The Shine is Off the Divestment Movement

The "Boycott, Divestment, Sanction" (BDS) movement aimed at Israel has attempted to portray itself as a humanitarian organization whose mission is to:

"call upon international civil organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era, until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with international law."

But a video the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg highlights paints BDS, in the words of the narrator, as "a venomous, deceitful, anti-peace, anti co-existence movement, that will settle for nothing short of the annihilation of the Jewish State."

The video, posted on YouTube, contrasts BDS calls for peace and cooperation with evidence of a consistent pattern of criticizing attempts at Palestinian-Israeli cooperation and reconciliation. Whether the attempts were educational, economic, or artistic, BDS has stood in the way.

Following the signing of a statement of academic cooperation between al Quds University and Hebrew University, the president of the Palestinian University explained it was "important to create tolerance, pluralism, the ability to listen," and that the program would help in accomplishing that goal. BDS leader Professor Steven Rose responded by calling for a severing of all such educational cooperation.

In 2008, Palestinian and Israeli trade unions signed an agreement which was described by the General Secretary of the Palestinian Trade Union as "promoting the rights of Palestinian workers." BDS leaders criticized the Palestinian Trade Union until it was forced to issue a retraction.

Israel announced the Tel Aviv Film Festival, which would bring together Palestinian and Israeli film makers in a collaborative environment. One Palestinian director involved, Murad Nessar, explained the importance of "trying to reach for peace using artistic and cinematic projects." BDS denounced the film festival and demanded it be boycotted.

BDS leaders throw around phrases like "equality, freedom, and dignity;" "Justice in Palestine;" and "a democratic movement based on the struggle for human rights." But as this video demonstrates, the organization is not interested in peaceful coexistence. Speaking to the matter, BDS founder, Omar Barghouti explained:

"If the occupation ends, let's say, would that end the call for BDS? No, it wouldn't."

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