This weeks BDS fails. Great and Small

*  A resolution condemning Israel is defeated by the MLA

The MLA, the Modern language Association failed to  mobilize even 10% of their members to pass a measure condemning Israel Via  Peggy Shapiro, member, Modern LanguageAssociation and StandWithUs-Midwest Director

A coterie of anti-Israel MLA activists had introduced the resolution which was based on such shoddy research and factual errors that it had to be changed twice before it was submitted to the membership for a vote. The original resolution, presented to delegates at the MLA's annual conference in January 2014, claimed that Israel had “arbitrarily denied academics of Palestinian background entry into the West Bank and Gaza.” The reference to Gaza had to be deleted because Egypt, not Israel, controls the entry of academics into Gaza, a fact overlooked or unknown by the resolution's authors.  Then the word “arbitrarily” had to be removed because there was incontrovertible evidence that Israel's visa requirements are not arbitrary.  They are consistent with the standards of other liberal democracies, and even the U.S. Department of State reports “no overt threat to academic freedom exists in Israel.”  In short, Israel's alleged violations could not be substantiated.

 Like other anti-Israel resolutions, the MLA resolution also erased all context to manipulate voters.  It omitted information about the significant academic and research exchanges between Israelis and Palestinians, and it never encouraged peaceful coexistence. It had only one purpose: to defame Israel.  This resolution was discriminatory, singling out Israel for unfair and dishonest attacks. 

Campuses and academic associations have become an epicenter of anti-Israel activity in the U.S., but the movement is facing defeats.  For example, when the American Studies Association [ASA] passed an academic boycott of Israel last December, over 250 university presidents and leading academic associations denounced the decision.

* The Rolling Stones Rock Tel Aviv

Ignoring a huge pressure campaign mounted by anti-Israel activists the Rolling Stones played to 50,000 of their fans in Israel Wednesday night, delaying the start of their concert until after the conclusion of the Jewish holiday of Shavuout .  Afterwards, legendary singer Mick Jagger  tweeted in Hebrew "Thanks to everyone in Israel for the wonderful reception.  It was a great concert and we will always remember it."  Nice.

*South Carolina gives its residents a tangible way to express their solidarity with Israel

 A bill creating "South Carolina Stands With Israel" license plates was approved by approved by the South Carolina House on April 3, 2014 in a vote 57 to 1. The bill was later approved unanimously by the Senate and was signed into law by South Carolina’s governor, on June 2. Watch for the new plates on South Carolina roads in the near future. Read the backstory at the Jewish press

*Dreaded Israeli-Water-washing

United Utilities, the UK’s largest listed water company, is the latest water utility to sign a contract with Israel’s Mapal Green Energy for wastewater treatment. United Utilities is now the third UK water provider to purchase Mapal’s bubble aeration water purification system for use in municipal and regional water supply systems. Seven million homes in England will be serviced.  Water utilities  can save between 40 percent and 70% of the energy used with other diffusion systems and 80% of maintenance costs using Mapal technology.