Over 1,250 Irish artists pledge to boycott ‘Israel’ in support of Palestine

Dublin (QNN)- As support for the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement continues to grow around the world, the “Irish Artists’ Pledge to Boycott Israel” has just passed the 1,250 signatory mark.

The Irish artists’ pledge was launched a decade ago, initiated by renowned composer, and IPSC co-founder, Raymond Deane.

✊🏿 Did you know? 1,250 artists have signed our Irish Artists' Pledge to boycott Israel! This is an amazing show of solidarity with the Palestinian people. #BDS is UNSTOPPABLE! #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/a7aIETsKHv

— IPSC (@ipsc48) July 8, 2021

Initially signed by over 140 Irish creative and performing artists, the pledge now has over 1,250 signatories, including; Stephen Rea, Sinéad Cusack, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Damien Dempsey, Sharon Shannon, Robert Ballagh, Mary Black and Kíla.

“We are very proud to have so many artists sign up to our pledge,” IPSC Cultural Liaison Zoë Lawlor said.

“Reaching 1,000 signatories is a huge landmark in Irish solidarity with Palestine and a serious statement in support of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. As the indigenous Palestinian people endure their 73rd year of dispossession, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and enforced exile, and western governments fail to sanction Israel, they need the solidarity of people of conscience – and this pledge plays a major part in that,” Lawlor adds.

“Irish artists have faced an extremely difficult year, but have still shown their support for the Palestinian people, and it is both moving and heartening so see such empathy and shared humanity.”

The Pledge, which commits signatories to refrain from performing in the apartheid state of Israel, was launched by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) in August 2010.

The Pledge reads as follows:

“In response to the call from Palestinian civil society for a cultural boycott of Israel, we pledge not to avail of any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel, nor to accept any funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”

Ireland was the first nationally organised cultural boycott of Israel, and was followed by similar successful initiatives in Switzerland, South Africa, Britain and elsewhere.