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Microsoft
supports Israeli army GUSH SHALOM [The following letter by Adam keller to Bill Gates speaks for itself]
To Dear Sir Two days ago, Israelis travelling on the main highways in the Tel-Aviv area were treated to enormous billboards bearing the Microsoft logo under the text "From the depth of our heart - thanks to The Israeli Defence Forces" on the background of the Israeli national flag.
Microsoft is a major worldwide and world-famous corporation, whose activities overstep national boundaries and which is committed to promote global community, increasing trade, and stronger economic relationships and cultural interaction; which takes pride in promoting extensive community activities of various kinds, and declares on its website "We're serious about making the world a better place"; and which maintains offices and conducts active sales campaigns in Israel as well as at Egypt, Morocco, Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Arab and Islamic countires. In view of the above, better could have been expected of Microsoft than disseminating crude nationalistic and militaristic propaganda at the Israeli population centers, and effectively lend its public support to the destructive war recently launched by the Sharon Government - a war sharply censured by the international community and controversial among the citizens of Israel itself. We urge you to take care that this activity is terminated forthwith, and that the estimated tens of thousands of dollars invested in the abovementioned billboards be used instead to activities aimed at stopping the bloodshed and promotoing and equitable Israeli-Palestinian peace. Sincerely Yours Adam Keller, Spokesperson Activists Letter Mr Bill Gates, I support the words of Adam Keller, the spokesperson of Gush Shalom (The Israeli Peace Bloc), that "better could have been expected of Microsoft than disseminating crude nationalistic and militaristic propaganda at the Israeli population centers, and effectively lending its public support to the destructive war recently launched by the Sharon Government - a war sharply censured by the international community and controversial among the citizens of Israel itself. We urge you to take care that this activity is terminated forthwith, and that the estimated tens of thousands of dollars invested in the abovementioned billboards be used instead to activities aimed at stopping the bloodshed and promoting an equitable Israeli-Palestinian peace." Yours sincerely, Ray Bergmann, Jerusalem Post, Sunday April 21, 2002 Gush Shalom protests pro-IDF billboards Gush Shalom has written a letter of protest to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, complaining about billboards supporting the IDF that the company recently erected on major roads in the Tel Aviv area. According to the left-wing activisit group, the billboards say: "From the depth of our heart Ð thanks to the Israeli Defense Forces," on the background of the Israeli flag. "Better could have been expected of Microsoft than disseminating crude nationalistic and militaristic propaganda at the Israeli population centers, and effectively lending its public support to the destru ctive war recently launched by the Sharon goernment," said Gush Shalom spokesman Adam Keller. He urged that the money for the billboards be used to promote "Israeli-Palestinian
peace." Inside Info - Billboards Removed Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 6:45 PM Concerning your last posting on Microsoft, you and others on your list may be pleased to know that Microsoft Israel has been reprimanded by the Microsoft home office and the signs are being taken down. When I heard of this a few days ago, I send a message to a friend of mine that deals with politically sensitive issues at microsoft....apparently the Israel office had posted the billboards against company policy and they were severely reprimanded when the head office received my e-mail. So, activism does work! Microsoft Explanation Mohammed Kateeb, GM, Microsoft Gulf, did not diminish the negativity of the issue, but he asserted that the billboards in Tel Aviv and one banner posting on the MSN Israel website had been removed. Jonathan Murray, VP, Global Accounts, Microsoft Corporation, who is in Riyadh to participate in Saudi E-Commerce 2002, did address the situation. He emphasized that Microsoft is very aware of the sensitivities in the region. He pointed out that Pan-Arab customers are extremely important to Microsoft and consequently the region has received significant investment and commitment of Microsoft's resources. "The billboards did not require and did not receive the approval of Microsoft Corporation," said Murray. "It was a Microsoft Israel decision alone." Murray felt that this was one of the disadvantages of operating local subsidiaries fairly autonomously. Under this system, local Microsoft management is given great leeway to function in the manner they consider best. While Murray did admit that there was a higher review policy for some public materials, such as press releases, he added that the billboards and banner posting had slipped through the policy cracks. When asked what action the company would be taking against those Microsoft employees responsible for the billboards and banner posting, Murray said that the “matter would be handled internally”. Microsoft’s assertions and actions thus far may not be enough to satisfy an outraged global community of human rights activists. Radio talk show host and human rights activist Andy Martin, the only American talk radio host who supports Palestinian rights, will hold an Internet forum on his radio program on Monday, April 22 at 1:00 p.m. to attack Microsoft Corporation for endorsing racism and genocide in Israel and to demand a worldwide boycott of Microsoft products. “I first learned of Microsoft Corporation’s billboards in Tel Aviv endorsing racism and genocide on April 16,” says Martin. “Now a major scandal is developing throughout the civilized world. I call on human beings everywhere to boycott Microsoft products in support of the Palestinian people.” Microsoft, Gates and Martin are long-term adversaries. Microsoft has campaigned against Martin on its websites and Gates has criticized him in various forums. Martin founded the Committee to Fight Microsoft in 1995 and has actively opposed Microsoft products, which he calls “monopolistic, high priced, dysfunctional junk.” “The Israeli Peace movement is outraged,” said Martin.
“Civilized human beings are outraged. What business does American
business have endorsing mass murder of Palestinians? I salute the
brave Israeli peace movement that has condemned Microsoft, and I
join their condemnation.” (Molouk Y. Ba-Isa in Arab News 2002 , article originally published by Arab News 21-Apr-02).
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