BREAKING: Carlo Mombelli, celebrated jazz artist, withdraws from tonight's controversial Israeli concert at Wits University

BREAKING: Carlo Mombelli, celebrated jazz artist, withdraws from controversial Israeli concert at Wits University

BDS South Africa can confirm that it has received communication from Dr Kelly Gillespie, a senior lecturer at Wits University, indicating that Carlo Mombelli --the celebrated South African jazz artist-- has withdrawn his scheduled participation from tonight's controversial Israeli concert being hosted at Wits University. According to Gillespie, Carlo Mombelli has withdrawn "as his conscience does not allow him to participate". Click here for Mombelli's biography.

BDS South Africa together with the students of the Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee would like to thank and salute Carlo Mombelli for his principled position. Mombelli now joins the growing list of artists that are refusing to "entertain [Israeli] apartheid", not cross the cultural boycott of Israel picket line and support the non-violent boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign which seeks a just peace for both Palestinians and Israelis - similar to the solution that was found here in South Africa. Some of the artists and intellectuals who have publicly lent their support and/or respected the boycott of Israel include : award-winning musician, Stevie Wonder; Jazz artist, Cassandra Wilson; Roger Waters of Pink Floyd; musician, Elvis Costello; author, Alice Walker; intellectual, Stephen Hawking and most recently, the film director, Mira Nair.

BACKGROUND
The hosting of tonight's Daniel Zamir Israel concert at Wits University comes five months after another Israeli musical event at Wits University was protested and subsequently cancelled. After the previous concert, Wits University's newly appointed Principal, Professor Adam Habib, offered this "make up" Daniel Zamir event to the pro-Israeli organizers (click here).

Following the announcement of the new concert, telephone recordings were released by the Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee and BDS South Africa with evidence of ethnic racism and racial profiling being practiced by pro-Israeli organisations in South Africa (which include the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the South African Zionist Federation and the controversial Community Security Organisation) who have (according to a meeting with Professor Adam Habib) funded the hosting of the Daniel Zamir Israeli concert at Wits. Click here to listen to the audio recordings on YouTube or click here to find further information here: http://ymlp232.net/zuchHr.

In the audio recordings, the Beyachad (which is the headquarters of the two pro-Israeli organizations: the SA Jewish Board of Deputies and the SA Zionist Federation) admit that they themselves have "bought-out" the entire Israeli concert at Wits University in order to re-sell the tickets and make use of their own "background checks" when re-selling so as to try and keep the event as a "Jewish only" one - even though the event has been advertised (by themselves) as one open to the general public. Professor Adam Habib, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Wits University has said to the Wits University campus newspaper, the Vuvuzela Newspaper, that the allegations made by the Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee and BDS South Africa "could not be true" (see: http://tinyurl.com/pel4cgc).

Meanwhile, Zev Krengel, the President of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) released a statement today, stating that the two people who are recorded in the audio tapes made available by BDS South Africa "had simply misunderstood what the brief was" from the SAJBD (see: http://tinyurl.com/oyae4l). It is unclear, and Mr Krengel does not explain, what was the correct brief for the re-selling of the tickets.

The Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee and BDS South Africa brought this evidence of racial profiling (as well as the fact that the concert violated the Wits University's SRC boycott of Israel resolution) to the attention of Wits University's Management including Wits University's Principal, Professor Adam Habib. However, failing to receive a response from either Wits University's Principal or Management, the Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee and BDS South Africa together with concerned Wits University staff and students are staging a silent protest outside this evening's Daniel Zamir Israel concert at Wits University's Great Hall. The silent protest is against the practise by pro-Israeli organizations of racial-profiling, conducting "background-checks" and the hosting of an Israeli concert at Wits University. The protest will start at 18h30 and all media are invited.

ISSUED BY MUHAMMED DESAI ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA

FOR COMMENT:
Dr Kelly Gillespie - 0822943402