PALESTINIAN SUPPORTERS THREATEN TO DISRUPT FRINGE SHOW

Palestinian rights supporters threaten to disrupt the Edinburgh Fringe unless a play sponsored by the Israeli Occupation government is cancelled.(Photo: PNN)

Edinburgh, 1 Syawal 1435/28 Juli 2014 (MINA) – Supporters of Palestinian rights have threatened to disrupt the Edinburgh Fringe unless a play sponsored by the Israeli Occupation government is cancelled. The staging of the play by Jerusalem based Incubator Theatre at the Underbelly in Bristo Square has already been criticised by leading actors and performers as well others in the art world.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign which is helping to organise the protest said, The Israeli Occupation government has a deliberate policy of funding cultural groups in an attempt to have the rest of the world see it as a modern democratic state which funds the arts for the entertainment and cultural value, Palestine News Network (PNN) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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Nothing could be further from the truth. Israel denies human rights, ruthlessly exercises a blockade of Gaza, quashes peaceful protest, forcibly removes people from the homes and their land and continues with the building of illegal settlements.

“As the killing of innocent men women and children continues in Gaza it is unacceptable that ambassadors for the Israeli Occupation killing machine are here in Edinburgh to entertain us. As was the case with Apartheid South Africa, the boycott of cultural events is an important element of our campaign to support Palestinian rights and end Israel’s aggression.

“We will protest every day to stop this play. We don’t want it, the artistic community don’t want it, and the people of Edinburgh don’t want it. This show must not go on.”

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There has been a history of protest against Israeli government backed performances at the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2012 several performances by the Batsheva dance group were disrupted by protestors inside the hall and in 2008 five protestors were arrested for disrupting a performance by the Jerusalem String Quartet.

The charges of acting in a racially aggravated manner against the five members of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign were thrown out by an Edinburgh Sheriff who ridiculed the Procurator Fiscal’s attempts at criminalising legitimate protest.(T/P02/E01)

MI’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)