Marcy Oster
Israeli institutions facing new boycotts — by Israelis
JERUSALEM – By now it would seem that Israelis are accustomed to calls for boycotts of Israeli products and institutions.
Many, however, may have been caught off guard this summer when those calls came from inside Israel.
In two separate incidents over the past few weeks, Israelis issued a call for boycott or announced a boycott of an Israeli institution for political reasons. One protest came from the right, directed at an Israeli university with allegedly “anti-Zionist” professors on staff; one came from the left, directed at an Israeli theater in the west bank.
Bedouin demolitions raising tensions in Israeli land dispute
JERUSALEM – A standoff between the Israeli government and an unrecognized Bedouin village in the Negev Desert is raising tensions over land rights in southern Israel.
Village residents are rebuilding their homes for the third time in as many weeks after their demolition Tuesday by Israeli authorities.
In the first demolition order carried out July 27, some 1,300 police escorted Israel Lands Administration officials into the unofficial village of Al-Arakib before dawn, removing the area’s 300 residents before razing 45 structures, including homes and chicken coops. Residents rebuilt their homes and the police returned — twice.
The government says the Bedouin are occupying the land illegally; the Bedouin refused the government’s offer to let them stay as renters.
Israel under the radar
Muting singing rabbis, business whizzes, special boot camp
JERUSALEM – Here are some recent stories out of Israel that you may have missed:
Quit the chuppah singing, rabbis told
Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has ordered rabbis to stop singing under the chuppah, saying it “cheapens the Rabbinate.”
Ynet reported earlier this month that the Council of the Chief Rabbinate agreed to strip rabbis who incorporate song and musical performance into the marriage ceremony of their authority to officiate at weddings.
