[WS:] I tend to agree. Exclusive focus on Israel as the sole culprit of human rights abuses in the region misses the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Saudi Arabia denies citizenship rights to half of its population, is a major funder of international terrorism, has a mockery of justice system that routinely executes people on whimsical charges, is a major warmonger in the region fomenting US aggression toward its neighbor states, and has arguably one of the most undemocratic political systems on this planet - yet not only is it shielded by the US ruling class from any criticism, but nobody even proposes to boycott big oil and financial companies that do business with it.
This of course does not mean that Israeli policy toward Palestinians should not be criticized, but let's keep some sense of proportion here. Whatever is wrong with this policy, it pales in comparison to the feudal theocracy next door.If one proposes to boycott Israel, one at the very least should also include Saudi Arabia in the mix.
Wojtek
On Wed, Apr 24, 2013 at 2:47 AM, Fernando Cassia <fcassia at gmail.com> wrote:
> ///
> SB 160, authored by Student Action Senator George Kadifa, seeks the
> divestment of more than $14 million in ASUC and UC assets from
> companies including Caterpillar and Hewlett-Packard. The bill claims
> that these companies are complicit in Israel’s alleged abuse of human
> rights in Gaza, including the illegal demolition of Palestinian homes.
>
> However, Landgraf said he decided not to veto the bill because he
> believed such an act would only lengthen the conflict and make the
> campus’s healing process more difficult. It is for this reason only,
> Landgraf said, that he decided not to veto SB 160.
>
> Last week’s ASUC meeting lasted more than 10 hours and was attended by
> more than 500 students, faculty and other concerned members of the
> community. Three senators cried as they explained their votes, which
> took place just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
>
> Chancellor Robert Birgeneau released a statement last Thursday
> affirming his opposition to SB 160, saying that he believed that
> “targeting a single nation or state in this highly complex world is
> not appropriate and does little to advance the cause of peace and
> coexistence.”
> ///
>
>
> http://www.dailycal.org/2013/04/23/landgraf-announces-no-veto-on-divestment-bill/
>
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-- Wojtek
"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."