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Dear Shamim Sarif, I
am aware that Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism
(QUIT!) and other international LGBT activists have
asked you to respect the cultural boycott of Israel and
withdraw your film from the TLVFest. I am writing
to support this call. Palestinians
have been waiting for over 60 years for Israel to
fulfill its obligations under international law.
These obligations include repatriation and reparations
for refugees and ending its 42-year military occupation
of the West Bank and Gaza. Instead of moving
toward a just peace, Israel continues on a daily basis
to commit new human rights violations, which have been
condemned by every major human rights organization, from
the United Nations Office for Coordination of Human
Rights to Amnesty International. Now
is the time for us in the the international community to
bring all the pressure we can to demand that Israel
comply with international law and respect human rights.
Artists and cultural workers have historically been in
the forefront of struggles such as this one.
Please support the growing movement for justice in
Palestine and Israel by withdrawing "I Can't Think
Straight" from the 2009 Tel Aviv festival and
letting organizers know that you look forward to showing
your film in Israel when it is truly a democracy, living
in peace with all others in the region.
Sincerely,
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