Numerous music labels, promoters and collectives commit to cultural boycott of Israel

A number of music organisations, including labels, promoters and collectives, have committed to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

The campaign is an offshoot of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement, and was established in 2004 to oversee boycotts of cultural, artistic and academic areas of the movement.

Some of the groups to have supported the campaign include: Dark Entries, Techno Queers, Dweller, Noise Not Music, Night Slugs, 8-ball community, Gold Bolus Recordings, NYC Noise, FIST and many more.

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A statement on the Writers Against the War on Gaza website reads: “PACBI, or The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, advocates for a boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions for their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated by international law.”

It continues: “Cultural institutions and their communities are part and parcel of the ideological and institutional scaffolding of Israel’s regime of occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid against the Palestinian people. Israeli cultural institutions (including performing art companies, music groups, film organizations, writers’ unions and festivals) have cast their lot with the hegemonic Zionist establishment in Israel.”

There have been a number of pledges and campaigns for artists to support a ceasefire and the freedom of Palestine, including an open letter in October of last year, signed by 300 electronic musicians to “urgently speak out against Israel’s brutal and ongoing attack on Gaza”.

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More recently, over 100 artists, musicians and actors have signed an open letter to Keir Starmer, calling for him to halt arm sales to Israel if elected prime minister, saying, "We, the undersigned, write to urge you to take a stand against the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel and commit to stopping arms sales to Israel should you become Prime Minister."

Read PACBI’s full statement here.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram