By Steve Wieser & Irene Morrison
 
Since the 2008/2009 attack on Gaza, Israel has implemented a public relations plan or “Rebranding” of their national image in the face of mounting calls for Israel to be held accountable for war crimes. A part of this rebranding campaign has been to send the Israel Ballet on tour throughout the world, including to Buffalo on February 23rd. The Buffalo performance was met with a small protest by the University at Buffalo’s Students for Justice in Palestine and the WNY Peace Center’s Palestine Israel Committee.
 

As Israeli Cultural Minister Yuli Edelstein stated: “We have to mobilize our human capital, meaning the residents of Israel,” in order to combat the negative image that Israeli has received.  The Israeli Ballet “on its first US tour in 25 years” is doing just this. The ballet is a mobilization of Israeli “culture” and human beings as propaganda. It is a way for the state of Israel to “rebrand” itself in western eyes as a more civil institution. One that parades women in tutus around the world instead of one that uses white phosphorus on civilian populations.
 

A waving Palestinian flag and chanting made sure that those attending felt the presence of Palestinian supporters. Protestors provoked a few harsh reactions, from cursing to racist statements to spitting. “Here’s your propaganda back,” yelled one wide-eyed woman as she handed back a fake program outside of the Ballet at the University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts.
 

The pamphlets handed out provided information discussing the way in which propaganda/culture is not a benign force—something many do not recognize—the goal was to inform the attendants of the Ballet’s role as cultural propaganda as well as its failure to represent Palestinian Arabs (hint: there are none in the show or on the staff).
 

The fight for openness was not just taking place outside. Two students, Irene Morrison and another student who filmed her, went into the question and answer session held before the performance. Morrison asked whether, in light of the recent Israeli offensive on Gaza and as part of the “rebranding” campaign, the ballet had been successful in getting the world to forget about Israeli war crimes and their apartheid regime. You can see most of the exchange here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l06f53sMDBo
 

 
 
Apparently the right to free speech is not allowed on the UB campus, as soon after heading out the door, a police officer grabbed hold of Morrison’s arm and told them—before they identified themselves as officers—that they needed to show some identification. They then threatened the academic status of the students; Morrison was told that charges would be pending. Apparently the state of Israel has a sway over American students’ rights to freedom of speech.
 
UPDATE 2/23: Morrison has been charged with disorderly conduct. The case is being handled by the Student Wide Judicial Affairs office. More updates soon.
 
UPDATE: 3/1: Morrison and others met with the Student Wide Judicial Affairs office, and they have agreed that the charges will be dropped tomorrow.