Oscar nominees paid to scatter stardust on Israel

Ken Loach, Photocall for Jimmy’s Hall © AFP

Variety Censors Ad Supporting Palestinian Human Rights

By Naomi Dann, Jewish Voice for Peace, Press Release
February 22, 2016

AD CALLS ON OSCAR NOMINEES TO “SKIP THE TRIP” TO ISRAEL OFFERED IN SWAG BAGS

After initially accepting payment from Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) for an ad placement in its Oscar issue, Variety informed the organization that it was unable to publish the advertisement because “it would need to have a softer tone.” After inquiring about specific edits that could be made, Variety’s Director of Strategic Partnerships Patrice Atiee elaborated that: “The topic is too sensitive at this time and we will not be in a position to add it to next week’s edition.”

According to Atiee, the ad was run past the senior team at the company (legal, operations, editorial) and the decision was made by publisher Michelle Sobrino. “In the past, Variety has published ads condemning the Obama Administration for daring to criticize Israel, so we are perplexed as to why our ad, which attempts to highlight Israel’s human rights abuses, is deemed unacceptable,” said Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, which co-sponsored the ad with JVP. “They are essentially censoring the other side of the debate. As a publication that I’m sure would claim to prize free speech, we find this highly disturbing”.

Munayyer is referring to an ad from the Emergency Committee to Protect Israel that was published by Variety on December 15, 2011, according to the Committee’s website. Advertisement Accepted by Variety Magazine “This is a clear and disturbing example of the constraints on public debate about Palestine and Israel,” said Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace. “Variety’s refusal to print our ad–especially in the context of the pro-occupation ads they have published in the past–illustrates a clear bias. Messages that support Israel are acceptable, while those that assert the humanity of Palestinians are censored.”

The ad is part of a campaign calling on Oscar nominees to #SkipTheTrip to Israel being offered in swag bags from Distinctive Assets, a Los Angeles-based marketing company. As Variety itself reported last week, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is suing Distinctive Assets for copyright infringement after it marketed its swag bags — which include a $55,000 all-expense paid trip to Israel — with slogans such as “Everyone Wins at the Oscars! Nominee Gift Bags.”

2016 Oscar nominees Mark Rylance [L] and Asif Kapadia have already pledged not to visit Israel professionally as long as the human rights violations persist. Last week, five-time Oscar nominee Mike Leigh, director Ken Loach and musician Brian Eno publicly denounced the Israeli government’s propaganda initiative, which is being promoted by Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, a vocal proponent of Israel’s illegal settlement project opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state.

The Israeli government is sponsoring the $55,000 all-expense paid, 10-day luxury travel pack with first-class air to Tel Aviv that is included in swag bags for Oscar nominees in the best actor/actress, best supporting actor/actress, and director categories. This year’s host Chris Rock is also set to receive one. Getting celebrities to come to Israel is part of a “Brand Israel” strategy by the government to improve Israel’s image abroad in the face of growing boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns (BDS) that challenge Israel’s military occupation and apartheid policies towards Palestinians.

 Director Asif Kapadia

“The Israeli Tourism Ministry wants glossy photos of stars in entertainment magazines to brand Israel as a sunny tourist destination, rather than a state enforcing occupation, discrimination and apartheid,” said Vilkomerson.

“The nominees now have an opportunity to take a stand for human rights by refusing to allow themselves to be used in Israel’s PR campaign,” said Vilkomerson. A petition launched last week urging nominees to follow the lead of celebrities like Ms. Lauryn Hill, Danny Glover, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Angela Davis, and others who have refused to lend their names to Israel’s past propaganda attempts already has over 5,700 signatures. The Palestinian Performing Arts Network, which represents the majority of the Palestinian cultural sector, is also calling on Oscar nominees to #SkipTheTrip, and the Palestinian BDS (Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions) National Committee, the broadest Palestinian civil society coalition, welcomed the Academy’s moves to distance itself from the swag bags.

Jewish Voice for Peace is a national organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP is one of the fastest growing Jewish organizations in the US, with more than 60 chapters and 200,000 members and supporters. The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is a coalition of hundreds of US organizations working to end all forms of US support for Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies. We support freedom, justice, and equality for all.

Israel’s goodies bag. Let’s hope anyone who takes up the bribe has good insurance.

Israel seeks to lure Oscar nominees with risky gift

By AFP
February 24, 2016

When the top nominees at this year’s Oscars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Matt Damon, open their goodie bags, inside will be a potentially controversial gift.

Israel has offered the 25 nominees for the top five awards, plus Chris Rock who will host Sunday’s ceremony, a personalised tour of the country valued at up to $55,000 including first class flights and luxury hotels.

The trip is part of a traditional gift bag handed out by a marketing firm around the time of the Academy Awards — this year reportedly worth more than $200,000 and including items such as ultra-expensive toilet paper and a “Vampire breast lift”.

The tourism ministry says the tour packages are designed to show the real Israel.

But critics have accused the country of using such promotional campaigns to whitewash alleged abuses against Palestinians, including the blockade of Gaza and occupation of the West Bank.

Sam Gee, founder of the exploreisrael.com agency that came up with the idea, said it was part of a plan to bring “influencers” to Israel.

“The Oscars is a good shot because there isn’t that many (nominees) and we were able to give a really high-value trip,” he said, comparing it to the Grammy music awards where 150 packages would have to be distributed.

– Focus on image –

The battle over celebrities in the region is hardly new. Frank Sinatra appeared at a benefit concert calling for support for a Jewish state in the Middle East even before Israel’s creation in 1948.

Yet the success of anti-Israeli campaigners — most prominently the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement — in increasing criticism of Israel’s actions, as well as a fresh wave of Palestinian violence, has put renewed focus on the country’s image.

“People tend to follow the celebrities. They tend to do what they do,” Gee said.

Social media have greatly amplified the reach of celebrity endorsements.

When Kim Kardashian and Kanye West visited Israel in 2015, the mayor of Jerusalem reportedly asked them to become ambassadors for the city and to tell people that “everyone is welcome in Jerusalem”.

It is unclear whether the status of east Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed, was discussed. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as their future capital, while Israel views the entire city as its undivided capital.

– ‘No strings attached’ –

Gee said they hoped nominees taking up the package would share their experiences on social media.

“We would definitely hope that if we give them a trip like this they would go ahead and tweet and be on social media that they are having a good time and we would get exposure out of it, but there is no strings attached,” he said.

Asked whether the celebrities would be permitted to visit Palestinian cities such as Ramallah in the occupied West Bank if they wanted, Gee said yes.

But the offer also has the potential to backfire.

Nominees Mark Ruffalo and Mark Rylance have been openly critical of Israel’s practices, including its ongoing blockade of Gaza.

Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, two of Britain’s most famous film directors, have urged the nominees to give their prizes to Palestinian refugees.

“If celebrities were to go on record, either before, during, or after a trip, with negative comments, it could result in a negative impact, rather than the desired positive associations,” said academic Margaret Campbell, who has written about the potential risks of celebrity endorsements.

“Similarly, if a celebrity went on the Israel trip and said something ridiculous or inappropriate, it could backfire.”

– Growing boycott campaign –

Palestinian campaigners say their cultural sector is often limited by Israeli restrictions, with circus performer Mohammed Abu Sakha among those currently detained without charge, for example.

Omar Barghouti, a rights activist and co-founder at BDS, said Israel was increasingly fearful of the growing boycott campaign.

“Since launching the so-called Brand Israel campaign in 2005 to counter BDS, Israel has multiplied its attempts to bribe, intimidate or otherwise coerce celebrities to toe its line,” he told AFP.

Despite the risks, there are reasons why celebrity endorsements are pursued: they often work.

A 2012 study led by a Harvard Business School  professor estimated that they led to a four-percent  increase in sales for companies.

Ofer Zalzberg, senior analyst for the Middle East with  the International Crisis Group think tank, said celebrity endorsements matter for Israel as they show the country is peaceful enough to visit.

A wave of Palestinian knife, gun and car-ramming attacks since October has damaged the country’s tourism industry. But the celebrities themselves also run risks.

Christiano Ronaldo, another footballer who  takes in the money, not the moral argument.

Recently, famous footballer Christiano Ronaldo appeared in an advert for an Israeli Internet company.

He had previously been claimed by many pro- Palestinian activists as a supporter of the cause. When the video was posted on his social media channels, he was criticised by Arab fans.

Barghouti of BDS admitted it was “disappointing” to see Ronaldo supporting an Israeli brand, but stressed that he hoped he would come around.