BDS Movement
News about economic and academic attacks against the Jewish state
“The resolution’s sponsors have already shown that they are uninterested in debate or dialogue with those opposed to academic boycotts in general and of Israel’s academy in particular,” stated a letter put forth by Academic Engagement Network, an organization of American college and university faculty opposing the BDS movement.
“My colleagues and I condemn the BDS movement, and we have sent a letter to the Office of Foreign Asset Control requesting an update on the federal government’s oversight of non-governmental organizations engaged in anti-Semitic hate against our allies in Israel and the Jewish people worldwide,” said Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) at the signing ceremony.
“You represent American Jews, not Israelis,” interjected an audience member named Nathan. “No, I represent the United States,” responded Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.).
“This is part of a larger trend to normalize bigotry in academia,” said Club Z executive director Masha Merkulova. “The Jewish community must come together and make it clear that lies perpetuated in this forum will not be tolerated.”
“Some people have one move only: boycott. Cancel. Make-go-away. But here’s the thing, the house voted 318 to 17 to condemn the #BDS movement,” tweeted cable talk-show host and comedian Bill Maher.
The president also questioned how Jewish voters could support the Democratic Party knowing the anti-Israel bias among certain members.
“Artists for Palestine UK” pen an open letter urging a boycott of the Pop-Kultur Festival in Berlin due to support from the Israeli embassy.
Said the usually liberal political commentator: “As if the occupation came right out of the blue, that this completely peaceful people found themselves occupied. Forget about the intifadas and the suicide bombings and the rockets and how many wars.”
Publications put out by the group Miftah use highly politicized language, accusing Israel of “massacres,” “apartheid,” “summary executions” of Palestinian youth and “Judaizing” Jerusalem, according to NGO Monitor.
After rejecting entry to Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) due to their support of the anti-Israel BDS movement, Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri approved a request by Tlaib to visit her grandmother in the West Bank on humanitarian grounds.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer said the two congresswomen planned to meet with BDS groups, including one with ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman stated that Israel “has every right to protect its borders against those activists in the same manner as it would bar entrants with more conventional weapons.”
