Response to the West Dunbartonshire Council Boycott of Books published in Israel

June 13, 2011

West Dunbartonshire Council

Garshake Road

Dumbarton, Scotland G82 3PU

Dear Councillors,

We have only recently become aware of the boycott declared by the West Dunbartonshire Council in January, 2009. Our understanding is that the full motion reads as follows:

“This Council deplores the loss of life in Palestine which now numbers well over 1,000. This Council also recognises the disproportionate force used by the IDF in Palestine and agrees to boycott all Israeli goods as a consequence. Officers should immediately cease the purchase of any goods we currently source, which were made or grown in Israel. Officers should also ensure we procure no new goods or produce from Israel until this boycott is formally lifted by WDC.”

We too deplore loss of life, whether Palestinian or Israeli. But we also deplore your biased, uninformed, and counter-productive resolution against the Jewish State.While we are sure that you were motivated to take this action for humanitarian reasons, please understand that it reveals a complete misunderstanding of what is actually happening between Israel and its neighboring countries.

Israel has been forced to fight for its existence ever since it became an independent, democratic, Jewish state on May 14, 1948. The surrounding Arab armies invaded Israel shortly after it declared independence, and have tried many times since then to wipe Israel off the face of the map. Furthermore, Israel has been subjected to an ongoing terrorist threat throughout the 63 years of its existence.

After the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel was, in Defense Minister Moshe Dayan’s words, “waiting for a telephone call” from the Arab leaders, expecting that they would now finally be ready to accept Israel’s existence, and talk about peace. Unfortunately, these same Arab leaders responded with the Khartoum Declaration of the three no’s: no peace, no negotiations, and no recognition of Israel.

Most recently, Israel showed tremendous restraint during years when over 7,000 missiles were fired from Gaza, endangering and killing its citizens; please recognize that no other country has shown such restraint under such a barrage. When this could no longer be tolerated, Israel attempted to remove the infrastructure for firing missiles from Gaza. Despite your contention that disproportionate force was used, Colonel Richard Kemp, previous Commander of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan, reported to the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2009, stating that “During its operation in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”

We could go on and on, describing just how seriously Israel seeks peace with its Arab neighbors, and how at every turn its efforts have been rebuffed. Your resolution ignores the wider context and calls for punishing Israel although Israel shares your core values. It is a multicultural, liberal democracy that staunchly protects the rights of women, gays, and different religious and ethnic groups, including Israeli-Arabs who are 23% of the population.

It is thus frustrating when we see ill-conceived boycotts of Israel and Israeli products, such as the one you have elected to draft. We urge you to retract this resolution immediately. Until such time as the boycott is lifted, we will be forced to ask our congregants, restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, liquor stores, and other establishments to boycott the fine Scotch whisky made and distributed by those distilleries in your region. Furthermore we will be launching a campaign that urges travelers, tourists and businessmen, to avoid hotels, restaurants, and shops in the West Dunbartonshire region.

Rabbi Kalman Topp

Senior Rabbi

Rabbi Marc Mandel

Associate Rabbi

Rabbi Uri Pilichowski

Assistant Rabbi

Rabbi Adir Posy

Assistant Rabbi

Steven Tabak, M.D.

Chairman of the Board

David West

President

Click here to read a related article by Roz Rothstein.

To Our Friends Who Care About Israel and Peace:

Write your own letter to the people below. Send a copy of your letter to:

info@standwithus.com. Thank you in advance for your activism on behalf of Israel!

Denis.Agnew@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Denis.Agnew@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"George.Black@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <George.Black@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"James.Bollan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <James.Bollan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Jim.Brown@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Jim.Brown@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Geoffrey.Calvert@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Geoffrey.Calvert@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Gail.Casey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Gail.Casey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"jim.finn@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <jim.finn@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"william.hendrie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <william.hendrie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Douglas.McAllister@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Douglas.McAllister@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"david.mcbride@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <david.mcbride@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Ronnie.McColl@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Ronnie.McColl@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"jonathan.mccoll@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <jonathan.mccoll@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Jim.McElhill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Jim.McElhill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Patrick.McGlinchey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Patrick.McGlinchey@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Craig.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Craig.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"William.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <William.McLaughlin@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Marie.McNair@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Marie.McNair@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"John.Millar@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <John.Millar@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"lawrence.oneill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <lawrence.oneill@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Iain.Robertson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Iain.Robertson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,"Martin.Rooney@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <Martin.Rooney@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>,

"May.Smillie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk" <May.Smillie@west-dunbarton.gov.uk>

"info@morrisonbowmore.co.uk" <info@morrisonbowmore.co.uk>,"mail@lochlomonddistillery.com" <mail@lochlomonddistillery.com>,"media.relations@pernod-ricard.com" <media.relations@pernod-ricard.com>,"ask@spso.ork.uk" <ask@spso.ork.uk>