Israeli Arab leaders condemn Ittajah-led boycott of visiting Jewish leaders
According to a January 8, 2008 Ha’aretz article, "Israeli Arab leaders have condemned a partially successful Arab boycott of Jewish philanthropists who are visiting the country to learn more about the problems facing Israeli Arabs. The task force, comprised of members of about 70 Jewish organizations from North America and Europe, was set up two years ago to advance social projects and strengthen local Israeli Arab leadership."
Ittijah—a radical Palestinian NGO which played a prominent role at Durban 2001, and organized a October 2007 conference to further the anti-Israel boycott campaign—"asked Arab officials to cancel planned meetings with the group because Diaspora Jewry advocates the idea of Israel as a Jewish state," according to Ha’aretz. (Ittijah has received funding and support from the Ford Foundation, the EU, the New Israel Fund and Christian Aid; it is also part of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network – PNGO.)
Ittajah also sought assistance from the Islamic Movement (Israel), which joined Ittajah in urging the cancellation of the delegation’s visit to an Islamic Movement pharmacy in Umm al-Fahm.
In contrast, as Ha’aretz reports:
"Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu, director general of the Abraham Fund, which aims to improve coexistence between Jews and Arabs, said the boycott was self-destructive. ‘If there is discrimination and inequality and a situation that needs to be fixed, then the establishment is volunteering to take real action,’ he said. ‘To oppose that is simply shooting oneself in the foot.’"