UK artists call for israel sanctions

The call for sanctions comes in the same week it was revealed 2014 was the deadliest year for Palestinians since 1967 with 2,300 killed and over 17,000 injured by Israel.

Their message was unequivocal. The next UK government must push the EU to impose immediate sanctions on Israel until it abides by international law. The messengers included some of the UK’s most well-regarded artistic voices: Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes, actor Maxine Peake, producer Brian Eno, director Ken Loach, and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

The move to increase the pressure on Israel was prompted by the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu and his pledge to continue the oppressive Israeli policies against Palestinians.

Members of the British artistic community have historically been very vocal about speaking out against the Palestinian in justice but in Britain today there are still exists a potentially high cost of artists who are described as breaking the status quo.

Despites hundreds of thousands demonstrating in the UK against the Gazan assault of 2014, artists still risk damaging their careers by speaking out against Israel. But could this pressure the new UK administration to act?

It is hoped that this public support for the Palestinians by the British artistic community will gain traction and remind everyone that every sector can play its part in holding Israel to account.