113 actors, musicians, directors, writers and artists have signed a petition calling on the Israeli government to cancel Defense Minister Bnei Gantz's declaration last month that six human rights organizations of the "Popular Front" would be defined as terrorist organizations.
Among the names can be found many well-known names, including successful and esteemed actors like Richard Gere, Tilda Swinton, Susan Sarandon, Simon Peg, Claire Foy and Julie Christie, directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurismaki and Alfonso Cuarón, the musicians C 'Royce Cocker, David Byrne and Peter Gabriel, writers like Philip Pullman, Jan Martel, Naomi Klein and Irwin Walsh, and even former footballer Eric Cantona.
Going over the full list of signatories reveals that one can find in it some of the "immediate suspects", i.e. cultural figures who tend to speak out publicly against Israel and its moves, including musician Roger Waters, directors Mike Lee and Ken Loach, and actors Mark Ruffalo and Mark Rylance.
Popular Front activists celebrate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, 2014, Photo: AP
Israel has come under heavy criticism, claiming that it "is carrying out an unprecedented attack on Palestinian human rights defenders. These bodies have a vital job to do in protecting and empowering Palestinians and making Israel responsible for its human rights violations and its racist and discriminatory apartheid regime. That is exactly what "They want to make Israel stop doing that."
"His attitude towards the Palestinian winners has become a stain on the conscience of the world," the petition read.
"The time has come for the world to act and bring about sanctions on Israeli bodies until the Palestinians receive equal and full civil rights.
Rufalo posted the petition on his Twitter account, which has more than 7.7 million followers, and wrote: "We are proud to be among the more than 100 artists, actors and others who call on the international community to protect Palestinian human rights organizations in their fight against Israeli government repression."
He also called on his followers in the United States to call on Congress to act on the issue.
Proud to be one of 100+ artists, actors, and more calling on the international community to defend Palestinian human rights orgs against Israeli government repression.
# StandWithThe6
In the US?
Demand action from Congress now: https://t.co/yuSdvv5J3shttps://t.co/NGYTlWdEGh
- Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 17, 2021
Gantz signed an order last month declaring six Popular Front organizations terrorist organizations, claiming that these "will continue to act and intensify the damage to terrorism and the infrastructure of terrorism everywhere and by all means. I call on countries and organizations to help in this fight, and avoid contact with companies And organizations that supply the incendiary materials to terrorism. "
In response to the Secretary of Defense's decision, the United States asked Israel to clarify to it what the reasons were behind it. The US State Department also noted that Washington had not received advance notice from Jerusalem prior to the announcement.
"" It's time for the world to work. "Actress Susan Sarandon, 2017, Photo: AP
It is worth noting that about two years ago, the Ministry of Strategic Affairs published a report in which detailed evidence was provided of the connection between the terrorist organization "The Popular Front" and three of the six alleged human rights organizations.
The report outlines the way in which the Popular Front (and Hamas) infiltrate terrorist operatives into the seemingly innocent organizations in the Palestinian Authority, Europe and North America. ".