It is all a sham. Israel is no real democracy. Never has been a real democracy for its Arab citizens and does not even bother with a pretense when it comes to the 4.5 million Palestinians in the Occupied Territories (22% of Palestine). And increasingly, the Israeli government is restricting the rights of its Jewish citizens (more on that below). But until recently Israel maintained some limits in its abuse of Palestinians, but as the Jewish state feels more and more on the defensive it has resorted to a new level for thuggery. Israel has taken note of the increasing success of the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions). Recent months have seen the European Union labeling all Israeli goods produced in the occupied territories as a product of occupation. Then, Britain refused to rent office space from an Israeli businessman whom funds illegal settlements. And then, Britain’s +six-million strong TUC union voted in favor of a boycott of Israeli goods. And then still Norway’s sovereign wealth fund divested from an Israeli company profiting from the occupation. And most recently Spain has banned Israeli companies from a prestigious conference, the world’s premier, on solar power. And Israel’s “diplomats” are working overtime to improve Israel’s image, but image isn’t the problem it is the product and no amount of PR will change that. But Israelis still continue to find petty ways to abuse innocent Palestinians.

Many of the activists in this regard are Palestinians living aboard. One such is Mohammad Othman, a human rights activist. A resident of Norway, upon crossing into Israel from Jordan Othman was arrested explicitly and solely for his BDS activism. How long he will be detained remains unclear since arrested Palestinians (even those with foreign passports) are often held without charges for months by Israel. This is a new effort by Israel to harass Palestinians engaging in peaceful activism against the occupation. In recent days, Israel has arrested Palestinians whom cooperated with the United Nation’s Goldstone report. These are the standards of the Zionist regime.

There is a petition on behalf of Othman which has already gained 1,000 signatories:

Mohammad is involved with Stop the Wall, the grassroots anti-Apartheid Wall campaign and War on Want partner organisation, and has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to the defence of Palestinian human rights. His village, Jayyous, in the occupied West Bank, has lost most of its fertile agricultural land to Israel’s illegal Wall and settlements.

It is believed that Othman is the first Palestinian to be imprisoned by Israel in response to BDS advocacy activity.

Mohammad’s ability to talk passionately about the effects of Israel’s illegal Occupation, combined with his warmth and good humour, has made him a popular activist in Palestine and with internationals alike.

“I learned more from spending a day driving around the West Bank with Othman, following the land-grabbing path of the Wall, than I have from reading dozens of books. His passion for knowledge and his love of the land are astounding and contagious.” Naomi Klein 25/9/2009

Sign the petition (it takes a second) and send your support to free this courageous man.

And here is Israel restricting the rights of Jews as well:

“A new report from Adalah shows how the courts and police attempted to stamp out opposition to Operation Cast Lead. “This is a time of war, and every incident harms the people’s morale.” This was not a sentence in a right-wing journal, but rather a statement by an Israel Police representative during Operation Cast Lead seeking to persuade the Tel Aviv District Court to block anti-war protesters from the city.”