Threats and the Triumph of Conscience

Admirable.  To defy the populist campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel through a pervasive boycott takes great strength of character.  Unless one is agreeably complicit with the turn of mind that lurks behind the principle of calling to account a country that is desperate to defend itself from ongoing violence directed toward its populace.  A violence that can be overlooked for the greater good perceived to be had in defending the administration that encourages that very violence.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel - very much aligned with the Boycott and Divestment push of unions and academics who use the sanctimonious conceit of defending freedom against a state they label an apartheid one because of its need to protect itself from a destroying force in whose defence the liberal left finds huge merit  - made every effort to dissuade Canada's Alanis Morisette from performing in Tel Aviv.

"We hope that a personal appeal from us, a campaign that enjoys overwhelming  consensus amongst Palestinian civil society, will convince you to cancel this show."  Alanis Morrisette chose to cast her talented professional lot 'amongst Israeli civil society' instead.  And so it was in Tel Aviv to huge applause and appreciation that she rounded out her 2012 tour, entertaining a sold-out crowd at Tel Aviv's Nokia Arena.

Ohad Zwigenberg Alanis Morissette visits the the Western Wall after landing in Israel on Saturday. 

Where Alanis Morissette was confronted with the heart-warming scene of Canadian flags held aloft in celebration of both her principled choice and direction and her outstanding performance abilities. "Alanis Morissette is enacting a spectacular #BDSfail this very moment", tweeted one of her ardent admirers who also happens to be head of social media with the Jewish Agency of Israel.

When Kim Kardashian tweeted a message to her followers, “praying for everyone in Israel!” she earned for herself a vicious backlash from all those among her fans who felt otherwise, that to pray for the well-being of the Israelis was analogous to the commission of a grave sin.  She responded by issuing yet another message in a following tweet: “praying for everyone in Palestine… as well as across the world!”

That kind of even-handed compassion does not sit well with the countless critics of Israel.  Despite knowing this well in advance, it is hugely to Alanis Morissette's credit that she was not dissuaded from her original intention, and for her and her hugely enthusiastic audience, the show went ahead as scheduled.  A far cry from the recent slap-in-the-face cancellation of Stevie Wonder last week, when he deigned not to perform at a benefit for the Israeli Defense Forces.

When Elvis Costello cancelled two Israeli tour dates, he invoked conscience and principle.  Reflecting his particular perspective.  Which was not shared by the Red Hot Chili Peppers who performed at Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park, despite being bombarded with activist 'appeals' to cancel their appearance.  The boycott campaigners haven't overlooked the reverse boycott appeals, interrupting performances by the Batsheva Dance Company at their U.K. performances.

These boycott activities speak volumes about the much deeper purpose of those who engaged in this type of psycho-social bullying, and their campaign to use any means of derogatory and slanderous descriptions of a democratic society struggling to maintain itself despite the virulence and violence of its neighbours attempting to dislodge it from its rightful inheritance in the Middle East.