The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has drawn up the following pledge, which will be launched tomorrow (Thursday August 12) at 1pm in Temple Bar's Meeting House Square:

"In response to the call from Palestinian civil society for a cultural boycott of Israel, we pledge not to avail of any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel, nor to accept any funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights."

The pledge has so far been signed by over 130 Irish creative and performing artists, including Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Damien Dempsey, Robert Ballagh, John Arden and Seamus Deane. Signees will undertake to boycott the Israeli state under present circumstances.

IPSC Cultural Boycott Officer Dr. Raymond Deane comments, "These artists refuse to allow their art to be exploited by an apartheid state that disregards international law and universal principles of human rights, but look forward to the day when normal cultural relations can be re-established with an Israel that fully complies with such laws and principles."

The campaign asks its members and supporters to attend the launch to show their support for this initiative.