JERUSALEM (JTA) — A group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates joined artists and activists in signing an open letter calling for an international military boycott of Israel following this month’s Gaza conflict.
The letter, first reported by the Guardian, criticizes the United States and the European Union, as well as others, for providing support to Israel’s military that enabled the launch of its Operation Pillar of Defense on Gaza. The operation was launched to end escalated rocket fire on Israel from Gaza.
"While the United States has been the largest sponsor of Israel, supplying billions of dollars of advanced military hardware every year, the role of the European Union must not go unnoticed, in particular its hefty subsidies to Israel’s military complex through its research programs," the letter said. It went on to chastise "the growing military ties between Israel and the emerging economies of Brazil, India and South Korea."
The 52 signers include Nobel Peace laureates Mairead Maguire, Nelson Mandela and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel; film directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach; author Alice Walker; U.S. academic Noam Chomsky; and Roger Waters of the rock band Pink Floyd.
