We are writing to express our concern at the planned exhibition of Israeli Medicine, Science and Technology to be held at the Scottish Parliament in late April. The parliament is not a private venue and this is not an exhibition of science that just happens to have been carried out by Israelis. The exhibits are defined by their Israeli nationality and are being displayed in a building symbolic of the Scottish nation. Despite any protests to the contrary, such an exhibition will be taken to imply tacit approval by the Scottish Government of the actions of the Israeli Government.
IOA Editor: Please add your name to the petition.
Received by email from Scottish Jews for a Just Peace – 28 March 2010
This has already been the subject of an article in the Scotsman:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Holyrood-slated-over-Israeli-exhibition.6175052.jp
and of a online petition to the Scottish Government:
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=383
We are writing to express our concern at the planned exhibition of Israeli Medicine, Science and Technology to be held at the Scottish Parliament in late April. The parliament is not a private venue and this is not an exhibition of science that just happens to have been carried out by Israelis. The exhibits are defined by their Israeli nationality and are being displayed in a building symbolic of the Scottish nation. Despite any protests to the contrary, such an exhibition will be taken to imply tacit approval by the Scottish Government of the actions of the Israeli Government. Israeli science has produced advances in many areas, but it has been used as an important tool in the subjugation of the occupied territories of Gaza and the West Bank. Israeli scientists developed the weapons that killed and maimed thousands in Gaza a year ago, and which have devastated Palestinian hospitals and universities. Israeli science and technology has constructed Israel’s apartheid wall and diverted Palestinian water into Israeli settlements. Meanwhile, Israeli controls restrict vital supplies necessary for a basic healthy life from entering Gaza, and ensure that few Palestinians can benefit from the advances of Israeli medicine. Our Scottish government should not be giving any support to these actions. We call on MSPs to withdraw permission for this blatant PR exercise.
Sincerely,
Sarah Glynn
For Scottish Jews for a Just Peace
