The Palestinian attempt to remove Israel from FIFA and the warning of the CEO of Orange International about his desire to disconnect from his Israeli franchises put the movement to boycott Israel in the headlines. This was helped by belligerent statements from the Prime Minister and some of his ministers, who signaled that the boycott was a strategic threat on the state of Israel.
The boycott injures every Israeli citizen indiscriminately, it causes political extremism and it fuels a hostile public discourse. The BDS movement wants to replace the Israeli state with one that is neither Zionist nor Jewish. These are strong reasons to oppose BDS. Therefore, the New Israel Fund does not support organizations that engage in BDS. However, the response of the Israeli government to threats of boycott ignores one central fact: the main factor in the recent success of BDS is related to a large extent to the lengthy Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, and to the governmental policy that turns its back on a two-state solution. It is the fuel of the boycott movement. Without this, it would not exist at all outside of the most radical political fringes.
Prime Minister Netanyahu explicitly stated on the night of the elections that the two-state solution is not acceptable to him, and most of the ministers in the new government swear faithfully to strengthen the settlements and to continue Israeli military control in the territories. The world listens to these voices, and concludes that their intention is to continue to deny the right of citizenship of millions of Palestinians for the foreseeable future. To this fact, is added the racist statements, plans to destroy Arab villages in the West Bank and within Israel, and outrageous ideas like separate buses. It is the platform on which the boycott movement grows.
It’s true that there is Anti-Semitism in the world. A hate for Israel exists for which there is nothing behind that hate but the hate itself. But we are not in the 1930s. The western governments distinguish between the need to stand with the Jewish community and with the state of Israel, and the scathing criticism they have for our actions in the territories. When the Prime Minister and his ministers intentionally blur this distinction between Anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of the settlements and the occupation, they cause two types of damage: not only to the struggle against real Anti-Semitism but also to the war against BDS. Instead of dealing with the roots of the criticism against Israel, the government prefers to chase after imaginary enemies, inside and out.
The irony here is that the government is providing additional arguments for the supporters of boycott. Whoever blames the human rights organizations for the growth of the boycott movement is shooting the messenger instead of dealing with the problem. Rather, poignant political discourse strengthens the democratic character of Israel and proves that there is no place for sweeping measures like the boycott, but instead there is room for dialogue with Israel.
Listen to a friend of Israel. Journalists, heads of state and activists in Jewish organizations clarify over and over that without a serious political initiative to end the occupation – and not just token statements – they will not be able to continue to defend us on campuses, in parliaments or in the Security Council. The government’s policies, our friends say, are making the separation between the Israeli occupation and Israel the democracy more and more complicated. Our friends will be happy to defend us every time, but the majority of them are not interested in defending the occupation.
The New Israel Fund opposes BDS, and took part in the public campaign against the Palestinian initiative in the FIFA congress. The New Israel Fund has been investing the donations of Zionist Jews for more than thirty years in civil society, education and democracy – activities that stand in clear contrast to calls from the BDS movement to boycott Israel and its institutions. For this reason, the NIF has defined its opposition to BDS as one of its central guidelines.
But opposition to the boycott will fail if it won’t deal with the roots of the problem. As Israel occupies more, and becomes more nationalist and racist, the BDS movement will achieve more victories. Human rights, democracy, peace and equality are the most effective weapons we have to oppose the boycott. It’s time to use them.
This was originally published as an op-ed in Harretz. Read it here (Hebrew) »
You are right that racism and fascist nationalism are evils in israeis society and should be banned. The repression of people always ends bad for the repressors. I fight antisemitism and anti-israelism on a daily basis and have the absolute conviction that ending the occupation is a necessity for the israelis, but WILL NOT end the ani-israelism or the antisemitsm. You have no idea how deeply ingrained it is in large parts of the population based on false information, delusions, emotions that have nothing to do with the bad politics of Israel. We are running in the netherlands a programme for high school children, 50 % muslim, and you dont want to hear the hate some of them feel based on “Israels crimes”. They are totally unable to even point out where the Middle East is. As you point out: the government is sponsoring such a program, but how many kids are we able to see. If you are interested to know more let me know.
There is a mythology about boycotts, diversions and sanctions. They were applied to South Africa much more amply, but, in spite of the myth, that was not the reason why the last apartheid South African government decided to make peace with the majority indigenous African blacks. And it cannot succeed in making an intransigent Israel change its policy. Those of us who love Israel must realize that many Israelis suffer from a PTSD that is continually fed on a diet of stories of Arab hatred of Israel and the Jews, the general anti-Semitism that is daily headlined in Israeli media, and this makes them vote for those who “seem to know” the terror which they live day-in and day-out. Every mother and father knows their children will grow up and serve to defend the country and maybe maimed or killed, and they hate those who may attack Israel, who maim and kill its children. It has happened so many times in the past. It happens even today, particularly in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, and so Israelis know that not only soldiers are maimed or killed. Israelis are brave people, but bravery does not immunize a population from the constant stress, the constant compounding of this particular kind of PTSD.
It will take a more courageous leader than the venal leader now sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair for so many years for that still unknown leader to take the brave steps necessary to bring peace to Israel.
BDS is states sponsored old fashioned European anti Semitism. NGOS hide behind humanitarian goals, when in truth the funding is used to delegitimize and demonize Israel around the world. BDS is anti Semitism is discrimination. IF a threat of BDS goes on to become an action, it can be litigated in a court of law for being discrimination. Orange CEO Richard is an example of what can be done— Chaim Saban, the corporate Jewish billionaire, suffered damages to his business that is partnered with the Orange name, and he intends to sue the h3ll out of Richards. This will send a powerful message to those who think being anti-Semitic is cheap, without no cost. Shalom
LMAO
When the PA stops inciting its people to murder Jews, and Hamas stops the launching of drones and rockets, then we can talk about peace, but not until.