Avi Benlolo: Author Sally Rooney's Israel boycott is a petty attack on intellectual freedom

The downside of limiting free expression and the interchange of ideas is that it weakens freedom and democracy. The Berlin Wall came down and perestroika reformed the Soviet Union because information flowed. The BDS movement does the very opposite of what social change demands. Its false premise that Israel is an apartheid state is a perversion of truth and reality, given that most Arab-Israelis prefer to live in Israel because, unlike its neighbours, it is free and democratic.

For example, an official with the United Nations told me last week that in Lebanon, Palestinians are segregated under the law and barred from certain professions. Yet this actual example of apartheid being practised in a Middle Eastern country is never mentioned by proponents of BDS. We can even note that the boycotters themselves have faced economic consequences from their decisions — just ask Ben & Jerry’s about the economic backlash it faced when it decided to stop selling its products in the West Bank. At the end of the day, however, Israel and the Jewish people will survive without certain books. We are an ancient people who have survived the test of time with the five books of Moses, thank you very much.

maybe she needs to be boycotted instead?

Benlolo managed to recycle 100% of Israeli apologist talking points in that piece. It’s like a BDS form letter. Sally Rooney doesn’t want Israeli’s profiting from her art, and that is perfectly acceptable.

You sure it's not a matter of personal conscience and someone not wanting to take part in an oppressive apartheid system? Because it kinda seems like it might be that.

Isn't it a cunning publicity stunt? Ms Rooney has now been covered by every major media organization around the world which wasn't the case previously.

Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Israel a step closer to commercial drones with latest testsDozens of drones floated through the skies of Tel Aviv on Monday, ferrying cartons of ice cream and sushi across the city in an experiment that officials hope provided a glimpse of the not-too-distant future.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Veteran rider Hugo Houle becomes latest Canadian to join Israel Start-Up NationHugo Houle joins fellow Canadians Michael Woods, Alex Cataford, Guillaume Boivin and James Piccoli in the ISN stable of riders
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Sally Rooney holds off on Hebrew translation of new novelAuthor Sally Rooney is holding off on allowing her current book to be translated into Hebrew, citing Israel's 'system of racial domination and segregation against Palestinians.' The world's least wanted war criminals
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Israel a step closer to commercial drones with latest testsDozens of drones floated through the skies of Tel Aviv on Monday, ferrying cartons of ice cream and sushi across the city in an experiment that officials hope provided a glimpse of the not-too-distant future.
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Veteran rider Hugo Houle becomes latest Canadian to join Israel Start-Up NationHugo Houle joins fellow Canadians Michael Woods, Alex Cataford, Guillaume Boivin and James Piccoli in the ISN stable of riders
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

Man kills several people in Norway in bow and arrow attacks, police saySeveral people were killed and others were injured by a man using a bow and arrows to carry out attacks in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg on Wednesday, local police said. CTVNationalNews thousands of potential immigrants including essential health care workers, engineers, scientists are in limbo since December 2020, not even a single word or an update by CitImmCanFR Despite being requested for information numerous times. marcomendicino , please resume FSW draws night :0(
Source: CTVNews - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »