israeli human rights group, B'Tselem, published this month and entitled No Minor Matter highlights the rights violations that Palestinian youths are exposed to at the hands of the Israeli authorities. The online document also includes the video testimonies provided by some of the 50 children interviewed.
This month, the Guardian's Harriet Sherwood went out with Gazan fishermen to investigate claims they are subject to constant harassment by the Israeli navy, including being regularly shot at with live ammunition; attacked using military water cannons; having their boats and fishing nets confiscated and damaged; and being prevented from venturing out further than 3 nautical miles or less from shore which is deemed by the UN to be collective punishment and a violation of international law.
The prominent Palestinian leader of the Islamic Movement in the '48 territories was detained by UK border police in June. Sheikh Raed Salah was taking part in a MEMO sponsored UK tour, including parliamentary and public seminars discussing the current situation for Palestinians living in Israel and Jerusalem.
A spokesman for Gaza's Interior Ministry stated on the 26th that two men; a 60 year old and a 29 year old, charged and convicted of espionage on behalf of Israel had been hanged at dawn. Family members of the executed men protested the sentence by burning tyres and blocking roads. According to human rights organisations, since 2007, Gaza's authorities have executed five people for spying.
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