BDS, Racism and the New McCarthyism by Judea Pearl

This is one of eight essays we published today on "Academic Activism: Israelis, Palestinians, and the Ethics of Boycott." Click here to read the others. 

First Posted March 16, 2014

from the LA Review of Books. We posted this last month, but its important to read it again. Or for the first time if you're just stopping by! Here's the link:

GO HERE TO READ

How does the LGBT Crowd Feel about the Middle East?

NOTE: A great question to ask to the LGBT crowds on campus, some of whom are behind the BDS events. Here are two articles to compare. Thoughts? 

Egypt court sentences four gays to prison

A court in Egypt sentenced four men to up to eight years in prison on Monday for practicing homosexuality, a judicial official said.

Prosecutors had accused the men of holding "deviant parties" and dressing in women's clothes. Three were sentenced to eight years and the fourth to three years in prison.

Prosecutors have used a law banning "debauchery" to try homosexuals in the past.

Those accused of homosexuality are often forced to undergo medical tests to establish they are "habitual" gays, a practice rights groups have decried as abusive.

Homosexuality is not tolerated across the Middle East and much of Africa.  LINK

Tel Aviv declared world's best gay travel destination

In a world-wide survey conducted by GayCities.com and American Airlines, 43 percent of voters cast their ballot in favor of the White City, followed by New York City with 14 per cent, Toronto with 7 per cent, Sao Paulo with 6 per cent, Madrid and London with 5 per
cent each and New Orleans and Mexico City with 4 per cent each.

The crowning title of Best City was just one of the categories included in the competition of gay travel destinations. New York scored top votes for Best Night Life, San Francisco took Best Pride, Paris won Best Food and Seattle got Best Settle Down City. The smaller city of Buffalo took in quite a few votes itself, and was declared Best Up and Coming City.

Tel Aviv has always been known as a gay-friendly place, but it upped its presence around the world this year with a number of different activities, including its Tel Aviv Gay Vibe campaign, organized in coordination with the municipality's Ministry of Tourism.

About 5,000 gay tourists were recorded as visiting Tel Aviv last June for the annual Gay Pride Parade – 25 percent more than in 2010. Now that it's been voted best city, Tel Aviv can probably expect even more foreign visitors this June. LINK

h/t to RM