Dutch cultural institutions launch boycott of Israel over human rights concerns

A group of 250 cultural institutions in the Netherlands and Belgium has announced a cultural boycott of Israel. According to the organizers, signatories include the Netherlands Film Festival, the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, and the Rijksakademie of Fine Arts.

In a statement, they said they no longer wish to “stand on the sidelines of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a genocide of the Palestinian people acknowledged by all major institutions.”

The boycott targets Israeli institutions and companies seen as complicit in violations of international law. Organizations that have spoken out against these actions will not be boycotted. “The boycott does not target individuals or their nationality, including Israelis, but focuses on Israeli institutions and companies complicit in human rights abuses against Palestinians,” the statement clarified.

Prominent figures, including Eric Corton, Dinand Woesthoff, Nasrdin Dchar, and Maryam Hassouni, have joined the cultural institutions in supporting the boycott. It entails, among other things, that organizations and artists avoid collaborating with Israeli institutions they consider complicit and refrain from showcasing their work on Israeli stages, in museums, or at film festivals.

The organizations also called on the sports sector, academia, the business world, and politicians to sever all ties with Israel. “Only then can we force Israel to comply with international law,” they said.

It was recently reported that Over 5,000 film professionals worldwide, many from Hollywood, have publicly pledged not to work with Israeli institutions they view as complicit in human rights abuses. This follows previous measures, such as the decision by five countries, including the Netherlands, to boycott Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, should it be allowed to compete.