MENA Theater Makers Alliance Endorses PACBI

​

The Middle Eastern North African Theater Makers Alliance (MENATMA) continues to stand in unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian people who are enduring a genocidal campaign committed by the state of Israel with full impunity from the U.S. government and many world leaders. In response to the ongoing genocide, illegal occupation, and apartheid policies of the state of Israel, MENATMA hereby endorses the Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), part of the Palestinian International Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. 

​

By aligning with PACBI’s guidelines, MENATMA deepens our commitment and solidarity practices during times of unthinkable, livestreamed genocide to which  the world has been witness. We are responding to the Theater Workers for Ceasefire (TW4C) call to publicly endorse PACBI, joining many other artistic organizations in solidarity.

​

By officially endorsing PACBI, MENATMA commits to abide by the following International Cultural Boycott Guidelines:

​

1. As a general overriding rule, Israeli cultural institutions, unless proven otherwise, are complicit in maintaining the Israeli occupation and denial of basic Palestinian rights, whether through their silence or actual involvement in justifying, whitewashing or otherwise deliberately diverting attention from Israel’s violations of international law and human rights.

2. A cultural product is boycottable if it is commissioned by an official Israeli body or non-Israeli institution that serves Brand Israel or similar propaganda purposes.

3. A cultural event/activity is boycottable if it is partially or fully sponsored by an official Israeli body or a complicit institution.

4. Normalization Projects are boycottable.*

5. Fact-finding missions and study tours that receive funding from Israel, its complicit institutions, or its international lobby groups are subject to the boycott.

 

For deeper understanding, we encourage everyone to read the full explanation of PACBI guidelines: https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/cultural-boycott-guidelines 

​

In alignment with BDS and PACBI’s guidelines, mere affiliation of Israeli scholars and artists to an Israeli academic or cultural institution is not grounds for applying the boycott. Rooted in principles of international law and universal human rights, the BDS movement, including PACBI, rejects on principle boycotts of individuals based on their identity (such as citizenship, race, gender, or religion) or opinion. If, however, an individual is representing the state of Israel or a complicit Israeli institution (such as a dean, rector, or president), or is commissioned/recruited to participate in Israel’s efforts to “rebrand” itself, then their activities are subject to the institutional boycott the BDS movement is calling for.

​

We urge theater makers and institutions across the United States to stand on the right side of history, to join us in breaking the silence, to publicly denounce the ongoing genocide funded by our tax dollars, and to take a stance against genocide, occupation, and apartheid.

 

* MENATMA offers this explanation of “Normalization Projects:” Sponsored cultural events supported by official Israeli bodies, complicit institutions, or pro-Israel lobby groups, such as festivals partially or fully sponsored by these entities; or projects that bring Palestinians and Israelis together to “normalize” relations, unless the Israeli counterparts actively oppose oppression and recognize full Palestinian rights, including the Right of Return.