Criticism grows over planned ‘Tel Aviv beach’ in Paris

Ed-note (Sabba) – I wonder if they will  pour blood on the sand, just to make it ‘more real’?

The Parisians are outraged and have been showing their anger at this obscene initiative, but as we all already know, it will be to no avail.

But in my opinion, this story highlights beautifully the truth about BDS, its uselessness as a ‘political movement’, for things that matter, and the so called ‘threat’ it poses to the zionist entity occupying the Holy Land. If BDS was so successful, this would have never taken place.

BDS, like the palestinian solidarity movement, has been hijacked, has been subverted and is now fighting to legitimate the jewish state in the region.

Its leaders have become vulgar, almost jewish caricatures of themselves. They love to stress how judaism and zionism are 2 different things, how they are fighting  to latter because judaism is a beautiful religion, a religion of peace, they never miss an opportunity to stress that they also fight against anti-semitism… Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

In their fight against anti-semitism, Ali Abu Nimah went as far as calling Gilad Atzmon an ‘anti-semite’.  What else is there to say?

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JERUSALEM POST – Controversy is growing in France following the Paris town council’s decision for Tel Aviv be one of the cities honored in the Paris-Beaches summer event organized every year by the municipality.

The month-long festival turns the banks of the Seine River and the Bassin de la Villette into beaches, trucking in sand and other coastal paraphernalia.

This year, each day will be dedicated to a different famous beach around the world and, Thursday, the outdoor space is slated to be turned into the shores of Tel Aviv. “The city is transformed for one month to embody the carefree and quiet nature of summer,” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote about the event. “Whether or not the sun is shining, Parisians and tourists can enjoy sport, activities, games, culture and relaxation…

This great feast allows everyone to change the scenery in their own city – to travel near home and escape from everyday life without leaving Paris.”

According to sources in the Paris Municipality, the decision to include Tel Aviv this year was made as a “cultural partnership” last May when Hidalgo visited Israel and the Palestinian territories.

“She announced her desire to strengthen the exchange ties between her city and the local authorities of the two countries,” they said.

But across social media, and even among local politicians, the decision has caused an outcry. Danielle Simonnet, a left-wing lawmaker, called for the day devoted to Tel Aviv to be canceled.

In an interview on French Inter radio on Monday, Simonnet instead called for turning the day into “a peace protest, in support of fraternity, in support of the fight against all forms of racism and anti-Semitism, and to back recognition of the Palestinian state.”

“Just one year after the massacres over the Gaza Strip by the Israeli state and army, the City of Paris dares to organize in the frame of its cultural partnerships with the big cities of the world a day honoring Tel Aviv,” she wrote in a letter of protest.

Simonnet, who for the last seven years has represented the French capital’s 20th district – which has a large Arab population – said the day-long festival “sends a very bad message.”

She also said, “For the Israeli government, this is a nice bit of PR that Paris is serving up on a plate.”

The National Bureau for Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism, or BNVCA, on Sunday condemned Simonnet for her calls to cancel the event and said the city’s mayor should not yield to her pressure.

The pro-Palestinian group CAPJPO- Europalestine has called for protests of the event if it is not canceled.

BNVCA, an anti-Semitism watchdog, said it has asked the Paris police commissioner to bolster security during the festival day devoted to Tel Aviv out of fear of anti-Semitic attacks.

Bruno Julliard the first deputy mayor of Paris, said on Sunday: “We refuse any parallels between the brutal colonization policy of Israel and the city of Tel Aviv, which is a progressive city and a symbol of tolerance.

“We will not let an entire population be punished for its government’s colonialist policy,” he added.

The municipality explained that “the whole idea of Paris-Plages and of this specific day is to allow Parisians who can’t go on a trip to travel a little bit.”

It also said security measures will be taken “at a maximum level” together with the Paris police.