S3, E8: Why is the Palestinian call for cultural boycott so important?
Why is the Palestinian call for cultural boycott so important?
Thursday 18th March 2021
Alia Malek, Miranda Pennell, Robert Cohen and Amos Director Chris Rose discussed the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), creativity, COVID and what the new normal meant for cultural solidarity with Palestine.
The Palestinian call for cultural boycott asks artists, musicians, writers and cultural workers not to perform or exhibit in Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights. It’s modelled on the cultural boycott that helped end apartheid in South Africa.
Cultural boycott is controversial. Some argue that art should transcend politics, that dialogue requires engagement. But Palestinians argue that normalising occupation through cultural exchange legitimises injustice. When artists perform in Israel without acknowledging the occupation, they help whitewash apartheid.
This conversation explored why cultural boycott matters, how artists and cultural workers can stand in solidarity with Palestinians, and what creative resistance looks like in practice.
Our guests:
- Alia Malek: Author and journalist
- Miranda Pennell: Filmmaker
- Robert Cohen: Amos Trust trustee
- Chris Rose: Amos Trust Director (host)
