Republican News · Thursday 7 November 2002

Festival slammed for taking blood money

Up to 100 people picketed the showpiece Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Tuesday 5 November to protest the organisers of the Belfast Festival's acceptance of funding from the Israeli Embassy in London. Those protesting pointed to Israel's campaign of aggression against the people of Palestine. They said the concert was taking place "at a time when the Israeli occupation army is conducting a systematic vicious destructive campaign against the institutions of civil society in Palestine".

The Belfast Festival at Queen's organisers accepted the funding for the Yossi Yungman Dance Company, which performed in the Waterfront Hall on Tuesday night. The picket was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and was supported by Sinn Féin, the Unison trade union and Queen's students and lecturers.

Last week, the IPSC handed a petition of over 1,500 names to the Festival organisers, objecting to their taking the Israeli government money. Among those who signed were a number of Ireland's foremost artists.